Foreign Workers End Protest as P.E.I. Stands Firm on Immigration Policy
The federal government had previously announced that foreign nationals with valid or expired work permits as of May 7, and a support letter from their province or territory, could apply for an open work permit.
After months of persistent demonstrations, a group of foreign workers has concluded their protest in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, following the province’s unwavering stance on its immigration policy, according to a Saltwire report. The group, which had established an encampment around St. Paul’s Church since June, dismantled their makeshift homes after the province reaffirmed that it would not reverse its recent decision.
Protest organizer Rupinder Pal Singh described the protest as a grueling and difficult experience, expressing his dismay over the government’s response. “The government forced us to leave,” Singh lamented in an interview with The Guardian on September 6. “We did everything we could, but the result is not what we hoped for.”
The federal government had previously announced that foreign nationals with valid or expired work permits as of May 7, and a support letter from their province or territory, could apply for an open work permit. However, Singh and other protesters were disheartened to learn that P.E.I. would not participate in this program. According to Singh, this exclusion was a significant setback, considering the years of hard work and tax contributions many of these workers had made in Canada.
The provincial government confirmed its decision in an email to The Guardian, citing priorities such as managing growth and improving infrastructure. “The changes to our immigration programs were made to ensure that P.E.I. remains a great place to live and work,” the email stated. “We need to slow down growth to build more homes, expand health care, and ensure services for all Islanders.”
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