Last year 570,000 people, most of whom were studying at post-secondary institutions, held study permits in Canada.
According to a recent study by the Canadian Bureau for International Education, 60 per cent of students planned to apply for permanent residence after finishing their program. Yet while the increased tuition fees have helped universities, there have been concerns that immigration policies surrounding international education make it an immigration shortcut, and that for some, it’s a backdoor route to entering the Canadian workforce rather than an opportunity for learning.
International students spent a total of $21.6 billion in Canada last year, including tuition, and while it boosts Canada’s economy and institutional funding, the government’s willingness to make money off international students puts them in harm’s way; international students often work low-paying jobs and are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.