The Canadian government is planning to implement a national cap to reduce the influx of international students into the country.
Marc Miller, the immigration minister, disclosed this during an interview with CTV’s Question Period.
Miller said discussions with provincial governments will be necessary “to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis.”
He expressed concern about the substantial volume of international students in Canada, describing it as disconcerting.
He remarked that the system has, in his view, become unmanageable and out of control.
“The Canadian government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants — both permanent and temporary residents — while the country faces an acute housing shortage,” he said
Recent reporting by The Canadian Press, drawing on internal documents obtained through an access to information request, reveals that the government was cautioned by public servants two years ago about the potential impact of its ambitious immigration targets on housing affordability.
The Liberal government has established targets to admit 485,000 immigrants this year, followed by 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026.
Temporary residents, primarily consisting of international students and migrant workers, contribute significantly to the overall scenario, with over 300,000 of them entering Canada in just the third quarter of the previous year.
Miller mentioned that in the first and second quarters of this year, he will be exploring the possibility of implementing a cap on international students to mitigate the demand for housing.
In response to queries about the timing of the government’s contemplation of a cap, Miller explained that they are currently addressing the overall numbers at the federal level.
He added that a more detailed examination of the activities of individual academic institutions in various provinces is necessary, as some may be benefiting financially from the increased intake of international students.