Records indicate that over 980,000 study permits were issued to foreign students in 2023.
Over 980,000 Canadian study permits were issued to foreign students in 2023, according to recently released records.
The information was released by the Department of Immigration in response to a request by Conservative MP Garnett Genius, who inquired how many students were studying at each institution in Canada, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.
“The department can track the number of study permits issued that are destined to a designated learning institution as specified in the application,” cabinet wrote in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the Commons. “But it does not currently have the capability to track in which institution students are actually studying.”
In total, 982,880 permits were handed out to foreign students in 2023, the report said, with the most being issued to Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ont. The college has almost 41,000 foreign students, which is the largest number of any Canadian postsecondary institution.
The Canadian Press.
Conestoga said that the federal government did not consult with Ontario colleges before it decided to put a cap on the number of international students.
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statement on its website.
“Diversity is our strength and we value the cultural and social impact our students make across our campuses and in the eight communities we serve.”
- 40,565 at Conestoga College
- 31,380 at the University of Toronto
- 23,530 at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology
…
Mr. Miller criticized the post-secondary education system and the international study permit process.
announced a doubling of the money that international students are required to have before they are eligible for a study visa.
“In welcoming international students, we have a responsibility to make sure that students are supported when they come to our country,” Mr. Miller said at the time.
The new requirements mean that foreign students will need to prove they have $20,635 in funds to support themselves. Currently, international students only need to demonstrate they have $10,000.
The government is hoping the changes help ease the housing crisis in the country.
While Mr. Miller said that foreign students are not solely responsible for the housing shortage, “it would also be a mistake to invite them to come to Canada with no support including how to put a roof over their heads.”
Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.
