Languages Canada, the country’s national association of 200 English and French language programs, has released its 2023 annual survey report, revealing an overall recovery rate of 75% compared to pre-pandemic student numbers.  

“The sector is recovering, albeit slowly. We saw an increase in French language students from Canada. Diversity remains strong,” said Languages Canada executive director Gonzalo Peralta. 

“Our French language programs and our public sector (university and college) official languages programs have been in a severe decline since 2019. Obviously, much needs to be done to correct the path of this sector towards a sustainable direction and position,” he added.  

Languages Canada welcomed the news of the sector’s continued diversity, with 42 markets recording year-on-year growth in 2023.  

Most notably, Japan, Mexico and Brazil claimed the top three spots, recovering to rates of 82%, 91% and 55% of 2019 student numbers, respectively.  

Domestic students taking French language programs achieved a 127% recovery rate, highlighting the success of the country’s efforts to achieve the “substantive equality of English and French languages in Canada”, as outlined in the government’s Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028.  

Much needs to be done to correct the path of this sector towards a sustainable direction and position

Gonzalo Peralta

The sector’s slow growth in 2023 was led by private institutions, which have recovered to 83% of pre-pandemic student numbers compared to the public sector, where the figure stands at 57% of pre-pandemic levels.  

“These numbers become even more concerning as the sector faces continued adversity in 2024 due to the study permit caps imposed by the Canadian government,” the report stated.  

In March 2024, migration minister Marc Miller rejected Languages Canada’s proposal that language schools be exempt from the government’s cap on international students. 

The organisation had argued that most language students live with Canadian families, therefore do not adversely impact the housing market. 

This point was reaffirmed by the 2023 survey, which found homestay to be the most popular type of accommodation, used by 58% of all students across the private and public sectors. 

The report provides an overview of Canada’s language education landscape in 2023, before the cap came into effect.  

“Languages Canada still believes a cap was necessary, but not for Canada’s language education sector,” Peralta told The PIE News.  

“The result for Languages Canada and our members has not been positive, but we remain committed to deliver the message that we are open and welcoming students, and we will continue to deliver on our promise,” he added.  

According to the report, Languages Canada members’ direct economic contribution was $1.19 billion in 2023, a 30% increase compared to 2022, but still down 20% from $1.5bn in 2019.