Following the announcement of the international student cap, government officials have insisted that private universities are responsible for the rapid growth of international students in Canada. Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller went as far as to call institutions in the private sector “puppy mills,” collecting tuition high fees and churning out diplomas.

But according to a recent CBC News Investigation, among the top 10 Canadian colleges and universities granted the most international study permits last year, all but one were public institutions. Fanshawe College ranked as the third highest on the list, reportedly welcoming 11,706 international students in 2023.

The exponential growth in international student enrollment at public institutions has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation regarding the driving forces behind this rapid expansion. Immigration Consultant and founder of Study2Stay, Earl Blaney attributed much of this growth to aggressive overseas marketing and recruitment tactics driven by financial incentives for education agents.

“The impression that ‘all is great in Canada’ is pervasive in overseas messaging, often painting a misleading picture of the immigration and employment landscape,” Blaney said.

According to Fanshawe College, 86.7 per cent of students find work after graduation. But for Blaney, that number does not reveal the full truth.

“My question for Fanshawe would be: What percentage of graduates answered this survey, and what percentage of graduates are finding jobs related to their field of employment?”

Fanshawe College has also not clarified employment rates specifically for international student post-grad.

The data from CBC News also shines a light on what drove Canada’s dramatic rise in foreign student enrollment. The investigation suggests that international student tuition provided hefty revenue into colleges and universities, with each international student paying at least $15,000 per year for college programs. Meanwhile, Doug Ford’s government introduced a freeze on tuition for in-province students in 2019, while continuing to increase international student tuition and increasing international recruitment efforts.

In response to the anticipated losses caused by cap, the Ontario government has announced $1.3 billion in new funding for post-secondary institutions in the province. That funding falls far short of the $2.5 billion recommended by a panel of experts in Nov. 2023, before the imposition of the cap on international study permits. President of the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU), Stephin Sathya, underscored the importance of government funding to alleviate financial burdens on international students.

“Pushing for more funding from the government is essential to ensure educational sustainability without burdening international students with increased tuition fees,” Sathya asserted.

Considering budget cuts and uncertainties surrounding the cap on international students, Sathya urged Fanshawe to prioritize program quality and relevance.

“Reducing programs that do not contribute to the economy or provide job opportunities is imperative,” Sathya stated. “We must focus on programs that lead to quality jobs and align with the economy’s needs.”

It is predicted that Ontario itself may face a potential loss of more than $1.5 billion in revenue due to a possible 50 per cent cap on study permits for international students in the province. This cap could result in approximately 100,000 fewer international students being admitted to study in Ontario this year compared to 2023. As a result, Fanshawe College is expected to be one of the most significantly affected by this restriction on international students.

Background

On Jan. 22, the government announced a new policy regarding international student permits. The policy includes a temporary two-year cap on international study permits, imposing 35 per cent decrease from the previous year. The cap allocation will be determined based on the population of each province. Some provinces may experience more significant reductions than others. The provinces and territories will collaborate to decide how the cap will be distributed among the designated learning institutions under their jurisdiction.