Housing Crisis in Canada; Trudeau Government Limits Foreign Student Visas to Two Years

The Canadian government announced on Monday that to control the housing and service crisis in the country, it will limit foreign student visas to a maximum of two years and will also halt work permits for some master's degree students. Since last September, Canada has also stopped issuing work permits for students graduating from semi-public universities. Mark Miller, Canada's Minister of Immigration, stated that 'some private institutions have significantly increased the attraction of international students by establishing ineffective student campuses and charging high tuition fees, but they do not support these students, which has negatively impacted housing, healthcare, and other services.' He added, 'With the new visa issuance regulation, there will be at least a 35% reduction, and we expect this reduction to directly help lower rental prices in various cities.' Trudeau's immigration policies in recent years have led to rapid population growth among immigrants in the country. Experts believe this policy has negatively impacted services such as healthcare, education, and housing costs, leading to price increases. In 2022, over 800,000 foreign students were studying in Canada, which is more than 200,000 compared to a decade ago. In the third quarter of 2023, Canada experienced its fastest population growth in over six decades, surpassing 40 million people. Rental prices have also increased by 22% in the past two years. These issues have led to a decline in public support for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party, with polls indicating that if elections were held, he and his party would face a heavy defeat.