IMMIGRATION MINISTERS ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO ALLOW
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO WORK OFF-CAMPUS IN NOVA SCOTIA
OTTAWA, November 22, 2005 — The Honourable
Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the
Honourable Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Immigration of Nova
Scotia today announced their officials have signed an
agreement that will allow international students to work
off-campus while enrolled at an eligible post-secondary
institution in the province.
Nova Scotia is the first province to sign such an agreement
under the terms of one of two recently expanded international
student initiatives that will make it easier and more
attractive for international students to study in Canada.
“International students enrich the life of every campus as
well as every community where they live by bringing with them
new ideas and cultures.” Minister Volpe said. “Off-campus work
agreements will make it easier for them to gain work
experience in the labour market, help strengthen their
connection with local communities, and enhance their Canadian
experience.”
The Government of Canada, in cooperation with the provinces
and territories, expanded two international student
initiatives across Canada in April. The first gives
international students a better chance to earn while they
learn by letting them work for businesses off-campus. The
second provides them with an even better understanding of
Canada and the Canadian labour market by letting them work in
their field of study outside of Montreal, Toronto, or
Vancouver, for up to two years after graduation.
According to Minister MacDonald, international students are
an important part of the province’s immigration efforts.
“These students become familiar with the province, make
friends, and because they get their degree or diploma in the
province, their credentials are immediately recognized by Nova
Scotia employers,” he said. “We hope this work experience will
encourage more students to stay, and help them find work and
succeed.”
The agreement with Nova Scotia means that eligible students
who retain a satisfactory academic standing can apply to work
for a maximum of 20 hours per week off-campus while classes
are in session and full-time during study breaks.
Before students can apply for their off-campus work
permits, the province must enter into agreements with each
interested university and the Nova Scotia Community College.
The agreements include monitoring and reporting requirements
to ensure students remain in satisfactory academic standing,
in full time studies.
Ineligible international students include exchange
students, students enrolled in English or French second
language programs, and students who have received awards from
the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, the Government
of Canada Awards Program or the Canadian International
Development Agency. Implementation of this program will begin
once federal government funding is approved.
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For further information (media only):
Stephen Heckbert
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 954-1064
Patrick Brownlow
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(902) 426-1419
Donna MacDonald
Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
(902) 424 3742, (902) 223 6334
macdondc@gov.ns.ca
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