Ottawa’s international student cap hurting Atlantic universities: association
The Association of Atlantic Universities says the region's schools have been disproportionately hurt by the Canadian government's restrictions on international student enrolment.
The Association of Atlantic Universities has expressed concern over the negative impact of Canada's international student enrollment restrictions on the region's universities. Since the Canadian government imposed new limits in 2024, the number of international students in these institutions has fallen by nearly 48%. The government's decision to cap international student permit applications over a two-year period aimed to stabilize growth.
In comparison to last year, the association reports a decrease of 3,000 international students enrolled in Atlantic universities. The region's universities and communities are suffering as a consequence of this decline, according to the association's CEO, Ava Czapalay. International students often serve as workers and volunteers within their host communities, and their absence is adversely affecting small businesses and community organizations.
Atlantic Canada is grappling with an aging workforce, and the region's population experienced its first decline since 2020 last year. Czapalay argues that to tackle these challenges, the region must support talented newcomers who wish to study and live in Atlantic Canada.
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