Canadian Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has extended his support to Indian students who are currently facing the threat of deportation from Canada, placing the blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the situation.
In a passionate plea to the government, Poilievre called for an end to the deportations, emphasizing the need to “prosecute fraudsters” while allowing “honest students to stay, work, and contribute to Canada.” Taking to Twitter, he expressed his disappointment in the Trudeau government, stating that it failed to protect international students from unscrupulous scam artists. Now, he believes, the government is unfairly punishing the victims by deporting students who acted in good faith, have been diligently working, and contributing to the country’s economy.
Poilievre further shared pictures from his meeting with the affected students’ families, highlighting the personal and emotional toll this issue has taken on them.
Although reports in the media suggest that around 700 Indian students are facing deportation due to alleged fraudulent admission letters, the actual number is significantly lower. The Indian government has been actively engaging with Canadian authorities, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also raising the matter with his Canadian counterpart. Officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of fairness in dealing with these cases, asserting that the students themselves are not at fault.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on June 8, Jaishankar expressed India’s commitment to pursuing justice for its students, stating that it is unjust to punish those who pursued their education in good faith. Instead, he emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for misleading the students.
Sources indicate that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of due diligence, leading to the granting of visas and entry to the students. Consequently, members of the Canadian Parliament from various political parties have voiced their support for the affected students.
Immigration Minister Sean Frasier has conveyed Canada’s dedication to finding a solution for international students who are currently facing uncertainty. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the necessity of treating these students fairly.
In an effort to resolve the issue, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal recently wrote letters to the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and the Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron Mackay. The letters requested their intervention in resolving the situation faced by the 700 students on the verge of deportation from Canada.
