Ontario is facing a growing education and employment crisis, as an estimated 10,000 positions have been lost across the province’s college system following the federal government’s cap on international student permits, Maple News reports. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents thousands of college workers, attributes the mass layoffs to a sharp decline in international enrolments and a funding model that has become overly dependent on tuition from international students.
Introduced in early 2024, the federal cap limits the number of new international study permits issued in order to reduce pressure on Canada’s strained housing market and public services. While the policy aims to address systemic challenges, Ontario’s colleges—many of which rely on international students for more than half their tuition revenues—are now grappling with serious financial fallout.
In response to reduced enrolment figures, several colleges have trimmed course offerings, cancelled entire programs, and implemented layoffs. Jobs have been lost across faculty, administrative, and support roles. OPSEU President JP Hornick called the situation “devastating,” citing the emotional and financial toll on affected staff as well as the long-term risks to education quality.
Ontario’s 24 public colleges have seen provincial funding stagnate over the last decade, forcing them to rely increasingly on international tuition to stay afloat. As a result, the current cap has exposed serious structural vulnerabilities. OPSEU is calling on both the federal and provincial governments to boost investment in post-secondary education to protect institutions and jobs.
Private college partnerships are under renewed scrutiny as well. Over recent years, several public institutions in Ontario have partnered with private colleges to enroll more international students, often overseas. However, Maple News notes that many of these partner campuses—which catered almost exclusively to international students—have been hit hardest by the cap, exposing issues with oversight and quality assurance.
While the federal cap may be a necessary step in addressing housing and infrastructure challenges nationally, unions and education advocates warn that the current strategy is leaving post-secondary institutions in financial peril. Without urgent funding reform and clearer long-term plans, experts fear further declines in academic offerings, workforce stability, and global competitiveness in Canadian higher education.
Maple News will continue to monitor the situation as unions, colleges, and governments navigate the path toward a sustainable and equitable education system.