This translates to 360,000 approved study permits, compared to 2023 levels.
Ottawa:
Canada’s response to the crippling housing crisis has had the anticipated fallout on the intake of international students. Following up on Canadian immigration minister Marc Miller’s October remarks amidst political pressure over a housing crisis, the Justin Trudeau government announced on Monday a 35% reduction in international student admissions for 2024.
This translates to 360,000 approved study permits, compared to 2023 levels when it was around 900,000.
“Ahead of the September 2024 semester,” stated Mr Miller, “we are prepared to take necessary measures, including limiting visas, to ensure designated learning institutions provide adequate and sufficient student support as part of the academic experience.”
This cap on international student numbers is a temporary policy for two years. It will not affect current study permit holders or renewals. Additionally, it exempts students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees.
Here’s how the cap will be applied:
Provincial Quotas: The cap has been assigned to each province based on its accommodation and housing capacity.
Institutional Distribution: Provinces will then distribute the allocated number of international student admissions among various institutions.
Attestation Requirement: As a new documentation requirement, student permit applications must now include an attestation letter from a Canadian province or territory. This letter confirms the province’s capacity to accommodate the proposed student.
Effective Date: This requirement is effective from January 22, 2024.
Implementation Deadline: Provinces have until March 31, 2024, to establish a mechanism for issuing the required attestation document.
Graduate Programs and Work Permits: The Canadian government has declared plans to reassess the cap in 2025. While most changes do not apply to graduate, professional, and doctoral programs, there are some noteworthy modifications:
Post-Graduate Work Permit: International students admitted under a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for the Post-Graduate Work Permit.
Spousal Open Work Permits: Open work permits will now only be available to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs. Spouses of undergraduate and college students will no longer be eligible.
Increased Cost-of-Living Requirement: In December, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) doubled the cost-of-living requirement for international students from CAD 10,000 to CAD 20,635. Citing rising inflation and financial challenges faced by many international students, the government claims this change aims to ensure students are better prepared for the actual cost of living in Canada.
A diplomatic row between India and Canada was triggered after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that his government has “credible allegations” of India’s involvement in the June killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
The row worsened after a US diplomat alleged that there was “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners” that had prompted Mr Trudeau’s allegation about Indian agents’ involvement in the killing.
“Our relationship with India has really halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India,” Mr Miller said, after the diplomatic row resulted in a decrease in the number of Indian students applying for Canadian universities.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
