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Canada’s federal auditor general will launch a formal review of the country’s international student program, following mounting concerns over its rapid growth and its impact on housing, jobs, and immigration policy.
The audit, still in its early planning phase, will examine how the federal government has handled the explosion in international student admissions — a trend that critics say has outpaced Canada’s capacity to manage it. A final report is expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2026, according to the Office of Auditor General Karen Hogan.
“Providing information on scope and timelines is premature,” spokesperson Claire Baudrey said in a statement to Global News. The upcoming probe was first reported by The Globe and Mail and confirmed by The Canadian Press.
Political Pressure Mounts
The review comes amid growing political pressure to rein in temporary immigration. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently blamed Canada’s high youth unemployment rate on an influx of temporary foreign workers, and while he didn’t directly mention international students, he has called for “very hard caps” on immigration levels.
“We need more people leaving than coming into Canada over the next few years,” Poilievre said last week, arguing that the country’s housing market, health-care system, and job market need time to “catch up.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney has echoed the need for moderation. In mandate letters issued after the last federal election, Carney urged ministers to return immigration to “sustainable levels.”
Spike in Asylum Claims
Adding to the urgency, a record number of international students are now applying for asylum in Canada. According to federal immigration data, 20,245 students filed asylum claims in 2024 — nearly double the number from 2023 and six times higher than in 2019.
So far, 2025 is already on track to surpass that record. In the first quarter alone, over 5,500 student asylum claims were submitted — a 22% jump from the same period last year.
The increase in asylum claims suggests a shift in how some foreign students are trying to stay in Canada, sidestepping regular permanent residency pathways.
Policy Clampdown Hits Campuses
In response to the growing strain, Ottawa imposed a cap on study permit applications last fall and is expected to consult on future intake levels this summer.
The cap, however, has had financial consequences for many post-secondary institutions, particularly smaller colleges heavily reliant on international tuition fees. Several schools have already announced hiring freezes and layoffs as they struggle with revenue shortfalls.
As the government prepares for further policy changes, the upcoming audit is expected to play a key role in shaping Canada’s future approach to international education — one that now finds itself at the intersection of immigration, economics, and political debate.
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