(Ottawa) Canadian universities, which must fill a significant budget hole following the federal government’s decision to reduce the number of foreign students in the country, have laid off staff, imposed a moratorium on hiring and reduced services, say industry players.
Posted yesterday at 10:42 a.m.
David Baxter
The Canadian Press
The 35% reduction in the number of visas issued to international students was one of the first elements of federal policy aimed at reducing the number of temporary and permanent immigrants to Canada.
The president of the Council of Ontario Universities, Steve Orsini, mentions that his members anticipate combined losses of 330 million for the current fiscal year and 600 million for the next.
“This has a profound negative effect on Ontario universities, which are facing significant financial challenges,” he says. We are seeing widespread cuts to services and programs, layoffs, and a hiring freeze. Investments are postponed. We had nine student residence projects. They have all been delayed or canceled. »
BC Federation of Students president Jessie Niikoi says students have also seen reductions in service, including library hours and access to academic advisors.
We always advocate for more funding. It’s even more important than ever. Institutions must advocate for more funding, as we see the situation getting worse due to budget cuts.
Jessie Niikoi, President of the British Columbia Federation of Students
Tuition fees imposed on foreign students account for a large part of the budget of a majority of university establishments. These are four to five times higher than those paid by Canadian students.
About 19% of Ontario’s entire university population comes from outside the country, says Orsini.
-The loss of revenue from capping international student numbers is compounded by frozen tuition fees for domestic students and operating subsidies that do not keep pace with university spending.
“Universities are facing a real storm,” laments Mr. Orsini. The three financing levers are lowered and kept at the bottom. »
The federal Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, indicates that the measure was necessary because of the “overheating” of the system.
“I never told universities or colleges to charge fees four or five times higher than those paid by students here. That’s not my role,” he told La Presse Canadienne in December.
Mr. Miller likens universities that rely on foreign students for profits to puppy mills.
According to him, the provinces will have to review the financing of post-secondary studies, because the current economic model depending in part on the number of foreign students is not healthy.
“They feel that their establishments are in a bit of trouble. This is unfortunate for a sector that prides itself on being one of the best in the world. »
Mme Niikoi wants governments to increase funding for post-secondary education to ensure the success of the next generation of workers.
“We have seen a drop in registrations since the announcement [en janvier 2024]. Canada is no longer a dream destination for studies because of these measures, she maintains. Nothing can move forward unless governments work together. The government must act now so that public institutions can have reliable funding. We should not depend on foreign students or the tuition fees they have to pay for funding. »
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