Canada’s Immigration Minister Contemplates Imposing Limit on International Student Numbers

In the coming months, Immigration Minister Marc Miller will explore the potential implementation of a cap on the presence of international students in Canada. However, he refrains from specifying the extent of the reduction the government is considering.

The minister said the federal government will need to have with provincial governments “to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis.” “That volume is disconcerting,” Miller said, in reference to the number of international students in Canada. “It’s really a system that has gotten out of control.”

The Canadian government has come under scrutiny for its decision to admit a growing number of immigrants, including both permanent and temporary residents, amid a severe housing shortage in the country.

Recent revelations from internal documents obtained through an access to information request by The Canadian Press indicate that public servants had cautioned the federal government about the potential impact of its ambitious immigration targets on housing affordability two years ago.

Despite these warnings, the Liberal government has set targets to welcome 485,000 immigrants in the current year, with plans to increase to 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026.

Temporary residents, predominantly consisting of international students and migrant workers, constitute another significant aspect of the situation, with over 300,000 arriving in Canada during the third quarter of the previous year.

Minister Miller has indicated that he will be exploring the potential implementation of a cap on international students during the first and second quarters of this year to alleviate housing demand.

In response to queries about the timing of considering a cap, Miller explained that the government needs to first address overall federal-level data before delving into a more detailed examination of individual academic institutions across provinces. This assessment aims to scrutinize whether some institutions may be benefitting from an influx of international students.

“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.”

Minister Miller emphasized that implementing a cap on international students would not serve as a one-size-fits-all solution to address housing shortages across Canada.

When questioned about the imbalance between the increasing number of international students and the federal government’s housing development plans, Miller acknowledged that housing is just one aspect in the broader calculation of immigration targets. He highlighted the imperative to lower the average age of the workforce as a pressing need that also factors into the decision-making process.

While refraining from providing specific details, Miller affirmed that the consideration of a cap on international students is an ongoing process for the federal government.