India, Aug. 13 -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has defended a stricter approach to international students, saying those who come to Canada on temporary study visas should return to their home countries when their visas expire if they have not obtained permanent residency.

Smith, who is Alberta's 19th and current premier and leader of the United Conservative Party, outlined her position while discussing concerns over post-secondary institutions and programs that may have overstated pathways to permanent residency.

In a post on X, Smith said a student visa is a temporary document intended for education and argued that Alberta's universities and colleges were built primarily to serve students from the province.

"Where there is room for ...