By Jonathan Oldman, CEO, Immigrant Services Society of BC
Over the past weeks, several reports and commentaries have been released, shining a light on different aspects of Canada’s rapidly evolving approach to international students. Taken together, they paint a picture that is more complex, more consequential, and more urgent than any single headline suggests.
The Auditor General’s 2026 report confirms what many in the sector have been feeling for the past two years: yes, study permit caps reduced overall volumes, but the system’s integrity challenges remain unresolved and, in some areas, are worsening. The AG found study permit approvals fell far more sharply than planned, approving fewer than half the forecasted number in 2024, and leaving departments unable to explain why approval rates plunged so dramatically. Meanwhile, more than 153,000 students were flagged as potentially non‑compliant, but IRCC had resourcing to investigate only 2,000 cases per year. [canada.ca]
Commentators such as Shamira Madhany of World Education Services and Andrew Petter, president emeritus of Simon Fraser University, have noted that the system faces both credibility and design challenges. Rapid growth in applications between 2019 – 23, inconsistent integrity tools, and policy responses that did not fully consider downstream effects on institutions, communities, and students themselves. Their commentary underscores what the AG validated: thereforms succeeded in reducing numbers, but they have not yet delivered a coherent or calibrated system. [vancouversun.com] [LinkedIn.com]
And then there’s the lived experience on the ground—brought into sharp focus by the CBC’s reporting that B.C. saw a 66% drop in international student approvals, far beyond the expected 18% decline. Local colleges and communities describe program cuts, layoffs, and regional economic impacts—particularly in smaller towns where international students shaped both the labour supply and the diversity of the learning environment. One Fraser Valley researcher summarized it plainly: “A poorly conceived policy created haphazardly… with very clear effects.” [cbc.ca]
At ISSofBC, we see these effects first‑hand. Our Language and Career College (LCC)—a not‑for‑profit social enterprise offering quality programs for international and domestic students—has long prided itself on integrity, student support, and community benefit. We are not one of the “problem actors” these reforms were meant to target. And yet, like many public and non‑profit providers, LCC has felt the dramatic decline in international student numbers directly. These reductions affect our revenue, staffing, and—most importantly—the opportunities we can offer students seeking safe, reputable, community‑based education options.
Perhaps the most pressing issue for institutions like LCC is the absence of policy predictability. Rapidly shifting rules create instability that small and nonprofit providers cannot absorb as easily as large public institutions. This predictability also impedes deeper collaboration and synergy among community‑driven, nonprofit, and mission‑aligned education providers.
This is the paradox we need to confront: Canada’s intention to bring integrity and sustainability to the International Student Program is valid and necessary. But the blunt‑force tools used so far—caps, tightened approvals, shifting eligibility rules—have produced uneven effects on institutions acting in good faith, while integrity issues remain imperfectly addressed.
The AG makes this tension clear:
- Integrity controls improved in some areas (e.g., 97% acceptance-letter verification), but follow‑up on fraud and non‑compliance remains severely under‑resourced.
- Provinces expected modest reductions yet experienced massive, unforeseen declines, disrupting the very communities that relied on international students for workforce, revenue, and vibrancy.
- And crucially, IRCC still does not know why approval rates suddenly collapsed, leaving policy calibration as guesswork. [canada.ca]
So how do we connect the dots?
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Integrity reform and sector stability must proceed together.
We can’t starve reputable institutions of students while leaving system‑level fraud unaddressed. -
Federal policy must be coordinated with provincial realities.
The AG’s report highlights that provinces didn’t fully utilize their allocations, and that impacts varied widely—an early indicator of fractured policy alignment. [newswire.ca] -
Canada needs a differentiated approach—not a one‑size‑fits‑all cap.
Treating not‑for‑profit community providers the same as low‑integrity, for‑profit recruiters undermines genuine students and the institutions built to support them. -
Transparency matters.
Without clear data on approval rates, rationales for processing, and enforcement outcomes, neither institutions nor students can navigate the system with confidence.
For organizations like ISSofBC and LCC, the stakes are not abstract. We’ve long delivered mission‑driven, community‑rooted educational programs that strengthen newcomer success and contribute to the B.C. workforce. Our model is precisely the kind that governments say they want to preserve—secure, ethical, and deeply integrated in community outcomes.
But even we are feeling the strain. And if institutions like ours are at risk, it’s a sign that the reforms—however well‑intentioned—need recalibration.
The international student ecosystem is not only an economic lever; it is a cornerstone of Canada’s talent pipeline, global reputation, and community vitality. Canada’s international education strategy cannot be siloed from its long‑term immigration and talent goals. International students have historically formed one of Canada’s most reliable pathways to permanent residency and skilled workforce growth.
The system needed fixing. But a system that’s being fixed must also still work.
As we look ahead to further reforms through 2027, I hope we can collectively move toward a model that protects students, supports high‑integrity institutions, and restores public confidence—without sacrificing the community impact, workforce contributions, and global connections that international students bring to British Columbia and across Canada.
We’d welcome perspectives from colleagues across the sector—educators, policymakers, students, and community advocates. What’s working? What isn’t? And how do we design a system that is truly sustainable, fair, and globally competitive?
Let’s connect the dots—together.
