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.
Is Canada valued more as a “pathway to immigration” or as a destination for education? (ICEF)
Countries around the globe including Canada, are continuing to place caps on foreign enrolment. Frequent changes in policy measures have resulted in declining approval rates for study permits and a growing hesitancy to choose Canada as a study destination. A recent survey for study abroad counsellors found that factors including clearer information about post-graduate work opportunities, enhanced likelihood of study permit approval, and easier to understand and access permanent residency pathways, would enable students to be better positioned to reconsider Canada. In order to restore confidence in study permit processing, representatives from the higher-ed community are urging decision makers to provide transparency in permit processing and greater supports for students, parents, and counsellors alike.
Canada’s on track to meet lower immigration targets (RBC)
After trends of soaring growth, the rate of Canada’s population growth appears to be stalling and barely grew over the first quarter. Experts say this decline aligns with the federal government’s immigration strategy to reduce non-permanent residents from more that 7 percent of the population to 5, by 2027. Between January and April 1, the population grew by just 20,107 people – bringing Canada’s estimated population total to 41.55 million. Nearly 210,000 non-permanent residents either have left the country or transitioned into permanent residency in Q1. Additionally, the first quarter also saw the largest reduction of non-permanent residents in Canada on net and slowest growth rate (0.05), outside of pandemic levels. The drastic reduction came from mostly from study permit holders (-109,500), while asylum claimant levels continue to rise (+106,400). Economists project that slowed down rates of immigration along with emerging trade challenges may negatively impact Canada’s growth and productivity in the coming months.
To Read Further:
Migrants Follow Risky Path into Canada as US Deportation Threats Grow (The Walrus)
As immigration regulations continue to tighten in the United States, measures to crackdown on the southern border are pushing asylum seekers to explore refuge in Canada. Despite the expansion of the Safe Third Country Agreement across the 8,891 km US-Canada border – migrants are continuing to evaluate the risk of travelling by taxi, bus, or on foot to official border crossings, where they may be met with additional restrictions: or resort to more dangerous routes through unofficial ports of entry. Between 2017 and 2023, nearly 100,000 asylum seekers crossed through unofficial entry points such as Roxham Road. Under the threat of escalating tariffs and diplomatic tensions, Canada has been preparing for a surge in asylum claims through enhancing border management protocols to further regularize the flow of unauthorized migration and mitigate against crime. Concerns are growing from advocates and migrants that instead of stabilizing migration flows, Canada’s adoption of beefed-up border security measures will exacerbate risks for the most vulnerable.
Canada considers study permit cap tweaks as job losses mount (The PIE)
Canada is expected to experience deepening financial and educational fallout from study permit caps. Prime Minister Carney has signalled plans for consultation with provinces, universities and students about the impact of study caps. Introduced in January 2024, the caps have resulted in the loss of 8,260 jobs in post-secondary education. Immigration Minister Lena Diab hinted at the potential for the cap to be adjusted, emphasizing however, that IRCC is focused on maintaining the sustainability of the system. Prior to the implementation of study permit restrictions, colleges and universities across the country relied heavily on international student tuition revenues to meet budget shortfalls. In addition to job losses, the country is experiencing a deficit of CAD$2.7 billion this year. Study programs have also suffered with 583 programs being suspended at colleges and universities. Advocates are calling on the federal government to alleviate the strain by easing caps and taking a more balanced approach to stabilization measures.
Further Reading:
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