Now Reading: Ontario cuts social assistance to temporary visa holders
-
01
Ontario cuts social assistance to temporary visa holders
Ontario’s government has cut off social assistance to people living in Canada on temporary visas, including international students and work permit holders. The new rules also bar those living illegally in the…
The Story in Brief
Ontario’s government has cut off social assistance to people living in Canada on temporary visas, including international students and work permit holders. The new rules also bar those living illegally in the country. Minister Michael Parsa announced the change on Thursday, saying it protects taxpayer money and ensures programmes support only people legally authorised to live in Canada.
The decision follows a National Post report that an Ontario tribunal allowed a person who had overstayed a work permit since 1997 to claim benefits. Premier Doug Ford had vowed to close the loophole. The amended regulations take effect immediately and cover anyone authorised to stay only temporarily, such as visitors and tourists.
The Indian Opinion
The usual alarm about Canada turning anti-immigrant misses the point. Ontario is tightening welfare, not visas. International students and work permit holders are here to work or study, not collect benefits. The policy shift follows a tribunal that gave illegal overstayers access to funds, a valid loophole to close. But singling out temporary residents feeds a broader narrative against newcomers. The real test will be whether other Canadian provinces copy Ontario, and whether this affects the flow of Indian students next year.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
