OTTAWA, August 16 — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has reiterated that international students who come to Canada on temporary study visas should return to their home countries if they do not obtain permanent residency before their visas or legal status expire.
Smith made the remarks on social media amid protests by international students, many of them from India, who have faced difficulties obtaining post-graduation work permits after completing their studies.
She said a Canadian student visa is a temporary document and that this has been the policy from the outset. According to Smith, international students are expected to obtain an education in Canada and then use that education to build their lives, including by returning to their home countries.
Smith also defended Alberta’s education system, saying the province’s universities and colleges were established with taxpayers’ money and that Alberta students should have the primary claim to educational opportunities.
The comments came against the backdrop of protests involving international students who completed programs at Portage College but encountered difficulties obtaining post-graduation work permits. A significant number of those affected are Indian nationals.
Smith rejected the characterization of Portage College as a “diploma mill,” but acknowledged that some programs may have overstated or exaggerated their immigration-related opportunities.
She said there had been cases in which dishonest operators established diploma programs and exploited students. However, Smith emphasized that the rules should be clear: international students who fail to obtain permanent residency and whose temporary status expires must leave Canada.
Her comments come as Canada continues to tighten its immigration system and strengthen enforcement surrounding international students. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has warned that unauthorized employment can have serious consequences, including removal from Canada, a potential five-year ban on returning, and adverse immigration records.
Unauthorized work can also negatively affect future visa and permanent-residency applications.
Canadian authorities say the reforms are intended to protect international students and improve the integrity of the country’s international student program.
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