The Canadian government is considering capping foreign student visas in response to the rising cost of housing, according to new Housing Minister Sean Fraser. Official data shows that the number of foreign students with active visas has increased from 275,000 in 2012 to over 800,000 in 2022.
The surge in student numbers has put significant pressure on housing markets. Fraser stated that placing a cap on the number of foreign students is one of the options they are considering, although no decision has been made yet. The opposition Conservative Party has criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government for not doing enough to address the housing issue.
Canada plans to accept a record 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025, but Fraser believes that limiting the number of newcomers is not the solution.
