The federal government plans to reduce the number of international students in certain states, according to a senior government official.
Ottawa shares jurisdiction over Canada’s international student programs with the provinces. The federal government issues visas to students, and state governments are responsible for regulating universities.
The official told Radio-Canada that the government is considering which provinces will accept more international students than their housing capacity. The source specifically pointed to Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia as possible examples.
CBC is not identifying the source of the information because it is not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
According to the official, the government has held talks with some states about limiting the number of students in densely populated areas and tightening regulations on educational institutions that can accept international students, but the talks have gone nowhere. It is said that no results have been achieved.
The federal government has announced that Canada is on pace to admit about 900,000 international students in 2023.
Immigration Minister Mark Miller has floated the idea of imposing a cap on temporary residents in recent weeks as a way to address housing affordability.
Last month, the federal government doubled the amount international students need to prove they have access to apply for a visa. Prospective students will now have to prove they have access to $20,635, instead of the $10,000 requirement that has been in place for 20 years.
At a press conference to mark the announcement, Miller called on states to do more to help bring in international students. He also criticized lax regulations regarding some higher education institutions.
“There are diploma mills in rural areas that are the equivalent of puppy mills that are churning out diplomas, and this is not a legitimate student experience,” Miller said at a news conference in December.
In November, the government announced it would stick to its target of 500,000 new permanent residents in 2026, after raising annual immigration targets several times in recent years.
Last week, The Canadian Press reported that senior civil servants had warned the government that increased immigration would impact housing affordability and availability, as well as services such as health care.
