Canada: Ottawa blocks the entry of many French-speaking students who have been accepted in Quebec

Persons arriving in Québec. Half of the French-speaking students who have been accepted by Quebec universities are currently denied a visa to stay and enter the territory by Canada. Geoff Robins / AFP

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Half of the French-speaking students who have been accepted by Quebec universities are refused a visa to stay and enter the territory by Canada. A proportion that climbs to 72% for African students who can not access their educational institution, according to a study by the Institut du Québec. The situation particularly affects Algeria, Senegal, Guinea and the Republic of Congo. The Quebec Minister of Immigration and elected opposition members denounce this absurd situation.

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With our correspondent in Montreal, Pascale Guéricolas

Although Quebec is actively looking for African students for its universities, only one in four is granted the right to settle in this French-speaking province. Canada, which decides who enters its territory, fears that they will stay in this country after their studies.

« Large number of documents »

Emma Braham, of the Institut du Québec, who conducted this study, also highlights the difficulties encountered by some students on the continent: "If we take an Ivorian student, he will have to present a large number of documents to prove his financial ability to pay for his studies, to pay for his life on the spot, more than an American student, for example.

>> Read also: In Quebec, in lack of labour, the work of the youngest sparks debate

This situation is all the more paradoxical given that Canada wants to attract more than 460,000 newcomers this year. For Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, who campaigns for Quebec independence, the contribution of French-speaking African students is essential: "The future of the Francophonie is in Africa. And Quebec's future is in French. So we need these people to become a supportive francophone community, and we need these students to come here to Quebec, either make a life or then become ambassadors for Quebec in their respective countries.

Quebec hopes that Canada will change its administrative approach to welcome more African students.

>> Read also: Canada: a financial assistance program to promote French

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Read on on the same topics:

• Canada
• Quebec
• Teaching
• Algeria
• Senegal
• Guinea
• DRC
• International migration