Toronto: Indian students in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) have been protesting for the last two months against changes to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that could lead to their deportation.
Led by Rupinder Pal Singh, the protest started after changes in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rules were announced in February, CBC News reported. The rules aim to reduce the number of immigrants by 25 per cent in 2024 due to pressures on PEI's healthcare system and housing market.
Despite meeting dozens of workers to help them find alternative pathways to stay in PEI, Minister Jenn Redmond stated in late June that there would be no immediate changes to the policy. A letter from the province's office of immigration highlighted the rapid population growth in PEI and the overwhelming demand for permanent residency.
"As of May, more than 12,000 people have submitted an expression of interest in hopes of seeking permanent residency through PEI, but only 1,590 will be invited to apply. Our province has not promised or guaranteed permanent residency to anyone," the letter stated, according to CBC News.
Singh reported that about 20 people have left the country due to expired work permits or lost hope of getting permanent residency. Others plan to transition to visitor status and continue protesting. "We are not illegals looking for shelter. We are just hard workers asking [the government] to give us the right thing, what we deserve," Singh told CBC News.
The protesting students have received backing from advocacy groups such as the Cooper Institute and BIPOC USHR, who have urged the government to exempt foreign workers already in the province from these new rules, reported CBC News.
Nouhad Mourad, a community relations coordinator with BIPOC-USHR, said that the foreign workers are being scapegoated for PEI's housing crisis and healthcare shortages. Mourad emphasized that this issue affects not just the Indian community but the broader immigration community, setting a dangerous precedent for policy changes.
