Education providers in Canada have been forced to extend start dates and even defer admissions until January as foreign service strikes stretch into their fourth month and continue to disrupt student visa processing. In addition to student welfare, universities and secondary schools are concerned delays could affect them financially and push students to competing destinations.

In a bid to protect the growing number of international students coming to Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has unveiled proposals to limit student visas to those attending institutions designated by provinces and territories from 2014. The HE, language and college sectors have welcomed the move, but career colleges warn the policies could be damaging.