Manitoba government, post-secondary institutions uncertain how Ottawa's international student cap will work
Reductions may drive up tuition prices: Premier Wab Kinew
The Manitoba government and its post-secondary institutions are in the dark as to what a new cap on international students will mean for the province.
Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced Monday that Canada will approve about 360,000 undergraduate study permits for 2024 — a 35 per-cent reduction from last year.
The federal government said the limit on each province and territory will be based on population figures, but it didn't provide any details as to what the actual numbers will look like for each province and territory.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is still waiting to hear from Ottawa on the matter, he said during a press conference Monday in Neepawa.
"We have asked, but they don't have answers for us yet," he said.
"Of course, we need to be able to house and have the right programs and ensure a quality education for these folks coming to Manitoba. But if there's a reduction ... potentially, it's going to put an upward pressure on tuition here."
In a statement to CBC News, the federal government said more information on the allocation model will be provided once there's been engagement with provinces and territories.
"We must tackle issues that have made some students vulnerable and have challenged the integrity of the international student program," the statement said. "This includes making sure we can manage the number of international students coming to Canada in a sustainable manner, while punishing any bad actors who pose a threat to the system."
WATCH | Students in Winnipeg react to the federal cap:
Housing woes
Monday's announcement comes amid concerns the high volume of immigrants is driving up housing prices. Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser told reporters later in the day that he expects some pressure will be "alleviated" in communities where there are a large number of international students.
In 2022, there were 22,060 people issued with a valid study permit in Manitoba, 17,525 of which were in post-secondary institutions, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Except for two years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers in Manitoba have grown consistently over the past decade. In 2012, there were 7,955 international students in the province, 6,255 of which were in post-secondary institutions.
The University of Manitoba counts 7,000 international students, double its total from a decade ago. It is "too early to say" what kind of impact the cap will have on the school, the university said in a statement.
Red River College Polytechnic wouldn't speculate either about the potential impacts Miller's announcement might have. The post-secondary institution's programs and credentials are tied to labour market needs in Manitoba, and that international students bring "a wealth of knowledge, new perspectives, and culture to Manitoba's communities, schools and workplaces," it said in a statement.
Problem worse in other provinces, council says
Mark Frison, president of Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, said while there are many details missing, he's still concerned.
The college expects upward of 2,000 international students this year. That's compared to fewer than 30 in 2013, Frison said. Assiniboine Community College's current enrolment is about 9,000.
Frison said reductions won't be helpful in meeting both the province's population goals, or in supporting school finances.
Alexandra Humphries, president of the Manitoba Council for International Education, said the problems caused by international students in terms of housing and health care are worse in other provinces, and that Manitoba's practices have been "sustainable" so far.
The council represents 23 public and private institutions in Manitoba who have international students, including language schools, colleges and universities.
Humphries said international students bring a lot of benefits to schools — including financial ones.
"International students bring half a billion dollars into our province every year and directly support 40,000 jobs, full-time jobs," she said.
Humphries says students being unable to find housing is much less frequent in Manitoba compared to other provinces, and that post-secondary institutions have support programs in place to provide assistance.
International students react
Some international students going to school at the University of Winnipeg told CBC News they found the announcement upsetting.
Tomiris Kaliyeva is president of the University of Winnipeg Students' Association. She's originally from Kazakhstan.
Kaliyeva said international students like her are being blamed for things that aren't their fault.
"It's upsetting because sometimes we're used as cash cows where we're welcomed and we're here to stay, and where everyone's happy to see us," she said. "Then the other times, we are paying for the housing crisis or we are blamed for the rising cost of living."
Christine Quiah, vice-president of student affairs with the association, called the new measures contradictory.
"I'm here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where the government actually wants more international students and they want us to stay, whereas the federal [government] right now, they're doing their best to limit us," said Quiah, who's from Bangladesh.
One student agreed the number should be capped.
"I think it's totally fair," said Dhrue Kasodariya, a second-year biology student from India. "If they limit the number that are accepting the offers, then they there will be competition."
The University of Winnipeg has 1,600 international students, which is about double what it had in 2018. The school is reviewing the announcement.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Ian Froese