Dozens of cases of foreign students being denied their student visas by Immigration Citizenship Canada have been listed in CEGEPs in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, a situation denounced by educational institutions and elected officials.
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Francophones from Africa often face this problem.
Kadiatou Diallo submitted her application for a student visa last June and was scheduled to start a nursing course at Alma College. Her dream was shattered when she received Citizenship Immigration Canada’s response.
“My visa was rejected. I’m really, really disappointed and sad,” she lamented.
One of the reasons given: the fear that the student will not return to her country at the end of her school career.
“We see a contradiction in the news that in Quebec we have just announced the extension of tuition fees, including in computer science and nursing, because we are under-staffed,” said Frédéric Tremblay, Alma Uni’s communications consultant.
Bloc member for Jonquière, Mario Simard, is trying to move the file forward. It was a resident of his constituency who contacted him. This is Ms Diallo’s adoptive aunt who has supported her since she was very young.
“We know there’s a provincial program, the PEQ, that aims to keep foreign students in Quebec, and it’s weird there because we’re told by the federal government that we’re concerned they won’t go back to their country end of their studies. It’s totally illogical,” exclaimed Mr. Simard.
Another reason given was the lack of financial capacity. In the case of Kadiatou Diallo, her adoptive aunt has proven her ability to support her financially.
Not the only one
At Cégep de Jonquière, three fellows from Africa are struggling with the same problem.
“For example, if you come here and study, you have been rejected because of financial inability. It’s a similar situation to other students from other countries, although they don’t ask for as much evidence and the procedures aren’t as arduous,” said Sabrina Potvin, communications advisor at Cégep de Jonquière.
“I have the impression that the federal government discriminates against French-speaking students, it’s not even hidden,” claimed the Bloc member from Jonquière.
And the statistics speak for themselves. In 2021, Cégep de Chicoutimi recorded 77% student visa denials, 53% at Cégep de Jonquière and 57% at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. That’s a meager 9% compared to an English-speaking institution like McGill University.
“We have a labor shortage, we have a decline in French, and what the federal government is doing is once again hurting Francophone immigration by turning down students who would come and help us in a sector where we really need them,” he said.
“Ever since I was very young, I dreamed of going to Quebec to study and get a good job,” the young 25-year-old student recalls.
“The contribution of students from outside the region, from major centers but also from abroad, is important to the survival of our institutions in the region,” Mr Tremblay acknowledged.
What’s happening?
At the Collège d’Alma, 175 of almost 350 international applications come from Africa. However, of the 57 newly admitted international students, only about ten are French-speaking Africans.
“In our international recruitment efforts, the predominantly French-speaking African clientele accounts for about 80% of our efforts, but perhaps 5-10% of the results,” noted the communications consultant.
“If they drop the visa application and I get it, that would be really great,” says Kadiatou Diallo.
Mario Simard doesn’t want to stop with that. He will take further steps with the Minister to have the decision reviewed.
“We have decided me and Alexis-Brunelle Duceppe not to let a case happen and to report them whenever we are made aware,” he promised.