Canada to Cap International Students Amid Housing Crisis

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announces plan in response to surging student numbers and housing affordability concerns.

Canada's Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced plans to cap the number of international students in the country in response to a growing housing crisis and unemployment.
The number of international students in Canada has surged over the past decade, from 275,000 in 2012 to over 800,000 in 2022, with India accounting for 37% of the total as of November 2023.
The government has not specified the extent of the reduction, but has already initiated steps to better regulate the flow of international students, including increasing the proof of financial support required for new study permit applications and mandating institutions to authenticate acceptance letters.
Miller emphasized that a cap on international students would not be a 'one-size-fits-all solution' to housing shortages across Canada, and that federal and provincial governments need to collaborate on this issue.
The federal government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants while the country faces an acute housing shortage. The Liberals aim to bring 485,000 immigrants to Canada in 2024 and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026.