My Conservative neighbour is a lecturer at the local University. The ongoing International Student Visa cutback will hit full force January 2025. Half of the school’s on-campus enrollment comes from this pool of students. With the combined Visa cutbacks and increased Income requirement for the Student’s Family, the numbers will crash.
As many in Canada may know, the International Student Visa Program was a path to Permanent Residency. A once desired goal for many from India and other countries. The Liberals had ramped this up in their years in power.

The neighbour was concerned back in Sept 2024 that this could reduce her present Full course load which she requires to live.
I was surprised at her low compensation but that’s another story. Where is all the inflated Tuition money going? International students pay more as would be expected.

She now has a zero course load for the January term. Luckily she bagged a lower paying grocery store job in the Village as she has a strong work ethic.

The trickle down effect hits the rental mkt, retail sales and every aspect of a normal life. With their families, it could translate to 10,000 people leaving the area. Some may say that is good but it is a sudden chunk out of the already struggling economy This may be occurring all across Canada.

The aggressive sales promotions by the large retailers should be a wake-up call of what is ahead.
Another neighbour has a flourishing RV dealership in a prosperous area which felt the slowdown this past year. The entry level buyer for a new rig is gone. Even the used mkt is slowing. They have done well and can survive but it is another sign that most discretionary income is vanishing.

There is a domino effect coming. Axing the Carbon Tax would go a long way to cutting costs if the savings flow through to the average man on the street.