The smallest Canadian province, Prince Edward Island (PEI), is facing significant backlash from its residents regarding immigration, particularly targeting Indian students. This comes as PEI has made changes to its immigration rules, impacting international students and prompting protests from hundreds of Indian students facing deportation. The new policies and the local sentiments reveal underlying issues in housing, healthcare, and job opportunities that have led to this resistance.
**Policy Changes and Local Sentiment**
The PEI government has implemented a 25% reduction in immigration permits, focusing on sectors like healthcare, childcare, and construction rather than service sectors such as food and retail. This shift is seen as necessary by the local government to address the strain on resources and opportunities caused by the high volume of immigrants.
Local residents argue that immigrants are taking away jobs and resources that should be available to long-time residents. They express concerns about job availability for their own children, the impact on housing and rental markets, and the increased strain on the healthcare system. The province's premier stated that the intention behind the policy change is to manage these pressures more effectively.
**Public Concerns and Data**
Residents have expressed their frustration through various media, including an episode of "Ratio’d with Harrison Faulkner," where locals voiced their reasons for opposing the influx of Indian students. They feel that the student visa system is being misused as a shortcut to permanent residency and citizenship, exacerbating the competition for jobs and resources.
Data supports these concerns. For instance, the number of Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) slots in PEI increased from 1,070 in 2018 to 2,050 in 2023, leading to a significant rise in the immigrant population. Despite the recent reduction to 1,600 slots, this number is still considerably higher than in previous years.
**Housing and Healthcare Crisis**
The population growth has not been matched by an increase in housing availability, leading to a low rental vacancy rate and a growing housing crisis. In addition, PEI has the longest wait times for medical care in Canada, with an average wait of 41.
