Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the country will reduce its intake of foreign students by 10 percent starting in 2025, in an effort to protect the nation’s economy and social systems, Okay.ng reports.
In his statement, Trudeau emphasized the importance of immigration to Canada’s economy but warned of the need to prevent abuses within the system.
“Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” Trudeau said.
Canada has long relied on immigration to bolster its economy, particularly as it faces a low birth rate. The government uses economic immigrants to generate revenue that supports essential services like education and healthcare, helping the country maintain its high living standards.
However, in recent times, Canada has taken steps to adjust its immigration policies. Earlier this year, the government introduced a two-year cap on study permits, aiming to limit the influx of international students.
Marc Miller, Canada’s minister of immigration, outlined key measures aimed at maintaining the integrity of the study permit programme.
Miller revealed that the country will issue 364,000 undergraduate study permits in 2024, representing a 35 percent reduction from the previous year.
The distribution of study permits will be based on the population of each province and territory to ensure a balanced and sustainable intake of international students.
