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2 private colleges in B.C. ordered to refund international students

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Canada’s federal election is over, but advocates are calling out a critical issue that was noticeably absent from the campaign: the plight of international students.

Balraj Kahlon, a community advocate with One Voice Canada, argues, “Despite their vital contributions to Canada’s economy — paying three to four times higher tuition and strengthening our workforce — international students’ struggles were ignored, exposing a systemic failure in political priorities.”

Kahlon, a spokesperson for a non-profit advocating for international students, argues that the issue fails to gain traction because it doesn’t sway voters.

“International student issues can never be an election issue because it doesn’t impact the votes of political parties,” Kahlon told OMNI News.

This sentiment comes in the wake of troubling cases involving two private colleges, Pacific Link College in Surrey and Granville College in Vancouver, which were ordered by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) to issue refunds to international students who spoke with OMNI.

Two international students from India, referred to as Rupali and Parminder Kaur for privacy, shared disturbing experiences with OMNI News, shedding light on the exploitation they faced.

Rupali, a 28-year-old from New Delhi, arrived in Canada in June 2023 to study a Business Leadership program at Pacific Link College. Expecting a robust educational experience, she was shocked to find a bare-bones operation.

“There was no orientation, no books, no college ID – just a two-room setup in a shopping complex,” Rupali recounted. “When I was applying from India, I was told the college would help me find opportunities, but there was no such assistance. It was a huge shock — most importantly, a monetary shock — because my parents spent nearly their life savings to send me to Canada for a better future.”

Rupali approached Pacific Link College’s administration to seek a refund but was shocked when they demanded she pay an additional $11,350 for a supposed “ascended scholarship” she never applied for or received.

“I went to the college four times to seek a refund. Every time, they argued a lot, but their decision didn’t change,” she said.

One Voice Canada intervened, bringing her case to the PTIB. Documents obtained by One Voice Canada and verified by OMNI News show that PTIB ordered Pacific Link College to refund Rupali $7,887.50 on Oct. 23, 2024, from the approximately $15,000 she had paid in fees.

“For a time, feeding myself became something I had to be very calculated about,” Rupali said, describing the relief of receiving a partial refund. Yet, she noted seeing other students pleading for refunds at Pacific Link College, signaling a broader pattern of exploitation.

Parminder Kaur, a 22-year-old from Punjab’s Barnal District, faced similar deception at Granville College. Arriving to pursue further studies, she discovered her program was entirely online, including orientation, and lacked a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) — a critical pathway for international students to gain Canadian work experience to eventually secure Permanent Residency.

Parminder, whose father died when she was young, was raised by her single mother, who did everything possible to secure a better future for her daughter. Her mother sold land, mortgaged property, borrowed heavily, and even pawned her sister’s jewelry to cover Parminder’s $20,500 tuition and related costs.

“My mom mortgaged my sister’s jewelry to secure my visa,” Parminder said, highlighting the immense sacrifices her family made.

“Within two or three days in Canada, I learned from friends and other students that this college doesn’t provide a work permit. They told me I was foolish for enrolling,” Parminder said in an interview with OMNI News.

When Parminder sought a refund, Granville College refused. Worse, her immigration agent allegedly threatened her mother, warning that pursuing a refund could lead to Parminder’s deportation.

“My mom panicked when she heard that. I’m a single-parent child, and she invested all her savings from 20 to 22 years to send me here. It was an incredibly hard time for her,” Parminder shared.

One Voice Canada took Parminder’s case to the PTIB, which ordered Granville College to refund her $6,165 on Sept. 26, 2024, as verified by OMNI News. However, Parminder believes the college owes her more, as she never received a copy of the tuition refund policy or student enrollment contract before applying for a refund.

OMNI News reached out to Pacific Link College and Granville College via email in late February 2025 regarding these cases but received no response. Follow-up visits to both campuses also yielded no replies. OMNI News sought comment from the PTIB on these cases but received no response, even after visiting their office.

Kahlon and other advocates argue that exploitation by private colleges is systemic, with PTIB’s oversight falling short.

“PTIB catches colleges that owe money, but there are no fines, no penalties, no consequences,” Kahlon said. He contends that some colleges operate with impunity, unafraid of losing their licences despite repeated violations.

Roman Ansari, a former employee of Granville College and other private institutions, echoed these concerns.

“PTIB doesn’t have the resources to catch them unless they show up unannounced,” Ansari added.

In a written statement to OMNI News, the BC Ministry of Post-Secondary Education stated it takes concerns about educational quality seriously, emphasizing that international students are vital to BC’s higher learning ecosystem. The ministry highlighted its Education Quality Assurance code and the PTIB’s role in inspecting institutions and investigating complaints. However, advocates argue these measures are inadequate without stricter enforcement.

Kahlon expressed frustration that federal parties ignored One Voice Canada’s outreach on this issue. He contrasts the political attention given to Indian farmers’ protests in 2020 with the silence on the exploitation of those farmers’ children studying in Canada.

“The sons and daughters of those same farmers are being exploited here, but no one is speaking up,” he said.

Rupali offered advice to prospective students: “I was desperate to come to Canada and made mistakes. Don’t make that mistake. Even if it means delaying your plans by a few months, choose a reputable institution that provides a solid platform.”

Despite recent immigration policy changes reducing international student numbers in Canada, Kahlon fears exploitation will persist without coordinated government action.

“When will the private colleges making millions off international students finally be clamped down on?” Kahlon asked, a question that lingers as advocates push for accountability and reform to protect Canada’s international students from abusive practices.