Surrey Board of Trade Signals Economic Crisis with Government International Student Caps

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The Surrey Board of Trade (SBOT) has expressed deep concerns over the recently announced cap on international student visas, for both public and private colleges, which could lead to potential negative economic repercussions. SBOT is urging careful consideration of the proposed measures.

The Board convened a high-profile roundtable discussion with key stakeholders, including representatives from private and public post-secondary institutions, BC’s Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Advanced Education Coralee Oakes, MLA Jinny Sims, and MP Randeep Sarai, to address the recent changes introduced by the federal and provincial governments concerning the cap on international student visas, for both public and private post-secondary educational institutions.

The message was to put a moratorium on the announcements and focus on consultation with stakeholders to create solutions together.

“There was no consultation with private post-secondary institutions when these government announcements were made,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “This abrupt decrease in the influx of international students will negatively impact the pivotal economic contributions they make to local communities and businesses. The government announcements will impact consumer spending for businesses, and it will impact the bottom line of private and public post-secondary educational institutions who are at the heart of driving our economy forward.”

The roundtable, held at the Surrey Board of Trade on February 1st, created the first step in a dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders to create solutions. Several key points were emphasized during the discussions. The Board called for an immediate end to the international student moratorium and limits imposed, urging the government to commit to thorough consultations with the private education sector to develop more effective policies collaboratively.

“Private post-secondary educational institutions have been targeted by the government, lumped into one bad-actor scenario, damaging their reputations. Most private educational institutions create wraparound support services, including housing, for their students. Both levels of government need to step back and focus only on the bad actors, not compromise public and private educational institutions. There needs to be a revolutionary change to funding models to public post-secondary educational institutions and the partnerships with private post-secondary educational institutions. It is unfair to blame the housing crisis on international students,” Huberman said.

Recognizing the importance of family support for international students, the Board advocates for the enhancement of the family reunification program to create a more supportive environment for students pursuing education in Canada.

The Board also asked the that the government is aware that some private educational institutions have a housing plan or strategy. They can help with the housing strategy even more if they were eligible for building grants and low-cost loans for conversions or developments with not-for-profits. These would incentivize more players in the market and speed up rental housing stock for students, staff and families and make cities more walkable and liveable (and perhaps more affordable).

The Board calls for transparency and timely release of the Post-Secondary Formula Review and International Student Framework, providing clarity and guidelines for post-secondary institutions and international students.

To streamline communication and address the specific needs of private colleges, the Surrey Board of Trade proposes the appointment of a dedicated Representative for Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) and Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) and for each private college.

The Board also stressed the importance of governments actively and respectfully listening to private colleges to understand and address their priorities effectively.

In a letter addressed to Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, and BC’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Selina Robinson, the Surrey Board of Trade outlined key concerns regarding the impact on local economies and the potential unintended consequences of the proposed policies.

“The proposed cap, leading to a 35% reduction in new undergraduate study visas this year, is anticipated to have a substantial economic impact,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “With approximately 360,000 students from abroad affected, there is a potential reduction of up to 50% in provinces with a higher proportion of international students. This abrupt decrease in the influx of international students will negatively impact the economic contributions they make to local communities and businesses.”

Of particular concern is the potential increase in tuition fees at post-secondary institutions due to the reduction in international student enrollment. The financial challenges faced by these institutions could lead to fee hikes for both international and domestic students, hindering the accessibility and affordability of quality education and stifling innovation.