In an effort to restrict the increasing number of international students, the Canadian federal government proposed regulations to monitor incoming students on July 10. 

As these proposals underwent public consultation until July 29, international students, institutions, and provincial governments had an opportunity to voice their opinions and influence these regulations. 

Under the proposed regulations, Canadian colleges and universities will be required by the government to track their international students’ enrolment and attendance. The move aims to ensure that students comply with their study permit requirements. 

Enhanced monitoring requirements

The changes the federal government outlined are described in the Canada Gazette, marking a continued effort to address concerns over international student exploitation and curve the number of international students while ensuring they meet their requirements.

In 2023, Canada saw an all-time high of over one million study permit holders, a 151 per cent increase from the 352,305 study permits granted in 2015. In January, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a two-year cap on the number of international undergraduate study permits the federal government will issue. 

The new requirements call on designated learning institutions — such as postsecondary institutions — to monitor whether a student is attending school and complying with all study permit requirements and report to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

Students will also need to apply for a new study permit whenever they want to switch schools and before the start date of the new study program.

“The regulatory amendments would allow [the IRCC] to effectively respond to integrity challenges and address common occurrences of unethical behaviours that undermine the integrity of the program,” wrote the Canada Gazette.

Postsecondary institutions will now face more responsibility for ensuring compliance with immigration standards. 

IRCC spokesperson Michelle Carbert wrote to The Varsity that U of T fits into the category of institutions under the new change. 

“Designated learning institutions report on the enrollment status of all study permit holders in their institution twice a year,” wrote Carbert. “All provinces and territories [except Québec] are required… to participate in these exercises.”

Institutions that fail to meet these obligations risk the federal government terminating new international student admissions until their compliance is restored.

Among the proposals, the government also seeks to increase the international student work cap from 20 to 24 hours per week. This comes after the government temporarily waived the 20-hour work hour cap until April of this year to ease labour shortages during the pandemic. 

Varying perspectives

These regulatory proposals have sparked mixed reactions. While some support the government’s efforts to monitor international students, others including provincial authorities worry about federal encroachment on provincial educational mandates and the potential administrative burdens placed on institutions. 

Students have also expressed concerns over the increased regulations, fearing it may lead to delays or complications in their ability to study and work in Canada. 

Xinran Liung, a second-year undergraduate U of T student from China studying statistics and math, spoke about his experiences. 

“I came to Canada with the hope of gaining a quality education and potentially settling here,” said Liung. “These new rules make me worry about my ability to smoothly transition between programs or institutions when the time arrives.” 

Liung hopes to expand his employment opportunities through an additional college-level diploma. 

The proposal to suspend processing student permits for non-compliant institutions could lead to prolonged suspensions of up to 12 months. Miller justifies these measures as necessary to uphold the integrity of Canada’s international education sector amid rapid growth and concerns over student exploitation.

In his announcement of the study cap, Miller said, “To be absolutely clear, these measures are not against individual international students. They are to ensure that as future students arrive in Canada, they receive the quality of education that they signed up for and the hope that they were provided in their home countries.”