The Canadian Government plans to enforce a national cap on international student intake to address concerns about the overwhelming volume of international students in the country, according to Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
During an interview on CTV’s Question Period, Miller expressed the need for discussions with provincial governments to rein in the numbers.
The move comes in response to a surge in international student admissions, with Miller describing the current system as “out of control.”
Notably, Canada recently increased the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants from $10,000 to $20,000 as of January 1, 2024.
Miller acknowledged criticism of Canada’s increasing immigrant intake amid a housing shortage. Internal documents obtained through an access to information request revealed that public servants warned the government two years ago about potential threats to housing affordability due to ambitious immigration targets.
“The Canadian government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants — both permanent and temporary residents — while the country faces an acute housing shortage,” he said.
The government aims to admit 485,000 immigrants in 2022 and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026. Miller indicated that a cap on international students might be considered in the first and second quarters of this year to alleviate housing demand.
Addressing concerns about the timing of the proposed cap, Miller emphasized the need to assess federal numbers before examining individual academic institutions in different provinces. He stressed the importance of verifying offer letters and ensuring a system that evaluates the financial capacity of individuals coming to Canada.
“We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that we’re actually verifying offer letters,” Miller said.
“And now it’s time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that that is having in certain areas,” he stated.
While Miller acknowledged that a cap would not be a one-size-fits-all solution, he highlighted the ongoing discussions and considerations within the federal government regarding the potential reduction in international student numbers.
Miller emphasized the multifaceted nature of immigration targets, stating that housing is just one aspect, and the need to lower the average age of the workforce is another critical consideration.
While not providing specific details, Miller confirmed that a cap on international students is under consideration at the federal level and will be part of negotiations with provincial counterparts.
“We have a sense of what those numbers would look like, what the reduction of those numbers look like, out of courtesy to my colleagues in the provinces, those are discussions that we’re first going to have around the negotiating table,” he said.
