A Statistics Canada report reveals that nearly one in four study permit holders in Canada in 2019 were not enrolled in public post-secondary institutions. In 2019, a total of 717,300 students held Canadian post-secondary study permits. Of this number, 24% (172,152 students) did not enrol in post-secondary institutions.
Over half of these non-enrolled students were in Canada, engaging in activities like work, particularly in high-part-time employment sectors such as retail and food services. This situation raises questions about their compliance with study permit conditions and impacts housing demand, especially in British Columbia and Ontario.
The findings are prompting a reassessment of Canada's international student program to ensure compliance and student safety.
