Canada’s recent decision to grant 800,000 foreign students the opportunity to work unlimited hours has ignited a debate on its potential repercussions for the domestic job market and youth unemployment.
According to access-to-information records, Miller defended the decision, contending that foreign students are not displacing local workers, citing prevailing labor shortages across Canada.
He noted that an estimated 80% of the 807,000 foreign students, translating to approximately 646,000 individuals, were already surpassing the previous 20-hour work limit.
Miller underscored the necessity for policies that alleviate financial burdens on students in the face of labor shortages within the country.
In contrast, the United States allows international students on visas to engage in on-campus work for up to 20 hours per week during school sessions and full-time during breaks.
With Canada now extending the opportunity for unlimited work hours, there is concern that foreign students, particularly those from countries like India, may be swayed to choose Canada over the U.S. for their studies due to the newfound flexibility in employment opportunities.
