Juno News - May 17, 2024


Foreign protesters suffer MELTDOWN after receiving criticism from True North


Episode Stats


Length

12 minutes

Words per minute

188.52718

Word count

2,386

Sentence count

165

Harmful content

Misogyny

2

sentences flagged

Hate speech

4

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

In this episode, we cover the protests in Prince Edward Island, where a group of Indian students and temporary foreign workers are demanding that they be given a right to work and stay in PEI. We talk to some of the protesters, and find out where their sense of entitlement comes from.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
00:00:00.000 All of us are international students.
00:00:01.540 Brother, we are done with them.
00:00:03.520 Brother, why did you post that video?
00:00:05.240 Are you from here?
00:00:06.140 Go back to Toronto, where you came from.
00:00:08.660 I'm going to step in your face. 0.89
00:00:10.280 We don't have any space for more of these people.
00:00:12.660 These people?
00:00:20.400 Alright, well, we just landed here in beautiful Prince Edward Island,
00:00:23.960 the country's smallest province,
00:00:25.620 but also one of our most historically important.
00:00:27.680 The reason we're here is because the focus of the country
00:00:30.240 has now turned to this little island
00:00:31.840 as it has become the battleground
00:00:33.840 for Canada's ongoing mass immigration debate.
00:00:36.960 For the past week, a large group of Indian students and workers
00:00:40.620 with expiring permits and relatively low skills in our economy
00:00:44.700 have been protesting the provincial government
00:00:46.900 and demanding that they be given a right to work and stay in PEI.
00:00:51.120 Of course, with the eventual idea that they would get permanent residency.
00:00:54.700 So far, the province has refused to budge
00:00:56.640 and they're not planning to change the provincial nominee program rules.
00:01:00.000 After all, I don't think PEI or any province in this country, for that matter,
00:01:03.420 really needs more Tim Hortons workers and retail service workers.
00:01:07.320 The foreign protesters are now staging another demonstration in downtown,
00:01:10.880 which we are about to go cover.
00:01:12.380 And they're saying that if the province does not meet their demands
00:01:14.840 by the end of the day today,
00:01:16.600 these protesters are now going to go on a hunger strike.
00:01:19.220 What exactly that is going to do for their cause, I'm not quite sure,
00:01:21.940 but it's one of the things we're here to figure out.
00:01:23.820 We're also here to figure out on what basis are these protesters here in the country right now.
00:01:28.800 Are they international students?
00:01:30.140 Are they temporary foreign workers?
00:01:31.800 Are they even here legally at the moment?
00:01:34.320 We're here to figure that out.
00:01:35.240 We're also here to figure out where their sense of entitlement comes from,
00:01:39.120 where they're making demands of a provincial government like PEI.
00:01:42.220 And we're also here to figure out whether or not these people will actually leave
00:01:46.300 if the province does not grant them what they are demanding,
00:01:49.240 if the province does not grant them a work extension.
00:01:52.800 Something tells me they're not going anywhere,
00:01:54.740 but that's what we're here to figure out.
00:01:56.040 I came as a student, international student,
00:02:10.300 and I did my study in Toronto, Ontario.
00:02:15.000 Then I made a decision to come in PEI for my better future.
00:02:19.660 And yeah, so over here,
00:02:22.020 then we got into industry of sales and service factor.
00:02:24.820 We had to do, you know, experience of one year
00:02:28.260 in order to be eligible for the PEI and all.
00:02:31.060 So basically, there are three categories.
00:02:33.480 So first one is like a critical stream
00:02:35.520 where we have to have an experience of six months.
00:02:38.320 Once we are done with the experience of six months,
00:02:40.240 we are eligible to get a PNP,
00:02:42.540 which stands for Provincial Nominee Program.
00:02:44.580 That's why we guys are over here.
00:02:46.520 And in the beginning of, I would say, January 2024,
00:02:52.860 they eradicated the sales and service factor.
00:02:54.540 And they eliminated us at all.
00:02:56.480 Like, we guys were never over here.
00:02:58.980 So that's one of the things
00:03:00.140 that we've been noticing about this protest.
00:03:02.380 We don't know, like, whether you guys were international students
00:03:05.680 or whether you guys were TFWs.
00:03:07.640 So were most of you, did most of you come as students?
00:03:10.880 Most of you came as students?
00:03:12.080 And did most of you study in Ontario first before coming to PEI?
00:03:15.440 Yeah.
00:03:15.840 So all of us are international students.
00:03:17.860 It's not only about, like, most of them come from Ontario.
00:03:21.580 Like, people came over here across Canada.
00:03:24.840 It doesn't matter whether they are from British Columbia
00:03:27.060 or from Alberta, Manitoba.
00:03:29.300 It doesn't matter.
00:03:29.800 Some of them are from Quebec as well.
00:03:32.120 So people choose PEI across Canada.
00:03:37.120 So, yeah, it's not for a single province.
00:03:40.540 Is everyone involved in this protest?
00:03:43.020 Did they all come as international students originally?
00:03:45.200 What was their basis for coming to Canada in the first place?
00:03:47.280 Yes, so basis of them was they came in as international students
00:03:53.740 on study permits, but the government allows us,
00:03:57.900 the provincial governments and federal government.
00:04:00.440 There are pathways for permanent residency.
00:04:03.520 Those are open for international students,
00:04:05.520 and it is our right to choose those pathways.
00:04:09.360 The province, obviously, is, they have a duty
00:04:12.500 to take care of PEI citizens first.
00:04:16.020 You would agree with that, right?
00:04:18.180 I mean, if the province says, listen, there are too many people here,
00:04:21.620 we have an abundance of people with a set of skills
00:04:24.160 that we don't need right now in the province,
00:04:25.980 they have a right to say, we can't have you guys live here.
00:04:30.100 Do you agree with that?
00:04:31.280 No, I don't agree with that at all because we have been here.
00:04:35.480 So there were programs here with only six months
00:04:39.060 of probation period from an employer.
00:04:41.320 You were nominated for your provincial nominee program.
00:04:44.180 So why were those programs introduced at the first place then?
00:04:48.660 Before why were those programs started?
00:04:51.160 We came into those programs with hopes.
00:04:54.200 So those programs are PR pathways for us.
00:04:57.260 That is what we came here for.
00:04:59.180 And after changing the rules, they can't say,
00:05:01.560 now you have to leave because we are already here.
00:05:04.380 We are paying taxes here.
00:05:05.560 We are living here and we have already got one or more one year
00:05:11.420 or two years of experience here.
00:05:13.700 We have devoted our time, our money, and we have devoted everything here.
00:05:19.180 So what happens then if the government doesn't extend your permits?
00:05:22.780 Will you leave or will you stay?
00:05:24.840 So we wouldn't be able to stay as our work permits expire.
00:05:29.940 We wouldn't be having jobs.
00:05:32.060 We wouldn't have enough food on the table.
00:05:34.460 We would starve here without any jobs.
00:05:37.360 So we will be fighting till the end.
00:05:40.780 We are here to raise our voices till it is heard by the government.
00:05:46.140 So we wouldn't be leaving that easy.
00:05:50.080 We want to fight till our last breath.
00:05:53.960 Now, if there are too many people with service industry skills,
00:06:00.040 whether that be in the retail or in food and coffee and whatever,
00:06:05.420 where will you guys work with your skills if there are already too many here?
00:06:09.360 That's a question I think people are curious to know about.
00:06:11.820 Let's say there's an apprenticeship, right?
00:06:14.200 You want, if you want to go in a skills job, let's say carpenter or any job,
00:06:20.380 at least you need six months of training in it.
00:06:24.780 Or you need to work a labor, then you will go on as a promoted as a skilled job.
00:06:29.480 So for that, how could we at least need a time for that?
00:06:33.120 Like two months ago, our permit extension, they were saying that we are accepted.
00:06:37.720 People, let's say you say us, we are without skilled people.
00:06:41.400 So we were accepted two months ago.
00:06:44.780 But now they say only skilled people are accepted.
00:06:47.420 So let them give us a time to be skilled.
00:06:50.560 So at least we need six months to get our skills.
00:06:53.680 So it is drastically impacting not only us, but also the employees and also the employers.
00:06:59.760 Brother, we are done with them.
00:07:01.800 Brother, why did you post that video?
00:07:04.140 You didn't even know what's happening here.
00:07:06.620 How much hate did you spread with that video?
00:07:08.320 Are you aware of that?
00:07:09.580 No, I'm posting a video based on what was publicly available.
00:07:12.560 That's why we're here to ask you questions.
00:07:14.020 Like, thank you for taking your time to come in here.
00:07:16.380 You should have contacted us first so you would know what's happening here.
00:07:19.640 I've got a question since you brought up the video.
00:07:21.080 Do you think that it's right to try to get people to try to censor Canadians' opinions on your protest?
00:07:26.900 Then brother, you should know what's protest about.
00:07:29.500 You shouldn't post without protest.
00:07:30.640 What did I say about the protest that was not accurate?
00:07:33.140 You said that you should deport them.
00:07:35.400 Who are you to make that decision?
00:07:37.100 Well, if you are out of, if there's no space in Prince Edward Island for more service workers.
00:07:41.420 Who are you to decide that, brother?
00:07:42.940 Who are you to decide?
00:07:43.760 How would you know?
00:07:44.360 Are you from here?
00:07:45.440 I know you're from here.
00:07:45.960 Are you from here?
00:07:46.900 I am here.
00:07:47.480 I'm here since one and a half year.
00:07:48.800 Are you here since one and a half year?
00:07:50.340 No, but I am a Canadian.
00:07:51.680 So that is.
00:07:53.120 They are here for that.
00:07:54.260 That's why we are talking to them.
00:07:55.420 And we are done with you.
00:07:56.240 Sit, guys.
00:07:57.160 Have your food.
00:07:57.980 We are done with them.
00:07:59.260 I'm Canadian.
00:08:00.800 I live here.
00:08:02.140 These are my people, too.
00:08:03.980 They're not just yours.
00:08:05.280 No, I'm not claiming they're mine at all.
00:08:06.780 If you're about to keep doing this shit, keep posting, no, I'm not going to post.
00:08:11.660 I'm not going to step back.
00:08:13.520 I'm going to step in your face. 0.89
00:08:15.700 Because you have no right.
00:08:17.460 If you don't have the information, the accurate information.
00:08:20.720 What did I get wrong about the video?
00:08:22.100 You got everything wrong.
00:08:22.960 Okay, tell me then.
00:08:24.000 You're saying Indians are holding Canada hostage.
00:08:26.760 It's not true.
00:08:27.500 When did I say they were holding Canada hostage?
00:08:29.120 I said that there is no more space in Bridgewater Island for service workers.
00:08:33.060 There's no space for anybody on this island.
00:08:35.300 Trust me.
00:08:35.980 Even when all the fucking people don't want to help me. 0.91
00:08:39.040 I have a disability, too.
00:08:41.180 But nobody on this island wants to help me as a person.
00:08:44.060 My own people.
00:08:44.800 We're here to speak with Islanders about the situation.
00:08:48.420 And I'm glad we're speaking.
00:08:49.100 You said that there is no more space in this island.
00:08:51.100 There's no space for anybody.
00:08:52.340 That's including you.
00:08:53.780 Right.
00:08:54.100 So go back to Toronto, where you came from.
00:08:56.580 The main organizer.
00:08:57.300 If we get permission from him so that you guys can post it.
00:09:00.720 Otherwise, we're going to let you know.
00:09:02.320 Sorry.
00:09:02.720 So if the organizer doesn't want us to upload our own video, we're not going to upload our
00:09:08.180 video?
00:09:08.560 Oh, yeah.
00:09:09.380 I'm so sorry about that.
00:09:10.660 That's what I was going to do.
00:09:11.660 Okay, well, I mean, yeah, well, we recorded it, so, I mean, it's, yeah, yeah, no, I know,
00:09:17.160 but it's not going to be, it's not going to be a thing where we're not going to upload
00:09:21.740 the video.
00:09:22.480 Will you say the fact that maybe the province says we don't, we don't have any space for
00:09:25.560 more of these people?
00:09:27.140 These people?
00:09:28.100 Would you care to clarify what you mean by these people?
00:09:31.100 Well, the protesters.
00:09:32.200 Okay.
00:09:33.220 Because you might want to watch your language a little bit, too.
00:09:36.040 Did I say something wrong?
00:09:36.960 Yes, those people is not appropriate.
00:09:39.720 Okay.
00:09:39.920 They're protesting, they have the right to do that, and making rules after the fact
00:09:45.660 is not a good thing to do.
00:09:48.680 So they came in under a program that said this work would be eligible work.
00:09:54.120 You can't change the game midway.
00:09:56.300 You can't say in a baseball game, oh, I'm not going to play nine innings, let's only do
00:10:00.300 six.
00:10:01.080 Do you think that the country needs more people who are in the service industry?
00:10:05.840 Do you think the province needs more people who are working in the service industry?
00:10:07.740 That's what their plan is to recruit for that anymore, or to have that be a possible path
00:10:13.480 to citizenship, but you can't change the rules in the middle of the game.
00:10:20.460 That's the issue.
00:10:21.540 Do you feel like there's a worker shortage in PEI and you need more people?
00:10:24.400 I think so, yeah.
00:10:25.400 Yeah.
00:10:25.580 What about housing?
00:10:27.760 Is housing a major issue in this province?
00:10:29.740 Does it feel as though there's not enough housing supply?
00:10:32.800 I think certainly our population growth in the last five years or so I think has outpaced
00:10:38.800 the increase of the housing stock.
00:10:41.200 So there has to be a little bit of leveling out somehow.
00:10:44.760 I don't know what the solution is though.
00:10:46.700 Our population of older than 60 is growing and they're going to need more care and they're
00:10:54.680 going to be exiting the workforce.
00:10:56.840 Well, there you have it.
00:10:58.160 All right.
00:10:58.580 So we've come all the way to Charlottetown to report on this protest, which is receiving
00:11:03.200 national news right now.
00:11:05.920 It's really become one of the focuses of the country because the mass immigration debate
00:11:10.180 is playing out here in the streets of Charlottetown.
00:11:13.120 We went here to interview these people.
00:11:16.000 We found some very interesting information, like, for example, that these people were international
00:11:21.040 students who came to study in Ontario before coming out to PEI to get a permanent residency
00:11:27.760 position.
00:11:28.860 That's how they've come to this country. 1.00
00:11:30.900 They are, in fact, international students.
00:11:32.700 They've come through the diploma mill scheme in this country and now they are demanding to 1.00
00:11:38.540 be able to stay in this country, demanding that the provincial government change their
00:11:42.480 rules to allow them, without any required skills in the economy, to be permanent residents 0.99
00:11:48.060 here in PEI.
00:11:49.400 Quite the interaction we had with the protest organizer and that pink-haired radical activist
00:11:55.340 who decided to get in our way as well and to get up in my face, tell me that I had to
00:11:59.180 go home, as a matter of fact.
00:12:00.880 It was also Rupinder, the leader of the protest, who, of course, is not from Canada.
00:12:05.600 He is not a Canadian, he's not a permanent resident here, but he asked if I was from
00:12:11.200 here.
00:12:11.620 Who are you to decide?
00:12:12.460 How would you know?
00:12:13.040 Are you from here?
00:12:14.020 I think the reality is I know more about this country than he does and I have more of a
00:12:17.320 right to talk about what's going on in this country than he does.
00:12:20.940 Well, that wraps up our coverage here of the Indian migrant protest taking place in Charlottetown
00:12:25.560 here in PEI.
00:12:26.700 We're going to be back out on the streets of Charlottetown tomorrow to talk about the housing
00:12:31.180 crisis here and the rise in population that has made housing unaffordable in this province.
00:12:37.600 Signing off, Harrison Falk.