Universities Canada has voiced concern about a major decline in international student enrolment due to the cap on student visas.
Foreign students recently protested in Canada when authorities announced plans to deport them in line with a new immigration policy.
The national cap, set in January by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, was initially intended to reduce international student intake by 35% over the next two years.
The temporary measure was put in place to address concerns about housing, healthcare, and other services being strained by the expanding number of overseas students.
However, Gabriel Miller, president of Universities Canada, stated that international student admission is on the decline.
“There’s every possibility that it’s going to be even worse than we fear. We’re already in uncharted territory, and this should be a wake-up call for Ottawa to take immediate action,” he said.
The government originally estimated that roughly 364,000 study permits would be approved this year, but that figure has since been lowered to around 292,000.
The reduction is aimed specifically at provinces with the highest student growth rates.
Universities Canada raised concern about the long-term impact of the cap on enrolment and competitiveness.