NWC Signs On To Open Letter Supporting A Welcoming Canada

North Battleford, SK – North West College and our President and CEO Dr. Eli Ahlquist have signed on to an open letter penned by The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), Amnesty International Canada, and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) to the leaders of all federal political parties. The signatories hope to remind the parties that Canada has long been a country that has accepted and been strengthened by people that come here to seek a better life.

We hope that the federal parties recognize the importance of Canada’s reputation as a welcoming country to immigrants of all types, and works to establish platform commitments that maintain and reinforce this reputation. North West College does not endorse any specific candidate or party, and believes that all parties should consider this important call to be included in their election platforms.

As a Designated Learning Institution for international students, North West College has welcomed individuals from many countries seeking the education and training they need to thrive and become valuable contributors within our communities. The inclusion of international students has enriched our college in many meaningful ways.

“With the recent changes made to Canadian international student policies over the past year, as well as the emergence of anti-immigration rhetoric, we see this as a principled and important stance to take” said President and CEO Dr. Eli Ahlquist. “We signed the letter to join in asking our federal parties to express their commitments to maintaining Canada’s reputation as a welcoming nation to those looking to join our communities and work toward a better future. At North West College, we want to ensure that our tagline ‘Your Future Starts at NWC’ also includes immigrants and refugees seeking a career here in northwest Saskatchewan.”

“Canadians take pride in our commitment to welcoming refugees and migrants and upholding our obligations to promote and defend human rights,” said Aisling Bondy, President of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. “We urge all parties to ensure that this broad consensus is reflected in their platforms and rhetoric.”

North West College encourages staff and students to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election. More information can be found on the Elections Canada website www.elections.ca

Read the full contents of the open letter here: https://ccrweb.ca/en/open-letter-party-leaders

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North West College operates two primary campuses and 21 learning centres throughout the North West region of the province. Responding to the needs of students and local industry, for more than four decades, North West College has delivered training and services to facilitate growth in the communities it serves. The college offers programs in trades, health and community services, academic upgrading and university transfers. It has campuses in North Battleford and Meadow Lake and provides programming for 30 communities, including 20 First Nations communities, spread over 44,000 sq. km.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Kris Jones (he/him),
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Phone: 306-937-5128
Email: kris.jones@northwestcollege.ca