Juno News - Foreign protesters suffer MELTDOWN after receiving criticism from True North

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. 1.00

00:00:08.660 I'm going to step in your face. 0.99

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. 0.98

00:08:06.780 If you're about to keep doing this shit, keep posting, no, I'm not going to post. 0.98

00:08:11.660 I'm not going to step back. 1.00

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. 0.99

00:08:35.980 Even when all the fucking people don't want to help me. 0.99

00:08:39.040 I have a disability, too. 0.99

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.

Juno News - May 17, 2024

Foreign protesters suffer MELTDOWN after receiving criticism from True North

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