The federal government announced earlier this year that it would reduce the number of student permits, with Ontario seeing its share cut in half.

"We're protecting our province's university system by attracting the best and brightest international students to Ontario to study in fields that are vital to our economy," Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop said in a statement. It is given to public colleges and universities, while private career colleges receive none.

After Prime Minister Doug Ford's government cut tuition fees by 10 percent in 2019 and did not raise them, academic institutions, particularly colleges in the province, have turned heavily to international students. The province announced last month that this lack of tuition increase still exists.

Last month, $1.3 billion in aid was given to post-secondary institutions, but colleges and universities said they needed twice that amount. Many post-secondary institutions are facing deficits this year.

Steve Orsini, president of the Council of Ontario Universities, said universities are responsible for recruiting and managing international students.

Federal Immigration Minister Mark Miller has said the reduction in student visas is in response to a recent surge in international students and is aimed at preventing some abusive institutions from charging high tuition fees while providing poor education.

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