British Columbia pauses new college approvals for foreign students

A Canadian flag flies in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 22, 2017. REUTERS FILE PHOTO

British Columbia will stop approvals of new colleges seeking to enroll international students until February 2026, the government of the Canadian province said on Monday.

The province will set minimum language requirements at private training institutions and also set higher standards for labor market needs and degree quality.

The move comes as the Canadian government has been attempting to curb a surge in immigration of international students, partly blamed for a shortage of rental units and a 7.7% rise in rents nationwide in December versus a year earlier.

Last week, the federal government announced an immediate, two-year cap on new international student permits, cutting the country’s intake by 35% this year to about 360,000. It will also stop giving work permits to some students after graduation.

READ: Explainer: Why is Canada capping foreign students and who will be impacted?

As of the end of last year, there were about 1 million international study permit holders in Canada, nearly three times larger than a decade ago, according to government data.

Canada has emerged as a popular destination for international students since it is relatively easy for them to obtain work permits after they finish courses.