Here’s an analysis of the reaction of provinces and schools to the study permit limitation by IRCC. The immigration department declared the limitation on new study permits on January 22, 2024. This will apply to international students in 2024 and 2025. These new changes are a way to improve the quality of the international student program. However, stakeholders and provinces have displayed a variety of feelings concerning this update. A few have shown their approval for the study permit cap, while others feel that the policy is a bit severe for provinces. Some also believe that it is a threat to post-secondary institutions.
Reaction of provinces and schools to the study permit limitation – British Columbia
British Columbia’s reaction to this recent update has also turned out to be the most vigorous among Canadian provinces. The majority of the actions the provincial administration has taken have been in support of the new policies and their intended goals. In order to further safeguard students and uphold the integrity of its international student program, British Columbia has already executed additional procedures and publicly reiterated its commitment to offering sufficient support for international students. The province has implemented several steps, such as:
- A two-year hold on new schools being granted the designation of Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- Strengthened regulations for public education institutions.
- Revised requirements for private degree programs, increased tuition transparency, and more.
Ontario
For the most part, Ontario adhered to the IRCC’s policy modifications. Like British Columbia, the province has taken the initiative to enact new safeguards for international students.
These include the following:
- Stepping up-regulation of the admissions approval procedures.
- Mandating housing for international students at all institutions, and
- Reopening inquiries into private career colleges.
Furthermore, a pause on new public-private college partnerships, including those involving curriculum licensing agreements, in which public institutions grant private colleges a license to use their curriculum, has been issued by the provincial administration.
Manitoba
Concerns about the proposed student cap have been the subject matter for Manitoba. Premier of the province, Wab Kinew demonstrated approval of the fundamental issues with the new policy, saying that it is the responsibility of Canadian politicians to guarantee a sustainable number of foreign student arrivals while penalizing those who would take advantage of these students. Kinew also expressed worries about potential increases in tuition and the absence of federal direction on these new regulations.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick provincial legislatures are mostly against the changes. Minister Arlene Dunn, who oversees immigration and post-secondary education, expressed her worries about the state of affairs. Furthermore, she stated that the IRCC’s new policy inequitably targets all provincial authorities when not all are facing the same problems. According to the minister, mistakes made in other regions of the nation are currently unduly influencing New Brunswick.
A number of provincial educational institutions, such as the University of New Brunswick, have shown their concerns with the absence of additional details from the federal government. Moreover, they have been vocal about the ambiguity around the potential impact of this policy on admissions for the upcoming academic year.
What about the school’s reaction to the study permit limitation?
Canadian schools have expressed varied reactions to the new announcement by IRCC. The University of Waterloo expressed its approval of the initiatives to control the advances of false recruiters luring international students. Such scams mostly revolve around institutions with curriculum-licensing agreements. However, the university has shown signs of worry about the consequences of this decision at the undergraduate level. This is specifically true for the existing financial problems that the institutions and sectors have to deal with.
The University of Waterloo is already fully in line with Ontario’s new housing guarantee for international students in their first year. Also, the primary cause for their concerns is that the new student cap from IRCC could adversely impact several post-secondary institutions.
The Council of Ontario Universities president, Steve Orsini, claims that the new regulations will take effect at a risky moment for the province’s post-secondary educational establishments. At least ten of the province’s universities anticipate experiencing financial deficits this year, which they blame on declining operating grant levels from the Ontario government and a four-year tuition ceiling enforced by the province.
The University of British Columbia’s Director of University Affairs, Mathew Ramsey, announced that IRCC and the province’s government would collaborate on the new policy changes and their execution process.
They need to make sure that international students acknowledge Canada as their preferred destination. Canada has to contend globally for this talent. He stated that they value international students and their significance to UBC’s academic and research mission. He further claimed that it is too early to anticipate the possible outcomes of UBC. They also look forward to ensuring the significance of international students and their recognition at the provincial post-secondary institutions. The idea is to ensure the maintenance of too-notch quality standards in British Columbia.
UBC has shown its determination in assisting international students. These include:
- A compulsory first-year housing guarantee;
- Health Services;
- International student and academic advising guarantees.
The response of stakeholders
The Council of Ontario Universities (COU) President and CEO, Steve Orsini, conveyed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s proposal of a study permit cap in an official statement, predicting potential unforeseen repercussions for the industry and for international students.
Concerns over the IRCC’s proposed study permit cap have also been addressed by certain student organizations. The vice president of public and university affairs for the University of Toronto Students’ Union, Aidan Thompson, criticized the policy change, calling it a temporary fix on behalf of the government. He primarily noted the ongoing requirement for workers in vital sectors of the Canadian labor market. He acknowledged the essential talent pool that international students offer to fill these gaps.
Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada, two membership organizations for Canadian post-secondary institutions that in tandem represent 234 post-secondary schools, expressed fears regarding potential adverse impacts on the labor market and economy if the number of international students enrolled declines. All of this is there in an open letter to immigration minister Mark Miller dated January 30.
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