Labour market shortfall shouldn’t fall on the backs of international students

It is a mistake to put immigrants to work while they remain students. They need to complete their studies in order to gain durable entry into the Canadian labour market.

The relaxing of work restrictions for international students may provide a short-term boost to a few sectors of the economy, but the cost of these increased hours is the increased attrition rate of students failing their academic program, writes Byron Lew. Unsplash photograph by Redd F

Opinion

BY BYRON LEW

January 18, 2023

The federal government recently lifted the 20-hour per week work restriction on international students studying full time in Canada. With low unemployment and critical labour shortages, this policy will put available workers into jobs now, effectively accelerating their entr...

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