Canada’s Bold Move: International Student Cap Sparks Trouble!

Education professionals are expressing concerns about implementing a cap on the number of international students in Canada. As per the Canada immigration news, this step could negatively impact the country’s reputation and present challenges for remote regions seeking international talent. The potential move comes amid increasing pressure on the government to address housing shortages and immigration issues, with over 800,000 international students hosted in Canada in 2022. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a National Housing Agency, estimates that Canada needs 3.5 million more housing units by 2030 to restore affordability.

The Canada immigration news also highlights that nearly one million international students were admitted to Canada in 2023, a record high. Also, the rent for Canadian students witnessed an increase of 22% in the past two years because of housing shortages.

According to Canada’s immigration department, the country will witness a record 1.4 million applications for study permits by 2027. Plus, Canada has already laid out its target of 1.5 million new immigrants by 2025. 

Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently spoke on CTV News, expressing intentions to consider a cap on international students in Canada in the coming months due to the mounting pressure on the government to address housing shortages. Miller criticized the provinces for not curbing the influx. He pointed to what he referred to as ‘diploma puppy mills’ in Ontario’s Brampton, home to career colleges heavily recruiting international students. 

“We don’t have the same set of tools jurisdictionally that provinces have, they’re best suited to take those measures, but we can take some very hard measures,” he said.

Stakeholders in international education at the provincial level fear the repercussions of such a cap. Shawna Garrett, CEO of EduNova Co-operative, said, “If implemented, a cap like this could create a challenge to some of the work being done to attract and retain international talent in Nova Scotia to support the government’’s efforts to double the province’s population by 2060.”

“I am unsure if rushing to apply caps on international students in all regions is the best-fit solution for the long-term sustainability of our institutions, regions, provinces, and communities,” he added.

Addressing the Canada immigration news, Randall Martin, Executive Director at the British Columbia Council for International Education, said, “The sector is assuming something is going to happen but is trying to read tea leaves in order to understand what that might be.”

Both Garrett and Martin are concerned about the potential harm to Canada’s global reputation as an international study destination. 

Martin further added, “The degree and direction of imminent federal action will necessarily affect the global profile of Canada as an appealing international study destination.”

The Canada immigration news highlights that the potential effects of a cap will most acutely be felt at the institutional level. This is because colleges and universities across the country heavily rely on international students for revenue. The country is already facing a pressing issue of financial sustainability, and a cap would only exacerbate this challenge.

A spokesperson for the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that the option of a cap is being assessed. He said, “IRCC acknowledges the pressures that our International Student Program is facing. The department is undertaking a review of the program to examine how we can support international students in Canada.”

This move will have significant implications for Canada’s standing as an international study destination and its ability to attract and retain international talent. Stay updated on all that’s happening in Canada and more such student-related news by following amber news.