Question Period Note: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Significant increase in the number of international students coming to Canada over the past 5 years resulting in increased student vulnerability.

• International students enrich our communities and are a critical part of Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric.

• The volume of international students coming to Canada has significantly increased in the past 5 years.

• IRCC is taking action to manage volumes so that international students have a positive experience while studying and Canada is able to keep its competitive edge in recruiting top talent.

• IRCC has already introduced a number of reforms through the International Student Program review.

• On January 22, I established a cap on study permits applications with some exceptions. This measure is meant to manage the volumes of international students in the country and to ensure that students are adequately supported while they are here.

• We are looking to adopt a "Recognized Institutions Framework" which will provide benefits to institutions that are demonstrating higher standards related to international student supports, such as housing.

If pressed on Post-Graduation Work Permits
We are continuing to assess the post-graduation work permit program so that it serves as a better conduit to fill labour market needs and ensures that graduates end up working in jobs that match their skills and education.
I look forward to sharing more information on this soon.
• We announced earlier this year that international students who begin a study program delivered by private colleges as part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit upon graduation.
• We also announced longer work permit duration for graduates of masters programs.

If pressed on international students claiming asylum
• We cannot speculate why an individual would claim asylum. The number of asylum claims per Designated Learning Institution (DLI) does not necessarily reflect the quality of a DLI or the thoroughness of the assessment of their international students.
• Around the world, a rising number of conflicts has led to increases in asylum claims, and Canada is not immune to these trends. Under the law, anyone claiming asylum in Canada has the right to due process. However, there are no guarantees that an asylum seeker will be allowed to stay in Canada.

If pressed on off-campus work hours:

• The policy allowing certain students to work unlimited hours expired on April 30th.
• Students are still able to work unlimited hours during scheduled academic breaks. For example, a student whose program follows the standard September to April school year would still be able to work unlimited hours during their summer study break. They would only need to go down to 20 hours per week when classes start again for the fall semester.
• This fall, we intend to change the number of hours students are able to work off campus per week to 24 hours.

If pressed on OCOL complaint
• The cap is designed to curb the unsustainable growth of international students and protect the integrity of the international student program.
• In the interest of fairness, provincial and territorial allocations under the cap have been established, which will result in larger decreases in provinces where the international student population has grown most unsustainably.
• Francophone immigration and equitable access remain priorities with respect to international students, and IRCC plans to pursue these objectives through special measures and, more generally, through program reform.

If pressed on the cap in general
• IRCC has allocated spaces under the cap to provinces and territories that take into account population size, recent volumes and approval rates. Study permit applications subject to the cap require an attestation letter from the province or territory where the student intends to study.
• As of March 31, all provinces and territories have established their process for issuing attestation letters. Provinces and territories are responsible for managing their allocations through the issuance of attestation letters.
• Some cohorts of students are exempt from the cap, including those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, those studying at the primary and secondary school levels, current in-Canada study permit and work permit holders, as well as in-Canada family members of study and work permit holders.

If pressed on fraud
• To mitigate the incidence of fraud, the Department introduced mandatory letter of acceptance verification to all post-secondary institutions in December 2023 and increased the minimum funds requirement in January 2024 so that students are financially better prepared for life in Canada.

In pressed on open work permit for spouses
• On March 19, 2024, IRCC implemented restrictions on open work permit eligibility for spouses and common-law partners of international students. The restriction limits open work permit eligibility to spouses and common-law partners of international students in graduate degree programs and certain professional degree programs only.

If pressed on housing
• IRCC is aware of the acute challenges related to the housing supply and is pursuing strategies that support Canada’s continued need for immigration while also addressing our country’s current housing situation. For the federal government, this means aligning our immigration policies with measures taken to address infrastructure and housing challenges.

Study Permit Application Cap

• IRCC has communicated to each province and territory how many study permit applications they have been allocated for 2024.
• While the cap may impact the finances of certain designated learning institutions, this is a pre-existing challenge in certain jurisdictions.
• The study permit intake cap and other recent measures are necessary to protect the integrity of the International Student Program and maintain Canada’s reputation as a global leader in providing high quality education. In that sense, this measure reinforces the viability and currency of this important sector in Canada’s economy.
• In addition to the implementation of a cap on most study permit applications, IRCC is considering a number of additional options to ensure that international students are well-supported while in Canada, namely the development and launch of a Recognized Institution Framework.

Recognized Institutions Framework

• In light of the introduction of the cap, IRCC is adjusting the timing of the roll-out of the Recognized Institutions Framework, including the launch of the survey.
• IRCC is looking to adopt this new framework to recognize learning institutions that provide top-quality services, support and outcomes for international students.

• The proposed Recognized Institution Framework will provide benefits to institutions that are demonstrating higher standards related to international student supports, including housing. IRCC is finalizing the Framework which will include indicators related to:
o Recruiting responsibly and sustainably;
o Providing adequate student supports, including housing;
o Supporting equity and diversity, and
o Demonstrating strong student outcomes.

• While IRCC has already consulted provinces and territories, and national education associations, the Department plans on launching a second round of consultation as we move towards implementing the new framework next year. Additional details will be shared to fully explain how institutions would become recognized and what benefits that would bring.

Letter of Acceptance Verification

• Since December 1, 2023, post-secondary DLIs have been required to confirm every study permit applicant’s letter of acceptance (LOA) submitted from overseas directly with IRCC. Since January 30, 2024, post-secondary DLIs have been required to verify LOAs and/or letters of enrollment for study permit applications submitted from within Canada as well.

• This new, enhanced verification process aims to protect prospective students from letter of acceptance fraud and to help them avoid similar problems that some students faced earlier this year as a result of fraud investigations. It also ensures that study permits are issued based only on genuine letters of acceptance.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP)

• As part of the Government's review of the post-graduation work permit program, two initial reforms have been announced:
o Starting May 15, 2024, international students who begin a study program delivered by private colleges as part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit upon graduation.
o Graduates of master's degree programs are now eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit.
• The Government is also continuing to assess the post-graduation work permit program to determine how best to align it with labour market needs while enabling international student to obtain valuable work experience that could help them obtain permanent residence should they so wish.

International Students Claiming Asylum

• The number of persons claiming asylum in Canada has increased significantly between 2017 and 2023, with a prominent rise in claims in 2023. This is in line with trends globally, with many countries seeing a rise in displaced persons which may be attributed to conflicts and pent up demand from COVID.

• While any individual can claim asylum, each claim is assessed on its own merits. The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is an independent administrative tribunal, and IRB decision makers will assess each claim to determine whether an individual is in need of Canada’s international legal protection

• In recent years, we have seen rapid increases in the number of international students arriving in Canada. Some institutions have significantly increased their intakes to drive revenues, and more students have been arriving in Canada without the proper supports they need to succeed. During this time, a growing number of international students have claimed asylum soon after being approved for their study permit Further, we have seen the rise of nefarious actors preying on international students for financial gain. These developments have threatened the integrity of the Program overall.

• To address these issues, IRCC has implemented a suite of measures, including increasing the minimum financial requirements for new students and setting an intake cap on most study permit applications for a period of two years. We will continue to closely monitor emerging trends during the ongoing review of the International Student Program to protect students and maintain the integrity of our immigration system.

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