New Brunswick’s community colleges are voicing serious concerns regarding recent federal changes that limit work permits for international students following graduation. The modifications, introduced last week, follow earlier measures that capped post-graduation permits and have prompted strong reactions from educational leaders.
Federal Changes Raise Concerns
Mary Butler, CEO of New Brunswick Community College (NBCC), expressed her dismay at the new regulations that link postgraduate work permits to a predetermined list of occupations. “While it wasn’t surprising that the government would seek to make further reductions, what caught us off guard was the decision to tie permits to a specific number of occupations determined at the national level,” Butler stated.
The post-graduation work permit is a vital opportunity for international graduates from designated learning institutions, allowing them to temporarily live and work in Canada. According to Butler, 36 percent of NBCC’s student population was international in the past year, highlighting the significance of these permits for the college community.
Impact on Employment Opportunities
A recent federal announcement confirmed that graduates from public college programs will continue to be eligible for permits for up to three years, but only if their field of study is linked to occupations experiencing long-term shortages. Butler is concerned that this approach may not align with the unique labor market needs in New Brunswick.
She pointed to data from N.B. Jobs, indicating that in 2019, approximately 25,000 individuals were employed in New Brunswick’s construction industry, with 27 percent located in the southeastern region and only 10.4 percent in the northeast. “This variation in labor demand across our province—and indeed across the country—is significant,” Butler emphasized. “It’s ludicrous to think we can apply such a broad, macro-level measure uniformly across Canada.”
Recalibrating Immigration Goals
In response to the growing concerns, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a statement through spokesperson Michelle Carbert. She explained that the department is recalibrating the post-graduation work permit program to better align with national immigration goals and economic objectives.
Carbert reassured that graduates from university programs will continue to be eligible for the work permit program, stating, “Studies show that these graduates are more likely to acquire transferable knowledge and skills and adapt to changing economic circumstances over the long term.”
Local Insights from Community Colleges
Cyrille Simard, Vice President of Development at Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) and former mayor of Edmundston, shared insights on the situation. He noted that almost 50 percent of CCNB’s student body comprises international students and emphasized the importance of immigration as a means to address current labor shortages.
However, the new eligibility requirements based on national shortages could leave some sectors in New Brunswick without necessary support. Simard acknowledged the lack of a specific list outlining these national needs, although he anticipates more information to be released shortly.
Upcoming Changes and Challenges
Carbert noted that the long-term shortage occupations that the new policy is based on are consistent with those used in the federal Express Entry’s category-based selection process. A list of eligible fields of study is expected to be published in the coming weeks. Current categories listed on the Express Entry page include French-language proficiency, healthcare, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), trades, transport, and agriculture or agri-food occupations.
Simard highlighted that certain CCNB programs have particularly high populations of international students. For instance, he pointed out that in Bathurst, over 66 percent of students in 22 out of 35 programs are international. He warned that a decline in international student enrollment could jeopardize the sustainability of these programs, adversely impacting Canadian students as well.
“If we see a reduced intake of international students in these programs, it could create problems for Canadian students,” Simard cautioned. “Some of these programs may become unsustainable, leading us to potentially shut them down.”
The Bigger Picture
The potential fallout from these federal changes extends beyond individual colleges; it raises broader questions about the future of New Brunswick’s labor market and the province’s ability to attract and retain skilled workers. With various sectors already grappling with labor shortages, limiting work permit eligibility based on national criteria may hinder efforts to address local workforce needs.
Community college leaders are urging the federal government to reconsider the implications of these changes and to adopt a more localized approach to labor market assessments. The unique demographics and economic requirements of New Brunswick necessitate flexibility in immigration policies that better reflect regional realities.
Conclusion
As New Brunswick’s community colleges grapple with the ramifications of the federal government’s recent changes to work permits for international students, the dialogue surrounding immigration, labor shortages, and educational sustainability remains critical. The voices of educational leaders like Mary Butler and Cyrille Simard underscore the importance of ensuring that policies support both international students and the broader Canadian student population. Moving forward, it is essential to cultivate an environment that fosters inclusivity, adaptability, and growth within the province’s educational and economic landscape.
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