More work hours for foreign students a ‘short-term fix’

Post-secondary students in Calgary say a one-year pilot project that will lift the cap on off-campus hours international students in Canada are allowed to work is good news, but it’s a short-term fix that does not address bigger problems, reports CBC News.

On 15 November 2022, Canada will remove the limit of 20 hours a week for off-campus work while classes are in session. The pilot, in effect until 31 December of next year, is an effort to address the country’s labour shortages.

“My initial reaction was this could be great,” said Saaka Sulemana Saaka, president of the University of Calgary’s Graduate Students Association and former international student, now permanent resident. He said working more hours could ease some of the financial stress of international students, but added that the new changed policy won’t affect visa backlogs and applications for permanent residency that international students are trying to complete.
Full report on the CBC News site