International student enrolment down 45 per cent, Universities Canada says
A group representing almost 100 of Canada’s universities is warning the impact from the federal government’s cap on international students will be “far greater” than what Ottawa aimed for.
Gabriel Miller, president of Universities Canada, told Global News when the schools officially finish counting how many students have arrived and enrolled, there will be at least a 45 per cent drop of international students. The final tally will be reported in October.
“There’s every possibility that it’s going to be even worse than we fear,” he said in an interview Saturday. “But it’s important to note that we’re already in territory that no one anticipated and that needs to set off a big alarm bell in Ottawa that we need to start turning this around right away.
The national cap was laid out in January by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who at the time said would reduce the intake by 35 per cent over the next two years, adding the measures were temporary.
It was put into effect as a way to quell the rapid increase in the number of international students, citing pressure on housing, health care and other services.
The minister said the cap was expected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits in 2024. That number has since been revised with about 292,000 approved permits anticipated.
Though the cap is national, those provinces that had seen the most “unsustainable growth” in intake will have to cut the number of students more than other jurisdictions.
Miller said Universities Canada is concerned over the impact the cap could have on future enrolment, saying international students are a “huge asset” to schools. He said they “enrich the educational experience,” as well as contribute funds to provide education to
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