Urgent Need to Address Disproportionate Impacts of International Student Program Reforms on Atlantic Canada

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Diab,

Re: Urgent Need to Address Disproportionate Impacts of International Student
Program Reforms on Atlantic Canada

We are writing to express serious concern regarding the findings of the Auditor General’s
2026 report on reforms to the International Student Program (ISP), and to urge immediate
federal action to address the disproportionate and unintended impacts on Atlantic Canada.
The Auditor General’s report confirms what institutions, provinces, and stakeholders
across our region have been raising for over a year: while the federal government intended
to modestly reduce international student volumes, the actual outcomes have been severe,
unanticipated, and regionally inequitable.

In Atlantic Canada, study permit approvals declined by more than 59% in 2024—far
exceeding the federal government’s anticipated reduction of 10% or less. In New Brunswick
alone, approvals dropped by approximately 64%, with 2025 figures continuing to fall well
below forecast. These declines are not only dramatic—they are structurally rooted in a
flawed allocation model.

The report identifies two key issues. First, allocations based primarily on population fail to
reflect regional realities, including acute demographic challenges and labour shortages in
smaller provinces. Second, the use of a standardized 60% approval rate assumption—
despite significantly lower historical approval rates in Atlantic Canada—resulted in a
compounding disadvantage. Provinces received fewer allocation spaces and were less able
to convert those allocations into actual students.

Equally concerning is the lack of federal oversight and responsiveness. Approval rates
declined sharply from 58% in 2023 to 38% in 2025, yet the department did not adequately
analyze or understand the causes of this drop. At the same time, integrity measures—while
partially implemented—remain incomplete, with significant gaps in compliance monitoring
and enforcement.

The consequences for Atlantic Canada are profound. International students are critical to
our region’s population growth, workforce development, and economic sustainability. The
sharp and unplanned reduction in student approvals is already contributing to labour
shortages in key sectors, financial strain on post-secondary institutions, and a weakening
of community vitality. It also risks long-term reputational damage to Canada as a reliable
and welcoming destination for international learners.

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act clearly states that immigration benefits must
be shared across all regions of Canada. The Auditor General has found that this obligation
was not met.

In light of these findings, we respectfully call on the federal government to:

• Revise the allocation model to reflect regional economic needs, labour market demands,
and demographic realities—not population alone;
• Adjust approval rate assumptions to reflect actual regional performance and ensure
allocations translate into real outcomes;
• Implement robust monitoring and transparency mechanisms to track approval rates and
policy impacts in real time;
• Fully resource and operationalize integrity and compliance systems to ensure program
credibility without undermining access.

Atlantic Canada’s economic future depends on a fair and functional international student
system. The Auditor General’s report provides clear evidence that corrective action is both
necessary and urgent.

Sincerely,

Morgan Peters, CEO, Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
Kim Wilson, CEO, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton
Shannon Merrifield, CEO, Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce