Canada is currently reviewing its approach to granting long-term visas to foreign students, reflecting the government’s intent to curb immigration and manage population growth. Immigration Minister Marc Miller revealed in a phone interview that federal and provincial officials are actively discussing how to align the number of visas with labor market demands. While Canada has historically relied on universities and colleges to attract educated, working-age immigrants, Miller emphasized that study visas should not be seen as a guarantee of future residency or citizenship.
“Studying in Canada should be an opportunity for education, not a pathway to permanent residency,” Miller stated. “Students should return home with new skills and knowledge to contribute to their countries. That has not always been the case recently.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is grappling with mounting pressure over escalating living costs, housing shortages, and higher unemployment rates. In response, Canada has recently imposed a cap on the number of international student visas, projecting fewer than 300,000 new permits this year, down from approximately 437,000 last year.
Miller highlighted the need for Canada to better align job opportunities for international students with their fields of study. Discussions are ongoing to ensure that post-graduate work permits are aligned with labor shortages in various provinces. “The rationale for unrestricted international recruitment is no longer valid,” Miller noted.
The number of individuals in Canada holding post-graduate work permits (PGWPs) has surged, with 132,000 new PGWP holders in 2022—a 78% increase from four years earlier, according to government statistics.
Miller emphasized that any changes to immigration policy will require collaboration among governments and businesses. The Trudeau administration is also scrutinizing a separate program that allows companies to hire temporary foreign workers, which Miller described as having been “used and abused.” The government aims to reduce the proportion of temporary residents to 5% of the population, down from nearly 7%.
Recent protests by foreign workers in Prince Edward Island, some of whom resorted to hunger strikes, followed the provincial government’s reduction of permanent residency nominations for sales and service roles. Miller acknowledged that Canada is increasingly seen as less welcoming to students. However, he argued that this shift could restore the study visa’s original intent, making it a true educational opportunity rather than a shortcut to permanent residency.
During a roundtable discussion with local media in Surrey, British Columbia, home to a large South Asian immigrant population, Miller also expressed concern over emerging signs of racism in Canada. “While we have built a strong consensus on immigration, it’s being eroded,” he said.
