Canada ‘No Longer Competitive’ in Global Talent Race, Warns CBIE
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Canada is losing its competitive edge in attracting international students due to a string of federal policy changes, the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) has warned.
Addressing the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on 25 September, CBIE president Larissa Bezo said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) measures over the past 20 months had “devastated the system, and Canada’s reputation along with it”.
New IRCC data shows study permit application volumes dropped by around 50% in the first half of 2025 compared with last year, while international student arrivals plunged 71% between January and June. Bezo described the situation as a “serious over-correction” that risks long-term damage to Canada’s education sector, labour market and global standing.
The downturn follows the introduction of annual study permit caps in January 2024, which triggered 16 further policy shifts, including tighter eligibility for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs). Forecasts suggest PGWP approvals could fall by 30% in 2025, potentially hitting their lowest level since the pandemic.
“Annual caps were followed by plummeting approval rates, drastically increased processing times, and increased applicant requirements,” Bezo told the committee. She added that 35 campus closures, 863 suspended programmes and more than 10,000 job losses have already been recorded since autumn 2024.
Critics, however, argue the sector must take responsibility for unsustainable recruitment practices that eroded consumer trust and harmed “Brand Canada”. One industry insider told The PIE News that without intervention by IRCC, exploitation of international students would have continued unchecked.
Bezo urged policymakers to provide stability and predictability, calling for a period of “healing” for Canada’s global education brand. CBIE is advocating a new talent strategy, including a “centre of excellence” to coordinate policy, research and international collaboration.
With international students citing post-study work opportunities and affordability as key factors in choosing destinations, analysts warn Canada risks losing ground to competitors such as the UK, Australia and Germany unless confidence is restored.
The government is continuing consultations on the International Student Program, with a final meeting scheduled for 9 October.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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