Canada’s Immigration and International Student Policies: Ambition Without Accountability?

Canada has built its global reputation as a welcoming nation, drawing immigrants and international students with promises of opportunity, inclusion, and a high standard of living. Yet, the past year has seen a barrage of policy changes by the Government of Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that raise serious questions about the country's immigration strategy.

Are these changes part of a well-thought-out plan, or are they reactionary moves to patch glaring systemic failures? A closer look suggests the latter. Despite lofty rhetoric, Canada’s immigration and international student programs seem increasingly disconnected from the realities on the ground.

The Demographic Reality vs. Policy Ambition

Canada’s demographic challenges are no secret. An aging population and declining birth rates make immigration critical for economic growth. But the government's approach to meeting these needs seems short-sighted.

The government set a target of welcoming 500,000 immigrants annually by 2025, an increase from the 465,000 in 2023. While this sounds impressive on paper, where is the corresponding investment in infrastructure to support this growth? Affordable housing, healthcare, and transit systems are already stretched to their limits. In cities like Toronto and Vancouver, housing affordability has reached crisis levels, with average rents rising 9% year-over-year in 2023, according to CMHC. Yet, the government presses forward without a clear plan to address these bottlenecks.

International Students: An Economic Asset or a Commodity?

The international student program has exploded in size, with Canada hosting over 900,000 students in 2023, up from 572,000 in 2019. While students inject $22 billion annually into the economy and sustain 170,000 jobs, their growing numbers reveal the cracks in Canada’s approach.

International students are increasingly viewed as revenue sources rather than future contributors to Canadian society. Many are funnelled into subpar colleges and programs that do little to prepare them for long-term success. These students face housing shortages, exploitative working conditions, and limited access to mental health resources. Worse, some arrive under false pretenses, victims of fraudulent agents and fake acceptance letters—a systemic failure that has left hundreds facing deportation.

Recent measures, like pausing work permits for a category of students and tightening rules for Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs), feel more like damage control than genuine reform. They may curb immediate abuses but do little to address the underlying issues of mismanagement in the system.

Express Entry: Progress or Patchwork?

The government touts its updated Express Entry system as a targeted approach to filling labour gaps. Category-based draws now prioritize candidates in healthcare, trades, and technology—sectors in dire need of workers. However, this system still fails to account for the challenges immigrants face once they arrive.

Many highly skilled immigrants, particularly in healthcare, encounter endless bureaucratic hurdles in credential recognition. Canada needs thousands of doctors and nurses, yet it takes years for foreign-trained professionals to be certified to work. How does it make sense to invite immigrants to fill roles they cannot legally perform?

The Housing Crisis: An Avoidable Disaster

Perhaps the most glaring disconnect in Canada’s immigration policy is the lack of alignment with housing availability. The government itself has acknowledged the need for 5.8 million additional homes by 2030 to restore affordability. Yet, nothing substantial is being done to address this issue.

For international students and new immigrants, this means exorbitant rents, overcrowded accommodations, and a precarious quality of life. While the federal government deflects responsibility to provinces and municipalities, the buck stops somewhere—and for now, it stops with those trying to build their lives in Canada.

A Failure of Accountability

One cannot ignore the underlying issue: a lack of accountability. The government sets ambitious immigration and student intake targets to meet economic goals, but who ensures these newcomers thrive? Immigration fraud continues to rise, housing remains inaccessible, and many students and immigrants struggle to integrate into the labour market.

While policy adjustments, like caps on international students or category-based immigration draws, are presented as solutions, they often feel like temporary fixes to problems that demand long-term vision.

What Needs to Change?

Canada’s immigration and international student programs are at a crossroads. Here’s what must happen if these programs are to serve both newcomers and the nation effectively:

1. Tie Immigration Targets to Infrastructure Development: Increase housing supply and expand healthcare capacity to meet the needs of a growing population.
2. Regulate the International Student Industry: Hold institutions accountable for the quality of education and support they provide to international students.
3. Streamline Credential Recognition: Make it easier and faster for skilled immigrants to work in their fields, especially in high-demand sectors like healthcare.
4. Combat Immigration Fraud Proactively: Invest in oversight mechanisms to detect and prevent fraud before it impacts vulnerable students and workers.

The Bottom Line

Canada’s reputation as a destination of choice for immigrants and international students is at stake. If the government continues to prioritize numbers over outcomes, the very people it seeks to attract will bear the brunt of its failures. Canada’s immigration story has always been one of hope and opportunity. Let’s ensure it stays that way—not through ambitious targets, but through responsible, people-focused policies.

It’s time for the Government of Canada and IRCC to stop managing crises and start leading with vision.

About the Author

Sumit Agarwal has close to 15 years of experience in higher education and specializes in international student recruitment, enrolment management, and student services. His extensive knowledge of global education markets and student recruitment strategies helps universities optimize their outreach and engagement efforts. Sumit is passionate about creating opportunities for students worldwide to access quality education and thrive in diverse, multicultural environments..