Official data show there were more than 800,000 foreign
students with active visas in 2022, up from 275,000 in 2012. Canada is a
popular destination for international students since it is relatively easy to
obtain a work permit.
Fraser, who was immigration minister before taking up his
job last month, said the sharp rise in the number of students was putting
pronounced pressure on some housing markets.
Asked whether a cap could be imposed on the number of
foreign students, he said, “I think that is one of the options that we ought to
consider.” The government has not yet made a decision, he added.
“We’ve got temporary immigration programs that were never
designed to see such explosive growth in such a short period of time,” Fraser
told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet retreat in the Atlantic province
of Prince Edward Island.
The official opposition Conservative Party, ahead in the
polls of a federal election which must be held by October 2025, say the Liberal
government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not doing enough to tackle the
housing issue.
Canada, which has a population of around 39.5 million
people, plans to take in a record 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025.
Fraser said limiting the number of newcomers was not the answer.