Saudi trainee doctors in Canada granted three-week extension to depart

Saudi trainee doctors at five Canadian universities have received an extra three weeks to vacate the country, a brief reprieve from a diplomatic dispute between the two countries that is forcing 1,000 Saudis to cut their schooling short.

The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau, the organisation that places the Saudi students, called the universities this week to announce the extension.

It's not clear why the extra three weeks were granted, Reuters reported. 

"We have a verbal commitment... that there is an extension of the return-home date to September 22" from 31 August, said Salvatore Spadafora, vice dean of post-MD education at the University of Toronto.

He added that the five universities are awaiting confirmation from Riyadh. 

A University of British Columbia executive associate dean also said the school received a letter Wednesday from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau. Dalhouse University, McGill University and McMaster University also confirmed the extension. 

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Saudis make up the largest source of foreign-trained medical residents in Canada. More than 95 percent of Canada's international residency spots are filled by Saudi nationals, the Saudi Arabian Culture Bureau said. 

"We remain hopeful there can be a resolution in the end that allows our learners to stay," Spadafora said.

The diplomatic spat broke out after Canada criticised the detention of Saudi activist Samar Badawi - sister of jailed blogger Raif - earlier this month.

Canada hosts Raif Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is said to have brought up the blogger's case with the Saudi leadership.

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