Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced several new measures targeting international students, aimed at reducing the percentage of temporary residents in Canada from 6.5% to 5% by 2026. While existing measures have been effective, further steps are necessary to meet this target.

Key Points:

1. Cap on Study Permits:
   • For 2025 and 2026, a cap on new study permits will be set at 437,000 each year, a reduction from approximately 485,000 in 2024. This cap will now include master’s and PhD students, who were previously exempt.
2. Graduate Students:
   • Master’s and doctoral students will be included in the cap for the first time, though 12% of the cap will be reserved for these students due to their significant contributions to the Canadian labor market.
3. Public College Graduates:
   • Starting November 2024, graduates from public college programs will no longer automatically qualify for a three-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) unless their employment is in sectors deemed high-demand by provinces or territories.
4. Spousal Work Permits:
   • The spouses or partners of master’s students in programs shorter than 16 months will no longer be eligible for open work permits.
5. Language Proficiency Requirements:
   • New PGWP applicants will need to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates, effective November 2024.

Background and Context:

• These measures build on policies introduced in January 2024, which included a national cap on new study permits expected to reduce issuance by 35% compared to 2023. The actual decrease is anticipated to be even greater.
• Other January 2024 policies included eliminating spousal work permits for non-graduate programs and removing Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for graduates of Ontario’s public-private colleges. Students are also required to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) with their study permit applications.

Impact and Reactions:

• Criticism: Critics argue that these changes could deter top international talent and negatively impact Canada’s ability to address labor market needs. Concerns have been raised about the potential economic impact, particularly in Ontario, where public colleges are expected to face significant revenue declines and disruptions to essential training programs.
• Local Impact: CICan and Colleges Ontario have expressed worries about the disconnect between national labor market targets and local needs, arguing that these restrictions could harm the ability of colleges to provide necessary training and meet community demands.

Overall, these new measures reflect the government’s attempt to balance immigration management with addressing public concerns about housing and healthcare, while also aiming to sustain the integrity and effectiveness of Canada’s immigration system.