Immigration Minister Marc Miller is expected to unveil a plan on Monday aimed at reducing the number of international students granted permits to study in Canada.
This announcement coincides with the ongoing three-day civil press retreat in Montreal, as they prepare for the upcoming parliamentary session. It follows a similar retreat in Charlottetown five months ago, during which Miller and Housing Minister Sean Fraser first broached the idea of limiting visas for international students.
In recent months, Miller has repeatedly pledged to address the influx of international students, acknowledging their role in exacerbating the nationwide housing shortage. Over 800,000 temporary study visas were issued to international students in 2022, with projections indicating a potential increase to 900,000 in 2023—more than triple the number a decade ago.
Miller attributes this surge, in part, to unscrupulous institutions viewing international students as a lucrative revenue source without prioritizing the provision of quality education or ensuring their well-being in Canada.
Issues, including housing insecurity, have surfaced, prompting Miller to call on businesses to curb abuse and fraud within the system. During a news conference in December, he criticized certain institutions as “parchment mills” solely focused on issuing credentials, emphasizing the need for a legitimate educational experience.
As part of the plan, Miller proposed an increase in the minimum financial requirement for wealthy foreign students seeking visas—from $10,000 to $20,635. This measure aims to ensure students have adequate funds for living expenses during their time in Canada and addresses concerns of potential exploitation for those arriving without sufficient financial resources.
Additionally, Miller has been urging businesses to take action against accredited institutions that fail to provide the expected education for international students. While Ottawa issues visas, the responsibility for accrediting institutions that admit international students rests with the businesses. Miller emphasized that the current system has facilitated abuse and fraud, especially as institutions rely heavily on the tuition fees paid by international students.
In December, Miller clarified that blaming international students for Canada’s housing deficit would be unjust, but he emphasized the unethical nature of institutions admitting more students than they can adequately house.
