Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown recently disclosed a disturbing report from the city’s bylaw department, revealing the overcrowded living conditions of over two dozen international students in a single basement apartment. In an interview with CityNews, Mayor Brown expressed his concerns about the federal government’s temporary cap on international student permit applicants over the next two years, describing the program as broken and exploitative.
Brampton Mayor
According to Brown, the international student program has become a source of financial gain for academic institutions, with students being taken advantage of and forced to live in substandard conditions. The mayor emphasized the need to align the program with the available housing in Brampton, citing a recent incident where 25 students were found residing in a single basement apartment.
During a Brampton Committee of Council meeting, Mayor Brown revealed that an estimated 100,000 residents could be living in illegal rental units within the city. Online discussions ensued, with one Reddit user describing the situation as predatory and greedy.
The revelation sparked debates regarding the Greater Toronto Area’s housing shortage and Brampton’s controversial Residential Rental Licensing pilot program (RRL). Launched on January 1, 2024, the program applied to specific wards in Brampton, requiring landlords to obtain a license for properties with up to four residential units. However, due to backlash, including a petition with over 7,000 signatures, the City temporarily suspended applications to address concerns such as financial burdens on landlords and conflicts with the Residential Tenancies Act.
Refinements to the program included removing the criminal record check requirement, accepting the property tax bill as proof of ownership, and exempting condominium apartments or townhouses from obtaining a business license. The City also pledged to streamline business license requirements for Additional Residential Units (ARUs) and enhance the online application process.
Critics of the program argued that it could worsen the existing housing crisis by discouraging landlords from renting out basements. They emphasized the need for increased rental options to meet the growing population’s demands.
On January 22, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced a federal cap on international student permit applications for the next two years, aiming to stabilize growth. The 2024 cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a 35% decrease from 2023, with a reassessment of new study applications for 2025 at the end of the year. The federal government acknowledged the threats to the integrity of the international student system, citing increased intakes by some institutions and the strain on housing, healthcare, and other services.
