International student programs through which international students obtain study visas to Canada are facing some restructuring by the federal government. According to the Canadian Visa Expert, Canada is capping the number of study permits it will approve over the next two years.
The decision is said to be a response to the sharp rise in the number of temporary residents, which includes international students.
The Canadian Visa Expert could also establish that the shortage of affordable housing in Canada is one crucial factor driving the need for temporary caps on international students.
In the words of Immigration Minister Marc Miller:
"This temporary cap will reduce the number of new student visas by 35 percent this year. The international student programs coordinated by institutions in Canada are causing a strong population growth, which puts pressure on an already-strained housing market."
Over the next two years, the federal government of Canada is capping the number of study permits it approves to curb the ballooning international student program.
Reasons for the temporary caps on international students
Policy experts and elected officials have shown great concern about how post-secondary institutions are using international students as “cash cows” to supplement their funding.
The Canadian Visa Expert could also confirm that the Immigration Minister recently accused some institutions of running programs that do not offer students any benefits. Instead, their diploma programs are equivalent to “puppy mills.”
According to Statistics Canada, the number of international college students increased by 154 percent between 2014-2015 and 2019-2020, while the number of international university students increased by only about 40 percent.
