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Ecuadorian man who came to Yukon gives up fight to stay in Canada

Ecuadorian man who came to Yukon gives up fight to stay in Canada

An Ecuadorian man who tried to find work in the Yukon has decided to leave Canada, at least for now.

Juan Carlos Escobar Hernandez came to this country more than eight years ago as a student. He arrived in Yukon last month, with three months remaining on his post-graduate work permit.

Escobar Hernandez tried to get work through the Yukon Nominee Program, but said he soon discovered it's geared to help employers, not foreign workers.

"I want to stay in Canada but I can't. But that's a goal, to come back to Canada. I have a visa to go to the [United) States as a tourist," he said. "But I mean, I need to work. So I can't work in the States, I can't work in Canada, the only option I have is to go back to Ecuador."

Escobar Hernandez said he's disappointed because Canada feels like his home. He said he doesn't feel safe in Ecuador, and was robbed there several times, including at gunpoint.

Escobar Hernandez has a diploma in tourism from Fanshawe College in Ontario. He graduated in 2012 and received a three-year post-graduate visa, which expires in July.

He said lawyers recommended he apply for another study permit so he could stay in the country.

"Ya, I would like to, but it's really expensive," he said. With international student fees, Escobar Hernandez said he paid as much as $7,000 a semester to attend Fanshawe.

He hasn't given up his dream of living in Canada. Escobar Hernandez said he plans to get experience as a skilled worker in Ecuador so he can apply for an express entry work permit in Canada.