Commonwealth _ Premier Doug Ford’s government is confronted with a significant reduction in a key funding source for Ontario’s colleges and universities as Ottawa plans to reduce the intake of international students to Canada.
The financial vulnerability of Ontario’s educational institutions, recently highlighted by the province’s own expert panel, is compounded by the anticipated cut in international student visas. With the post-secondary sector heavily relying on the high tuition fees from foreign students, the Ford government faces tough decisions. The recent announcement by Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, highlighted a substantial decrease from 240,000 to half that number in permits granted to international students for post-secondary education in Ontario over the last two years. This significant reduction raises crucial questions about the provincial government’s role in allocating the limited permits among Ontario’s universities and colleges. The decision-making process to distribute this reduced allocation will undoubtedly present challenges and necessitate careful considerations to address the potential impact on educational institutions and the broader post-secondary education landscape. The adjustments in international student visas underscore the need for a strategic and adaptable approach in managing the complex dynamics of education policy and international student recruitment.
Ontario’s reliance on revenue from international students surged during Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne’s tenure and has accelerated under Premier Doug Ford. Since the Progressive Conservatives took office in 2018, federal data indicates a doubling of study permits issued to international students in Ontario. However, during the same period, the combined annual revenues of Ontario’s colleges and universities from provincial grants and domestic tuition fees have declined by 31 per cent when adjusted for inflation, as reported by Higher Education Strategy Associates, a consulting firm. Alex Usher, the firm’s president, highlights that the provincial government actively promoted the rapid expansion of international student enrollment as an “easy way to make ends meet.” Ontario’s colleges exhibit an even more pronounced reliance on tuition fees from international students: In the academic year 2021-22, the international student enrollment at Ontario’s colleges surpassed 110,000, marking a threefold increase from five years earlier. According to estimates by Higher Education Strategy Associates, revenue from international student fees for colleges is projected to reach approximately $3.3 billion this year, surpassing the $1.9 billion in provincial government funding and $1 billion in domestic student fees. Notably, international students now outnumber domestic students at nine of Ontario’s 24 publicly funded colleges. An auditor general report highlights that Ontario provides colleges with lower per-student funding compared to every other province.
According to Alain Roy, Vice President of International Partnerships for Colleges and Institutes Canada, an organization that represents 140 publicly funded post-secondary schools, Ontario’s colleges have heavily relied on recruiting international students to compensate for gaps in government funding and reductions in domestic tuition fees. The planned reforms to the foreign student visa program and post-graduate work permits are expected to have a substantial impact, notably on programs conducted by private corporations at 15 of Ontario’s publicly supported universities. Individuals were enrolling in these programs with the expectation of obtaining a backdoor entry to permanent residence in Canada. Miller attributed the surge in foreign students to significant underfunding by provinces in the post-secondary education system across Canada over the years. He emphasized that institutions strategically recruited abroad to address funding shortfalls. Faced with these challenges, it remains to be seen how the Ford government will respond. Despite interview with Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop, the request was declined. The situation underscores the complex interplay between provincial funding issues, institutional strategies, and the evolving landscape of international student recruitment in Ontario.
