Saudi medical residents at Dalhousie University get to stay a bit longer

Residents can now stay in Canada until Sept. 22, the university confirmed Tuesday.

Anjuli Patil, CBC News Nova Scotia August 21, 2018

The deadline for Saudi medical residents at Dalhousie University to leave Canada has been extended.

Because of a diplomatic spat with Ottawa, medical residents from Saudi Arabia were told they had to leave Canada by Aug. 31.

But on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Dalhousie said the Saudi Cultural Bureau informed the university the deadline to leave has been extended to Sept. 22.

Students who have been affected have been notified of the change, the university confirmed.

There are 59 Saudis completing their residency in Nova Scotia through Dalhousie. Nova Scotia hospitals have been preparing for the loss of Saudi medical residents, which could delay surgeries.

Twenty-three of the 52 Saudi students set to be enrolled at the University of Calgary are medical residents. Madeline Smith, The Star Calgary

The University of Toronto says there are 77 undergraduate and graduate Saudi students currently enrolled, as well as 216 medical residents who are being trained in hospitals affiliated with the school under a long-standing program. Julia Knope, CBC News Toronto

Saudi students in Halifax have been scrambling to prepare for the journey back home.

A local mosque held a yard sale more than a week ago so Saudi students could sell things like cars and household items.

Source  CBC News Nova Scotia

 

Also see
Alberta university officials face ‘uncharted territory’ with Saudi scholarships The Star Calgary
Saudi trainee doctors in Canada allowed to stay longer in Reuters International News
Doctor warns of surgery delays if Saudi residents forced to leave in CBC News Nova Scotia
Halifax Saudi student ordered to leave Canada by the end of August in CBC News Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia could lose doctors amid Canada’s diplomatic row with Saudi Arabia in CBC News Nova Scotia
As Saudi medical trainees ordered home, Canada prepares for potential impact on hospitals in CBC News
What will happen to Saudi students enrolled in Canada? in CBC News Nova Scotia