BU, ACC refute international student ‘myths’

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This article was published 21/02/2024 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The heads of Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College say international students are not responsible for a housing shortage in Brandon and do not lessen opportunities for local students.

Last month, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a temporary cap on new student visas during a cabinet retreat in Montreal. The aim, Miller said, is to address the strain on Canada’s housing stock caused by the rapid increase in temporary residents.

As a result, the number of new visas for international students this year will be capped at 364,000, representing a 35 per cent decrease from the nearly 560,000 issued in the previous year. The allocation of the capped visas will be based on provincial populations, creating varying impacts across provinces.

Brandon University president David Docherty told the Sun the housing shortage is not caused by international students, particularly at BU. He admitted housing is scarce, but the 600-700 international students at BU are not the root cause.

“It is a myth to say that the housing shortage in Brandon is caused by international students,” Docherty said. “But in southern Ontario, where you have hundreds of thousands of international students, they’re contributing to problems. This is a Brampton problem and not a Brandon problem.”

Docherty said it is essential to consider broader immigration policies rather than solely blaming international students.

“A few years ago, the federal government declared an intent to increase immigration to Canada and double it. Yet now there’s a narrative attributing housing issues solely to international students.”

He also dismissed the notion that every international student admitted is one less opportunity for local students.

“This is factually incorrect, especially at Brandon University, known for its accessibility. We ensure that any high school graduate in Manitoba has a spot.”

Dismissing the notion that international students occupy limited spaces, “the reality is that we accommodate all qualifying students. While there may be specific areas needing increased funding for additional seats, suggesting that international students displace opportunities is a misguided myth.”

Contrary to the belief that universities admit international students solely for financial reasons, Docherty highlights the diverse contributions of international students to the university community. According to him, the claim is not accurate, since universities provide services to international students and are not solely driven by financial motives.

“Only 25 per cent of BU’s revenue comes from tuition fees, while over 50 per cent is provided by the province, with additional support from various grants,” he said. “While it’s true that international students are charged higher fees, this is partially to acknowledge the contributions of domestic students who have been taxpayers for many years.”

International students, he said, are diverse, productive members of the community, as they play key roles such as running the student union. To illustrate their importance, he hosted the president and past-president of the student union, both from Nigeria, for Christmas dinner last year, highlighting the strong connections they’ve formed over the years.

ACC president Mark Frison said the notion international students are solely temporary residents is not correct, adding numerous international students come to establish Canada and Manitoba as their permanent homes.

“We are here to support these aspirations, and the first step is having programs that train students for careers in demand in the province and country,” Frison told the Sun via email. “The college has staff who are certified to provide advice to students. We also welcome partners from the government to present on immigration pathways following graduation.”

Frison said the college has a close partnership with Westman Immigrant Services and its staff helps with the broader settlement needs of international students and graduates. On the long-term impact of international students on the local economy and workforce, Frison said at one time Manitoba wanted more than half of its provincial nominees to come from Manitoba post-secondary institutions. “This was to help build Manitoba’s population and supporting labour market development, and these are explicit parts of Assiniboine’s international strategy.

“Similar to our commitment to all graduates, we actively support post-graduation placements within their field of study,” Frison said. “We closely monitor the success of graduates in securing employment in their chosen fields, and whether they choose to settle within the province.”

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