More federal changes to the eligibility for work permits for international students have college students concerned about their prospects in Canada.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced federal policy changes to introduce more restrictions on the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, explicitly focusing on community colleges. Universities remain exempt.
The PGWP allows international students in Canada to get work permits and gain valuable Canadian experience after graduation. This experience helps them to qualify for permanent residency, contributing to Canada’s skilled workforce and supporting the country’s immigration and economic goals.
Graduates from programs at public colleges will remain eligible for a PGWP work permit for up to three years if their field of study is linked to an area of high labour market demand.
The restrictions on community colleges have critics questioning the rationale behind the decision and voicing concerns over the negative impact on students.
College reaction
New Brunswick Community College president and CEO Mary Butler told CBC that basing the PGWP on national labour shortage requirements means the college will not meet the province’s labour market needs. “It’s just ludicrous in my mind to think that we could take such a macro level, singular measure and apply that across the entire country,” she said.
Cyrille Simard, the development vice-president of a francophone campus, Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB), echoed the sentiment, saying eligibility for a work permit that hinges on a national, long-term shortage means specific New Brunswick sectors could be left out of the mix.
Simard said immigration is one of the only ways he believes the labour force can be increased with the current demand. He added that just under 50 percent of CCNB’s population is made up of international students.
He said some CCNB programs have higher international student populations than others. For example, in Bathurst, at least 66 percent of students are international in 22 out of the 35 programs.
Minister’s rationale
Miller’s September 18, 2024, announcement includes several new measures affecting international students. The current cap on foreign enrolment will be extended through 2025 and 2026, with each of those two years set at 10 percent less than the 2024 level.
The cap now applies to master’s and doctoral students for 2025 and beyond, whereas students with advanced degrees were previously exempt from cap limits.
“Since then, Canada’s economy has evolved, and we must continue to adapt our immigration system to respond to new pressures, including a softening labour market,” Miller said.
Even though the minister said the measures to date were working, he said additional steps were needed to achieve a government target of “decreasing the number of temporary residents from 6.5 percent of Canada’s total population down to 5 percent by 2026.”
The federal government’s reasons for these changes include the need to address labour market needs to enhance alignment with Canada’s economic and immigration goals. He said the changes will strengthen the country’s immigration system and help address changing needs.
The government’s rationale for excluding universities from the restrictions could be the higher academic standards associated with universities. University graduates have better job placement rates and alignment with what the government sees as high-skilled labour needs.
“We have listened to Canadians, including our provincial, territorial, and municipal partners and other community leaders. Miller said the government will continue to seek to protect the system’s integrity and responsibly grow our country. “The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to—just like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to.”
Impact on students
However, students in the PGWP program in universities and colleges expect to work and pursue opportunities for permanent resident status. Under the changes, college students may not qualify for post-graduate work permits, which could result in a potential reduction in opportunities for permanent residency pathways. Some students may have to endure increased financial pressure due to loss of work authorization after their studies.
Johnny Selemani, from South Africa and a student at the College of the North Atlantic in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, told CBC’s St. John’s Morning Show about his concerns over the new rules. The Business Management student said he planned to look for work after graduation and apply for permanent residency.
Selemani said the changes have created uncertainty among students, leading to anxiety and impacting their mental health. He said international students pay high fees, “a premium” for education and look forward to contributing to the Canadian economy. He said some students were considering switching programs. There currently is no specific list that identifies the national needs.
Simard of CCNB pointed out that these changes could also have an impact on Canadian students. “If you expect a lower intake of international students in those programs, it will create a problem for Canadian students because some of those programs might not be sustainable, and we need to close those down,” he said.
The broader institutional impact is a potential drop in international enrollment at community colleges, which would have financial implications for these institutions as they rely heavily on international students.
International students’ contribution to the economy cannot be underestimated. An analysis from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) estimates total international student spending in Canada for 2022 at $37.3 billion for “tuition, accommodation, and discretionary items.”
Implications for international education sector
The changes could influence student’s choices and may push more international students to choose universities over community colleges. This, however, could impact the diversity of educational choices and career-focused programs offered by community colleges.
In the long term, the shortage will affect Canada’s talent pool, with consequences such as a reduced pipeline of skilled workers and, therefore, labour shortages in industries traditionally filled by community college graduates.
Actions we have taken, as well as the additional steps announced today, will strengthen our immigration system, and help address the changing needs of our country,” said Miller.
As of November 1, 2024, graduates of public college diploma programs will only be eligible for PGWPs if their field of study is linked to labour market shortages in Canada.
The federal government has yet to identify which programs or fields of study will meet the stipulated requirement.
