A recent Business in Vancouver article examines how Canada’s student cap and long visa processing times are preventing postsecondary institutions in British Columbia from responding to the surge in interest from international applicants. Kwantlen Polytechnic University VP Students Zena Mitchell and Simon Fraser University Provost and VP Academic Dilson Rassier both shared that they had seen an increase in international applicants due to conditions in the US. However, issues such as the increased number of study permit denials, limited provincial attestation letters, and long processing times are a barrier to applicants. This challenge is one of several factors creating a difficult financial situation for BC’s postsecondary sector, according to BIV, and BC institutions are drawing on hiring freezes, budget reductions, and program reviews to balance their budgets.
