Ottawa ready to shut schools abusing international student program if provinces don’t, says Marc Mil

Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Tuesday said Ottawa is ready to step in and shut down the institutions abusing the international student program if provinces don’t initiate the crackdown.

 

On Feb. 27, Miller said there are issues across the college sector. However, he emphasized that some of the worst offenders are private schools that must be shut down.

 

As per reports, Miller said, “I just think that some of the really, really bad actors are in the private sphere and those need to be shut down."

 

The Immigration Minister said that provinces have the responsibility for addressing the issues in the post-secondary education sector regarding international students. But, if provinces fail to do so, he said that Ottawa will take the initiative. However, “jurisdictional questions” limit the government’s power.

 

The significant increase in the influx of students under the international student program triggered the Liberal government to put a cap on new study permits for the next two years. 

 

In 2022, Canada gave visas to over 900,000 foreign students, which is more than three times the number at least 10 years ago.

 

The stark difference in numbers prompted critics to pose questions at some post-secondary schools and raise concerns about the exploitation of international student program as a route to permanent residency.

 

Miller said a potential fix to the matter is the federal government’s plan to recognize the post-secondary schools that have greater standards for services to support international students.

 

"The recognized institution model that we launched in the fall still is very pertinent to this discussion, because we will be able to separate the wheat from the chaff," he said.

 

"And perhaps even if provinces don't assume their responsibility shut down institutions ourselves if they don't do a good enough job."

 

The minister also highlighted an increase in asylum requests among international students at certain schools.