Canadian Immigration Minister Mark Miller has expressed concerns about the surge in the number of international students coming to Canada this year. He highlighted worries about the pressure on housing and the potential impact on the integrity of the immigration system. Canada is on track to welcome 900,000 international students this year, a significant increase compared to the past decade.
Miller acknowledged that recruiting foreign students is profitable for universities, contributing billions of dollars to both private and public institutions. However, he also noted that there are negative aspects, including fraud within the system and misuse of the immigration process.
While international students contribute financially to the education sector, they also add pressure to housing availability in Canada. Private and public universities earn between C$20 billion to C$30 billion ($14.7 billion to $22.1 billion) annually from overseas students. Miller emphasized that the focus should be on maintaining the integrity of the immigration system and addressing housing concerns.
Miller acknowledged that some private colleges have expanded rapidly in different parts of Canada, potentially straining the housing situation further. He proposed tightening the system to ensure that learning institutions have adequate space and housing for admitted students. He also emphasized the need for cooperation between the federal government and provinces to address the housing issue.
While there have been discussions about placing caps on the number of international students to mitigate housing challenges, Miller indicated that this is not the sole solution. The Canadian government is considering various strategies to address the housing crisis while continuing to welcome international students.
