International student program ‘fell short’ on investigating problematic cases: auditor general

A new report finds critical gaps in oversight of Canada’s international student program, citing 'critical weakness' in the program's integrity measures.

OTTAWA - A new report from Canada’s auditor general found reforms to the international student program “fell short” on improving integrity, including only investigating a small number of potentially problematic cases flagged by post secondary institutions.

The report, tabled in the House of Commons Monday morning, found that out of 153,324 potentially non-compliant students reported by schools to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2023 and 2024, the government only had the ability to investigate about 2,000 a year, or 4,057 total.

Within those investigations, the auditor general’s report found that 1,654 students did not respond to IRCC’s two inquiries. According to the report, “the department took limited action to confirm non‑compliance beyond contacting the student for more information.”

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Monday, Auditor General Karen Hogan said it’s “concerning” to see the IRCC’s lack of action.

“I think they’re just not acting on the information they have,” Hogan said. “And I would expect them to do that. They have the powers and the tools. They just need to use them.”

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, said the federal government will “accept the auditor general’s recommendations to strengthen follow-up where suspected fraud or non-compliance is identified. We will act to improve these processes.”

After applications from international students increased by 121 per cent between 2019 and 2023, Ottawa introduced reforms to limit the number of applications.

Overall, the report found that while the number of new study permits dropped, there was a “sharper decline than forecasted,” with IRCC approving less than half of the forecasted number in 2024. The hit was disproportionate for smaller provinces. Some were expected to see a 10 per cent increase in approved new study permits, but “experienced decreases of 59 per cent or more in approved study permits in 2024 compared to 2023.”

‘More can be done’

“The measures are working, but more can be done. Canada’s new government is taking back control of our immigration system and reducing the temporary population to below five per cent of Canada’s population by the end of 2027,” Metlege Diab added in her written statement.

The minister claims the audit only “reflects an early phase of implementation, but not the full impact of the changes now underway,” given that the government’s reform efforts will take until 2027.

In a separate stream of investigation, the audit found IRCC did not follow up on 800 individuals who were found to have used fraudulent documents or mispresented themselves, after study permits were issued. The auditor general’s report found most of these people later applied for other immigration permits while in Canada, and more than half of those permits have been approved.

“For example, 710 applicants claimed to have attended education institutions overseas, that risk assessment units later found to be either non-existent or institutions selling qualifications for immigration purposes,” the report reads.

The audit shows of the 800 cases, 105 people were approved for permanent resident status, and 351 had their study permit or temporary permit to work or stay extended.

The report calls a lack of action by the government in these cases “a serious concern.”

The audit also found IRCC did not know whether students were leaving Canada after their permits expired.

Auditors looked at the status of 549,000 people whose study permits expired in 2024 and found 93 per cent were allowed to stay in Canada.

Some 39,500 people had no immigration status that would allow them to remain in Canada. The auditor general’s office worked with the Canada Border Services Agency to learn only about 40 per cent of that number had left the country.

Conservatives say reform is ‘an illusion’

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Alberta’s Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner said the auditor general’s report “underscores the fact that there isn’t adequate checks and balances to prevent fraud.”

She also described the department’s recent changes to the system as “a bit of an illusion.”

“I think it’s going to create angst and consternation in the Canadian public about bringing in foreign students into the country through the existing processes, and I think it’s going to also put foreign students in danger of being exploited by fraud themselves,” she added.

With files from CTV News’ Rachel Hanes