Trudeau explained why studying at Fanshawe College is expensive for foreigners

Fanshawe College, which we recently wrote about, has made Canadian news again. Yesterday, its students were visited by the Prime Minister himself. Justin Trudeau spent an hour and a half answering students' questions and then taking photos with them. They mainly discussed work, internships, post-graduation opportunities, as well as the cost of living and education.

Since 2018, the cost of education for foreigners has increased by almost CAD 10,000. While Canadian bachelor's students pay around CAD 6,800, their foreign counterparts can pay up to CAD 36,100 per year. Students are worried about this because, amid global financial instability, it becomes more difficult for their families to pay for their education.

Trudeau explained that Canada does not have "infinite amounts of money," so the government is focused on providing affordable education for Canadian citizens, which leads to an increase in the cost of education for foreigners. He also said that universities and colleges in Canada receive far more applications from foreign students than they can accept, so there is competition for spots, including financially.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the unfairness of this situation but said that at the moment, the Canadian economy cannot provide affordable education for both citizens and foreigners. To make it easier for them to pay for their education, the government allows them to work more hours per week and extends work permits.

During the discussion, one student said he was afraid he would have to move back home because of the rising cost of living and asked what the federal government was going to do about it.

Trudeau acknowledged that this is an "especially difficult time" and said the government has already taken several measures, including providing compensation for food, dental insurance, and canceling student loan interest. He shared plans to help with living expenses, stating that the authorities want to provide students with good jobs and establish government support specifically for them.

Many student representatives said they had positive impressions of the meeting: although the prime minister did not promise an easy solution to their problems, he acknowledged their significance and was honest with them, offering some ways to improve their situation. Moreover, Canada remains one of the most affordable countries to obtain higher education: the quality of local knowledge is not inferior to that of the United States and the United Kingdom, but education costs two to four times less.

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