CHARBONNEAU – Exodus of foreigners restores immigration balance

JUST AS QUICKLY as our population rose, it suddenly dropped as some foreigners left Canada.

It’s been boom and bust times for universities and colleges. And it’s had a negative effect on Canadian’s impression of foreigners.

Canada’s population dropped for the first time since records were kept in 1946, excluding a minor COVID dip. This, despite a positive birth rate of 18,000 more births than deaths.

The rapid drop in population follows a spectacular spike. During the years of Justin Trudeau’s government, from 2015 to late 2025, our population increased by 16 per cent, an absolute increase of 5.72 million people over the 10-year period.

The exodus amounted to 94,000, mostly of those temporary residents.

For clarity, temporary residents are not immigrants. Let me explain.

I use the word “foreigners” despite the negative connotation. I can’t think of any other word that captures the wide range of people who come to Canada.

They come under 80 different immigration programs/streams targeting various skill levels, business types, family situations, and humanitarian needs.

So, some of the foreigners are immigrants, others are temporary residents. The drop in our population is not a result of a decline in immigration, which remains relatively stable.

While there may be about 80 distinct immigration programs/streams, they generally fall into four groups: International Students, Temporary Foreign Workers, Temporary Resident Population, and Permanent Residents.

The departure has largely been in International Students and Temporary Foreign Workers.

Numbers in other streams are relatively constant. As of the middle of 2025, there were about 2.36 million temporary residents in Canada holding study and/or work permits.

And the numbers of permanent residents are also stable. In 2025 (January –August), 276,870 permanent residents were issued permanent residents status — about one half of them converted from former temporary residents status.

In was a golden decade for colleges and universities. However, the departure of International Students has threatened their bottom line.

Ontario Public Colleges face an estimated $2.5 billion revenue shortfall. To date, they have suspended approximately 600 programs and eliminated up to 10,000 positions.

British Columbia anticipates annual losses surpassing $300 million across its post-secondary sector.

Thompson Rivers University saw international enrollment in first-year drop by 59 per cent. This is a significant revenue loss. International tuition accounted for $91 million of its $309.7 million revenue budget for 2024–25.

To balance its budget, TRU will eliminate unfilled positions and lay off 40 employees and 28 management positions.

TRU economists estimate the decline could cut the Kamloops economy by roughly $56 million per year.

The influx of foreigners to Canada has shifted public opinion significantly from broadly positive views to more widespread concern and skepticism about immigration levels.

A solid majority still believe immigrants make good citizens and contribute positively to communities.

However, parts of the population are more worried about housing, services, and cultural impact.

Opposition to high immigration levels is especially stronger among Conservative supporters in residents of Western provinces.

I hope that the reduction in the numbers of International Students and Temporary Foreign Workers will restore our impression of foreigners, even as post secondary schools and economy pay a price.

David Charbonneau is a retired TRU electronics instructor who hosts a blog at http://www.eyeviewkamloops.wordpress.com.