Canada Plans to BAN on International Students Starting in 2026 | Canada Immigration

Due to a scarcity of physicians, Ontario plans to ban international students from medical schools in 2026 to improve access for Canadian students. Critics worry that this could lessen variety and international collaboration in healthcare, while advocates think it would serve local needs.

Introduction

Beginning in the fall of 2026, Ontario will prohibit international students from attending medical schools. Additionally, the province will pay for the tuition of over 1,000 students who pledge to practice family medicine in Ontario. On Friday, Premier Doug Ford stated that future legislation.

At least 95% of medical school slots should be reserved for residents of Ontario, with the remaining students coming from other regions of Canada, according to the province’s goal. “It’s just not right,” Ford stated at a news conference, referring to the 18% of international students who took our children’s seats before leaving for their home countries.

Since Ontario citizens are the ones who pay for those students’ education, we will give them priority. Additionally, according to Jones, the government is extending a learn-and-state program that pays for tuition and other educational expenses to students who decide to pursue careers as family doctors in Ontario.

It is anticipated that the grant program, which will also start in 2026, will cost $88 million and be available to 1,360 qualified undergraduate students. According to the province, 1.36 million additional Ontarians should be able to access primary care through the program. According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, 2.5 million people lack a family physician.

Twelve percent of Ontarians do not have a family doctor, according to a survey published Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The number of Ontario residents lacking primary care has been a persistent problem for the Ford administration throughout the years.

Further Details

Jane Philip, a former Federal Liberal Health Minister, was nominated by the government this week to a new position that will link all Ontarians to primary care. She will be on the ground filling the gap within the next five years.

According to Ford, the province is also growing its Health Teams model, which connects patients with clinics that offer not just physician care but also nurse practitioners and additional services like mental health and physical rehabilitation. According to the province, the Visa trainee program, which trains international students supported by foreign governments, is also being reviewed.

Ford promised to assist the current generation of medical students as well in an attempt to further safeguard Ontario students. At a hospital in Oshawa, Ontario, with several people standing behind him. “I’m sure some of you have debt from Medical School, so we’re trying to backdate this for a year or two,” Ford stated.

There are so few international students that it is not an issue, according to Mr. Moneybags, a critic of liberal health who also works as an emergency department physician. According to Shamji, it is reasonable to save additional medical school slots for students in Ontario as other provinces consistently do so, but this will not result in the hiring of any family physicians for six years. Where was he when this policy was implemented?

Although it appears to solve physician shortages, Ontario’s decision to bar international students from medical schools in 2026 may have a negative effect on diversity and international cooperation. Whether this program achieves the proper balance will become clear in the long run as it affects Ontario’s healthcare system.

Canada New Work Hours Rules for Students 

To better meet the needs of international students and the demands of the labor market, Canada is aggressively resolving issues with its immigration and student regulations. Significant adjustments have recently been made to the off-campus job hours for international students to give those who are studying in Canada more flexibility and opportunity.

To further improve Pathways to permanent residency, several provinces, notably British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario, have invited individuals to seek provincial nomination. These improvements demonstrate Canada’s dedication to using smart immigration policy to boost international talent and promote economic growth.

International Students in Rich Canada Social, Cultural, and Economic Fabric

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made changes to the program for international students in recent months to maintain system integrity and shield students from financial risk and fraud.

The temporary provision permitting students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will expire on April 30, 2024, and it won’t be renewed this autumn, according to Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Mark Miller. The maximum time students may work off-campus each week will now be 24 hours.

Visitors to Canada must be there to further their studies. Because of this, letting students work up to 24 hours a week will guarantee that they prioritize their education while yet having the opportunity to work when needed. Students with a planned academic vacation can continue working an unrestricted number of hours as we approach the summer session.

When crafting this modification, we considered the requirements of foreign student rules in addition to studies demonstrating that the more a student works while studying, the worse their academic performance is. Additionally, it creates the right balance so that kids can work without sacrificing their academic performance. Soon, more information will be released.

Additionally, we’re working on completing the new framework for recognized schools, which will honor postsecondary educational establishments that have strict guidelines for admitting, assisting, and maintaining international students. We will keep defending the integrity of the international student program and supporting and shielding international students from financial risk.