Capping foreign students requires a serious rethink

The Chamber is following up on concerns expressed by local post-secondaries facing a serious and unanticipated financial burden from the surprise federal announcement to cap the international student program.

Yesterday, the organization representing Canadian schools sent a joint letter to federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller.

“We urge your department not to impose the letter of attestation requirement for college and undergraduate study permit applications until at least March 31 or until the provinces establish an effective process,” the letter from Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada stated. “Additionally, we request urgent consultations with the sector to modify the cap policy, clarify the many outstanding questions and mitigate the negative impacts.”

On Monday, BC announced new regulations that will constrict the number of international students in the province. Of BC’s 545,000 post-secondary students, 175,000 are from 150 countries other than Canada.

“After speaking with our members impacted by these changes, The Chamber is concerned that this policy is being presented as a solution to the housing crisis when it will significantly reduce revenue needed by schools,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “A better solution is to invest in more on-campus housing so that schools continue to provide the workforce our economy needs, while creating a pathway for foreign students to become taxpaying new Canadians.”