Fewer international students made their way to Windsor and Canada this year following recent immigration policy changes. Local businesses that have depended on them historically say it’s having an impact.
Lisa Mulligan, part owner of Sam’s Pizzeria, said the establishment has been a popular destination for students since it opened in 1946 and international students were a key part of it, as many domestic students had home-cooked meals.
In January, Mulligan took over the pizzeria, which is located near the University of Windsor, from the previous owner who ran it for almost three decades.
“We were told that in September that we would get a lot of students here. We wouldn’t have to advertise or do anything. They would just automatically come. We have not seen that,” she said.
Mulligan said they prepared ahead, hired more staff and changed the menu to accommodate diverse needs of international students.
“Unfortunately, we did not see the return on the business because the students haven’t been in the area. There’s less foot traffic. We’ve talked to other businesses. Everybody’s feeling the pinch,” she said.
CBC spoke with dozens of restaurants in and around the University of Windsor and St. Clair College and all reported declining sales, blaming the drop in international students and inflationary pressures.
Fewer international students made their way to Windsor in 2024
In January, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced new limits to the international student program that included a 35-per cent reduction in the number of study permits it issues this year. In September, the federal government announced it would slash the number of visas it issues by another 10 per cent. The new target for 2025 and 2026 will be 437,000 permits.
This year, there were 1,308 fewer international students at the University of Windsor and 628 fewer international students at St. Clair College this year compared to 2023, according to data provided by the institutions.
Mulligan is seeing that firsthand with “dropping sales.”
“We have only seen one-third of what they were getting in previous years,” she said.
“It’s not busy compared to other years where there would be standing room only, sometimes there were lineups outside, you couldn’t get in. We have not seen that happen this year.”
Mulligan said the government has put them in “a bad position by taking away students.” She worries if things continue as they are, it will be difficult to keep operations afloat.
“It’s tough. When the government makes decisions like this, they really don’t think about how they’re impacting the businesses in the area,” she said.
“We are concerned, we have seen a decline in foot traffic and obviously that’s what we live on… It’s trickling, it’s not coming in the numbers that we were expecting.”
Drop in tiffin services
A 40-year-old, family-run business, Bhullar Imports is a wholesale business that specializes in South Asian groceries. In 2022, it added a tiffin service.
Joanie Bhullar, manager for Bhullar Imports, explained that a tiffin service was a natural extension due to Windsor’s growing South Asian population — driven by international students.
“Our tiffin service has slowed down a bit because of the slowdown in international students. Our pickups daily are about the same, but the deliveries mostly, which go to the international students, have gone down about 30 per cent,” she said.
“We’ve seen that decline. I think it’s been more pronounced in the last month or two. It’s going to be tough for businesses that rely on that international segment.”
While it’s not their main source of business, Bhullar said in today’s competitive business environment, “everything makes a difference.”
Bhullar said the need for their tiffin service is still there, due to existing international students, the numbers are lower.
“International students love their food from back home. They don’t have their family here, so I think it’s a way for them to connect to back home. That need will always be there.”
But in the interim, Bhullar said they will be affected.
She said the federal government should remember that international students are not a drain on social services or the health system but a great backbone to the economy.
“International students add a lot to the country. They come here relatively young, they work hard. So they’re very positive for the country.”
