Former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has expressed regret over the timing of the federal government's cap on international student permits, saying he wishes he had acted sooner. Fraser, who served as immigration minister from October 2021 to July 2023, told CBC News that "with the benefit of hindsight," he would have liked to fundamentally change the program earlier by implementing a federal cap and allowing provinces to allocate their share.
The federal government eventually placed a cap on international student permits in January 2024. The move came amid growing concerns about the impact of rising international student numbers on Canada's housing market and the integrity of the international student program. Auditor General Karen Hogan recently released a report highlighting "critical weaknesses" in the program's integrity controls, noting that the Immigration Department did not adequately investigate potential cases of student visa fraud.
Fraser explained that the federal government had been engaged in negotiations with provinces, who were seeking increased access to immigration programs. However, these negotiations ultimately failed, leading to the imposition of the cap. The cap aimed to reduce the number of international students to help ease strain on housing, employment and institutional capacity. The government wants to reduce the temporary resident population to below 5 per cent of the national total by the end of 2027.
The cap has been adjusted since its implementation. For 2026, the government expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits. This includes both new arrivals and extensions for current students. The 2026 target is a 7% decrease from 2025 and a 16% decrease from 2024.
