According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada issued 682,060 international study permits in 2023, raising questions about the thoroughness of the vetting process.
As X user Darshan Maharaja points out, this staggering number translates to approximately 2,728 permits issued per working day, or 341 per hour, assuming a standard 8-hour workday. This ultimately equates to one study permit being granted every 10.55 seconds.
The sheer volume of permits issued raises concerns about the effectiveness of Canada’s immigration security screening procedures. A recent case involving Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national arrested in Quebec for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York, has brought this issue into sharp focus. Immigration Minister Marc Miller confirmed that Khan “received a student visa in May 2023 and arrived at Toronto’s Pearson airport on June 24, 2023.”
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Khan was arrested in Ormstown, Quebec, as he was allegedly about to be smuggled across the US border to carry out a terrorist attack for ISIS on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel. This incident, along with other recent terrorism-related cases, has prompted calls for a review of the immigration process.
Jewish community organizations have expressed alarm over these incidents. Michael Levitt, president of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, said, “Alarmingly, this latest incident once again raises questions about the rigorousness of our immigration process and vetting protocols.”
Minister Miller acknowledged the seriousness of security breaches but cautioned against compromising ongoing judicial processes.
“Let’s not be naive. A determined individual can gain access to this country, and that is for the security services inside our country to apprehend this person.” Miller added, “Our police forces did their jobs and arrested the individual. And we’ll let the court case take its course,” he said.
This situation raises serious concerns about the integrity of Canada’s immigration processes across multiple programs. In related news, a recent investigation by the Toronto Star revealed that the Canadian government is expediting applications for the Temporary Foreign Worker program by “directing processing officers to skip crucial steps designed to prevent fraud.”
Information for this story was found via Global News, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
