WES Weekly Roundup December 3, 2025

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.

One in five immigrants are leaving Canada. Data reveals these highly skilled newcomers are leading the exodus (Toronto Star)

According to the Leaky Bucket 2025 report by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada, one in five immigrants leave Canada within 25 years of arrival. Drawing on four decades of data, the report highlights a troubling trend: many highly educated immigrants working across sectors are choosing to settle elsewhere. Notably, scientists and health-care professionals—two sectors facing significant labour shortages—are among those departing at high rates.

As the federal government plans to reduce immigration levels over the next three years, retaining the talent already in Canada becomes critical. While critics note that immigration has never guaranteed permanence, making some of these patterns unsurprising, the Institute is urging the government to act. Its recommendations include developing a comprehensive talent retention strategy and investing in settlement supports to encourage immigrants to build long-term lives in Canada.

Social Capital and Settlement: Study of Resettled Syrian Refugees in the Greater Toronto Area (CERC Migration and Integration)

Since 2015, Canada has welcomed a substantial number of Syrian refugees through two primary pathways: Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) and Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs). This qualitative study examines how social capital influences their settlement experiences and integration.

Key Insights include:

• Social Connections Prior to Arrival: Most Syrian refugees arrived without existing social ties in Canada. Those with relatives often benefited from their support, though some reported limited engagement.
• Role of Sponsorship and Agencies: PSRs developed strong, enduring relationships with sponsors, receiving moral and practical support that often extended beyond the first year, forming lifelong bonds.
  • GARs experienced short-lived connections with volunteers and mixed interactions with settlement agencies. While some reported positive support, many expressed distrust and perceived inefficiency in housing and employment assistance.
• Access to Settlement Services: 89.4% of refugees accessed settlement services—significantly higher than other immigrant categories (e.g., 51% for dependents of economic immigrants). The most requested service was information access, including guidance on official documents and benefits.
• Social Capital Dynamics: Pre-existing social capital facilitated smoother navigation of Canadian systems. However, bonding social capital—connections within the Syrian community—emerged as the dominant form. Refugees valued external help for accelerated integration, while others viewed independence as an opportunity for personal growth.

Social capital is a critical determinant of successful settlement. PSRs benefited from sustained sponsor relationships, while GARs faced challenges with institutional support. Strengthening trust and efficiency in settlement services and fostering community networks can enhance integration outcomes.

A Shrinking Pipeline: The Cost of Fewer International Students in Ontario (HEQCO)

To assess the impact of declining international student enrollment in Canada, Fleming College partnered with HEQCO to survey all international students across its campuses between Fall 2023 and 2024. The survey garnered 1,821 responses, revealing that prior to recent policy changes, international students were active contributors to local economies, working across a range of sectors while pursuing their studies. Although many were employed outside their field of study, a significant proportion—54% of those training as personal support workers (PSWs) and 22% in early childhood education—were already working in their respective fields, both of which face critical labour shortages. These findings underscore the far-reaching ripple effects of immigration policy changes on labour supply, cultural diversity, and economic development within local communities.

WES REPORT | In Search of Information: Insights from International Students in Canada on Improving Access to Immigration Information

International students bring cultural diversity and significant contributions to Canada, but they need clear, reliable immigration information to succeed. Without it, talented students who could fill workforce gaps face unnecessary barriers, and Canada risks losing its reputation as a welcoming study destination.

This study gives voice to 80 international students navigating immigration pathways, revealing systemic gaps that leave students overwhelmed and vulnerable to misinformation. It presents six concrete recommendations: stabilizing immigration policies, making online information more user-friendly, enhancing support services, providing more information on job opportunities and employment rights, regulating education agents, and elevating student voices. Articulated by the international students themselves, these recommendations aren’t just student concerns—they’re opportunities for systemic improvement.

Further Reading:

• IRCC’s backlog nears 1 million, study permit applications continue steep climb (CIC News)
• Labour pains: Why Canada’s reliance on temporary foreign workers may be hurting growth (Globe & Mail)
• 'Ripples from the south': Canadian newcomers concerned about declining job opportunities and U.S.-like deportations (Financial Post)
• Canada invests in Francophone communities and helps build their future by attracting top global talent (Government of Canada)
• The biggest immigration changes for international students and temporary foreign workers in Canada (CIC News)
• JD Vance blames immigration for Canada's 'stagnating' living standards' (CBC News)
• OPINION | Canada should do more to attract best and brightest immigrants (Fraser Institute)
• REPORT | How Foundations and Nonprofits are Thinking about and using Artificial Intelligence (Centre for Effective Philanthropy)
• 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap (Government of Canada)
• Canada “won’t come close” to reduced 2026 cap, sector warns (The PIE)
• Thousands of former international students’ visas will expire soon. What happens next is murky (Globe & Mail)
• Here’s how much the cuts to Canada’s international students have hurt Ontario colleges and universities (Toronto Star)
• B.C. launches review into sustainability of public post-secondary system (CBC News)
• CBIE Annual Report 2025 (CBIE)
• OPINION | Carney’s Bill C-12 brings back a dark chapter in Canada’s immigration policy (Toronto Star)
• Federal refugee employment program faces ’extremely long, ballooning wait times’ (Radio Canada)
• Migrants' rights groups call on Carney government to withdraw border security bill (CBC News)
• Is Canada Adopting ICE Anti-Migrant Tactics? (The Tyee)
• CCLA submission warns Bill C-12 will create fundamental unfairness in our immigration system (CCLA)