{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Arial;}{\f1\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\qr\f0\fs18 Your name: ______________________ \ul \ulnone\par Your address: ______________________\par Your postal code: ______________________\par Today\rquote s date: ______________________\par \pard\par \par Honorable Pat Atkinson\par Minister of Immigration\par Room 322 Legislative Building, 2405 Legislative Drive,\par Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0B3 CANADA\par \par Dear Hon. Pat Atkinson,\par \par As the minister responsible for immigration, I urge you to support the recent initiatives to allow Foreign Students to Work Off Campus in Saskatchewan.\par \par I believe there are important reasons for this initiative to succeed. \par \par \ul 1. The Working Off campus Restrictions Are Hurting Foreign Students.\ulnone\par \par Financially, many international students are having difficulties. They usually pay twice as much in tuition as Canadian students. And, fees are rapidly rising. Work restrictions are hurting foreign students because there is little to no chance of off campus employment to help cover the necessary costs. Therefore, more and more, less fortunate students will be forced to leave, or unable to come. Off campus work is needed to allow students the opportunity to both experience the Canadian workplace, as well as to earn money to support their education. \par \par \ul 2. The Working Off Campus Restrictions Are Hurting Saskatchewan.\ulnone\par \par Saskatchewan needs the economic contribution of these international students. Allowing them to work off campus and to earn income will enable them to put down roots, and stay in the community after graduation. Saskatchewan must develop a coordinated approach, involving residents, the public/private sector, and immigrant communities, to encourage foreign students to come and stay.\par \par \ul 3. Working Off Campus Restrictions Are Hurting Canada.\ulnone\par \par Recognizing this, some provinces, like Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Quebec have launched a joint federal-provincial pilot program to allow foreign students to work off campus. Saskatchewan can be next.\par \par \ul 4. Saskatchewan Must Remove its Off Campus Work Restrictions to Compete.\ulnone\par \par Saskatchewan must form a joint agreement with the federal government now. Otherwise, we will fall behind the competition. Currently, Britain allows students to work off campus. Australia and New Zealand have also liberalized to a far greater extent the possibility of employment off campus. Saskatchewan must follow suit, or international students will go elsewhere.\par \par Let\rquote s change the rules in Saskatchewan to help foreign students, and to help ourselves.\par \par Sincerely,\par \par Your signature:\par \par _____________________\par \f1\par }