World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. The weekly roundup includes research, stories, and events of interest to the Canadian immigration and settlement community. This content has been created by WES and is reproduced here with their permission, in partnership.
Colleges and universities face job cuts, deficits amid international student cap (Toronto Star)
Ontario colleges and universities are facing significant challenges due to the federal government’s cap on international student admissions. This policy has led to financial deficits, job losses, and even temporary campus closures in the province's higher education sector. St. Lawrence College in Kingston reported a 50 percent drop in international student enrollment, prompting the elimination of 30 administrative and support positions, with warnings of further layoffs. Similarly, Mohawk College in Hamilton has begun laying off between 200 and 400 employees, citing a projected $50-million deficit tied to these restrictions.
The impact extends beyond institutions to the students themselves. International students have staged protests in Brampton, criticizing Canada’s "use and throw" policies and calling for extended work permits and clearer pathways to permanent residence. The article states that there is a disconnect between the promise of "study, explore, work, and stay" and the living reality for many students.
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Complementary Pathways: Key Factors in Future Growth (MPI)
Complementary pathways are instrumental in providing avenues to resettlement and integration for displaced individuals while recognizing their skills and career trajectories. Pathways have been successful at enabling access to safety for underrepresented groups and those traditionally not eligible for resettlement, while also supporting local economies. These humanitarian programs rely on active partnership among an extensive range of volunteers, employers, government, higher education, and civil society, to adequately welcome newcomers. To scale and sustainably meet the needs of individuals seeking refuge and host communities, experts recommend a multifaceted approach that prioritizes the following:
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Smart money: Focused fiscal policy needed more than ever (RBC)
A recent report from RBC Thought Leadership highlights fiscal outlooks based on adjustments to immigration targets. The federal government announced in their new immigration levels plan that included limits to permanent residents from the previous target of 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. Based on current projections, annual immigration level reductions will lower revenues by nearly 50 billion dollars of the next five years. A downward trend of fewer immigrants will lead to lower consumption and employment growth for the economy at large; ultimately affecting federal finances through a nearly one percentage point decrease in economic growth for the next three years. Lower interest rates will help to cushion against a volatile economic landscape, however challenges including higher unemployment rates, slow productivity, and affordability crises persist.
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Research to Insights: Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada (Stats Canada)
The presence and role of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) continues to grow in Canada’s labour market and immigration system. The report examines how TFWs contribute to critical sectors like agriculture, food services, and retail while serving as a major source of economic immigrants through programs like the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). It highlights the challenges TFWs face, such as low wages, weak labour market attachment, and limited retention in key industries after transitioning to permanent residency. Additionally, it emphasizes how the "two-step immigration" model—temporary work followed by permanent residency—has improved employment outcomes for some, particularly those with higher pre-immigration earnings. The research findings are intended to inform decisions that can maximize TFWs' contributions while addressing systemic gaps in labour market integration and policy design.
Further Reading:
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