A group representing Ontario’s public colleges has criticized the federal government, urging a reconsideration of the decision to cancel automatic work permits for international students. In their view, this decision is an act of "elitism" that unfairly favors universities.
Since November 1, 2024, international graduates of colleges will only be able to receive a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if their programs are tied to professions experiencing long-term labor shortages. Meanwhile, university students will retain the right to receive a work permit for up to three years, regardless of their program of study.
Ontario colleges argue that this policy does not take into account the real needs of local labor markets and does not help address the shortage of workers. College graduates play a critical role in key industries such as mining, agribusiness, tourism, healthcare, aviation, and more. For instance, in 2023, more than 1,800 international students were studying to become personal support workers, about 1,000 were training to be nurses, and 4,500 were training to become early childhood educators. Without these specialists, many sectors of the economy will face serious challenges in the future.
The Immigration Ministry justifies its decision by the need to better align the immigration program with economic needs and to control immigration volumes. A list of fields eligible for PGWP will be published later.
Ontario colleges consider it unfair that access to work permits will depend on whether a student attended a college or a university. They are calling on the federal government to take regional needs into account, which may differ significantly from overall federal plans, and to revise this approach in the interest of all students and industries that rely on skilled workers.
Oleksandra Melnykova, Immigration Consultant for Canada and Refugee Affairs.
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