Quebec’s universities and public colleges are urging the government to exempt them from a proposed plan to reduce the number of international students in the province. They argue that the bill, introduced last month, could hinder their ability to attract top talent from around the globe.
However, Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge has indicated that such an exemption is unlikely. He stated that it is “not reasonable” to expect the government to limit foreign student enrollment in Quebec without also including universities and public colleges in the plan.
The proposed legislation would grant the government new authority to cap foreign student enrollment at various schools based on factors like region, institution, and program of study. Roberge has justified the bill by claiming it is necessary to prevent schools from “selling” Canadian citizenship, a concern that universities and colleges contest, asserting that they are not the issue.
Currently, Quebec is home to approximately 124,000 international students, a figure that represents a significant 140 percent increase over the past decade. As the debate continues, institutions are concerned about the potential impact on their global recruitment efforts.
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