Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has taken aim at Housing and Infrastructure Minister Sean Fraser, criticizing him for the impact of the international student visa program on Canada’s housing market.
The controversy began when Fraser himself acknowledged the challenges posed by the international student program, stating, “There are some institutions in different parts of this country that I sincerely believe that have come to exist just to exploit the program for the personal financial gain of the people behind some of these schools, if we can call them that.” His comments highlighted concerns surrounding the recruitment of students under false pretenses and the strain it puts on housing and education resources.
Fraser, who served as the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship before assuming his current role, had previously called for a comprehensive reevaluation of the federal government’s approach to international students.
Poilievre took his sentiments to X, describing Fraser’s statement as a “devastating critique of…. himself.”
“He admits to granting hundreds of thousands of study visas for foreign students to attend scam colleges—overwhelming our housing market with demand. Now he’s the housing minister!” the Conservative leader said.
In August 2023, Fraser suggested the possibility of implementing a cap on a program that has experienced what he described as “exploding growth.” He reiterated the call earlier this year, saying it was “one of the options that we ought to consider” to address the housing affordability crisis.
Government data indicates a significant surge in the number of international students in Canada, reaching 807,260 by the end of 2022—more than double the count since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office in 2015.
Fraser’s tenure as the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship aligned with the government’s ambitious target of welcoming 500,000 immigrants annually by 2025. In an interview last year, Fraser emphasized the need for caution when interpreting immigration statistics. He pointed out that a substantial portion of the annual count of new permanent residents had previously been in the country as temporary workers or students.
When questioned about concerns regarding the impact of increased immigration on livability and quality of living, Fraser expressed optimism. He argued that adding more people to the country would not necessarily make it more difficult for newcomers and citizens to thrive, emphasizing the benefits of a growing community.
However, Fraser’s recent comments on the challenges posed by student visas tell a different story, raising questions about the government’s handling of the international student program.
This is not the first time Poilievre has targeted Fraser. In November, he described the joint efforts of Trudeau and Fraser on housing as a “traveling circus.” Poilievre accused the duo of paying off mayors for political gain and claimed that housing starts had dropped under Fraser’s leadership.
These criticisms come amid Fraser’s announcement that the federal government will be providing $4 billion in loans to support the construction of approximately 12,000 new apartments across Canada.
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