Over 3,500 international students arrived in North Bay, a small and sparsely populated town, leading to difficulties in finding affordable housing due to inflated rents driven by high inflation rates
The recent protests by Indian students in Canada over the housing crisis at Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario, have prompted college authorities to take action and arrange accommodation for the affected students. The protests began on September 5, and by September 7, an agreement had been reached between the students and college authorities to address the issue of affordable accommodation.
The housing crisis was exacerbated by the start of the new college year in Canada, which typically sees an influx of international students. In this case, over 3,500 international students arrived in North Bay, a small and sparsely populated town, leading to difficulties in finding affordable housing due to inflated rents driven by high inflation rates.
The Montreal Youth Students’ Organization (MYSO) supported the protesting students and referred to the situation as a ‘housing crisis.’ The college authorities have stated that they will provide housing for all students involved in the protests.
Canada had seen a significant increase in the number of international students in recent years, accepting a record number of 800,000 students the previous year, representing a 75 percent increase from five years ago
The housing crisis is particularly severe in cities like Toronto, where a six-figure annual income is necessary to afford a house
A college spokesperson mentioned that Canadore College is actively working with students to secure suitable accommodation, and further updates will be provided.
MYSO released a statement confirming the assurances from the college administration, including the arrangement of affordable accommodation, full fee refunds without deductions for students who wish to transfer elsewhere, and the availability of online classes to accommodate the rules of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The housing crisis issue comes at a time when the Canadian government is considering capping the number of foreign students entering Canada. Canadian Housing Minister Sean Fraser mentioned this as one of the options to be considered, though it was met with opposition from universities.
Canada had seen a significant increase in the number of international students in recent years, accepting a record number of 800,000 students the previous year, representing a 75 percent increase from five years ago. The housing crisis is particularly severe in cities like Toronto, where a six-figure annual income is necessary to afford a house.
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