Good morning. University admissions are more competitive than ever thanks to an avalanche of applications, a relatively small number of seats, and rising grade inflation. More on that below, plus Canada’s top court prepares for Quebec’s Bill 21 hearing, and Mexico’s trade struggles. But first:

Today’s headlines

• Canada is weighing whether to follow the U.K. on recognizing Palestinian statehood if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire
• A powerful 8.8 earthquake shakes Russia’s Far East, triggering a tsunami advisory in B.C.
• Developers press for easing of foreign ownership rules to avoid a crash in the construction industry
• Elections Canada says a write-in ballot for an Alberta by-election ensures accessibility and integrity of the vote

Lauren McGuire, a recent Grade 12 graduate from Oakville, Ont., had her sights set on applying to a university program in health sciences, a competitive stream that’s often a stepping stone to medical school.

She had top marks and impressive extracurriculars, but she still knew it would be a tall order to get one of the most sought-after spots in Canada.

Ontario colleges have been shedding thousands of jobs over the past year in what is being described as one of the largest mass layoffs in the province’s history by the union that represents most college faculty.

More than 8,000 jobs have been or will be lost in the college sector since the federal government imposed a cap on the number of international study permits in January, 2024. That figure was released in a recent report from arbitrator William Kaplan.