Worried over fallout of shaky ties, Indian students keep a close watch on Canada developments

Canada had over 8 lakh international students by end of 2022, of which roughly 3 lakh were from India. Rumours on visa bans are creating environment of anxiety for Indian students.

Indian and Canadian national flags | Representative Image

New Delhi: Rumours on visa bans spreading through social media are creating an environment of anxiety for Indian students in Canada amid growing diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa. 

Many Indian students as well as nationals are worried about the fallouts of this meltdown like visa and travel bans by Canada. Earlier this month, the Justin Trudeau government was considering capping international student visas to solve the housing crisis wrecking havoc throughout the country. 

Navraj Singh, a recent graduate based in Guelph, Ontario, told ThePrint, “While I am not facing any difficulty right now, there are a lot of rumours floating around on social media regarding visa suspensions impacting Indians in the country and more.”

Canada welcomed more than 8 lakh international students from across the globe by the end of 2022, of which roughly 3 lakh or 40 percent originated from India, according to data from the Canadian Bureau of International Education. 

A total of 2,09,930 Indian students are enrolled in colleges while 80,270 are enrolled in universities. Canada defines colleges as diploma granting institutions while universities provide bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

These students contribute over CA$22.3 billion per year to the Canadian economy, based on data from the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 

This escalating diplomatic crisis has the potential to significantly impact Canada’s education system, which heavily relies on Indian students immigrating for higher education. A report revealed that Indian students contribute twice the money than Canadian students and also a little more than the Government of Ontario’s funding towards the college system.

But, the ongoing diplomatic row has left the Indian students worried. Apoorv Pandey, a recent graduate based in Toronto said, “The declining diplomatic ties between the two countries is pretty concerning. However, I do feel like things are being exaggerated more than it is in reality.”

“However, I really hope travel bans are not imposed and the relationship between the two countries is repaired quickly,” he added.

India suspended visa services, including e-visas, for Canadian citizens Thursday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a travel advisory for Indian students and nationals living in Canada Wednesday, warning them to remain cautious of “growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence”. 

“Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant,” the MEA stated.

While Indian students remain untouched by New Delhi’s ban, many Canadians wishing to travel to India have been affected. “Our main concern was our student visas being banned, which seems unlikely now. However, I was planning to take my friends to India next month but their visas are stuck,” a student at University of Toronto said.

Singh said, “While there is no hostility from anyone here but given the diplomatic situation, I am feeling a bit uneasy. Honestly, I believe Trudeau is using this situation for vote bank politics.”

As reported by ThePrint, in a poll conducted earlier this month by Ipsos for Global News Canada, only 31 percent preferred Trudeau while 40 percent leaned towards Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre. 

Trends of student migration

While during the Covid pandemic, the population of international students in Canada declined from 6,37,860 to 5,27,365 in 2020, post-pandemic numbers have been rising steadily, with over 8 lakh international students, including 5,51,405 with new study permits, in 2022.

Over the years, Canada has seen a rise in the number of Indian students staying in the country with valid study visas, from 1,71,505 in 2018 to 2,18,540 in 2019, 1,79,510 in 2020, 2,16,500 in 2021, and to 3,19,000 in 2022, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

The IRCC is the Canadian government department that deals with immigration.

With such large numbers of Indian students contributing to the Canadian economy through university fees, housing and other expenses and many Ontario colleges having more students from India than from Canada, a further decline in ties between New Delhi and Ottawa may be catastrophic.

However, there are sections closely involved with the Indian student community which believe that despite rising tensions and India calling Canada a ‘safe haven’ for extremists, the country remains an attractive educational destination.

Abhijit Zaveri, Founder & Director of Career Mosaic, an education consultancy told ThePrint: “Canada remains a sought-after destination for Indian students, and the appeal of its educational institutions remains strong.”

“For students planning to study in Canada, it is prudent to stay informed about the ongoing developments through reliable sources,” he added.

(Edited by Tony Rai)