Canada’s Auditor-General will investigate the federal government’s international student program following criticism that a surge in foreign students contributed to the country’s housing crisis and inflation pressures.
Auditor-General Karen Hogan plans to audit the program, with a report expected to be presented to Parliament next year, her office told The Globe and Mail.
The probe comes after international student numbers tripled over the past decade, reaching more than 1 million in 2023 compared to about 333,000 a decade earlier. The rapid influx has been blamed for straining housing markets and driving up rental costs across the country.
The Bank of Canada warned in late 2023 that high immigration was fueling inflationary pressures by tightening housing markets, prompting the federal government to implement a two-year cap on study permits earlier this year.
Under the new limits, Canada issued about 516,000 study permits in 2024, down from 681,000 in 2023. The government plans to issue 437,000 permits in 2025.
Critics have also questioned the quality of education at institutions that rapidly expanded international admissions, particularly private career colleges that charge foreign students significantly higher tuition rates than domestic students.
International students often accept these higher costs to obtain permanent residency after completing their studies.
The specific scope of the audit remains unclear as it is still in the planning phase. A spokesperson said that providing details on scope and timelines would be premature.
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