“With Trudeau’s liberal immigration era ending, experts warn of tighter policies under potential Conservative leadership.”
January 10, 2025: The resignation of Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stirred concerns among immigration experts about the future of international students and workers in the country. Trudeau’s tenure, spanning from 2015 to 2023, is widely regarded as a golden era for international students, especially Indians, due to liberal immigration policies that significantly expanded opportunities.
According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data, nearly 1.3 million Indian students were granted study permits between 2015 and 2024. In 2015, just 31,920 Indian students held permits, comprising 14.5% of the international student population. By 2023, this number had soared to 278,250, representing 40.7%.
However, policy shifts have started to alter this trend. Recent measures, such as capping the number of international students and tightening study permit processes, have already caused a 4% drop in permits for Indian students in 2024.
Also Read: Tragedy in Canada: Three Indian Students Murdered, India Demands Action
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, a potential contender in the upcoming election, has criticized Trudeau’s immigration policies, particularly the management of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. Poilievre has pledged to restrict the TFW program to agriculture and block its use in sectors where it might displace Canadian workers. He has also criticized Trudeau’s attempts to scale back immigration levels, calling them untrustworthy and inadequate to fix a “broken system.”
If Poilievre assumes office, experts predict a stricter immigration regime that could pose significant challenges for Indian students and immigrants. Proposed policies would tie immigration levels to job availability, healthcare resources, and housing, potentially making it harder for Indian students to secure study permits or permanent residency. Work program eligibility criteria could also tighten, further reducing opportunities for immigrants seeking stable employment in Canada.
The impact on Indian students could be profound. Increased competition for admission to Canadian universities and colleges, coupled with stricter study permit processes, may lead to longer waiting times and more rigorous eligibility requirements. For workers, Poilievre’s proposed plan to limit temporary foreign worker opportunities could reduce job availability, making it difficult for Indian immigrants to support their families.
Trudeau’s liberal policies created unprecedented opportunities for Indians in Canada, but the looming possibility of a Conservative-led government has introduced uncertainty. Indian students and workers may now face an uphill battle to achieve their dreams in Canada, with potential challenges in education, employment, and residency.
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Trudeau resignation, Canadian immigration, Indian students in Canada, Pierre Poilievre, study permits Canada, Temporary Foreign Worker program, Canada immigration policy, international students, Indian immigrants in Canada, Canadian politics.
