International students play an essential role in Canada’s future

Canada needs to be wary of seeking a cap on international students looking to further their education here. Our future innovation and economic growth means attracting outstanding talent year after year, and implementing a cap would put that future into question. Even when you strip away the initial positive and direct economic impact international students bring to our economy through tuition dollars and filling essential part-time jobs, many who choose to continue their lives in Canada post-graduation leave an indelible mark on our country. This is evidenced by the highly skilled jobs they fill post-graduation, the businesses they start—from billion-dollar technology companies to small businesses—and the vibrancy of the cultures that they lend to our nation. At a time when Canada is in need of exceptional global talent, we are at risk of losing these students and everything they bring. Canada needs the talent pipeline of international students to continue unabated. In 2022, more than six million students crossed borders to study abroad. That is a four-fold increase from 2020, with Canada making up approximately nine per cent of all incoming international students globally. Canada is punching above its weight in attracting students to our colleges and universities, and demand from students for a strong, international education is not slowing down. Having helped hundreds of thousands of international students at ApplyBoard—a study abroad application platform—I’ve seen Canada’s development as a premier destination for students and talent. Our own surveys show that students who want to study abroad have more choices than ever before, and are seeking a welcoming community to fulfill their education needs—something that Canada currently provides. A cap would put that reputation at risk. Meti Basiri is the co-founder and CEO of ApplyBoard, a study abroad application platform. Handout photograph Currently, other top destination countries for international students like the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia are seeing strong trend lines in welcoming students. The U.S., for example, is seeing a six-year high for international student visas, not seen since the final year of former U.S. president Barack Obama's administration. If we do not maintain our momentum for showing that we are a welcoming country filled with opportunity, we risk generational damage when it comes to attracting top talent—talent we need now and in the future. Students are just as concerned about housing as anyone in Canada. Solving the housing challenges we face today is incredibly complex and has many contributing factors, but capping temporary residents like international students in a draconian manner will not solve the issue and may hinder efforts to solve it. Immigration Minister Marc Miller himself shared on Aug. 11 that, “without…skilled workers coming from outside Canada, we absolutely cannot build the homes and meet the demand that exists currently.” There is no doubt that this is a challenging time. It is presents a significant opportunity for collaboration and a focus on long-term impact and sustainability, not only for housing in Canada, but for the prosperity of international students. We must start opening lines of communication between Canada’s higher education institutions, all tiers of government, trade associations, unions, and the wider community to plan and develop programs for international students to build the skills needed to ease Canada’s housing issues, including in trades such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and more. As a country, we need to focus on positive employment outcomes for students that better align with national needs, such as construction and home building. International student graduates can and will play a role in easing long-term housing market pressure. More importantly, institutions should work closely with their communities to share their student intake goals so planning can be done at a regional level to ensure alignment, adequate housing, and support for students. We all have a role to play in helping students and strengthening our economy along the way, whether it's through technology, policy, or collaboration. The important part is to take ownership, work collectively, and start immediately. There is no time to waste. Immigration is a key factor in Canada’s future prosperity. International students have an essential role in that. Let’s not lose sight of the great resource Canada has when the true need is for better co-ordination, communication, and planning among Canadian stakeholders. At a minimum, we owe that to our international students and future Canadians. Meti Basiri is the co-founder and CEO of ApplyBoard. The Hill Times

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International students play an essential role in Canada’s future

Students are just as concerned about housing as anyone in Canada, and capping temporary residents like international students will not solve the issue and may hinder efforts to solve it.

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