Skip to Main content

8.55°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Aug 24, 2023 7:38 PM - The Canadian Press

Quebec universities reject proposal to cap student visas

Share On

quebec-universities-reject-proposal-to-cap-student-visas

It is noteworthy that according to a report by the Quebec Department of Education, there were approximately 48,400 international students in the province's universities during the 2019-2020 school year.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Quebec university administrators and professors are praising the provincial government's rejection of an idea by the federal housing minister that Canada could cap the number of student visas it issues.

They say that limiting the number of international students will do little to address housing shortages and would instead hurt university research and deprive Quebec of skilled immigrants.

On Monday federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser suggested that capping the explosive growth in the number of international students recruited to Canada in recent years was an option to reduce demand for housing.

Quebec Premier François Legault and other ministers swiftly rejected that idea, reminding Ottawa that education is a provincial jurisdiction.

Daniel Jutras, the rector of Université de Montréal, says he is opposed to a cap because of the benefits international students bring to research programs.

Víctor Muñiz-Fraticelli, a law and political science professor at McGill University, says he doesn't think there's a link between the housing shortage in Canada's largest cities and rising numbers of international students, who compose a small fraction of residents.

It is noteworthy that according to a report by the Quebec Department of Education, there were approximately 48,400 international students in the province's universities during the 2019-2020 school year.

According to official data, 800,000 international students came to Canada last year, compared to just 275,000 in 2012.

Latest news

manslaughter-charge-laid-after-fatal-fight-in-maple-ridge-home

Manslaughter charge laid after fatal fight in Maple Ridge home

A 45-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter following a fatal altercation at a home in Maple Ridge earlier this month, according to police. Investigators say officers responded to a residence at حوالي 7:30 p.m. on March 16, where they found a 49-year-old man in medical distress. The man was treated at the scene but later died from his injuries. Police said the BC Prosecution Service approved a manslaughter charge on Monday, upgrading an earlier charge of assault causing bodily harm that had been laid the previous week. According to investigators, the two men were known to each ot

american-academic-released-by-taliban-authorities-in-afghanistan-officials-say

WorldMar 24, 2026

American academic released by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, officials say

Afghanistan’s Taliban government says it has released American academic Dennis Coyle, who had been held in the country since January 2025. According to a statement issued Tuesday by Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, Coyle was released in Kabul on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The ministry said the decision followed an appeal from Coyle’s family and came after the country’s Supreme Court determined that his time in custody was sufficient. Afghan authorities had previously detained Coyle on allegations of violating local laws, but did not publicly spe

b-c-considers-changes-to-indigenous-rights-law-raises-concerns-among-first-nations-leaders

B.C. considers changes to Indigenous rights law, raises concerns among First Nations leaders

The British Columbia government is considering amendments to its Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act that could alter how the province aligns its laws with Indigenous rights, according to a confidential letter shared with some First Nations leaders. According to a copy of the letter obtained by The Canadian Press, the proposed changes would shift the province’s obligation from taking “all measures” to align laws with the declaration to supporting “ongoing processes” to align selected legislation. The letter was distributed Monday to some First Nations leadership. The

man-dies-after-late-night-shooting-at-abbotsford-park-and-ride-homicide-team-takes-over

Man dies after late-night shooting at Abbotsford park-and-ride, homicide team takes over

A man has died after a reported shooting at a park-and-ride lot in Abbotsford late Sunday night, according to a police news release. Abbotsford Police say patrol officers were called to the Whatcom Road Park & Ride at about 11:11 p.m. on March 23, where a large encampment is currently located. Officers found a man with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to hospital but later died. Police say the investigation is in its early stages and the case is being treated as a targeted incident. No arrests have been made. The Abbotsford Police Department Major Crime Unit is handing the investiga

WorldMar 24, 2026

Iran launches new missile strikes on Israel as cross-border attacks continue into day 25

Iran launched a series of missile strikes targeting Israel from Monday night into Tuesday, marking the 25th day of ongoing hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States. According to statements attributed to Israeli authorities, Iran carried out seven missile attacks during that period. Israeli officials did not immediately release independent verification of damage or casualties from the latest strikes. In response, Israel continued its counter-offensive operations. The Israeli Air Force said it struck more than 50 Iranian-linked targets overnight, including missile launch sites an

Related News

Two pilots identified after Air Canada Express collision with fire truck at New York airport

Two pilots identified after Air Canada Express collision with fire truck at New York airport

Authorities have identified the two pilots who died after an Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night. According to aviation officials, one of the pilots, Antoine Forest, was from Quebec. The co-pilot, Mackenzie Gunther, was a 2023 graduate of Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto and had recently begun his professional flying career with Jazz Aviation, which was operating the flight. The flight, arriving from Montreal at approximately 11:30 p.m., was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the collision. More than

Federal audit flags gaps in international student program oversight, thousands of cases uninvestigated

Federal audit flags gaps in international student program oversight, thousands of cases uninvestigated

Canada’s auditor general says there are significant weaknesses in how the federal government monitors compliance within the international student program, raising concerns about oversight and enforcement. In a report released Monday, Auditor General Karen Hogan found that roughly 150,000 cases in 2023 and 2024 were flagged for potential non-compliance with study permit conditions, according to the audit of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Despite the volume of flagged cases, the report says only about 4,000 investigations were initiated. Of those, approximately 1,600 were deemed

Supreme Court of Canada hears challenge to Quebec’s Bill 21 on religious symbols

Supreme Court of Canada hears challenge to Quebec’s Bill 21 on religious symbols

The Supreme Court of Canada began hearings Monday into a legal challenge against Quebec’s controversial secularism law, commonly known as Bill 21, which restricts certain public-sector workers from wearing religious symbols while on duty. The law, introduced by François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec government in June 2019, applies to positions including police officers, teachers and judges. It was enacted using Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, also known as the notwithstanding clause, which allows governments to override certain Charter protections. Accordi

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital