Around 800,000 international students currently reside in Canada, with a constant influx of thousands expected every academic year. As the new academic year begins, attention is shifting to the responsibility of housing these students and the implications for Canada’s housing crisis. The Liberal government faces mounting pressure to address this crisis, and there have been suggestions of capping the number of international students to alleviate housing demand. However, Sarom Rho, an organizer for the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, argues that immigrants are often wrongly blamed for social crises and housing shortages. Rho points out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when borders were closed and migration was limited, housing prices still continued to rise. Rho believes the focus should be on providing adequate housing for both domestic and international students, as colleges and universities heavily rely on international tuition fees for financial stability. Several universities in Canada are already taking steps to address this issue by building more student housing. However, experts argue that these efforts are insufficient, especially considering the rising costs of education for international students. Bikram Singh, a member of Naujawan Support Network, highlights the difficulties faced by students living in overcrowded and exploitative housing situations. International students pay significantly higher tuition fees compared to domestic students, contributing billions of dollars to the Canadian economy each year. Financial statements from various Canadian colleges show the disparity in revenue between domestic and international students, emphasizing the financial importance of international student enrollment. The trend of increased international student enrollment is evident across Canada, not just in Ontario. Quebec, for example, has seen a doubling in the number of international students over the past decade. However, the issue of building more student housing remains a challenge due to the high costs involved. Moreover, there is a recognized problem of underfunding and withdrawal of government support for public institutions, including post-secondary education, which contributes to the need to recruit international students. Universities and colleges often do not receive public funding for student housing, making it difficult to address the housing crisis without assuming debt to build new residences. Efforts are being made to collaborate with government partners to remove barriers and expedite the process of constructing more housing for students. Ultimately, achieving a solution to the housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the broader issue of affordability in Canada.
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