The News Freedom
New Delhi, January 23
Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has declared a two-year limitation on international student admissions. The minister aims to use this cap as a window for both federal and provincial governments to address what he perceives as a system exploiting high international student tuition fees while delivering subpar education in certain cases.
According to Canadian media reports, over the past decade, the number of foreign student visas in Canada has surged threefold, surpassing one million, aggravating an already severe housing shortage in the country. To address this issue, Miller has announced that starting September 1, students in institutions following a private-public model will be prohibited from accessing postgraduate work permits. Additionally, open work permits will soon be restricted to spouses of students enrolled in master’s, doctoral, and professional programs like medicine and law.
The decision to implement these measures follows months of mounting pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to take decisive action against colleges suspected of exploiting international students, who, on average, are charged five times more than their Canadian counterparts.
According to Miller’s office, the number of international study permit holders reached 1,028,850 by the end of December. In a proactive move, Miller has committed to establishing a designated-institution framework that prioritizes visas for post-secondary schools offering higher-quality education and sufficient support, including housing. This framework is expected to take effect in the upcoming fall.
Furthermore, Miller has increased the financial requirements for new study permit applicants. Single applicants must now demonstrate they possess $20,635, in addition to covering their first-year tuition and travel expenses. These measures collectively reflect Canada’s commitment to fostering a fair and equitable environment for international students while addressing the challenges posed by the exponential growth in their numbers.