Marc Miller, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, explained that under a fresh round of changes aimed at reducing the country’s rapidly growing population, study visa holders were not assured permanent residency.
In an interview conducted on Tuesday, Mr. Miller made the statement in response to immigration concerns, especially after international students demonstrated in many locations, calling for an extension of their work permits.
The minister clarified that although he supported their right to demonstrate in a democracy such as Canada, it was important to realize that student visas did not provide them permanent residency.
“Being a student when they came in here wasn’t a guarantee to become a permanent resident,” Mr. Miller stated.
Mr. Miller’s announcement that their work permits would not be extended added to the problems faced by international students, especially for postgraduate students whose work permits were about to expire.
According to the minister, international students who fit this description may have to leave Canada, which has stringent regulations around the use of work permits to obtain employment.
Mr. Miller emphasized that “some students will have to make a difficult decision as to whether they leave the country or not.”
The decision to cut immigration by 20% was essential, the minister said, in order to control the population without putting an excessive burden on Canada’s economy.
