Immigration Minister to Review Potential Limit on International Students in Canada

Canada is currently discussing the possibility of implementing a cap on the number of international students permitted to reside in the country in the upcoming months, as stated by federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller.

“That volume is disconcerting,” said Mr. Miller, expressing concern about the number of international students in Canada. “It’s really a system that has gotten out of control.”

Mr. Miller also stressed that the implementation of a cap on international students would not be a universal solution to all housing issues in Canada, which he indicated are related to both supply and affordability.

He emphasized the necessity of engaging in discussions with his provincial counterparts to ensure that provinces experiencing housing challenges can effectively control the number of international students on a quantitative basis.

The minister declined to specify the extent of the reduction he will consider, stating that conversations with provincial colleagues must take place first.

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According to data released by Statistics Canada in December, the country’s population grew by more than 430,000 during the third quarter of 2023, marking the fastest pace of population growth in any quarter since 1957.

The growth over those three months, which put Canada’s population estimate at more than 40.5 million, has been fuelled by international migration, the agency said. It noted that about 313,000 of the 430,000 were non-permanent residents who were mostly international students and migrant workers.

The issue of housing has become a political liability for the Liberal government as it continues to face criticism over its policy welcoming more immigrants amid acute housing shortage and affordability.

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