Toronto: The Canadian government is looking to control the influx of international students into the country in the near future. Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller expressed concerns about the current system, stating that it has become unmanageable. He hinted at implementing caps on the number of international students admitted to Canada in the coming months.
In an interview with CTV News, Miller acknowledged the disconcerting volume of approximately 900,000 international students currently enrolled in Canadian institutions. While the government has specific targets in mind, Miller did not disclose them, emphasizing that discussions about reducing these numbers would be held with provincial colleagues around the negotiating table.
India represents the largest group of international students, constituting over 37% of the total, with 215,910 out of 579,075 students as of November 2023. This marks a decline from the previous year’s figure of over 41%. The surge in numbers over the past five years, from 107,070 in 2018 to the current figure, is noteworthy.
Canada has already implemented measures for international students since late last year, including increased financial requirements for study permit applications and mandatory verification of acceptance letters by designated learning institutions (DLIs).
Minister Miller emphasized the need for a robust system that ensures applicants have the financial means to study in Canada and stressed the importance of verifying offer letters. He underscored the necessity of addressing the impact of the current volume of international students in various regions, indicating a need for further conversations on the matter.
The interview with Minister Miller will air on Sunday on CTV News.
