e-1524 (Foreign students)

Petition to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

• International students with Canadian university awarded degrees should have equal job prospects as their domestic counterparts;
• International students who hope to live and work in Canada are disadvantaged under the logistical barriers of the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry Program, and are avoided by employers due to the unpredictability around their long-term immigration status;
• Between 2013 and 2022, there will be 5.8 million job openings, with more than 65% requiring post-secondary training;
• Increasing the number of post-secondary graduates with work-integrated learning opportunities is critical to addressing any potential shortages in a competitive, high-skilled labour market; and
• The removal of barriers would allow international students better opportunities, increase Canada's international student post-graduation attainment rate, and play a critical part of the solution in meeting the long-term challenges of future labour shortages.