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Canada on Friday suspended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program for foreign students to address the housing and resource crisis. The program was launched in 2018 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to expedite the study permit application process for international students from 14 countries, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru and Philippines. . and Vietnam. . The Canadian government said on its website that the termination was an attempt "to strengthen the integrity of the program, address student vulnerabilities, and ensure equal and fair access to the application process for all students." Applications for the program received by 2:00 p.m. on November 8th will be reviewed, and all applications thereafter will be processed through the normal admissions system. Adoption of the program was high and had a quick turnaround time. With the cancellation of the program, students from India and 13 other countries will have to go through a longer visa process.

For the first time in years, Canada wants to significantly reduce the number of immigrants admitted to the country. It is a dramatic political shift as an unpopular government tries to stay in power. Canada, a country that has long prided itself on welcoming newcomers, is now turning its rhetoric toward immigrants, sparking a housing crisis that ranges from rising living costs to a strained health care system. With the federal election due in late October 2025, the issue has become one of the most contentious issues in Canadian politics. According to surveys, there are more immigrants in Canada than the population has grown.