Seneca Polytechnic, Toronto's largest community college by enrollment status, is temporarily closing one of its major campuses and blaming the shift on the reduction in international students imposed by the federal government.
The school announced on its website that its Markham Campus, called Seneca International Academy, at 8 Seneca Way, was being shuttered in the middle of the academic year. The issue affects students from countries beyond the United States and United Kingdom to nations around the world that have sought a college education in Canada.
"Due to recent decisions by the federal government related to international students, we are expecting enrolment at Markham Campus to decline. This will mean a smaller student population studying out of this campus," the school said on its website. "As a result, we are temporarily closing the Markham Campus at the end of the Fall 2024 Term."
In June, the college, with almost the equivalent of 17,000 full-time students, closed its Yorkgate campus at 1 Yorkgate Bld., moving its social service worker, practical nursing and personal support worker programs to other campuses.
The federal government has been reducing the number of international students allowed into the country as concerns about rising shelter costs increase.
In September, Ottawa said it would reduce the number of international students in Canada by 10% in 2025 from the 485,000 study permits issued in 2024. The move came after the government cut new study permits 35% from 2023.
Seneca said it will move the programs from its Markham Campus to Newnham Campus, at 1750 Finch Avenue East or its space at York University.
"Both of these campuses offer everything you expect from Seneca: top-notch learning and study spaces, a diverse student body and a wide range of services and activities to support and engage you," the university said in its statement.
According to CoStar data, Seneca owns the Markham campus building, which has 11 floors and about 240,000 square feet of leasable area. The building was constructed in 1986.