More Indian students to be admitted into Canada

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said on Friday that more foreign students and fewer foreign workers will be admitted into Canada this year.

Kenney, who visited India last month, hinted that there will be significant increase in the number of students from India admitted into Canada.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said on Friday that more foreign students and fewer foreign workers will be admitted into Canada this year.

Kenney, who visited India last month, hinted that there will be significant increase in the number of students from India admitted into Canada.

At present, as less as 3,000 Indian students are admitted into Canadian institutions every year. The numbers are comparatively lesser to countries like Australia and the US which admitted about 40,000 and 80,000 Indian students respectively.

Minister Kenney said that in comparison to Canada, Australia admitted about ten times more students from Indian every year.

Kenney said in front of a gathering of about 1,500 qualified new immigrants who have not succeeded in finding jobs in their respective fields that Canada is looking to Asia as well as India for getting potential students and that universities in Canada are happy to get them.

According to the figures for 2007 released by the government, 176,116 foreign students enrolled during the year in Canadian institutions.

The Canadian government announced last year that students from foreign nations can seek work permit and after completing their graduation they can seek permanent residence.

The minister said that the country is not receiving enough foreign students, without specifying as to how many more foreign students will be admitted into Canada this year.

Foreign students are a source of huge income for Canadian Universities due to high fee structure for international students.

The immigration minister pointed out that in addition to bringing revenue to Canada, international students can easily be given permanent residence and later citizenship because their possess Canadian experience and understand the Canadian market.

The minister also said that in spite of the economic downturn, Canada admitted an exceptional number of permanent as well as temporary residents in 2008. He said that at a time when countries are talking of fewer immigrants intake, he is pleased to announce that Canada increased the number of new permanent residents to Canada.

He said that in the year 2008, 247,202 permanent residents were admitted into Canada, which was as per the planned yearly quota by the government of 240,000 to 265,000.

Kenney said that in addition to this, 193,061 temporary foreign workers and 79,459 international students were admitted to Canada.

However, Kenney said that there might be significant reduction in the number of temporary foreign workers admitted into Canada during this economic crisis year.