432-01173 (Citizenship and immigration)

WHEREAS:

• The Government of Canada recently created a pathway to permanent residency for recent international student graduates;
• Part of this process requires passing a language proficiency test in either official language;
• Language proficiency tests measure listening, reading, writing, and speaking;
• These skills are put to the test, for any student, during the course of completing an academic program in Canada including through writing papers, verbal presentations, reading textbook materials, and listening to lectures;
• In order to complete coursework and graduate, an international student must be able to listen, read, write, and speak in either official language;
• Graduation from an eligible post-secondary program in and of itself is a demonstration of official language proficiency;
• The financial costs associated with testing are also an unnecessary burden that has been exacerbated by the economic realties of life under the COVID-19 pandemic.

THEREFORE, we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call upon the Government of Canada to:

• Waive the requirement for language proficiency tests for international graduates of eligible Canadian postsecondary programs to be able to obtain permanent residency.