Major Announcement by Canadian Government to Facilitate Students Seeking Higher Education

Canada has decided to simplify and speed up the study permit process for international students seeking higher education, particularly those applying for master’s and PhD programs. According to a foreign news agency, Canada’s immigration department said that study permit applications from PhD candidates will be decided within two weeks.  Under the new policy, students enrolling in masters and PhD programs at public institutions from January 1, 2026, will also be exempt from the requirement to obtain a provincial or territorial attestation letter.

Under the policy, graduate students will be allowed to bring their families to Canada and will also be eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit after completing their studies. According to official statistics, the overall number of international students in Canada has declined by one-third compared with 2024. However, during the same period, the proportion of graduate students increased from 12 percent to 21 percent. According to the Canadian government, the policy change is aimed at attracting talented students and leading researchers from around the world to Canada and maintaining the country’s appeal in the fields of higher education and research.

Canada Ready for Talks with U.S. If Washington Is Serious: Prime Minister

The Canadian Prime Minister has said that Canada is ready for negotiations if the United States is serious about talks. According to international media, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that the United States needs to take the issue seriously with its advisers before starting trade negotiations. Commenting on trade tensions and the imposition of tariffs by the United States, the Canadian Prime Minister said that if Washington abandons its threatening approach, a more constructive atmosphere could be restored through dialogue. He said the recent actions by the United States are in no way constructive. According to news agencies, he said that Canada is ready to negotiate a trade agreement based on mutual benefit and respect, but conditions aimed at making Canada’s key industries subordinate to U.S. companies are unacceptable. It is worth noting that Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 percent on U.S. products since last month.