Universities Canada’s submission to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration: International Student Program and study permits

The International Student Program is at a critical juncture. The integrity of the system has been questioned, and public trust has been shaken. It is time to focus on recovery and on building a sustainable, accountable system that strengthens opportunities for Canadian students while ensuring Canada continues to attract and retain the talent, we need to secure our future and grow our economy.

In our submission, Universities Canada calls for:

• Faster, more transparent visa processing to attract top talent and meet workforce needs.
• A national roundtable on talent, skills and immigration to align education and labour priorities across sectors.
• Clear federal leadership to show that Canada remains open to the world while putting domestic students first.

A strong, predictable system benefits everyone — giving Canadian students the stability they need, and international students the opportunity to study, contribute and succeed here in Canada.

We’re ready to work with government to rebuild trust and secure the talent our country needs to grow.