These regulatory projects protect the student and protect Canada’s reputation but doing that in a way that doesn’t turn off the tap is critical

We’re optimistic that we can come up with a streamlined solution because the government and all of the sector are keen to ensure that Canada stays a competitive, helpful host country for international students. The idea behind these regulatory projects is to protect the student and to protect Canada’s reputation. All to the good, but doing that in a way that doesn’t turn off the tap is critical.

The PIE: What do the new provincial designation regulations mean for lists of private ESL providers?

JH: If they’re not designated, they can no longer receive students on a study permit. At many private ESL schools, students want to come for a full year programme; it doesn’t make sense to come on a temporary resident visa which is only valid for six months.

The PIE: What will happen if any provinces aren’t ready when the bill comes into effect on June 1?

JH: CIC will still provide study permits to students at public post-secondary institutions, but not to those at any private colleges. If they’re not ready, there could be a hiatus for some of those institutions, which would be really unfortunate.

CIC in fact started a process quite some time ago, asking for designation lists, and they have received a lot and are processing them. So they think they’ll be ready on June 1. That’s very good. It doesn’t mean that all the language schools will be able to apply and will have received designation by June 1, but many of them will.

The PIE: Some ESL schools seem daunted by the application process. Is it really such a difficult process?

It’s really hard for international students to differentiate good institutions from not so good. The designation process will help them

JH: People have referred to the onerous amount of financial information that has to be included when applying for designation, but it may not be as onerous as all that. There are processes and these may be challenging for some institutions. But others are managing to do it!

At the end of the day, designation is positive. It will protect Canada’s reputation, which is of huge importance. A few years ago there were some “schools” which really tarnished our reputation. It’s really hard for international students to differentiate good institutions from not so good. The designation process will help them.

I think this will all unfold, at the end of the day, relatively well. It’s just challenging to get all of the pieces together to ensure that institutions and schools and organisations can continue to provide the appropriate support, the appropriate information, the appropriate privileges to students that they should have, while we work our way through the many changes that have been implemented over the past year. Canada is a good news story in international education and we are all working hard to keep it that way.