QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees
International Students
April 30, 2026
Senator Moreau, the Auditor General’s report on the international student program reforms found that smaller provinces were disproportionately impacted by lower study permit approvals. Although reforms projected a decrease of 10% or less in the number of new study permits issued, all of the Atlantic provinces experienced an almost 60% decrease in approvals in 2024 compared with 2023. Even though the department provided allocation top-ups to some provinces, this did little to offset the impacts already experienced by the smaller provinces.
Senator Moreau, did the department consult the provinces and post-secondary institutions to better understand this imbalance and find a solution to it?
Thank you for your question. You are right. The impact was much greater than the projected decrease of 10% to 60%, but that is true for almost everywhere in Canada. There was a decrease of 75% in Ontario, 62% in Manitoba, 65% in British Columbia and Alberta, and 35% in Quebec.
Although the government always tries to work with the provinces when it comes to education, it accepted the Auditor General’s recommendation to consult the provinces and territories regarding the number of study permits and to account for regional differences.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is currently working with provinces to support their effective usage of allocation spaces. This includes new talent attraction measures for graduate students.
You are absolutely right. The results fell far short of expectations.
Senator Moreau, in 2025, the government implemented a pilot project for international students in francophone minority communities, with a target of 2,300 students in the first year. Only 780 students applied, but from what I understand, post-secondary institutions are better prepared to process new applications for the second year of the program, which is set to end this year. Is there any chance that this program will be renewed?
As you know, I can’t confirm whether or not the government has decided to renew programs. However, as I told your colleague Senator Aucoin yesterday, the government thinks it is very important to encourage access to higher education for francophone communities, particularly francophone minority communities. Last October, in partnership with Nova Scotia, the government announced an investment of $48 million to provide more French-as-a-first-language and French-as-a-second-language education from preschool through to post-secondary education.
