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2004-04
CANADA AND NEW BRUNSWICK ANNOUNCE NEW STUDENT PILOT PROJECT
FREDERICTON, March 18, 2004 — Judy Sgro, Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration, and Peter Mesheau, Minister of Business New Brunswick,
today announced a two-year pilot project that will allow international
students to work off campus.
“I am pleased that Canada and New Brunswick enjoy such a positive
and cooperative relationship on immigration matters,” said Minister
Sgro. “The pilot project on international students will improve
the global competitiveness of New Brunswick’s post-secondary academic
institutions,” she added.
“New Brunswick post-secondary institutions will be made even more
attractive to international students if they have the opportunity to make
money while in school and gain some experience in the Canadian labour
market,” said Minister Mesheau. “The new ideas, talents and
cultures that international students bring with them enrich campus life
at every institution they attend.”
Under the pilot project, full-time international students will be able
to apply for an open work permit if they have completed one year of study
at a participating public college or university in New Brunswick. They
will be permitted to work off campus for up to 20 hours a week while
they are registered as full-time students. Full-time international students
in Canada are currently only allowed to work on the campus of the institution
at which they are registered, except in Manitoba, which has a similar
pilot project in place.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will issue work permits to eligible
international students for a period of up to one year at a time. Business
New Brunswick will ensure the pilot project is implemented in a consistent
manner throughout the province. New Brunswick’s publicly funded post-secondary
institutions have agreed to monitor student compliance with the project
guidelines. Business New Brunswick will act in an advisory capacity and
facilitate communications with CIC.
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For more information (media only):
Simone Mac Andrew
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 954-1064
Claire Despins
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 941-7035
Sarah Ketcheson
Communications
Business New Brunswick
(506) 444-4983
Visit the Business New Brunswick Web site: http://www.gnb.ca/0398/index-e.asp
![line](/web/20061026005637im_/http://www.cic.gc.ca/images/common/rule.gif)
BACKGROUNDER
Canada–New Brunswick
Off-Campus Work Agreement
for International Students
The Government of Canada is implementing a series of pilot projects designed
to make Canada a destination of choice for international students and
to test new approaches to attracting them to study in Canada. The pilot
projects are designed to enhance the global competitiveness of Canada’s
post-secondary academic institutions while giving international students
an opportunity to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Canadian
society.
Current Rules for International Students
Currently, full-time international students are only allowed to work
on the campus of the institution at which they are registered unless they
have a work permit. The employer can be the institution, the faculty,
the student organization, a private business or a private contractor providing
services to the institution on the campus.
The Canada–New Brunswick Off-Campus Work Agreement for International
Students
Under the agreement, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will issue
open work permits to international students registered at an eligible
post-secondary institution in New Brunswick, and allow them to work up
to 20 hours a week.
International students registered at eligible post-secondary institutions
can work for an employer anywhere within the province of New Brunswick.
The work permit can be renewed after one year provided the international
student continues to meet the eligibility requirements.
Open work permits can be issued to international students who:
- have completed a full academic session of study (two consecutive terms)
within the previous 12 months at a participating institution;
- have been and are registered for full-time studies;
- have signed a consent form for the release of personal information
and also have a letter of support from the institution;
- maintain an acceptable academic standing;
- continue to fulfil the terms of their study permits; and
- have not been previously reported for non-compliance with pilot project
conditions.
New Brunswick will ensure the pilot is implemented equally across the
province and will sign memorandums of understanding with participating
institutions. It will also work with these institutions to ensure all
students and employers are aware of how the project works.
Participating institutions will arrange to have each participating student
sign a contract indicating that they understand the terms of the pilot
and consent to the release of personal information to CIC and the province.
Each institution will also ensure that participating students meet the
eligibility criteria, and will enforce compliance by not supporting the
renewal of students who fail to meet these criteria. As well, post-secondary
institutions will verify the status and academic standing of all participating
students once a year and issue reports to the project coordinator once
each academic term.
This is the second student pilot project implemented in New Brunswick.
The first pilot allowed post-graduate students to work in New Brunswick
in their field of study for two years after graduation.
There are approximately 2,000 international students currently registered
in full-time studies at public post-secondary institutions in New Brunswick.
The Benefits of International Students
There are many benefits for Canada to hosting international students.
While studying, talented international students diversify Canadian campuses
by facilitating the exchange of ideas and information from around the
world, and provide increased income for Canadian institutions.
When international students return to their own countries, they take
with them a better appreciation of Canada, enhancing future possibilities
for increased trade and diplomatic linkages. International students who
choose to stay in Canada after graduation are an important pool of skilled
workers who already possess Canadian credentials, are proficient in at
least one official language, and have already integrated into Canadian
society.
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