‘Student visa is a temporary document to study,' international students told to leave Canada when visa expires

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has defended a stricter stance on international students, asserting that those studying in Canada on temporary visas should leave the country upon visa expiration unless they have obtained permanent residency. The Premier, who is Alberta’s current leader of the United Conservative Party, voiced her stance on X, stating that a student visa is a temporary document meant for education and suggesting that Alberta’s universities and colleges were primarily designed to serve local students.

She emphasized that if there is space for international students, the terms are straightforward: students should complete their education and then return to their home countries to build a life with it.

Smith’s remarks come as Canada grapples with the role of international students, the capacity of post-secondary institutions, and the connection between temporary immigration programs and permanent residency. In her comments, Smith defended Portage College, a post-secondary institution, against accusations of being a "diploma mill," although she acknowledged that there had been instances of unscrupulous operators setting up diploma-granting programs and exploiting students.

She also suggested that Portage College may have overstated the pathway from international study to permanent residency.

The Premier’s position is clear: students who enter Canada on study permits and are unable to secure permanent residency before their visa expires should leave the country. She believes that students who arrive in Canada with temporary status but cannot obtain permanent residency should be required to return home. Smith’s comments highlight the importance of maintaining a fair immigration system and underscore the distinction between temporary study status and permanent immigration, a distinction that has gained significance as Canada deals with the surge in temporary residents.