The effects of diplomatic tussle between India and Canada has affected the way Indians perceive Canada as a place to study.
Canada has one of the highest numbers of Indians studying in its Universities outside India. In 2022 alone, out of the 5.5 lakh International students, 40% were Indians.
It comes as no surprise that after the Ministry of External Affairs issued an advisory for Indians to be cautious if traveling to Canada, several Canadian universities have attempted to convince Indians that Canada is still safe and a good option to study.
One such statement came from Professor Rhonda Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor, York University. She said that York is closely communicating with Indian students to reassure them that York and Canada are still safe and welcoming for them.
Sikh Vox, a website on the Sikh Diaspora, estimated that Indian students from Punjab spend around $18 Billion annually in Canada. If the students from other states are taken into account, the number would easily cross the $20 billion mark.
Losing ties with India would mean the loss of this gain for the Canadian economy, which explains why the Universities are so desperate for Indian students.
