In a recent press conference in Ottawa, the Canadianimmigration minister Marco Mendicino announced that all international students whoare enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) will be able to enterCanada, subject to certain conditions.
Certain requirements need to be met both by the DLI and the international student. A DLI is a college, university, or other education institution that hasbeen given permission by the government to accept international students. ACOVID-19 readiness plan that is approved by the relevant province or territoryis mandatory for a DLI. In a break from the past, the DLI now requires thereadiness plan even if the student in coming from USA.
The government reiterates that it intends to keep balancebetween welcoming individuals to help fuel economic growth, and the health andsafety of its citizens. The international students are welcome, but upon entrythere will be a self-quarantine for 14 days, which is mandatory.
Earlier, those students could come into Canada who had theirstudy permits approved before March 18. Inaddition, if coming from America, then also the student was allowed entry intoCanada. In addition, international students were allowed entry only if their program required in-class participation, such as workshops or labs.
In a world that had not seen a global epidemic for manycenturies, a world where individuals, companies, and governments were conceitedin their science and technology, COVID-19 has come as a wakeup call and hasupended almost everything. Now, in a scenario when one human was avoiding andfearing another human, one nation not willing to depend on another, Canada astutely turned the situation to its advantage.
Canada may have restricted entry into its borders, but itnever stopped the entry programs via which anyone can legally enter into Canada. Also, when rival countries are going on to dissuadeinternational people from coming to them; Canada has opened its gates evenwider than before. Canada is clear that it wants everyone it can lay its handson to fuel its economic growth once the COVID-19 virus issue gets resolved.