In a recent press conference in Ottawa, the Canadian immigration minister Marco Mendicino announced that all international students who are enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) will be able to enter Canada, 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 has been given permission by the government to accept international students. A COVID-19 readiness plan that is approved by the relevant province or territory is mandatory for a DLI. In a break from the past, the DLI now requires the readiness plan even if the student in coming from USA.
The government reiterates that it intends to keep balance between welcoming individuals to help fuel economic growth, and the health and safety of its citizens. The international students are welcome, but upon entry there will be a self-quarantine for 14 days, which is mandatory.
Earlier, those students could come into Canada who had their study permits approved before March 18. In addition, if coming from America, then also the student was allowed entry into Canada. 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 many centuries, a world where individuals, companies, and governments were conceited in their science and technology, COVID-19 has come as a wakeup call and has upended almost everything. Now, in a scenario when one human was avoiding and fearing 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 it
never stopped the entry programs via which anyone can legally enter into Canada. Also, when rival countries are going on to dissuade
international people from coming to them; Canada has opened its gates even
wider than before. Canada is clear that it wants everyone it can lay its hands
on to fuel its economic growth once the COVID-19 virus issue gets resolved.