It comes as the sector continues to grapple with the lasting effects of policy changes implemented over the past few years, aimed at curbing the growth of international student enrolment in Canada.
In a recent LinkedIn post, the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) called on the next federal government to establish a Pan-Canadian International Education Council, which can “preserve the country’s reputation as a top destination for international students and research talent”.
“CBIE calls on the next federal government to establish a Pan-Canadian International Education Council, leverage our education networks to strengthen global partnerships, and preserve Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international students and research talent,” read a statement by the Canadian education association.
According to CBIE, such a council could unite sector leaders to guide a strategic, sustainable approach to international education – focusing on attracting top talent to “support Canada’s workforce, research, and long-term prosperity”.
Mark Carney, who became Prime Minister last month following Justin Trudeau’s resignation, called for an election amid rising tensions with the Trump-led US and a deepening housing crisis often linked by the media to high immigration levels.
The upcoming election is shaping up to be a strong race, with the Liberal Party now gaining momentum and polling in favor of a majority government – overtaking the Conservative Party, which had held a 26-point lead as recently as mid-January.
CBIE calls on the next federal government to… preserve Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international students and research talent
CBIE
The Pierre Poilievre-led Conservative Party has been criticising the ruling Liberals over rising housing costs and affordability issues while also calling for stricter limits on immigration levels – areas where the Liberals have already introduced measures to tighten controls.
In recent years, Canada under Trudeau has significantly lowered permanent residency targets, from 395,000 in 2025 to a record low of 365,000 by 2027, while capping temporary residents and implementing major changes to international student programs.
In the past two years, Canada has doubled down on study permit caps, raised financial requirements, ended expedited processing programs, made changes to post-graduation work permit eligibility, and introduced new language requirements for PGWP applicants.
Study permit approvals are now falling well below cap targets – with its biggest cohort of Indian students dropping sharply by 41%, from 233,532 in 2023 to 137,608 in 2024.
The impact has made stakeholders increasingly supportive of an inclusive international education council.
“Both CBIE’s report, following the National Dialogue on international education, and the CSA Public Policy Centre/the Dais comprehensive analysis and report, “Where to From Here”, align on the need for a renewal of Canada’s international education strategy,” Dr. Mike Allcott, senior director, engagement and partnerships, ApplyBoard, told The PIE News.
“Successful models in the UK and the US have been inclusive of both public and private stakeholders; this means there is greater investment in and motivation to maintain alignment with shared strategy.”
According to Allcott, the new strategy could leverage the capacity of the private sector while aligning with the interests of public institutions.
“In 2022 alone, international students supported over 361,000 Canadian jobs and played a vital role in filling key labour market gaps. Yet, recent shifts in student preferences and a weakened perception of Canada as a welcoming destination highlight the urgent need to reaffirm our commitment to international education,” stated Allcott.
Immigration has become a key political flashpoint ahead of the Canadian federal election, fuelled by growing public sentiment against rising immigration levels.
Even Carney has been critical of Canada’s immigration policy, calling it a “failure of execution”.
His policy targets the housing crisis by capping immigration to pre-pandemic levels, aiming to cut Canada’s temporary resident population by 445,000 in both 2025 and 2026.
Carney has also criticised the surge in international students, arguing that universities have become overly reliant on them due to insufficient provincial funding.
“Canada has a strong opportunity to strengthen its global competitiveness by adopting smart, enabling policies that attract and retain top international talent,” stated Michelle Coates Mather, vice president, public affairs at Universities Canada.
“Supporting international students isn’t just about education – it’s about fuelling innovation, addressing labour market needs, and securing Canada’s economic strength and global influence.”
A weakened perception of Canada as a welcoming destination highlight the urgent need to reaffirm our commitment to international education
Mike Allcott, ApplyBoard
Moreover, in line with CBIE’s idea of a Pan-Canadian International Education Council, Universities Canada proposed the need for a “ministerial roundtable”.
“We’ve proposed the creation of a ministerial roundtable as a national forum for collaboration between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), provinces and territories, industry leaders, and post-secondary institutions,” stated Mather.
“The proposed roundtable would offer direct advice to the minister on critical issues such as immigration pathways, credential recognition, and workforce integration—delivering practical, forward-looking solutions to strengthen Canada’s immigration policy and support inclusive, sustainable economic growth.”
While supporting the idea of a unified, authoritative voice of the sector, one that includes universities, colleges, provincial ministries, student groups, and industry leaders, Saurabh Malhotra, founder and CEO of Student Direct, suggested that the next federal government needs to be stable and put an end to disruptive policy swings.
“Beyond that, I’d prioritise streamlined approval processes, including faster study permit timelines and more predictable acceptance rates, particularly for emerging markets like Africa, which represent the future of global student mobility,” stated Malhotra.
With the US tightening rules on international students, Canada has an opportunity to highlight its strengths and position itself as a more attractive alternative.
“The recent changes to work permit eligibility rules, aiming to better align programs with labor market needs, can be a positive. A newly elected government could build on this by refining these rules to account for regional labour market variations and expanding eligibility to encompass a broader range of relevant careers,” noted Malhotra.
“Beyond that, the government could invest in a targeted promotional approach to key markets like India, Africa etc, streamline study permit processing, and bolster support systems like housing and settlement services.”
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