Canada Calling: Indian Students Protest New Laws, Karan Aujla Achieves New Milestone; Punjabi Youth Dies in Car Crash
Indian Students Protest New Canadian Laws
30.06.2024: Naujawaan Support Network, a group advocating for youth, international students, and workers, held a significant protest at Kaneff Park in Brampton. The demonstration was in response to recent changes to Canada’s study permit and post-graduation work permit policies. The protesters braved rainy and windy conditions, calling for fairer treatment and an end to the exploitation of immigrants and students.
International students, along with supporters like Laura Walton, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, demanded the extension of work permits for foreign workers set to expire in 2024 and 2025. They advocated for a more accessible pathway to permanent residency, under the motto “good enough to work, good enough to stay.” Walton remarked, “Your fight is our fight… Quite frankly, what we see right now is racism. It’s discrimination, and there’s no room for racism and discrimination in our province and in our country.”
A widely circulated poster emphasized that international students are unfairly blamed for the housing and jobs crisis, insisting that government policies and corporate practices are the real issues. Despite the significant number of international students accepted in Canada, there was a notable decline in their arrival for the 2023 session compared to previous years.
Karan Aujla Breaks New Ground in Music Industry
Punjabi-Canadian artist Karan Aujla continues to make waves in the music industry. In March, Aujla became the first individual of Punjabi descent to win the Juno Fan Choice Award. Now, he has achieved another milestone by becoming the first Punjabi musician to be featured in Apple Music’s global Up Next initiative.
The Up Next program highlights emerging stars, providing editorial support through short films, interviews, and more. Aujla’s short film showcases him in Vancouver, discussing his musical aspirations and expressing hope for a global breakthrough of Punjabi music. He stated, “I feel like my music helped a lot of people that don’t know my language… There don’t have to be barriers around it.”
Aujla’s rise from a lyricist in Vancouver to a performer collaborating with renowned Punjabi artists is remarkable. His collaborative album with producer Ikky, Making Memories, reached No. 5 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart last year. Aujla is set to release an Apple Music edition of his latest EP Four Me and embark on his first Canadian tour this summer, performing in three arenas across the country.
Tragic Accident Claims Life of Punjab Student in Surrey
Tragedy struck when Sanjeev Kumar Sachdeva, a young man from Talwandi Bhai, Punjab, lost his life in a road accident in Surrey, Canada. Sachdeva, who arrived in Canada three months ago to pursue his studies, and one of his colleagues died at the scene of the accident on Friday. Two others were seriously injured in the incident.