Canada has announced a two-year cap on the admission of foreign students in an effort to address housing and healthcare challenges in the country.
The cap will lead to a 35% reduction in approved study permits, aiming to maintain the system’s integrity.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that Canada plans to approve around 360,000 undergraduate study permits this year, allocated to provinces based on population and current student intake.
The cap will only apply to diploma or undergraduate programs and won’t affect permit renewals.
Furthermore, starting in September, work permits will no longer be granted to students graduating from colleges under public-private partnerships, primarily found in Ontario.
Miller emphasized that these changes aim to prevent under-resourced institutions from taking advantage of international students, ensuring a quality education.
This move comes amidst pressure on the Trudeau government to address an increasingly unaffordable housing market, with home prices averaging C$750,000 and a 22% rise in Canadian rent over the past two years.
Some economists link housing unaffordability to immigration-driven population growth.
The country’s population surpassed 40 million in 2022, growing by over a million people in a year for the first time, emphasizing the need for 3.5 million more housing units by 2030.
This cap signifies a notable policy shift for Canada, historically relying on open immigration to address workforce needs.
While Universities Canada welcomes the exclusion of post-graduate students from the cap, concerns are raised about adding stress to the system and deterring international students.
McMaster University’s president expressed worry about losing international students, noting their contribution to the learning environment and financial support for domestic students, suggesting a potential reduction in domestic student admissions due to the cap.
Source-BBC
