Canada To Further Tighten Restrictions On International Students, Workers; Will Indians Look At Other Countries?

New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is taking additional steps to reduce immigration in response to the strains of rapid population growth. Beginning next year,  the Canadian government will further cut the intake of foreign students and tighten rules for foreign workers. Immigration Minister Marc Miller disclosed these measures during a news conference in Ottawa.

Canada will reduce international student permits by 10% from this year’s levels beginning 2025, maintaining this limit through 2026. This represents a 36% decline from the 2023 numbers. However, Universities Canada has indicated that the country is already on track to undershoot this year’s target due to fewer applications from foreign students.

These changes aim to address the rapid growth of the temporary resident population, which includes foreign students, temporary workers, and asylum seekers. This demographic has expanded significantly post-pandemic, leading to criticism of Trudeau’s handling of immigration policies. Miller emphasised the importance of a sustainable immigration system, stating, “The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to — just like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to. Our immigration system must preserve its integrity and be well-managed and sustainable.”

Canada’s strong immigration initially supported the country’s post-pandemic recovery and mitigated the impact of high interest rates on economic growth. However, the recent population surge—adding about three million people in the last three years—has put pressure on housing costs and public services, affecting Trudeau’s popularity, according to a report in Economic Times.

In March, the government set a goal to reduce the share of temporary residents to 5% within three years, down from the 6.2% recorded at that time. Since then, this proportion has risen to about 6.8%. The current reduction in foreign student visas is the only major policy contributing to the immigration decline. The measures announced are expected to further decrease the number of temporary immigrants by 525,000 over three years, moving towards the government’s 5% target.

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault also announced new restrictions on the use of temporary foreign workers in Quebec, expanding measures imposed in other provinces. The tighter policies include prohibitions on using the program in regions where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher. This decision aligns with public opinion, as a recent poll by Nanos Research Group for Bloomberg News revealed that a majority of Canadians support reducing the number of temporary workers.

Despite the government’s focus on reducing temporary resident numbers, the Bank of Canada anticipates that these efforts might take longer than expected to slow immigration, potentially leading to weaker long-term economic growth. Unlike the U.S., Canada’s immigration pressures stem from the influx of individuals coming to study and work under temporary visas with aspirations of seeking permanent residency.

Boissonnault highlighted the need to prioritise Canadian workers, stating, “Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions. The changes we are making today will prioritise Canadian workers and ensure Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy.” The government plans to announce the first-ever temporary resident target for 2025 to 2027 by November 1, setting the stage for its future immigration strategy, the report added.

Canada is among the favourite destinations for Indian students. According to the Indian government’s data released last month, about 13.35 lakh Indian students are studying abroad, with about 4.27 lakh in Canada.

Between 2013 and 2022, the number of Indian students moving to Canada to study has seen a massive rise of 260 per cent.

According to a Reuters report earlier this year, about 40 per cent of overseas students in Canada were from India. The Canadian government’s move to cut international student permits will now make Indian students choose other options such as the US, UK, or Australia, NDTV reported.