Government Declares Universities Must Not Escape Foreign Student Caps

Quebec universities and public colleges are calling for exemption from the provincial government's proposed cap on international students. They argue that restricting enrollment poses a threat to their ability to attract talented individuals globally. However, the province's Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge contends that it is unreasonable to exempt these institutions, stating that doing so would undermine the government’s attempt to regulate foreign student numbers. The upcoming bill grants powers to limit enrollment based on specific factors such as program and region. The minister highlighted the alarming 140 percent rise in foreign student numbers over the last decade, totaling approximately 124,000 individuals currently in Quebec. The schools claim they are not responsible for potential citizenship commodification, insisting that their recruitment efforts align with educational objectives rather than exploiting immigration pathways.