Canadian senators called for fairness with international students
Four members of the Parliament submitted a report outlining the problems.
Four Canadian senators have released a joint report entitled "Strengthening the Integrity of the Canadian International Student Program." The authors recognized the value of international students to the country's economy and to Canada's social and cultural development. However, at the heart of the program itself, they believe there are a number of structural flaws that need to be corrected. And underlying all of these flaws is a lack of clarity and honesty.
Tuition fees
The first such injustice noted by senators is the difference in tuition fees. And it is not just that the rates for international students are inherently higher than for Canadians. Using Ontario as an example, speakers point to the difference in approach. For example, the province has frozen tuition rates for Canadians for three years, while prices for international students continue to rise — sometimes by up to 20% per year. As a result, international students account for 68% of tuition revenue across Ontario.
The mere fact of this imbalance, according to the senators, is not the problem. What is a problem, however, is the inability of colleges and universities accredited to accept international students (DLI) to cover their costs without attracting these same international students. First, the institutions don't have much to offer to attract foreigners, and second, this imbalance in the literal value of each student is not good for incoming Canadians either.
Agents or consultants
Senators are concerned about the terms of interaction between universities and agents-assistants, whose services are used by the majority of international applicants. The agent receives a percentage only if the student successfully enrolls and makes the first payment, and non-payment of such commissions can lead to a complete drying up of the flow of foreign students (and large financial losses) for the university. That is why unscrupulous agents can bargain a large percentage for themselves and recommend to the applied students not the universities and programs they need, but those that are the most profitable for the agent.
The saddest thing about this situation is that not all universities accredited for foreigners are entitled to participate in the PGWP — i.e. to issue work permits upon graduation. International students who rely on agents are often unaware of such subtleties and find out the bad news when it is too late.
This can also include problems with private colleges, which are less controlled because they do not receive government funding. Senators cite cases of cheating on PGWP and even closing private institutions — of course, without refunds to students.
Harassment
Another problem that has yet to be eradicated. A survey conducted by McGill University found that almost 39% of international students have been sexually harassed and almost 24% have been sexually assaulted. Yet immigrants are much less likely to report it to university administrators and police, fearing it could affect their stay in Canada. Newcomers are not well informed that Canadian law protects them as well, and that sexual abuse is frowned upon, not the norm, and should not be ignored.
Accommodation
In addition to the obvious problems of housing affordability in Canada, complicated by the inability of students to work full-time, there is another problem. The speakers raise the issue of discrimination that incoming students may face. There are cases of abuse: when unscrupulous landlords take advantage of newcomers' ignorance and illegally evict them.
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The report said Canada cultivates an "inflated sense of hope" among international students that they will definitely get a permanent residence after graduation.
"While the Canadian government is being honest in highlighting the immigration advantages of studying in Canada, it can perhaps do more to be forthright about the highly competitive nature of the permanent residence application process."
What are the members of the Senate proposing?
While the problems described in the report are serious, the senators emphasize that their goal is not to denounce anyone. They propose a set of measures that could make the implementation of the international student program more transparent:
- Stabilize the financial self-sufficiency of universities: the sector should not be so heavily dependent on the flow of foreign students.
- Introduce strict oversight of accredited higher education institutions (DLI), including private colleges. Universities should demonstrate a willingness to help foreign students find housing and jobs, as well as solve other problems. Moreover, according to the senators, institutions that do not meet the standards should lose the opportunity to accept foreign students.
- Raise awareness among students about the right to work after their studies. The Canadian government should inform students about which programs are eligible for PGWP and which are not.
- Provide housing for international students as part of the National Housing Strategy.
- Raise awareness among international students of their legal rights and recourse options.
- Make students aware of the lack of equality between studying at university and obtaining a residence permit — to avoid false expectations.
- Create a national strategy for engaging with international students. Ensure that they are fully integrated into society and prepared for permanent life in Canada.
- Explore the creation of a national language standard for entry: incoming students must have a sufficient level of language to successfully settle in Canada.
- Streamline the process of verifying incoming Letters of Admission (LOAs). This would protect students from unnecessary expenses and litigation and save resources of the migration service. This process can be accelerated through existing technologies.
- Reform legislation governing agents and consultants and introduce federal oversight.
- Provinces, on the other hand, are encouraged to lower the cap on international student fee increases and impose additional rules and penalties on agents and consultants.
The senators conclude the report by reminding us that the large number of international students is the best evidence of Canada's powerful global brand. Today's international students will become Canadians tomorrow, and those who choose to leave the country after their studies will have strong ties to it for the rest of their lives.
At the same time, Canada needs to take a step back and analyze the shortcomings of the student program that cannot be ignored. After all, a positive international student experience is the real key to maintaining Canada's established image. International students make significant financial and social sacrifices to come, and it is the government's collective duty to support them.
