New restrictions on international students are creating upheaval for Canadian colleges and universities. The president of Universities Canada, Gabriel Miller, warns that these tighter measures risk damaging Canada’s reputation as a top destination for education.
The Canadian post-secondary sector had already been adjusting to a reduction in study permits and other regulations announced earlier this year. However, Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s recent decision to reduce international student intake by an additional 10% over the next two years—impacting graduate and doctoral students who were previously exempt—has raised further concerns. Additionally, eligibility for the Post-Graduate Work Permit program has been tightened.
Minister Miller acknowledged areas for improvement, stating that institutions need to adapt their recruitment practices, and criticized the lack of provincial financial support for post-secondary institutions. He emphasized that reliance on international students should not determine schools’ financial viability: “It’s a luxury. It’s a privilege and not necessarily a right.”
From 2018 to 2023, over 1.5 million study permits were issued, leading to growing scrutiny over the pressure international students place on housing and healthcare systems. Miller noted the importance of ensuring proper infrastructure and support are in place for these students. However, he described the impact of the new policies on universities as “like an earthquake,” highlighting budget deficits and concerns that enrollment numbers for international students may be even lower than anticipated. “It’s really costing Canada the people we are gonna need to be doctors, to be engineers, to be entrepreneurs,” Miller added.
Canada’s global reputation as a top destination for international students has taken a hit. Meti Basiri, CEO of ApplyBoard, noted that Canada has fallen to third place behind the U.S. and the U.K., after being the top choice for a decade. Basiri supports some transparency-focused measures, but warns that restrictions may discourage mature students and reduce Canada’s appeal.
Colleges, particularly in rural areas, are also feeling the strain. According to Pari Johnston, president of Colleges and Institutes Canada, many have had to cut programs and freeze hiring due to the reforms. Dale McCartney, an assistant professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, argues that these changes are politically motivated, designed to appease critics of immigration, rather than being sound policy. He believes these restrictions are making it increasingly difficult for international students to settle in Canada, saying: “Every one of these policy announcements now is just… a way to be a little bit crueler to international students—make their lives just a little bit harder.”
Sources: CBC News, Power and Politics interview with Mar
