International student cuts hurting Canada: Fanshawe College student leader

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The federal government’s decision to slash study permits to international students could hurt Canada’s reputation as an “immigrant-friendly destination,” says the head of Fanshawe College’s student council.

“I understand the rationale behind the government’s decision to impose stricter barriers on immigration; however, it feels like these choices were made in haste, potentially influenced by the upcoming elections,’” said Siddharth Singh, president of Fanshawe’s student union.

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Singh is an international student who started in Fanshawe’s business management program in September 2022. He graduated in April.

The college, with campuses in London, Woodstock, St. Thomas, Simcoe and Huron and Bruce counties, has about 43,000 students. About 6,500 are international students, according to its website.

Fanshawe College is preparing for a steep decline in international students when its second term starts in January that will “significantly” impact its budget and potentially limit course offerings, its president Peter Devlin said in an email to staff obtained by The London Free Press.

In January, Federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller announced a 35 per cent reduction in the number of study permits this fall and more to come in a bid to temper the country’s housing crisis.

“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,” Miller said.

The next federal election must be held before Oct. 21, 2025. Ontario voters aren’t scheduled to go to the polls until 2026 but there is speculation Premier Doug Ford could call an election next year.

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In May, a college spokesperson said Fanshawe expected to be allocated 11,000 study permits for international students for September.

Though Fanshawe said the cap didn’t impact its international student enrolment this fall, a second announcement in September saw a further reduction in international student study permits as part of a reformation of the federal International Student Program.

The fallout is a predicted 47 per cent reduction in first year international student enrolment in January. Fanshawe is projecting a 39 per cent reduction for its May semester, Devlin said.

Devlin declined to comment this week on the projected decline in international students.

Singh said the current situation is “significantly” affecting colleges and universities.

“Many institutions are experiencing a drop in international student enrollment ranging from 15 per cent  to 40 per cent compared to last year . . .  colleges are facing the necessity of making substantial budget cuts to avoid operating at a deficit within the next few years,” he said. “Some are even contemplating shutting down campuses and scaling back on various departments.”

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International students, who pay three to five times more in tuition fees than Canadians, are a lucrative source of revenue for colleges and universities.

Statistics Canada says the average university tuition for international students is about $36,100 a year for undergraduates and $21,100 for graduate students. Canada is generally considered more affordable than studying in other countries.

In 2023, Canadian post-secondary institutions had about 900,000 international students, up from about 240,000 international students in 2011.

The rapid increase added pressure to the Canadian housing market. In August 2023, Sean Fraser, minister of housing, infrastructure and communities, said the federal government was considering putting a cap on the number of international students at Canadian universities and colleges.

“While this decision may ultimately address the housing crisis and food insecurity issues, the immediate impact is that many countries no longer view Canada as the immigrant-friendly destination it once was,” Singh said.

Isabelle Dubois, a spokesperson with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said “Canada values the significant social, cultural and economic benefits that international students bring.

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“For those benefits to continue and to ensure that international students who arrive in Canada are set up for success, we must tackle issues that have made some students vulnerable and have challenged the integrity of the International Student Program,” she said. “This includes making sure we can manage the number of international students coming to Canada in a sustainable manner, while deterring any bad actors who pose a threat to the system.”

Dubois said international students are not responsible for the challenges facing communities but “their skyrocketing growth puts significant pressure on services.

“It is not in the interest of international students, or of Canada, for students to struggle to find adequate, affordable housing or meet their other needs upon arrival,” she said.

The email from Devlin also updated employees about new guidelines from the federal government that “determine career training pathway eligibility for post-graduate work permits.”

StrategyCorp, an independent consulting firm, is conducting a “thorough review” “to identify which programs qualify for post-graduate work permits under the new guidelines, Devlin said.

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The Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities said in an email the government has invested more than $13 billion in the postsecondary education sector in 2023-24.

The government is providing an additional $15 million over three years beginning in 2024-25 to support third-party reviews of college programs that will help “drive long-term cost savings and positive outcomes for students and communities,” the ministry said in a statement.

A further $1.3 billion in new funding is designed “to stabilize Ontario’s colleges and universities,” the ministry said.

“We are also currently engaging with 45 colleges and universities on a new agreement designed to keep funding steady.”

hrivers@postmedia.com

@HeatheratLFP

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