**College President Faces Criticism Over International Enrollment** The president of Conestoga College faced intense scrutiny from Members of Parliament during a parliamentary immigration committee meeting on Thursday. John Tibbits was questioned about the college's significant role in the surge of international students in Canada, which has led to the federal government imposing limits on immigration. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, representing Calgary Nosehill, highlighted Tibbits' $600,000 salary and the college's budget surpluses while addressing concerns about the living conditions of students. She stated, "You are now the highest paid college and university president in the province. We’ve heard some pretty bad things about foreign students at your college." Rempel Garner pressed Tibbits on how he reconciled his high salary and controversial comments about another college president with the challenges faced by the region due to the influx of foreign students. Tibbits responded, "First of all, the region is not in a mess, and secondly, I did apologize about that matter. That was a mistake." The meeting aimed to investigate the international student program, which has been criticized for exacerbating Canada’s housing, healthcare, and affordability crises. The rapid increase in international student enrollment has prompted Ottawa to cap the number of study permits issued. Rempel Garner noted that Conestoga College enrolled 84,000 international students over four years, surpassing the combined international intakes of the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, and University of Calgary in 2023. She described the growth as having an "incredibly negative" impact on housing costs, healthcare availability, and youth employment in the region. The college's operating surplus reportedly increased from $3 million in 2015 to $252 million last year. During a heated exchange, Rempel Garner questioned whether Conestoga would have expanded its international enrollment if financial liabilities were tied to asylum claims or visa overstays. Tibbits replied, "There was no money to be made. We didn’t try to make money. We just tried to meet skill shortage needs." Rempel Garner also pointed out that the Waterloo Regional Health Authority is now charging non-residents for births at their hospitals. She asked if Conestoga would have offered so many spots if the number of study permits was linked to healthcare support. Tibbits clarified, "We don’t handle pregnancies at the college, but we have a full health centre at the college including mental health services." When asked if the Liberal government was responsible for the situation, Tibbits emphasized the need for skilled workers and training. Conservative MP Brad Redekopp from Saskatoon West questioned whether Tibbits was more focused on potential revenue from international students than their living conditions. Tibbits maintained, "It was not the money. We grew international because we can’t have enough domestic students to fill the jobs in our region. We invested every bit of that back into the community." He acknowledged the challenges that come with a large influx of students but emphasized the positive contributions made to the community, stating, "I didn’t say we didn’t have problems. There are challenges when you bring that many. But to me, we look at the greater good, the contribution that was made."