Question Period Note: QUEBEC STUDENTS

International Students

• The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that all applications are treated fairly and without discrimination.
• The approval rate for study permit applications from French-speaking clients residing in Africa destined to Quebec is comparable to those destined to the rest of Canada.
• Canada is committed to supporting the French language in Quebec and its distinct francophone identity through immigration.

• IRCC is reviewing its International Student Program to: prioritize key student cohorts, improving outcomes and equitable access to education, simplifying the pathway to work and strengthening program integrity. The Department has already started consultations with provinces and territories, including Quebec. Consultations are expected to continue throughout 2023.
• The Government of Canada has agreed to develop a plan to reduce study permit refusal rates, which will support Francophone immigration targets and help address labour shortages.

• In fall 2022, IRCC and Quebec launched a working group on international students to review and compare approval rates, trends, and program integrity issues for students destined to Quebec.
• The Approval rate for global study permit applications with French as the declared official language destined to Quebec was 45% in 2022. As of July 31, 2023, this approval rate stands at 43%.

• The Approval rate for global study permit applications with French as the declared official language destined to the rest of Canada was 38% in 2022. As of July 31, 2023, this approval rate remains at 38%.

• The measures taken by IRCC to improve the overall approval rates for study permit applications from applicants residing in Africa contributed to an increase in approval rates, from 30% in 2021 to 37% in 2022. As of July 31, 2023, the approval rate of study permit applications from students residing in Africa stands at 38%.

• Approval rates for study permit applications from French-speaking students residing in Africa destined to Quebec increased from 27% to 35% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. As of July 31, 2023, this approval rate is 36%.

• The approval rate for study permit applications from English-speaking students residing in Africa was 33% in 2021 and 38% in 2022. So far in 2023 (data as of July 31, 2023), this approval rate is 39%.

• [REDACTED] in an effort to improve outcomes regarding integrity issues. [REDACTED]. The department [REDACTED] is supportive of Quebec’s engagement.

• The ISCR was implemented in 2014 as an integrity tool to gather data on international students in Canada, allowing the department to identify potential non-genuine students and help provinces and territories (PTs) identify educational institutions with questionable practices.

• Currently, all provinces and territories except Quebec participate in compliance reporting.
• The department continues to analyze data, fine-tune criteria and design tools to improve the decision-making process and ensure that students who are truly eligible can study in Canada. The department also works to ensure compliance by requiring designated learning institutions to regularly report on whether international students attend their schools as intended.
• Study permit applications are evaluated based on their ability to meet program requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations, and the decisions are neither discriminatory nor arbitrary. However, socio-economic conditions from originating countries, such as banking systems, the reliability of documents and schools transcripts, can be an issue in evaluations.

Post Graduation Work Program

• In 2022, IRCC agreed to changes that Quebec requested to post-graduation work permit rules in the province to limit eligibility for graduates of private institutions to those who are enrolled in publicly-subsidized programs of study.

• This move is expected to positively affect program integrity and will align Quebec’s private institutions more closely with private institutions across the country. It took effect on September 1, 2023.

Responsive – Cap on International Students
• IRCC is reviewing the International Student Program to address pressures it is facing including unsustainable growth of the program, related program integrity concerns, and the vulnerability of students.
• The Department is considering options to ensure that Canada continues to attract top talent and international students are well-supported while in Canada.

• We will continue to work closely with provinces and territories, national education institutions and other key partners on potential changes to the program and will announce any changes to the Program once decisions have been made.

Responsive – International Students from Francophone African countries

• The Government of Canada is committed to applying equitable, non-discriminatory immigration procedures. We are continually evaluating data and addressing differential results.

• We understand that student applicants and the schools that have accepted them are disappointed when an application is denied. Each application undergoes an assessment based on the information available on file. All applications are assessed objectively and consistently to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and equitably.
• The current strategic review of immigration policies and programs will enable us to identify and address the issues associated with refusals.

• IRCC has quality assurance measures in place to ensure that the decisions made on applications comply with the existing Act and Regulations.

• IRCC is making an effort to attract eligible students from Africa and to explain the student permit application process and related requirements.

• IRCC also established the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which includes Senegal and Morocco, to accelerate the processing of student applications that meet specific requirements. These additional requirements enable IRCC to ensure that clients are eligible and lead to higher approval rates.

• The governments of Canada and Quebec have long collaborated to advance both their common and respective immigration priorities. We will continue to work with the Government of Quebec to help bring international students to the province.