Maxime Bernier, Leader of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC), has stirred controversy with his recent post on X, where he criticised Indian international students, especially the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, protesting against new Canadian immigration policies.
“I visited another camp in Brampton last weekend where foreign invaders are protesting to be allowed to stay in Canada. They need to go back!”
The protests, led primarily by Indian international students, have erupted across several Canadian provinces, including Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island.
The students are challenging the Canadian government’s recent immigration changes, which aim to reduce permanent residency nominations by 25% and limit study permits.
More than 70,000 student graduates now face the threat of deportation as work permits expire and opportunities for permanent residency dwindle.
Bernier, a former Conservative MP who founded the PPC in 2018 after resigning from the Conservative Party over ideological differences, is known for his outspoken views on immigration. He has long advocated for stricter immigration controls, arguing that the influx of foreign students and workers has led to increased pressure on Canada’s housing and healthcare systems.
“Their dreams are broken, but for us, they’re a nightmare,” Bernier wrote earlier this year, on Facebook mocking the plight of international students facing deportation. He has also expressed concerns about the growing number of foreign students in Canada, calling it an “immigration scam” that exacerbates the country’s housing crisis.
In January, Trudeau government introduced a two-year cap on international student permit applications to alleviate pressure on housing, healthcare, and other services. The policy aims to reduce student intake by 35% in 2024 compared to 2023, with a further 10% reduction planned for 2025.
The student visa has long been a pathway for international students to settle in Canada, with graduates eligible for open work permits allowing employment across sectors, regardless of their field of study. Spouses could also obtain work visas. This system spurred the growth of numerous educational institutions, including private career colleges partnering with public colleges, offering courses of varying quality.
As Canada faces mounting pressure to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers and students, these protests highlight the growing frustration among those who came to Canada seeking a better life but are now facing the prospect of deportation.
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