A severe 40% decline in international study permits issued in Canada during 2024 has created a financial emergency for postsecondary institutions, surpassing the government’s 35% reduction target. Universities Canada’s president, Gabriel Miller, likens the situation to “an earthquake hitting an education system already structurally weakened by years of underinvestment.” The impact is particularly stark in Ontario, where permit approvals dropped by 55%, with college student permits decreasing by approximately 60%. As the government aims for an additional 10% reduction this year, institutions face potential program cuts due to widening budget gaps.
