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To understand the situation, let’s trace the journey of a typical Indian international student. After registering in a diploma mill, for example in Ontario or British Columbia, the student, upon arrival, realizes that the path to permanent residence in the province of his choice is rather steep because It’s already full of people and there’s too much competition. So they cancel their admission to this Ontario/BC college and join another diploma mill in a distant province. This province, whose population is stagnating and aging, has programs that make it easier for temporary residents to obtain public relations in order to attract people.

In the long term, this program, called the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), has helped these provinces maintain sustainable population growth and address their labor shortages while giving international students a chance to achieve their Canadian dream.

But Canada has seen unprecedented immigration in recent years. Far too many students have gone to provinces like Prince Edward Island to be accommodated through the PNP. The government recently decided to prioritize giving homework to people working in sectors it considers important: health, early childhood education and construction. This has left international students, most of whom work in the food and retail sectors, in a difficult situation. While the federal government announced in December 2023 that the post-graduation work permit (PTPD) would not be extended, many are reaching the end of their rope. In desperation, they resorted to what had worked in the past: dharna.

If last year a group of students managed to stop their expulsions in the fraudulent admissions letter case, they also succeeded – that seems to be the reason. But that was last year. In the meantime, a lot has changed: there is a new minister in charge of immigration; government approval ratings are low; and there are fewer jobs and longer candidate queues. And because of that, Canadians’ attitudes toward immigration and the politics surrounding it have also changed, not drastically but just enough to infer that the government probably won’t make a budget this time -this.

That said, what happens on the island probably won’t stay there. This protest could, in fact, be the first of many the country may experience during this summer of discontent as the dreams and aspirations of international students collide with the new political reality that Canada is facing. dealing with immigration issues. With their work permits expiring, no extensions in sight and the points required for permanent residency incredibly high, tens of thousands of people will soon have no choice but to pack their bags and go home or, like the Prince Edward Island group, to protest and hope.

(Daksh Panwar is a journalist and broadcaster based in Ontario. Twitter: @Daksh280)