Thanks for the question. It's something I have a real passion for.
If you look at what Australia chose to do about 10 or 15 years ago, they set as a foreign policy objective international student recruitment to build those kinds of links. They have funded significantly, to the tune of $20 million to $30 million a year of federal Australian funds, to support the work of Australian universities. Australia has a federal system, but they have found a way to work across their federal structure and in conjunction with universities. A key piece is national leadership, national funds, and a coordinated approach among the stakeholders.
I might say also that the British Council and the Government of the United Kingdom has also significantly increased its funding in this area.
I would also add, in terms of the urgency of the situation, that since 9/11 Canada has picked up a number of international students who would have otherwise gone to the United States. But there's a new environment in the United States now, so the flow will start moving back in that direction very shortly.
What it requires is recognition by the government that it is a national priority, that it creates real jobs in communities across the country, and that we have the capacity in the system in Canada.
Just to illustrate a little bit, I think you visited Vancouver Island University, or you heard a presentation from them. The City of Nanaimo has a thousand international students. Seven hundred of those students have lived with host families in that community. So against the backdrop of declining forestry and a declining fishery, this is the new knowledge economy, and Canada can play in this game.
