Calls for justice system reform are intensifying in Ontario’s Niagara Region after the sexual assault of a three-year-old girl in Welland, allegedly by a repeat offender released early from prison.

St. Catharines city councillors this week passed a motion urging the federal government to open the national and Ontario sex offender registries to the public and implement tougher bail conditions for repeat violent and sexual offenders. The motion also called for Ottawa to provide more services and financial support for victims, addressing what councillors described as “significant gaps” in victim support and inconsistencies across provinces.

Similarly, at a meeting of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Welland Coun. Pat Chiocchio introduced a motion calling for “more restrictive” bail, sentencing, and release conditions for repeat offenders. It also proposed long-term supervision and GPS monitoring of convicted sexual offenders.

The case at the centre of the outrage involves 25-year-old Daniel Senecal, who was already on the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years following the 2021 sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy. Senecal was serving probation and had been released six months early from an 18-month sentence when he was arrested on Aug. 31, accused of breaking into a Welland home and assaulting a toddler.

Community anger has been widespread. Around 200 people demonstrated outside the St. Catharines courthouse during Senecal’s bail hearing, carrying signs demanding bail reform and longer sentences for violent offenders. Local leaders, including Welland Mayor Frank Campion and St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, have both written to higher levels of government urging tougher laws. Premier Doug Ford, NDP MPP Jeff Burch, and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have also weighed in, supporting harsher penalties.

At the same time, activists are warning against reactionary measures. Saleh Waziruddin of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association told councillors that stricter bail rules could disproportionately affect racialized communities and that early detection and treatment are more effective in preventing reoffending. He also raised concerns about vigilante violence if sex offender registries were made public.

Senecal remains in custody, with his next court date set for Oct. 8.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, resources can be found through the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.

Category: Crime

Canada’s international education sector is undergoing one of its sharpest resets in years as sweeping changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program reshape opportunities for foreign students.

According to a new study by ApplyBoard, Canada is projected to approve about 143,600 PGWPs in 2025 — 30% fewer than in 2024. If current trends continue, approvals could fall below 130,000 for the full year, the lowest level since the pandemic.

The reforms include new language proficiency requirements, tighter rules for graduates of public-private partnership (PPP) colleges, and restrictions on non-degree programs. Together, these changes are narrowing pathways to work in Canada after study, reducing what has long been a key recruitment advantage for Canadian institutions.

“Ability to transition from study to work has long been a defining factor for students choosing Canada,” the report noted, warning that declining PGWP approvals may make Canada less attractive in a competitive global market.

Colleges accounted for 65% of approvals in the first half of 2025, with nearly 48,000 permits issued, though analysts caution this resilience may not last. Undergraduate approvals fell 37% year-over-year, while master’s students saw a 31% decline.

By field of study, business and management dominated with 44% of approvals, though engineering, computing, IT, and health programs recorded the steepest declines, with engineering down 53%. Analysts warn the drop could undermine Canada’s efforts to fill critical skills gaps.

Indian students, who remain the largest cohort at 59% of approvals, experienced a 29% decline. Students from China, the Philippines, and Iran saw drops of 30–44%. In contrast, Nepalese students recorded a 25% increase, with nearly all applications approved.

Experts say institutions must now align programs with labour market needs, strengthen ties with India while diversifying into emerging markets, and create clearer pathways for international graduates.

“The PGWP downturn marks a turning point,” ApplyBoard said. “How institutions respond will define Canada’s ability to compete in an increasingly complex global education landscape.”

Canada is facing a steep decline in study permits issued to Indian students in 2025, raising alarm across the education sector and economy.

According to ICEF Monitor, approvals fell by half year-over-year, with only 52,765 permits issued in the first seven months of 2025 compared to 188,255 during the same period in 2024. If the trend continues, Canada may issue only around 90,454 permits this year — a 67.5% drop from 2023 levels.

Between January and June 2025, Canada processed 143,485 study permit applications across all nationalities. Of these, 104,980 came from new applicants, but only 31,580 were approved, resulting in an approval rate just above 30% compared to 51% a year earlier.

This decline is especially pronounced among Indian students, who make up a significant share of international enrolments, particularly in Ontario where they account for more than 60% of student intake. The reduction has forced institutions to introduce emergency scholarships and expand online course offerings to offset losses.

ICEF Monitor estimates the drop could cost Canada approximately $10.5 billion in lost contributions from Indian students alone, with ripple effects across housing, transportation, retail, and higher education.

Experts cite several reasons for the decline, including stricter Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) policies, longer processing times, and higher financial barriers. At the same time, competing destinations such as the UK, Australia, and the US are attracting more students with favourable immigration pathways and post-study work opportunities.

Data shows the number of new international student arrivals fell by 69% year-over-year, while the total number of active study permit holders dropped by 23% between January 2024 and July 2025.

The Canadian government capped new international student permits at 316,276 this year, but projections suggest only 20–30% of that target may be met.