"Lena Metlege Diab told a crowd in Halifax Friday that the post-pandemic immigration boom helped employers struggling to find labour, but it also put unsustainable pressure on the health care system, housing and other services, which Canadians noticed. Now she says the government is looking for a better balance, and part of that is curbing the number of international students."
""We are on a path to stability and predictability which is what we promised the sector we (would) do and we will honour that in 2026 and 2027 to ensure that they do well. With respect to financial (support) and so on, I would direct them to contact the provinces," she told reporters. She said Canada will issue about 408,000 study permits next year, which should result in further reductions as the current crop of international students graduate."
The federal government reduced international student permits to ease unsustainable pressure on health care, housing and other public services after a post-pandemic immigration boom. Foreign student numbers fell from over one million in early 2024 to about 700,000 by November 2025. Canada plans to issue about 408,000 study permits next year, which should further reduce the student population as current cohorts graduate. Universities are losing significant tuition revenue from fewer international students and are being directed to seek financial support from provincial governments. Reports indicate some recruiters committed fraud and some international students did not attend classes, inflating past numbers.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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