The information was confirmed by Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller in an interview with CTV, scheduled to be broadcast today, January 14. According to him, the ruling Liberal Party is considering limiting the number of international students in the first and second quarters of this year.
"That number is worrying. It's really a system that's gotten out of control," Mr Miller said, without saying how many international students the government was considering cutting.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tours a new housing development in Toronto (Ontario) on December 21, 2023.
Canada is a popular destination for international students because it is relatively easy to get a post-graduation work permit. Official data shows that there will be more than 800,000 foreign students with Canadian visas in 2022, up from 275,000 in 2012.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has long sought to increase the number of immigrants entering the country each year, as they are a key source of labor to boost the economy and support an aging population. The housing crisis has been blamed on an increase in immigrants and international students, and inflation has also slowed construction, according to Reuters.
The Liberals have floated the idea of capping the number of visas available to foreign students starting in August 2023. However, Canada’s Housing Minister Sean Fraser said at the time that the government had not yet made a decision on whether to proceed with the plan.
Minister Miller also told CTV he will discuss the issue with his provincial counterparts.
Support for Mr Trudeau’s Liberal Party has plummeted after more than eight years in power, with polls showing it trailing the opposition Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre, who has criticised the government for failing to properly manage housing.
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