No progress with P.E.I. officials, but hate circulating online, immigration protesters say

Organizers behind a protest seeking exemptions for foreign workers from a recent change in P.E.I.'s immigration rules say they have not made any progress with the provincial government.

Some of the affected newcomers, most of whom are from India, held a news conference Thursday in Charlottetown to share their personal stories and clear up misinformation and hate they say is circulating online.

"We have been portrayed [with] the wrong picture online," Jaspreet Singh Siviasaid.

"It was never our notion to be entitled to [permanent residency] or be demanding. We are in that position where we can only request."

Caught in 'unfair' situation

Back in February, the P.E.I. government announced it would cut the number of people that it nominates for permanent residency in Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The number of nominees will fall by 25 per cent this year. The province has said it intends to focus nominations on sectors like health care and construction, where more workers are needed.

The largest reduction in nominations will come in the sales and service sector.

In response, protesters gathered in front of the provincial legislature for weeks. Some engaged in hunger strikes, which have since ended.

Why are foreign workers protesting on P.E.I.? CBC explains

4 months ago

Duration 3:14

For the past few weeks, protesters have been voicing their concerns about how the changes to P.E.I.'s provincial nominee program could leave many without a path to permanent residency. CBC reporter Steve Bruce breaks down who is protesting and how the province's immigration policy has changed.

Thursday, organizers told CBC News they are fighting for the 150 people on P.E.I. who holdpost-graduation work permits.

Those permits are available to international students who have recently graduated from a Canadian college or university and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work.

Many then use that time to gain the relevant work experience to apply for permanent residency, which is what thoseimpactedsay they were doing when the province announced it would no longer be focusing on food service and retail workers.

They are asking the provincial government to still consider their applications, even if their work experience is outside of the sectors the province is targeting.

We don't need hate or racism. Jaspreet Singh Sivia

"We have been trying to get a meeting, but they haven't responded to that," Singh Sivia said Thursday.

Last month, the province's Workforce Minister Jenn Redmond sent a letter to the organizerssaying the government has no plans to reverse course on its new policy.

In an email to CBC News, provincial officials said that position still has not changed, butstaff have met with more than 75 foreign nationals in personon immigration and workforce pathways.

Provincial issue, feds staying out

Charlottetown MP Sean Casey was also present at news conference. He did not speak at the podium, but took a question from the crowd aboutwhy the federal government is not doing anything.

"The decision that was made was a bad decision, but it was a decision that the province of Prince Edward Island was entitled to make, and the only level of government that can resolve this is the province of Prince Edward Island," Casey told the room.

Just yesterday, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King spoke at a news conference with the other Canadian premiers and addressed what he called "jurisdictional creep,"and askedthe federal government to stop meddlingin provincial matters.

"The minute the province of Prince Edward Island says to the federal government 'we need your help to resolve this,'I'll be there," Casey said.

Similar protests happened in Manitoba earlier this year before thatprovince requested extensions for work permits that were set to expire. Thefederal government grantedthat request.

The feds arealso trying to cutimmigration numbers across the country, citing efforts to ease a national housing shortage.

'Left with no choice'

Protest organizers used their time at the news conference to sharetheir personal stories, which included their commitment to staying in P.E.I., missing the deaths of close relatives while pursuing life in Canada, and feeling ashamed to return to their home countries.

"My father has taken loans to send me here for my better future and their future as well. I'm helping my family to pay off the loans that they have taken for me," one ofthe speakers, Navpreet Navpreet, told the room.

"I am left with no choice right now and I don't know what to do at this moment."

Speakers also addressed misinformation circulating online about the workers'intentions and what they are asking of the government.

"We are a vulnerable group of workers, we are not demanding, we are stuck here. We are the victims of unfair policies from the province," Singh Sivia said.

"We need your support and help, we don't need hate or racism from you."