
An Open Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau & the Canadian Government
📢 UPDATE – February 4, 2025:
The situation has evolved. Last night, the U.S., Canada & Mexico reached a temporary agreement, putting tariffs on hold and reinforcing regional security. This is a positive shift, bringing more stability to global trade and international education.
Read my latest insights on how these global developments impact international education: [Insert Link]
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Dear Prime Minister Trudeau & Members of the Canadian Government,
As a Canadian citizen, I could not feel more proud after hearing your response to the 25% tariff imposed by the United States. While this economic shift affects my business, my grocery bill, and my daily expenses, I—like many Canadians—stand with you. This moment is about resilience, unity, and strengthening our economy from within.
At a time when Canada must reinforce its economic position, I urge you to reassess the cap on international students, particularly for language schools and post-secondary institutions that have demonstrated compliance and integrity. This policy, while well-intentioned, is misaligned with the economic realities Canada faces today.
📌 Canada Needs New Dollars in the Economy—This Policy Works Against That
With rising costs and economic uncertainty, Canada must welcome international investment, not restrict it. Education is one of our strongest exports, generating billions for the economy while strengthening our global influence. The international students we limit today are the skilled workers and future permanent residents we will need tomorrow.
I am not speaking from a personal business perspective—CLLC is a strong institution, and we will navigate this as we have successfully done through COVID-19, the 2008 financial crisis, and other economic shifts. But not every business has the resources or resilience to do the same.
📌 The Housing Crisis: A Real Issue, But This Policy Won’t Fix It
The cap on international students was introduced to address housing shortages, but the reality is housing availability and affordability are two different issues.
🏡 Thousands of homes remain unsold in 2024—not because there aren’t enough houses, but because high interest rates make them unaffordable.
🏡 Low-income Canadian families are struggling the most—not due to a lack of housing but due to rising inflation that has driven up rental costs.
🏡 There are rental units available at $2,500–$3,000 per month, but the people most affected by this crisis are those who previously paid $800–$900.
International students in language programs are not driving up housing costs. Many:
✅ Live in homestay families, financially supporting Canadian households.
✅ Stay in student residences that were built specifically for them—many of which now sit vacant.
If the goal is to relieve housing pressures, we must take a targeted approach rather than a broad policy that limits economic growth.
📌 A Message from CPIEA: The Voice of Ethical & Professional International Education
As the Chairman of CPIEA (Canadian Premier International Education Agency)—a recognized non-profit company in Canada—I represent a global network of accredited, ethical, and high-quality education agents who advocate for Canada as a top study destination.
We created CPIEA to differentiate the great agents from the good ones, accrediting and awarding agencies that represent Canada’s values of integrity, transparency, and excellence.
As someone who has built a career on ensuring quality and ethical recruitment, I am not writing this letter for personal business gain. I am advocating for Canada to benefit as a whole.
📌 A Call to Action: A Smarter Approach to International Education Policy
Prime Minister Trudeau, members of Parliament, and policymakers, I urge you to:
🔹 Reevaluate the cap for language schools and post-secondary institutions that have demonstrated compliance and ethical recruitment practices.
🔹 Recognize that international students are economic contributors, not burdens.
🔹 Ensure that Canada remains a top global study destination, even as we navigate economic uncertainty.
At a time when we are uniting against external economic pressures, let’s make sure we are not hurting our own economy in the process.
Thank you,
Aly Rajab
Chairman of CPIEA & Founder of CLLC