India-Canada Relations: Indian students travelling to Canada in recent months have already experienced the reality check of “broken promises of a brighter future.” This is even before the diplomatic spat between India and Canada heated up. In 2022, according to information provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), almost 2,26,450 Indian students travelled to Canada. Every year, more Indian students leave the country for study abroad, making India the nation with the highest contingent of foreign students. However, this might have contributed to the country’s student resource shortage.
Indian Students’ Struggle for Adequate Housing in Canada
In North Bay, Ontario, a small town in the province’s north, some students, recently had to erect tents outside their new university since their university stated it did not have enough space to house the additional students. There was no response from the institution when students contacted them. Only after the students began staging demonstrations at the institution that caught the attention of the local media did the administration propose solutions. “When I was searching for housing options from India, I was warned that there are a lot of scams going around North Bay. So I decided to not book any accommodation from India, however, when I landed in Canada on August 21, it was a shocking situation. I arrived in Brampton and searched for affordable housing in North Bay for nearly 10 days, but in vain. Then when I had to shift to North Bay for my college, I had to book a hotel for the first three days which cost me CAD 120 per day,” one student said.
Indian Students’ Cost-Cutting Measures in Canada’s Housing Crisis
International students presently studying in Canada are having trouble finding rooms to rent and finding affordable housing. Students at Canadore College and Nipissing University in North Bay had petitioned their respective universities to offer cheap permanent housing to all enrolled students ($250 per student per month). Students assert that they must pay inflated rent, which ranges between 650 and 750 dollars per month, which they are required to do off-campus in pricey locations.
Indian Students in Canada’s Food and Job Dilemma
Students had to make other cuts, including eating out, because they had to stay in a motel for several days. Together with another Indian woman, One student is currently renting a flat for CAD 1200 per month. However, because North Bay is a tiny city with few employment prospects, students are having a very tough time finding a job that will allow them to pay for their daily costs. Bread, porridge, and dal are still the only foods that students can afford because veggies are more expensive there.
Indian Students Consider Migration to More Welcoming Nations amid Canada’s Challenges
Indian students believe that right now it would be wiser to choose another immigration-friendly nation. “Given the current political environment between the two countries and the depleting resources in Canada, I think it would be better to head to other countries such as New Zealand or maybe even some European nations where Indians are welcomed and not duped in the name of a better life. I have told my younger brother to apply for New Zealand rather than coming to Canada, and I will also try to look for jobs there after my masters degree from Toronto,” Another Student said.
Indian Student Khushi’s PR Journey and Her Quest for Warmer Prospects
A student who recently completed her Business Administration diploma course at a university in Montreal, is likewise unsure about remaining in Canada long-term. She is now on holiday in India, but when she returns to Canada in the middle of October, she will begin the application process for a Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) permit. However, She will make every effort to relocate to Australia once she receives her PR permit. “There are certain rules on how much time the applicant needs to stay in the same city/ province after getting the PR. I will fulfil that criteria and then try to find a job in Australia,” she said. She wants to leave Canada in addition to her job situation because she feels the country’s harsh winters make it impossible for her to look for work, even if you are fortunate enough to get one. It is best to relocate because we cannot afford to have wage decreases or health difficulties there, she continued.
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