Immigration Minister Marc Miller says that while the high number of international students entering Canada does have some effect on housing, his primary concern as minister is the integrity of Canada's immigration system.
I maintain, if they need to put in a temporary cap to deal with those exploiting loopholes, and give some time for universities to build on-campus student residences, that is a rational response to the problem. That said, if they choose that route, the federal government ought to be obligated to help universities build those residences.
For one, they need to be able to put stipulations on the types of residences to be built. Some universities seem to focus on building luxury suites and condos in hopes of collecting more money from wealthy students; this is just a cash grab and is a poor use of limited space. Secondly, making grants instantly available will expediate building, as long as universities are willing to comply with the conditions set out by the federal government.
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