Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A protest for justice involving international students and graduates linked to Portage College has entered its 20th day, following a significant development on the previous day when Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers and the Calgary Police Service attended the demonstration.
The protest, which began over refused Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications, took a dramatic turn on its 19th day. According to information provided to National Times, CBSA officers conducted immigration-status checks and reportedly served some individuals with “Notice to Appear” documents under subsection 44(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
The exact number of individuals affected, the specific grounds for any immigration action and the full operational circumstances have not been independently verified by National Times. Authorities have not publicly provided a detailed explanation of their attendance at the protest site.
The students say their protest for justice was intended to peacefully draw attention to their refused PGWP applications. Participants maintain that the programs they completed should qualify them for PGWPs and are calling for federal authorities to review their individual cases.
Following the arrival of CBSA and police, however, some participants told National Times that they are now questioning how the protest for justice was organized and the advice they received while deciding whether to continue.
Several female protesters said they had previously been encouraged by individuals they described as local business representatives and people associated with media to continue the demonstration. According to the students, they were told that continuing the protest would increase public visibility and pressure authorities to consider their concerns. The students now question that advice, saying the people they believed were supporting the demonstration were not present when CBSA and police arrived.
Separately, some male participants told National Times that they feel their situation may have been used to generate publicity or advance interests unrelated to their individual immigration concerns. These statements are allegations and personal perceptions expressed by the participants and have not been independently verified by National Times.
Several students said they feel they were left to deal with the consequences after 20 days of sustained protest for justice.
The demonstration had also generated complaints from some local residents concerning activity on or near the roadway, traffic disruption and public-safety concerns. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether those complaints were a specific reason for their attendance at the site. Protesters, meanwhile, maintain that their actions were peaceful and intended to draw attention to their immigration concerns.
Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a subsection 44(2) report can form part of an immigration inadmissibility process where an officer believes there may be grounds to proceed. The legal consequences depend on the circumstances and immigration status of each individual. A Notice to Appear is not a finding of guilt and does not automatically mean that an individual will be removed from Canada. Any further action is subject to the applicable immigration process.
Portage College spokesperson Jaime Davies said the college is aware that some international graduate students have had their permits denied and that the institution is seeking clarification. Davies emphasized that decisions on PGWP applications are made by the federal immigration department.
“PGWP applications are assessed and decided solely by the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada),” Davies said.
“We remain committed to providing factual information and responding to graduate inquiries that are within the college’s role and keeping graduates informed as new information becomes available,” Davies added.
The college’s comments underscore the distinction between the institution’s role and that of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which assesses and decides PGWP applications.
As the protest for justice enters its 20th day, the students’ original demand for a review of their immigration cases is now accompanied by questions about the organization and support surrounding the demonstration. For students who say they came to Canada to study, invested in their education and hoped to build their futures in Canada, the latest developments have added another layer of uncertainty.
National Times has not independently verified allegations against any individual, business, media organization or other group. No party should be presumed responsible for wrongdoing based solely on claims made by protesters. National Times is seeking responses from CBSA, Calgary Police Service, Portage College and the individuals or groups referenced by the students regarding the authorities’ attendance, any documents issued, the circumstances surrounding the operation and the concerns raised by participants.
