As Canada-India tensions rise, Canadian colleges seek to reassure students
Reuters, TORONTO/AMRITSAR, India, Oct. 5 – In an effort to minimise the impact on a thriving industry, Canadian colleges are assuring Indian students of their safety and providing assistance to deal with the uncertainty brought on by the diplomatic crisis between the two nations.
Some students are considering postponing their classes as Canadian schools get ready to start the new semester, while others are determining if higher education would suffer as a result of the current situation.
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested that New Delhi may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist supporter in British Columbia, relations between India and Canada started to sour. India vehemently refutes the accusation.
With over 40% of all study permits issued, India is by far the greatest source of international students in Canada’s rapidly expanding international education sector. The annual economic impact of international students in Canada is around $20 billion ($14.6 billion).