Ontario universities are calling for a 35-per-cent share of the international study permits that will be allocated by the province under new federal rules, which will reduce the number of students coming from abroad. Universities currently enroll about one-third of all international students and two-thirds of all students in the province’s publicly funded colleges and universities.
The COU proposal says the federal government’s new policy could not have come at a worse time, as universities – which depend on international students for revenue – are already at a financial breaking point. Minister Marc Miller announced an immediate cut to international student intake by 50 per cent, saying the program, which previously had no upper limit, was adding to strain on. Under the new system, it’s up to the provincial government to decide how the reduced number of permits will be allocated to colleges and universities