Indian Students : In a compelling turn of events, Indian students pursuing higher education in Canada’s Ontario province find themselves in the midst of a housing crisis. With the influx of Indian students choosing Canada for their studies on the rise, the demand for affordable accommodation has become an urgent matter. The latest batch of students, enrolled in Canadore College and Nipissing University in North Bay town, situated near Brampton city, has voiced their concerns over the lack of affordable housing options.
This group of students, who embarked on their educational journey in September 2023, arrived in Canada with the expectation of university-provided accommodation. However, upon their arrival in Canada, they were met with a harsh reality as they were informed that all available rooms had already been booked. Left with no alternatives, many of these students found themselves forced to reside in motels, with daily expenses ranging from CAD $140 to $200. In addition to the financial burden, they also face the inconvenience of commuting from Brampton, incurring additional costs of $120 to $140.
Indian Students & MYSO
Desperate for a solution, the affected students have reached out to the Montreal Youth Students Organisation (Myso) for assistance. Myso representatives, Khushpal Grewal and Mandeep, have affirmed the validity of the students’ grievances. They firmly believe that these students should either receive the accommodation they were promised or be granted the option of attending classes online to alleviate their accommodation woes.
One of the pressing issues faced by these students is the requirement of maintaining a 50% attendance rate for immigration, refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) work permits. Myso representatives advocate for the waiver of this condition and suggest relocating the affected students to campuses where accommodation is available.
Following negotiations with the educational institutions, Myso representatives have secured assurances that the grievances will be thoroughly examined. The students’ plea for subsidized accommodation remains a focal point of discussion, offering a glimmer of hope for those caught in the housing predicament.
This housing crisis is not an isolated incident within the Indian student community in Canada. In Mississauga, near Toronto, Indian students and workers employed at a bakery have been protesting since August 28, demanding unpaid wages. Live Freely Foods, the bakery in question, abruptly closed its doors on August 24, leaving nearly 50 workers unpaid, with debts accumulating into thousands of dollars. The bakery subsequently declared bankruptcy on August 30.
In their quest for justice, the aggrieved workers have enlisted the support of the Naujawan Support Network to negotiate for their withheld wages, which averaged between $14 and $15 per hour.
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