Canada Contemplates Foreign Student Visa Cap to Tackle Housing Shortage

The Canadian government is considering capping foreign student visas as a potential solution to address the country's housing shortage, according to Housing Minister Sean Fraser. The number of foreign students with active visas has surged from 275,000 in 2012 to over 800,000 in 2022, putting significant pressure on housing markets. While no decision has been made yet, Fraser stated that a visa cap is one of the options being considered. The opposition Conservative Party criticizes the Liberal government for not doing enough to tackle the housing issue, as Canada plans to welcome a record 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025. However, Fraser believes that limiting newcomers is not the answer.