The federal authorities will additional restrict the variety of worldwide college students allowed to enter Canada subsequent 12 months. It's the federal government's newest immigration-related transfer to handle Canadians' ongoing considerations about housing and affordability.
In 2025, new research permits for worldwide college students can be lowered by 10 p.c in comparison with the goal of 485,000 in 2024. Which means 437,000 permits can be issued subsequent 12 months, sustaining the identical goal till 2026.
“The cap on worldwide college students stays in place,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller informed reporters on Wednesday.
In January, Miller first introduced a short lived two-year cap on worldwide college students, aiming to cut back numbers by 35 p.c this 12 months. Subsequent 12 months the quantity will fall by one other 10 p.c.
“I’d say the measures we now have taken up to now are working,” Miller mentioned. “They’ve seen greater than anecdotal proof that there was an influence on sure rental markets the place college students are extra represented.”
The cap applies nationwide, with every province assigned its personal quotas based mostly on its inhabitants.
Miller has beforehand referred to as the worldwide scholar system “uncontrolled” and cited examples of abuse at some post-secondary establishments.
Nonetheless, Universities Canada has criticized the federal authorities's cap, saying worldwide scholar enrollment was down a minimum of 45 per cent in comparison with final 12 months, under the meant 35 per cent lower in research permits introduced earlier this 12 months.
Miller acknowledged the influence the cap would have on universities, however mentioned, “They should regulate their hiring practices.”
“This can be a tumultuous 12 months for post-secondary establishments,” Miller mentioned. “I undoubtedly acknowledge that I feel we now have to take care of the turmoil they usually need predictability.”
The federal authorities additionally introduced Wednesday that it’s limiting work permits for spouses of grasp's college students to these whose program lasts a minimum of 16 months, in addition to spouses of overseas staff in sure sectors with labor shortages. This fall there may even be adjustments to the post-graduation work allow program to steadiness immigration objectives with the wants of the labor market.
The cap on worldwide college students is a part of the federal authorities's purpose to cut back the variety of short-term residents in Canada to 5 p.c over the following three years from the present 6.2 p.c.
The federal authorities has additionally indicated that there may very well be adjustments to the variety of everlasting residences this fall.
In an interview with CTV Information in August, Miller mentioned any upcoming everlasting residency adjustments wouldn’t be “beauty” however “vital.”
Ottawa's up to date immigration plan for 2025 to 2027 can be unveiled this November.
In accordance with Statistics Canada, the nation's inhabitants grew sooner in 2023 than at any time because the 1950s resulting from a pointy enhance in short-term residents. Canada's inhabitants exceeded 41 million individuals within the first quarter of 2024, reaching 41,012,563 on April 1, 2024.