Carol Mastantuono was present in India during the official visit of Justin Trudeau in 2018. Photo: Facebook/ Carol Mastantuono
As Canada continues to attract large numbers of international students through its reputable education system and accessible migration policies, a worrying phenomenon is emerging.
Nearly 50,000 international students enrolled in Canadian institutions are not in class. Of these, 20,000 come from India, a country where Canada is actively recruiting students. This raises concerns about the management of these flows and potential abuses in the Canadian education system.
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It is important to be nuanced in the criticism of Canada regarding the reception of international students, while recognizing current challenges. Canada-India relations are complex and influenced by a variety of political and diplomatic factors. Canada has seen a significant increase in the number of international students over the past few years, reaching 621,600 in 2021.
This rapid increase has created challenges in housing, health care and other services.
In response to these pressures, the Canadian government recently announced measures to stabilize the number of international students, with a view to reducing the number of study permits issued by 2024 to approximately 360,000.
However, the tense diplomatic environment between Canada and India must also be considered. The current diplomatic crisis, marked by mutual expulsions of diplomats, has reached a level rarely seen since the Cold War.
This situation certainly influences the public statements of Indian officials regarding the treatment of students in Canada. Indian Ambassador Sanjay Kumar Verma’s criticism of the exploitation of foreign students in Canada must be seen in this context.
While these concerns deserve to be taken seriously, it is crucial to recognize Canada’s efforts to improve the situation. The Canadian government has put in place measures to better protect international students from malicious actors and support sustainable population growth.
It is also important to note that Canada remains an attractive destination for international students, particularly because of its post-study immigration policies.
The country offers a three-step process for foreign students to move from student status to permanent resident status, making it particularly attractive.
India’s criticism of Canada regarding the treatment of foreign students raises valid points, It is essential to consider them in the broader context of Canada’s strained diplomatic relations and ongoing efforts to improve its international student system.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data shows a significant increase in the proportion of Indian students among international students in Canada. In 2021, nearly half of international study permits were granted to Indian nationals, which is double the 2015 figure.
British Columbia has been particularly successful in hosting international students. An official document from the province indicates that in 2017, BC’s educational institutions, from primary to post-secondary, welcomed more than 150,000 international students. This represented about 25% of all international students in Canada at the time.
For the 2019-2020 academic year, the numbers regarding enrollment in higher education institutions in Quebec were as follows:
- Quebec universities: 314,967 students enrolled in the fall term.
- Quebec college institutions: 214,776 students enrolled in the fall term.
These data confirm that the number of enrolments actually exceeded 300,000 for universities and 200,000 for colleges in Quebec during this period.
In 2023, Canada reached a historic milestone with more than one million international students, a significant increase of 28% over the previous year. Indian students played a major role in this growth, accounting for 37% of study permits issued.
The geographic distribution of international students in Canada shows a high concentration in three major provinces. Ontario stands out with 526,015 students, followed by British Columbia with 202,565 students and Quebec with 117,925 students. This uneven distribution contributed to a rapid growth in the total number of international students, exceeding one million by 2023.
In response to this significant increase, the federal government has taken steps to better manage this influx, including a temporary cap of 360,000 new study permits for 2024.
This decision is intended to ensure more controlled and sustainable growth in Canada’s international education sector.
Abuse of the education system for migration reasons
There are many reports of foreign students using their status as a means to enter Canada without any real intention to pursue studies. This is largely facilitated by relatively permissive Canadian migration policies.
Unscrupulous agencies enroll these candidates in institutions offering low-quality academic programs, where attendance is not strictly controlled, thus allowing these individuals to obtain visas without major barriers.
Once in Canada, these students often drop out of school quickly to seek work, often undeclared, in sectors such as catering, construction or home services where the workforce is vulnerable to exploitation.
This occupational deviation is a clear abuse of the Canadian education system and raises important issues regarding the management of international students.
Undeclared work: a shadow economy that hurts Canada
The work done by foreign students in the black economy raises many issues of concern to the Canadian economy and society. First, it contributes to a significant tax loss because students who work without a permit or over the permitted hours of work escape the tax system, thus depriving the government of essential income.
This also fuels a form of unfair competition in the labour market, where undeclared workers, often underpaid, compete with Canadian citizens and residents, exacerbating economic tensions.
Moreover, these students, often in precarious and dependent situations, become easy targets for unscrupulous employers who exploit them by offering working conditions well below legal standards and miserable wages. These dynamics not only undermine workers' rights, but they also compromise the integrity of Canada’s labour market.
Institutions poorly equipped to deal with the problem
One of the main problems with managing international students in Canada is the lack of oversight and coordination among the agencies involved. Once a student visa is issued, post-arrival checks are virtually non-existent, meaning no rigorous verification is performed to confirm that the student is actually registered, regular or even present in Canada.
This weakness is compounded by the lack of centralization of data between educational institutions and federal authorities, making it impossible to accurately track students. In addition, the Canadian financial system is showing significant weaknesses. Unlike countries like Australia or New Zealand, Canada does not require proof of full payment of tuition fees before the arrival of students.
This laxity allows some to circumvent academic requirements and divert the education system for purposes other than those intended. These structural weaknesses compromise the integrity of the program and allow for abuses that could be avoided with more rigorous mechanisms.
While international students are generally seen as positive economic actors for Canada, their presence also poses major challenges.
The large influx of these students, often concentrated in certain regions, exacerbates the housing crisis by increasing demand for affordable housing, which is already in short supply. Many of them find themselves forced to live in precarious conditions, sometimes unhealthy or overcrowded, which generates growing tensions with local communities.
In addition, some students are putting pressure on public resources by using health services or other infrastructure without always making a significant contribution to the tax system.
In addition, incidents of financial fraud, document forgery or even organized criminal activities involving foreign students have been reported, Tarnishing the image of educational immigration programs and raising questions about the effectiveness of control mechanisms.
These challenges require careful reflection to balance the economic benefits of their presence with the social and structural impacts they generate.
Towards a stronger control: ways to explore
To limit abuses and ensure that foreign students respect their academic and migration commitments, several measures could be put in place. First, mandatory attendance tracking should be introduced, requiring institutions to report any prolonged absence or drop-out to a centralized body promptly.
This initiative would allow the detection of abuse from the first irregularities. Secondly, the creation of a guarantee fund in the form of an initial deposit required of foreign students and repayable at the end of their study period could be a powerful deterrent against early departures or the fraudulent use of student status.
It would also be essential to strengthen the financial and academic audits, both before the arrival of students and during their stay, in order to reduce fraud and ensure compliance with the required criteria.
Finally, increased monitoring of work permits is needed to limit abuse related to undeclared work and ensure that students comply with legal employment limits. These measures, combined, would help to better guide international students and protect the integrity of Canada’s education and economic system.
The absence of 50,000 international students from Canadian institutions highlights significant gaps in the education and migration system. While these students play a crucial role in the Canadian economy, it is imperative to strengthen controls to prevent abuse and protect the integrity of educational institutions.
By balancing openness and vigilance, Canada can continue to attract international talent while ensuring that they live up to their academic commitments and contribute equitably to society. Without reform, the country risks not only its reputation but also the benefits of this program that is essential to its development.
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