Liberian says he can’t attend B.C. university because of nationality

WATCH: Global’s Aaron McArthur spoke with Gboko Stewart on BC1’s Prime

VANCOUVER — A journalist and radio talk show host from Liberia says he can’t attend a university in British Columbia because of his nationality.

Gboko Stewart was recently admitted to Quest University near Squamish, but is unable to attend classes because of visa restrictions placed on Liberian citizens due to that country’s recent Ebola outbreak.

“I’m Liberian, not a virus,” he says.

Canada, following in the footsteps of Australia, issued a freeze on visas from three West African nations hardest hit by the Ebola virus: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

In response, Stewart started an online petition, entitled “Prime Minister Harper: Don’t let my nationality prevent me from attending Canadian University.”

“The Canadian government’s ban had struck me a powerful blow.”

Stewart is calling on the federal government to change its policy.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada won’t comment on this specific case, but says there is no travel ban in place.

“Canada has temporarily paused visa processing in the affected areas. However, should essential travel be required, including travel for economic reasons, discretion remains to approve it. Our government will not apologize for taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of Canadians,” wrote Kevin Menard, Press Secretary of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in a statement.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Canada has temporarily paused visa processing in the affected areas. However, should essential travel be required, including travel for economic reasons, discretion remains to approve it. Our government will not apologize for taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of Canadians," wrote Kevin Menard, Press Secretary of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in a statement.

Other countries have taken a different approach. The U.S. has rejected calls for a ban, urging Americans to avoid hysteria and be guided by “science not fear.”

Read More: Obama: Ebola monitoring must be ‘more aggressive’ 

Both President Obama and leaders from the World Health Organization (WHO) have said such travel restrictions do more harm than good. The global health agency says Canada’s new policy, announced on Oct. 31, violates international health regulations.

Read More: WHO asks Canada to explain Ebola travel limits 

Stewart says he’s never had Ebola, and can’t see how receiving his post-secondary education in Canada poses a risk to Canadians.

“In closing the border it still doesn’t help it,” he says. “As a matter of fact, according to research only 1.5 per cent of people from this country actually go to Canada in any given year, so the fear is unjustifiable.”

Quest University has left a spot open for him, and school officials say they’re eagerly awaiting Gboko to join them.

“Gboko is an excellent student, and we are anxious for him to bring his talents and perspectives to share with the students from 45 other countries who attend Quest,” wrote David J. Helfand, President & Vice Chancellor from Quest University in a statement.

“For Canada to succeed in the globalized world of the twenty-first century, our students must learn to collaborate with others from all corners of the globe. Our incoming class, and the country, will both lose if the current policy remains in place.”

Gboko wonders when and if he’ll ever be allowed to pursue higher education in Canada, but says he’s committed to combating the stigmatization of Ebola, so people will see him as “Liberian, not a virus.”