Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto's public transit system struggled to regain its ridership, while neighboring cities like Brampton and Mississauga experienced a surge in passengers, even setting new records. However, this trend has reversed sharply with the introduction of a federal cap on international students allowed to study in Ontario. Cities that previously benefited from a substantial number of students utilizing public transit are now reporting dramatic declines in ridership, which is raising concerns about revenue shortfalls and the sustainability of transit operations in those regions.

In particular, Brampton and Mississauga have noted significant drops, with Mississauga documenting a 24 percent decrease in student ridership and a total ridership decline of 10 percent. The drop is attributed to the federal government's decision to limit immigration inflows, which began to take effect in 2024 and has continued to influence ridership trends into the following year. Local authorities have expressed that this reduction not only reflects dwindling passenger numbers but is also indicative of broader economic implications, as these declines coincide with a stagnation in growth for the local public transit budgets.

As cities struggle to adapt to these changes, the implications for transit planning and funding are critical. The decline in ridership directly impacts transit revenues and may lead to cuts in services, further deteriorating the public transport experience. Both citizens and municipal officials are calling for a re-evaluation of the caps on international students, urging that support systems must be placed to sustain growth in this sector out of recognition for its role in local economies and urban mobility.