I want to make a few points. The government feels that student travel is essential and non-discretionary for good reason.
1. Many programs are not virtual and it is difficult to deliver them as such.
Based on what statistics? I guess it is other way round
2. If you aren't in Canada for atleast 8 months, you do not get CRS points for PR.
You will lose points on InCanada work experience but doesnt make you ineligible for PR. If you have job plus 3 years + foreign experience you gain poi nts. CRS score is combinations of factors
3. There are tax residency headaches which arise because of limiting travel. If I travel after end of May I'm a tax resident of my home country, in addition to Canada. Many of such cases end up in expensive and lengthy court battles.
Your tax residence will start from the day you become residence in Canada when you file your tax. I dont situation with your country, but how do you justify court battles? If you arrive in Sept, next year you will file for 2021 from the period you became resident.
4. When people pay to study in Canada, they are also paying for co-op and/or residency in a foreign country.
Im lost with this? I dont understand what you mean, paying for coop or residency in foreign country????
Again I don't see what the problem is if all rules are diligently followed. I don't think scapegoating international students is fair when:
1. A lot of Canadians are not following quarantine and/or using land borders to cross in. My friend also told me that mask enforcement is extremely lax.
And there have been some consequencies for people who violate, we have seen tickets issued. In my experience from BC, majority adhere to mask wearing...however i dont want to generalize like what your friend did
2. If I check stats, only 10k international students crossed in every month Q1 last year. Even if you assume that many crossed in this year, even though the numbers have dropped significantly because of Covid and quarantine requirements, the numbers don't add up. Inspite of 3 Covid tests(1 at home and 2 in Canada), 3 day hotel quarantine, 11 day home quarantine, screening for symptoms at both exit/entry points, even if 0.5-1% of the people are affected, you only have 1.5-3 people/day infected on average, which is nowhere near the 8500/day cases being reported.
You simply ignored multiplying effect, what will stop 1% of those infected spreading to others? I hope you agree one case of new variant can have tremendous effect to population.