News
Trudeau Shutters Fast-Track Student Visa Program
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ordered an immediate end to the highly controversial fast-track study visa program after major blowback over unvetted criminals entering Canada through the student visa program. This major policy decision will impact many overseas students, especially those from India.
International students are not required to get police certificates from law enforcement in their home countries for a student visa before coming to Canada, something critics say needs to change.
According to IRCC data, the number of international students with active student visas in Canada will rise to 1,040,985 in 2023, a 195% increase from 352,305 in 2015, when the Liberal government first took office.
The processing time for students applying through the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was much shorter, and acceptance rates were higher. This will change if Canada ends the scheme on Friday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X, “Canada would be granting 35% fewer international student permits this year.” And next year, that figure will drop by another 10%.”
“Immigration benefits our economy, but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” he wrote in the post as the Canadian government announced plans to decrease the number of temporary residents.
The move comes during an ongoing diplomatic spat between India and Canada.
According to the Indian High Commission, India is the top source country for foreign students, with an estimated 4,27,000 Indian students studying in Canada.
“Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits,” Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Friday.
According to the announcement, the program aims to “strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience. ”
According to the statement, the SDS was launched in 2018 to expedite the processing of eligible post-secondary students. It was later expanded to include legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
According to the announcement, a comparable Nigeria Student Express (NSE) for potential Nigerian university students has also stopped, along with the SDS. Both the SDS and the NSE projects ended on Friday.
The IRCC set a cut-off deadline of 2:00 p.m. ET on Friday (00:30 IST Saturday) and stated that all valid SDS and NSE applications submitted before that time will be processed under these streams.
However, the IRCC stated that prospective students can still apply via the standard study permit stream, which accepts Guaranteed Investment Certificates as proof of financial assistance.
Immigrationnewscanada.ca created the Student Direct Stream visa to streamline and expedite the study permit application procedure for students from specific nations.
It noted that the expedited method enabled eligible applicants from countries such as India, China, and the Philippines to enter Canada more quickly, usually within a few weeks, rather than waiting for the ordinary processing time, which may take several months.
According to another portal, moving2canada.com, “2024 has been a challenging year for prospective students wishing to study in Canada, with major decreases to the number of international students Canada will allow each year. Many argue that fast-tracking SDS and NSE applications is a way to accept as many students as possible.
Under SDS, Indian students’ applications were processed within 20 business days, but the portal now says it might take up to eight weeks.
Not only is Trudeau changing its immigration policy for international students, but also for low-skilled workers, many of whom come from India.
On October 24, Immigration Minister Marc Miller revealed the current immigration policy, stating that Canada will admit around 3,95,000 permanent residents in 2025, a decrease of nearly 20% from the 4,85,000 expected this year.
The plan also includes a target for temporary immigrants, such as international students and foreign workers. Their numbers are predicted to fall to around 4,46,000 in 2025 and 2026 from approximately 8,00,000 this year.
The new policy suggests that Canada will only accept 17,400 additional non-permanent residents by 2027.
News
Trudeau Government Forces Port Workers Back to Work
The Trudeau government has invoked federal authority to halt union strike actions at the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and Montreal, claiming economic damage and the loss of trading partners.
This is the second time in a few months that the Trudeau government has intervened to end a labor conflict. In August, Trudeau ordered work stoppages at the country’s two main railway corporations to cease.
Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon stated that the supply chain has been damaged and that it will take weeks to clear the container congestion affecting Canadian and US companies. He informed reporters that he had ordered the country’s industrial relations board to end the strike and impose binding arbitration.
“As the economic losses threaten the country and begin to mount, it is up to the government to ensure that … we can get on with the economic life of this country and avoid layoffs and other carnage,” he stated during a news conference.
“Canadians have a limited tolerance right now for economic self-harm.”
The issue, which MacKinnon claimed was hurting more than C$1.3 billion ($932 million) in goods every day, has already hampered shipments of canola oil, forest products, and other goods. Business organizations applauded the announcement.
Union Strike Action Heads to Court
International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514, representing supervisory longshore workers at the core of the British Columbia conflict, has announced that it will submit a legal challenge to the minister’s instructions.
“We will fight this order in the courts,” stated Frank Morena, president of ILWU Local 514.
“And we will not forget how these employers and this federal Liberal government have attacked not only the ILWU but all of labor.”
MacKinnon said the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which is independent but reports to Ottawa, will issue the required orders in a few days.
The left-leaning government has previously declared that it prefers to resolve labor problems through collective bargaining. MacKinnon said he was forced to interfere when federal mediators reported that discussions in Montreal and Vancouver had reached a stalemate.
The left-of-center opposition New Democrats, a pro-union group supporting the minority Liberal administration, accused Ottawa of giving in to employers.
“Back-to-work orders suppress wages for all Canadians, so billionaires get richer, and the rest of us fall further behind,” leader Jagmeet Singh said in a statement but did not mention bringing the Liberals down.
Trudeau Government Sends Dangerous Message
The Teamsters union, representing employees at the two major train companies, has launched court challenges to labor board judgments that ordered them back to work.
“The government is sending a dangerous message: employers can bypass meaningful negotiations, lock out their workers, and wait for political intervention to secure a more favorable deal,” the Canadian Labour Congress said.
After rejecting a final offer for a new labor deal, the Montreal Longshoremen’s Union called a lockout. As a result, canola oil and forest products exports from West Coast ports, including Vancouver, have ceased.
“These work stoppages are impacting our supply chain, hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs, our economy, and our reputation as a reliable international trading partner,” said MacKinnon, who said employers and unions had not acted quickly enough.
“I’ve directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order that all operations and duties at the ports resume and to assist the parties in settling their collective agreements by imposing final and binding arbitration,” he told reporters.
Related News:
Air Canada Avoids Strike by Negotiating Last-Minute Deal
Air Canada Avoids Strikes by Negotiating Last-Minute Deals with the Pilots’ Union.
News
TikTok Initiates Integration With Lemon8 Amid Impending US Ban
(VOR News) – On Tuesday, a TikTok business announcement was made public that stated users will be able to quickly access Lemon8, a more contemporary social networking application developed by ByteDance, using their TikTok account.
ByteDance asserts that the connection will facilitate the sharing of photographs among users and will also allow for the cross-sharing of photo content between other applications once it is established. ByteDance communicated this to us.
Despite the fact that Lemon8 will remain a distinct application, the two platforms will share a user profile to facilitate communication.
Why does TikTok do this? Lemon8 survived.
Content creators will have the capacity to access both sites with a single account, thereby enhancing convenience. One of its greatest advantages is this.
Lemon8 initiated operations in Japan in 2020, and by 2021, the company had substantially expanded its operations to include markets in the United States of America and Southeast Asia. Users have the ability to access slide shows, photo collections, and the ability to peruse material through “Following” and “For You” feeds on this platform, which is similar to their experience on Pinterest and Instagram.
Furthermore, the capacity to navigate through information is another noteworthy characteristic. A vast array of creative tools, including filters, effects, decals, text templates, and more, are available to Lemon8 users. The instruments are at their disposal.
One of the statements that the company disseminated was as follows: “At TikTok, we are dedicated to the ongoing development of our platform in order to better serve our creators.” The inclusion of Lemon8 among a variety of other photo-sharing websites is indicative of our dedication to improving the experience we offer producers.
There is no doubt in our minds that the introduction of these new tools will not only improve the creative output of individuals but also fortify the community, both of which will ultimately benefit all parties involved.
TikTok may be merging with Lemon8, as TechCrunch revealed in August 2023.
The disclosure does not startle individuals. There is a probability that TikTok will be banned in the United States concurrently with the introduction of this new feature.
By positioning Lemon8 as a companion app to TikTok, ByteDance intends to persuade producers to register for the new platform without requiring them to do so independently. It is feasible that this could serve as an approach to facilitate the transition for creators.
Conversely, it is feasible that the prohibition that TikTok has implemented would extend to other applications that are under the ownership of ByteDance, including Lemon8.
This is particularly relevant in light of the fact that the primary concern that legislators have with TikTok is the possession of the platform by Chinese firms.
Donald Trump’s recent victory may undoubtedly influence the future trajectory of TikTok. Despite the fact that Trump was the one who initially proposed making the program unlawful during his first term in office, the president-elect opted to pursue a different course of action during his campaign for the presidency in 2024.
This remains the case, despite the fact that Trump was the one who initially proposed the app’s prohibition. In the past, he had requested that his supporters vote for him if they opposed the program’s prohibition; however, he is now apprehensive that a ban on TikTok will be advantageous to Meta.
TikTok has only recently begun to accept content in the form of photographs, which is another explanation for this relationship.
This is for certain the case, despite the fact that the short-video format was the primary factor in its initial success. In 2022, TikTok introduced the ability to upload images and began testing TikTok Notes, an application that is specifically designed for photo sharing. Both of these events occurred simultaneously in the same year.
SOURCE: TC
SEE ALSO:
Former NDP Leader Says Trudeau is Top on Trumps Hit List
Trump Appoints Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Policy in the Incoming Government.
News
Trump Appoints Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Policy in the Incoming Government.
(VOR News) – Donald Trump, who is the incoming president, has appointed Stephen Miller, who is known for his hardline views on immigration, to the position of deputy director of policy during his administration.
Stephen Miller has served as an advisor to Trump for a considerable amount of time, and Trump has appointed him to this position.
Miller’s selection was confirmed by Vice President-elect JD Vance on Monday, when he tweeted a message of congratulations to Stephen Miller on X. The message was distributed on Twitter. In the message, Vance made the statement, “This is another fantastic pick by the president.”
Stephen Miller reported on the announcement first from Vance.
Stephen Miller is one of the employees who has been with Trump since the beginning of his first campaign for the White House. He is one of the staff members who has been with Trump for the longest period of time among those who have collaborated with him.
During the first term of President Trump’s presidency, he served as a significant adviser, and it is noteworthy that he was a prominent player in many of the policy decisions that President Trump has made, particularly with regard to immigration. Particularly important is the fact that he worked directly with President Trump.
A excellent example of this is the decision that President Trump made in 2018 to launch a deterrence program that would result in the separation of thousands This decision is a fantastic demonstration of it.
Miller was typically the public face of the principles that Trump fought for during the first year that he was in office and during his campaigns. He was also the face of the ideals that he campaigned for.
Additionally, Stephen Miller has been a contributor to the drafting of a considerable number of Trump’s speeches that are politically conservative. These speeches were delivered by this individual.
Following Stephen Miller’s resignation from his position as President of the White House, he has served in the capacity of President of America First Legal throughout this entire time.
America First Legal, a conservative organization, protects individual rights in contrast to the American Civil Liberties Union. A group of individuals who had previously worked as advisors to President Trump came together to start this organization.
This organization’s mission is to raise questions about issues such as problems regarding freedom of speech and religion, as well as concerns regarding national security.
Media, universities, and Stephen Miller all have issues.
In addition, he was a frequent presence during Trump’s campaign this year, traveling on his plane and frequently speaking in front of Trump at the pre-shows and at his rallies. He was also a frequent participant in campaign speeches. Moreover, he was a frequent speaker at rallies that were held by Trump.
Additionally, he provided a significant amount of money to the campaign that was being run. They applauded Stephen Miller at the rally that Trump hosted at Madison Square Garden in the last stretch of the race.
A significant number of people attended the rally and clapped for Stephen Miller. After the events that he described as “decades of abuse that has been heaped upon the good people of this nation — their jobs looted and stolen from them and shipped to Mexico, Asia, and foreign countries,” he addressed the audience that had gathered and declared, “Your salvation is at hand.”
He said this in response to the atrocities that had transpired. That which Stephen Miller had to say was received with a great deal of attention from the people in the crowd.
Their loved ones were murdered by criminal gangs, illegal immigrants, and thugs who had no right to be in this nation. These individuals had no grounds for being here. They were not qualified to be in this country in any way.
The election is “a choice between betrayal and renewal, between self-destruction and salvation, between the failure of America or the triumph of America,” he continued. “We stand here today at a crossroads,” he said, pointing out that the election represents “a choice between the failure of America or the triumph of America.”
What he was alluding to was a reference to the fact that both candidates were running for office at the same time.
SOURCE: AP
SEE ALSO:
Trudeau Condemned in India By Sikhs and Hindus
Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video
Trudeau Shutters Fast-Track Student Visa Program
-
Tech3 weeks ago
Apple Unveiled A Fresh Glimpse Of Their AI Featuring ChatGPT Integration.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Connection Problems With The App Store Are Stopping Customers From Downloading Apps.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
The Meta Foundation Launches a New Anti-Sextortion Campaign on Instagram.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Adobe Commences The Implementation Of AI Video Tools, Which Poses A Challenge To OpenAI And Meta.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Appeals Court Delays Order For Google To Open Its App Store In Antitrust Case
-
Business4 weeks ago
Arthur Hayes Predicts Bitcoin Will “Rise Stupendously” When Middle East Conflict Escalates.