Immigration Minister Marc Miller is set to unveil a new plan aimed at reducing the number of international students issued permits to study in Canada. The announcement comes as the federal cabinet convenes in Montreal for a three-day retreat to prepare for the upcoming Parliament session. This initiative follows discussions that began five months ago during the last cabinet retreat in Charlottetown, where Miller and Housing Minister Sean Fraser contemplated the idea of capping international student visas.
Rising Numbers and Housing Challenges
The number of temporary study visas issued to international students has seen a significant increase, with over 800,000 issued in 2022, and an expected rise to 900,000 in 2023. This surge, which is more than triple the number from just 10 years ago, has been attributed in part to unscrupulous schools prioritizing revenue over providing a quality education and ensuring the well-being of the students.
This has led to challenges in housing, with many international students struggling to find safe and secure accommodation.
Cracking Down on Abuse and Fraud
Miller has been vocal about the need to address abuse and fraud in the system, emphasizing the importance of accredited schools delivering the expected education to international students. He has also highlighted the financial dependence of some schools on the higher tuition fees paid by international students, as provincial funding has been frozen or reduced. As a result, he has announced measures to increase the amount of money that foreign students must demonstrate they have access to obtain a visa, to provide a more transparent understanding of the financial requirements for living and studying in Canada.
Ethical Considerations and Policy Changes
While Miller has stressed that international students are not to blame for the housing shortage, he has emphasized the ethical responsibility of schools to admit only as many students as they can accommodate. The minister has made it clear that the current situation is unsustainable and requires immediate action to ensure the well-being of international students and address the housing challenges across the country.
To achieve this, the government has announced policy changes, including an increase in the financial requirement for study permit applicants, with the threshold being adjusted annually.
Conclusion
The new plan unveiled by Immigration Minister Marc Miller reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the housing shortage and ensuring a high-quality educational experience for international students in Canada. The proposed measures aim to tackle abuse and fraud in the system, as well as to provide greater transparency and ethical considerations in the admission of international students.
The government’s focus on policy changes and ethical considerations underscores the importance of safeguarding the well-being of international students and addressing the housing challenges across the country.
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