Demonstrators gather at legislature, calling on feds to extend work permits to international workers
Posted April 14, 2026 6:58 pm.
Around 100 people gathered at the legislature on Tuesday for a demonstration to put the federal government on notice to extend work permits to international workers.
The group, made up of several former international students now in the workforce, wants an extension of at least two or three years for those whose permits expire in 2026.
“We all are literally suffering, we want some sort of status here, we are contributing, we are paying taxes, so we deserve a little fairness, I would say,” said Parneet Kaur, who is working as a restaurant manager after graduating from the University of Manitoba.
Kaur says living with the uncertainty of being sent home and it’s weighing on her.
“Time is passing, we have really limited time, my work permit expired last year, and I’m on applied status right now, I don’t know how much time is left for me,” Kaur explained.
Lei Chen works as a procurement specialist under a post-graduate work permit.
“My work permit is going to expire at the end of September, as I said earlier, so I’m not sure if it will be extended,” said Chen.
“There is the hope of becoming established here, and many of us have been studying here, working here, and some of them bring their families as well, so they have been very established already, and they hope to continue to be able to contribute to the local economy and the community here in Manitoba.”
Parneet says the group feels the province has been supportive of their calls, and they have been in contact with MP Kevin Lamoureux, who has been backing their fight in Ottawa. CityNews reached out to MP Lamoureux for comment, but did not hear back.
“We have so many MPs and MLAs that are supporting us; they bring our issues to the federal government, but we are not getting a good response from them,” said Kaur.
