The Canadian government is getting a lot of criticism and attention in the media because people are upset about how they're managing immigration. Many immigrants are coming to Canada, and at the same time, a lot of Canadians are struggling to afford housing. Because of this, the government is thinking about putting limits on the number of visas they give to international students and temporary foreign workers.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller, in a series of media interviews on January 14, addressed the prospect of restricting international student visas more explicitly than before, stating that his department is actively exploring the administration of such a cap. He expressed concern about the escalating volume of incoming international students, characterising the current system as having spiralled out of control. Regarding the impact on housing rates, Miller clarified to CBC News that while immigrants are not directly responsible for the rise in interest rates, the sheer volume is a factor that warrants examination.

A public opinion poll conducted in November 2023 revealed that three-quarters of Canadians now attribute the housing crisis and strain on the healthcare system to immigration. Nearly two-thirds believe that the current influx of new migrants is placing additional pressure on the Canadian education system. Despite this, significant majorities still acknowledge the positive contributions of higher immigration to cultural diversity and the workforce, with young immigrants supporting the tax base for older generations. Nevertheless, public sentiment is shifting, as the percentage of respondents advocating for fewer immigrants coming to Canada increased from 39% in March 2022 to 48% in November 2023.

Mr. Miller stated that his department will explore ways to better regulate the influx of international students in the first half of 2024. Having spent the latter part of 2023 tightening regulations and processes related to student visas, Mr. Miller's department now plans to scrutinize the actions of individual academic institutions across different provinces.

"We understand what those numbers might look like and what the reduction in those numbers might be. As a courtesy to my colleagues in the provincial governments, we will initially have these discussions at the negotiation table."

In Canada, the provinces, rather than the federal government, are responsible for accrediting Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and determining which institutions and schools can host students on student visas. Simultaneously, the Canadian government oversees the student visa system, handling application processing and issuing Canadian study permits. Given this division of responsibilities, negotiations between the federal and provincial governments are necessary to address the implementation of an overall nationwide cap across regions and institutions. Currently, Mr. Miller expresses concerns about the administration of the DLI system, stating to CTV News:

"There's a challenge to the integrity of the system, and it comes with institutions that have been leveraging the fact that there has been this permissive Designated Learning Institution model, getting people outside the country to pay a premium dollar and not necessarily receiving the education they were promised."

Mr. Miller noted that deliberations on how a cap might be administered will also take into account the needs of academic institutions. Similar to the UK, higher education institutions in Canada have increasingly relied on international student enrollments for financial stability. Consequently, any decline in student numbers could significantly impact the financial health of Canadian institutions.

Regarding the degree of the cap under consideration, Mr. Miller hasn't provided specifics. In 2022, over 800,000 international students were on active study visas, marking a 30% increase from the previous year and a 43% growth over the past five years. Mr. Miller anticipates that the total for 2023 will reach 900,000.

Responding to the possibility of an enrollment cap, Colleges and Institutes Canada, the peak body, emphasised that any measures taken must avoid unintended consequences on a sector contributing diversity to communities and significant value to Canada's economy. They urged solutions to recognise regional differences and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach that could be detrimental to communities with ample capacity to welcome additional students.

Source: ICEF