Canada to Reduce Study Permits and Tighten Work Permit Rules Amid Rising Contention

On Wednesday, Canada announced significant changes to its immigration policies, particularly focusing on reducing the number of study permits issued to foreign students and tightening eligibility for work permits. This move is part of a broader effort by the Canadian government to address the growing number of temporary residents in the country.

The decision comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government faces declining public support and a recent major loss in a by-election. With federal elections expected no later than October 2025, the government is under pressure to manage the issue of temporary residents, which has become increasingly contentious in Canadian politics.

Under the new measures, the number of international study permits granted will be reduced to 437,000 in 2025. This is a significant decrease from the 509,390 permits approved in 2023 and the 175,920 issued in the first seven months of 2024. Additionally, the new regulations will impose stricter criteria for work permits for spouses of some international students and temporary foreign workers.

The government’s announcement comes in the context of a sharp increase in refugee claimants. To address this, Canada plans to review its visa procedures to enhance integrity. “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,” stated Immigration Minister Marc Miller. The government intends to provide its highly trained officers with better tools to detect fraud and reduce the number of non-genuine visitors.

Currently, temporary residents make up 6.8% of Canada’s total population, a figure the government aims to reduce to 5%. This shift is partly driven by concerns that migrants contribute to various societal issues, including a shortage of affordable housing and rising living costs, despite inflation rates slowing to the Bank of Canada’s 2% target in August.

Critics argue that blaming migrants for these economic issues is an oversimplification. Immigrant advocates and some economists believe that vulnerable newcomers are not to blame for complex economic challenges. Public opinion polls reveal a growing sentiment that Canada is admitting too many immigrants, accompanied by an increase in anti-migrant rhetoric and attacks.

In response to these concerns, the Canadian government is scaling back its previous expansions in immigration policy. Earlier this year, the government implemented a two-year cap on international students, which is expected to halve the number of approvals this year. Furthermore, recent changes have also reversed expansions to the temporary foreign worker program introduced in 2022. For certain sectors, the maximum proportion of low-wage, temporary foreign workers has been reduced, and in areas with high unemployment rates, the program has been curtailed.