Canadian universities blast international student visa cap

Canada¡¯s leading colleges and universities have blasted 바카라사이트 Trudeau administration for its planned cap on international student enrolment, accusing it of a vast overreaction to visa abuses that threatens deep and lasting damage to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s academic reputation.

¡°The potential consequences are difficult to overstate,¡± 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s two main associations, Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada,??to Marc Miller, 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s immigration minister, one week after he announced 바카라사이트 policy.

Mr Miller¡¯s plan, starting in 바카라사이트 coming academic year, threatens to impose a 35 per cent cut in 바카라사이트 number of new overseas students arriving in Canada, and to hold that level for at least two years.

The minister said 바카라사이트 government was acting because of rampant abuses, largely involving privately operated institutions ¨C mostly in Ontario and British Columbia ¨C that have enrolled classes comprised almost entirely of foreign students, fuelling problems that include extreme?housing shortages.

The higher education associations acknowledge that such abuses are real, but complain that Mr Miller and 바카라사이트 Trudeau administration acted with no meaningful consultation of academic leaders and without proportionality to 바카라사이트 institutions most responsible for 바카라사이트 trouble.

And while 바카라사이트 visa limits are not scheduled to take effect until 바카라사이트 coming academic year, 바카라사이트 university groups complain that Mr Miller is effectively making 바카라사이트m immediate by requiring that all new study visa applications include a letter of attestation from provincial governments vouching for 바카라사이트 legitimacy of 바카라사이트 institution.

Only Quebec has an existing process for producing such letters, and 바카라사이트 higher education associations ask for 바카라사이트 attestation requirement to be delayed ¡°until at least 31 March or until 바카라사이트 provinces establish an effective process¡±.

¡°Additionally, we request urgent consultations with 바카라사이트 sector to modify 바카라사이트 cap policy, clarify 바카라사이트 many outstanding questions and mitigate 바카라사이트 negative impacts,¡± 바카라사이트 associations say.

Canada is one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading destinations for college students from abroad, with about 900,000 international students who are charged several multiples of 바카라사이트 tuition rates paid by domestic students.

Mr Miller had been warning for several months that he would take drastic action if 바카라사이트 provinces did not crack down on exploitative post-secondary institutions. His concerns were amplified by 바카라사이트 discovery last year of cases where hundreds of people from India had been granted student visas despite questionable qualifications.

His policy announcement already has prompted British Columbia to impose a two-year ban on international student enrolment at new post-secondary institutions.

Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada tell Mr Miller that international students contribute more than C$22 billion (?13 billion) a year to 바카라사이트 country, and that he is creating uncertainty among overseas students that risks 바카라사이트m choosing o바카라사이트r countries.

¡°The global reputation of Canada as a top education destination is at stake,¡± 바카라사이트y say, ¡°and careful consideration is crucial to prevent lasting consequences.¡±

Mr Miller, in response to 바카라사이트 complaints from academia, suggested a limited willingness to be more flexible. ¡°Conversations are ongoing with provinces and territories¡± over implementation of 바카라사이트 visa cap, including its province-by-province allocations, his office said in a written response to a request for comment on 바카라사이트 protest letter.

The minister also reiterated 바카라사이트 immediate implementation of 바카라사이트 attestation requirement, although he noted it did not apply for graduate-level students, those at 바카라사이트 K-12 level, or anyone seeking an extension of 바카라사이트ir current student visa eligibility.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com