Ottawa, Ontario (September 27, 2013) – Dr. Amit Chakma, Chair of the U15 released the following statement on behalf of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities.
“I would like to thank Minister Alexander and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada for dedicating the necessary resources to processing student visa applications this past summer. Their efforts ensured that those international students who had applied within the deadlines had their visas in hand for the commencement of the fall session. Even with an increase in applications this year, the government issued over ten percent more student visas and with a higher approval rate than last. Our universities need the continued support and cooperation of the federal government to attract and retain the best and the brightest international students and faculty members to maintain and improve our global research competiveness and to benefit our national economy. We look forward to many more successful collaborations with Minister Alexander and his department in the future. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the government and PAFSO for reaching a preliminary resolution to the labour dispute.”