Fleming College President Says the International Student Cap Is a 'Rash Decision'

After the Canadian Federal government announced a two-year cap on international student visas on Monday, Maureen Adamson, Fleming College president released a statement calling the legislation a ‘rash decision’ on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by keegan Beekers.

The government made the following amendments to the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program as stated by Immigration Minister Marc Miller:

• Starting Sept. 1, international students who begin a study program part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post­graduation work permit upon graduation. Under curriculum licensing agreements, students physically attend a private college that has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college. These programs have seen significant growth in attracting international students in recent years, though they have less oversight than public colleges and act as a loophole regarding post-graduation work permit eligibility.

• Graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a three-year work permit. Under current criteria, the length of a post­graduation work permit is based solely on the length of an individual’s study program, hindering master’s graduates by limiting the amount of time they have to gain work experience and potentially transition to permanent residence.

This announcement has an immense adverse human and economic impact on the region and created a great deal of uncertainty for Fleming students, staff, faculty, businesses and the broader community, said Adamson.

“I want to be very clear that the international students currently enrolled in Fleming at all our campuses including Fleming College Toronto are not affected by this announcement,” she said. “However, the new international students that have applied for spring and fall 2024 sessions will be impacted by this announcement.”

Adamson continues to state that international students are an integral part of adding to the local economy.

“It is important to recognize the relationship between international students and our local economies. The implementation of international student caps poses a threat not only to the educational experiences of all of our students but also to the vitality of our regional economy,” she explained. “The economic impact of a 50 per cent reduction of international student enrollment will be a staggering loss to our communities: Peterborough, Lindsay and Haliburton.”

The cap directly affects various services with the most impact on Early Childhood Education, Personal Support Workers and Practical Nursing according to Adamson’s statement.

“International students that come to Ontario are essential to bringing in top talent for key sectors of the workforce, here in our area and across the province,” she said. “They usually come with a diploma or degree and are ready to move quickly into the labour market.”

She continues to highlight that many international students bring top talent to key workforce sectors, both locally and across the province.

“Our college graduates contribute to help close some of the largest labour market gaps in Ontario’s key sectors – health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, automotive, mining, trades and construction, advanced manufacturing and others,” said Adamson.

“We cannot adequately emphasize the gravity of this rash decision on the people; students, our college, community and local businesses and partnerships,” concluded Adamson.

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