Rising volume of newcomers is 'disconcerting,' says immigration minister
In response to a mounting housing shortage, Canada is exploring measures to cap the influx of international students in the coming months, according to the federal immigration minister.
In a pre-recorded interview with CTV News on Sunday, Marc Miller expressed concern over the rising number of foreign student visas in Canada, stating, "That volume is disconcerting. It's really a system that has gotten out of control."
Miller said the federal government intends to engage in discussions with provinces in the first half of this year to address the issue and ensure that provinces falling short in managing these numbers take steps to rein them in, primarily on a volume basis.
Criticism has been directed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government for welcoming a higher volume of immigrants, both permanent and temporary, amid an affordability crisis that has led to a surge in housing costs and a reduction in supply.
Over the past decade, the number of foreign students in Canada has nearly tripled, surpassing 800,000 last year. Notably, international students pay about five times more tuition than their Canadian counterparts.
Miller's statements build upon earlier indications of plans to explore restrictions on foreign student visas.
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