Canada has long been a favoured destination for international students, drawn by its high-quality education system and the prospect of a better future.
On January 22, 2024 the federal government announced a two-year intake cap on the approval of study permit applications. An estimated 360,000 additional study permits for international students are anticipated to be granted in 2024, a 35% drop from 2023.
According to IRCC data, the immigration minister’s approach appears to have been effective in reducing the number of foreign students enrolled in the nation.
Based on the IRCC data, there were 2.4% fewer international students granted study permits in the first five months of this year than there were during the same time in 2023.
In an interview conducted on Saturday, Miller discussed the federal government’s revised immigration policy in the wake of a ceremony at Stampede that saw 25 individuals awarded Canadian citizenship. Miller was there as a special guest, as was Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
One major concern that has surfaced in recent conversations about Canada’s post-secondary education system is the handling of admissions for international students. International student enrollment caps are imperative, according to Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller. He claims that taking this action is essential to managing the related social and economic effects as well as preserving the standard of education.
The cap on the study permits has turned out to be effective. In an interview, Marc Miller requested the universities keep on providing quality education by financing it correctly. #internationalstudentsCanada
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Miller told Postmedia that “We have to make this a system that is more quality-oriented,” basing his statement on the fact that Canada is not cheap and getting a Canadian Citizenship is not a privilege granted to everyone. Miller emphasised on the fact that Canada needs more diversity, more qualified, more talented people aspiring to make a living in the country however also knowing the cost of their decision.
He reflected upon the high immigrants, especially temporary residents influx in recent years and how it has impacted housing and health care, on education and the infrastructure needs of the country.
The housing crisis is one of the main issues made worse by the rising number of international students. Rent has increased significantly in many locations with sizable student populations, and there is a dearth of reasonably priced accommodation. Miller makes the argument that controlling the number of new students can ease these strains by guaranteeing that there is cheap housing available for both students and locals.
An attestation letter from a province or territory, obtained independently of a student permit application, is used to enforce the limitation. A spokesman of the University of Calgary’s student union has stated that despite the fact that more students would be accepted under the new scheme, the regulation has put students in a more uncertain situation and given them less time to find housing.
Due to the inflation some students have had to pay a six-month deposit to secure housing in a space with unsafe living conditions while battling unregulated tuition increases.
Additionally, according to the U of C student union, tuition for international students increased by 40% and for domestic students by 33% since 2019.
Alberta did not raise post-secondary education expenditure in the 2024 budget, despite the fact that inflation had risen by more than 10% over the previous two years. According to the U of C student union, the latest allocation amounts to a 7.3% reduction in per capita funding.
Knowing all this, Miller stresses on “If there’s anything that we need to invest in, it’s our kids, and it’s through our best institutions in the world, and when they are getting underfunded, I think it’s shameful,”
Moreover Miller added “I think provincial governments need to take a hard look at their balance sheets and say, ‘Where are we? Where do we invest?’”. “And I would humbly say, look at your universities because they are some of the best in the world, and we need to keep financing — it can’t be done simply off the backs of international students.”
Minister Marc Miller’s call for caps on international student enrolment highlights the need for a balanced approach to managing Canada’s education system. While the contributions of international students are invaluable, it is essential to ensure that their presence does not compromise the quality and accessibility of education for all. By implementing these caps, the government aims to create a sustainable, fair, and high-quality educational environment for both domestic and international students.