The Paradox of Being an International Student in Canada

Lina María Zuluaga | September 4th, 2021

With the advent of the new school year just around the corner, many have started wondering what a full-school year online will be looking like. After UTSC released its plan for the upcoming Fall-Winter semesters (1), many students have raised their concerns given the implications this online transition could entail for the quality of their studies. Yet, it is no lie that the “quality” of this new M.O. (2) is not the only worry in students’ minds in a pandemic-stricken world. It is definitely not for international students.

On March 16th, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the closure of the borders to any non-Canadian citizen, excepting permanent residents and American citizens, as a safety measure against the COVID-19 pandemic. While the measure appeased many Canadians anxious for some proactive action towards containing the spread of the virus within the country, the news had a different impact on international students. After all, Trudeau’s announcement gave no indication that international students would be permitted re-entry into the country if they chose to go abroad or were already abroad per one circumstance or the other (i.e. study/research abroad programs).(3) Quoting a tweet following the outbreak of the news, the new border restriction measures put international students in the uncomfortable position of choosing between going back to their home countries and risk being denied re-entry into Canada or staying in Canada away from their family in these unprecedented and difficult times.(4)

In view of this, many international students, as well as other temporary residents, took to social media to voice these concerns. Two days later, on March 18th, the Government of Canada tightened its border restrictions, denying entry to all foreign nationals, inclusive of American citizens, travelling into Canada for optional or discretionary purposes. However, this was accompanied by a list of exemptions of which temporary residents, like international students, were included provided they could justify to the border service officer that their travel was essential.(5)

Earlier in August, the Office of the Registrar e-mailed international students a set of guidelines for those students that were currently abroad and had plans to return to the country for the Fall Semester. While the instructions were comprehensive, and it is worth noting the effort that U of T as an institution has offered international students to return to the country, they detail in their guideline that even with their assistance with documents and quarantine accommodation, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) still reserves the right to deny entry to international students.(6)

For years Canada has prided itself on its welcoming attitude towards immigrants, especially international students. As a matter of fact, Canada now stands as the world’s third-leading destination with 642,000 international students in the country as of 2019.(7) While it is true that Canada offers international students with one of the most appealing and comprehensive “study packages”(8) in the world, international students by choosing Canada as their study destination, offer the economy annually an immediate $22 billion contribution.(9) And this contribution is bound to increase with the growing reliance of universities on international students to partly fund costs that the ongoing budget cuts to the public universities can no longer cover.(10)

The paradox of being an international student in Canada can be observed today more than ever. In a pandemic-stricken world, international students like me are facing denied re-entry into the country, and yet our tuitions are only increasing because public universities are struggling because of a lack of funding exacerbated by the pandemic. While domestic student fees are frozen in Ontario, international students are being asked to cover the deficit. The U of T Tuition Fee Report cites a 7% tuition increase for new international students and a 5% increase for returning undergraduate students.(11) The cherry on the top? The federal government presented a $9-billion aid package for Canadian students affected by the pandemic and unsurprisingly international students are ineligible to apply for it.(12)

The Canadian Federation of Students has condemned the attitude taken towards international students. They have stated that we are being used as “cash cows.”(13) But during my time as an international student in Canada I have not only felt like a “cash cow.” Sometimes I have felt like a plastic bag—useful at times but easily discardable in times of crisis.

I understand that I am not Canadian and that I can “go back to my home country if I don’t like it.” I just cannot understand why we, international students, are not considered worthy of the government’s consideration when we have been living here legally and paying our dues for years now, in many cases. It just doesn’t seem fair and while I’m aware that “life just isn’t fair,” I don’t think it is much to ask from a country that prides itself on being compassionate, to have just a bit more consideration when enacting border restrictions. While we are being left at the mercy of border agents to enter the country, no one is freezing my rent, my tuition, or the life I have built-in Canada these past couple of years. In the end, I have nothing left to say but that I guess you truly do learn who your true friends are in times of crisis.

Endnotes

1. University of Toronto Scarborough, "UTogether2020," University of Toronto Scarborough, last modified August 24, 2020, https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/home/utogether2020.

2. Modus operandi

3. Kerrie Kennedy, "International Students Consider What to Do As Canada Closes Borders," The Pie News, last modified March 17, 2020, https://thepienews.com/news/canada-adjusts-to-huge-movement-of-students-online-shift/.

4. Roojin Habibi, Twitter Post,,March 16, 2020, 5:09 PM, https://twitter.com/roojinh/status/1239659993407852544?s=20.

5. Government of Canada, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): International Students, (Canada.ca, 2020), accessed August 31, 2020, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/students.html#exemptions.

6. Office of the Vice-Provost, "COVID-19 Information for University of Toronto Students," University of Toronto, last modified September 3, 2020, https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/covid-19/#collapse71

7. Kareem El-Assal, "642,000 International Students: Canada Now Ranks 3rd Globally in Foreign Student Attraction," CIC News, last modified February 20, 2020, https://www.cicnews.com/2020/02/642000-international-students-canada-now-ranks-3rd-globally-in-foreign-student-attraction-0213763.html#gs.e49rq9.

8. The ability to work and study simultaneously as well as the possibility of acquiring post-graduation work permits that will allow them to work and remain in Canada following the completion of their degree. For more information please see: Kareem El-Assal, "Canada's Study-work-immigrate Advantage," CIC News, last modified November 15, 2019, https://www.cicnews.com/2019/11/canadas-study-work-immigrate-advantage-1113156.html#gs.e4aiq2.

9. El-Assal, "642,000 International Students.”

10. Carlo Handy Charles and Veronica Øverlid, "Tuition Hikes Exacerbating Existing Challenges for International Students," Policy Options, last modified July 3, 2020, https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/july-2020/tuition-hikes-exacerbating-existing-challenges-for-international-students/.

11. University of Toronto, Tuition Fee Schedules for Publicly-Funded Programs 2020-21, (University of Toronto, 2020), https://www.planningandbudget.utoronto.ca/Assets/Academic+Operations+Digital+Assets/Planning+$!26+Budget/lyanne/Tuition+Fees+2018-19/Tuition+Fee+Report+2020-21.pdf.

12. Alastair Sharp, "Ottawa Outlines $9 Billion in Pandemic Aid for Students," National Observer, last modified April 22, 2020, https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/04/22/news/ottawa-outlines-9-billion-pandemic-aid-students.

13. Handy Charles and Øverlid, "Tuition Hikes Exacerbating Existing Challenges for International Students."