Province critical of 40 per cent international student allocation cut

The province says the federal government’s decision to cap international student enrolment is having a financial impact on universities. Jeff Keele explains.

The Manitoba government is calling out the federal government over dropping enrollment numbers for international students.

Temiloluwa Oyewole is in her third year of studies at the University of Manitoba.

“I’m basically the first of my family to ever do such so it just means a whole lot to me and my family,” said Oyewole.

The international student from Nigeria says this is a big opportunity for her.

“I feel like the education here is really good, the professors are really supportive, the community is super great,” said Oyewole.

But there may be fewer students like her in Manitoba right now.

In 2024, the federal government capped the number of international students. The program had been under scrutiny amid surging student numbers, housing pressures, and growing asylum claims.

Still, the province of Manitoba says Ottawa’s decision is impacting enrollment.

“It’s causing a lot of headaches for colleges and universities here in Manitoba,” said Premier Wab Kinew.

The province said Manitoba’s international student allocations declined from 18,591 in 2025, to 11,196 in 2026, a reduction of 40 per cent. Kinew says that’s putting the schools in a financial bind.

“You can’t make that up with a taxpayer subsidy, you’re talking about a fundamental change to a school’s operating environment,” said Kinew.

In a statement, the University of Manitoba said they’ve seen international student numbers drop by 19 and 30 per cent in consecutive years.

“The cap on international study permits has indeed had a measurable impact at the University of Manitoba,” says the statement.

University of Winnipeg Provost Pavlina Radia said they’re experiencing a 40 per cent reduction in new international students.

“I am not privy to tell you specifically what that’s going to translate in terms of the revenue loss, but it’s significant, we’re talking millions of dollars,” said Radia.

Brandon University said it’s international student numbers fell from 447 last year to 354 this year.

Red River College said it’s seen a 25 per cent drop from 2024 to 2025.

In a statement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a spokesperson said the department’s approach “puts immigration on a responsible path that allows Canada to meet the needs of communities and deliver on its promise to provide opportunities to those who consider this country their home.

“Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, permanent resident admissions will remain below 1 per cent of the population after 2027, and the total number of temporary residents will be reduced to less than 5 per cent of the population by the end of 2027. Maintaining limits on the number of student arrivals supports this levels commitment,” reads the statement in part.

“It also aligns with trends because the number of new students arriving in 2025 was below the cap.”

On the plus side, domestic enrolment is up 5.4 per cent at the University of Manitoba, and 9 per cent at the University of Winnipeg, according to the schools.