The familiar rise of anti-Indian racism in Canada
Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)
Improving public policy in Canada by generating research, providing insight and informing debate.
The country has a history of blaming vulnerable minorities for longstanding problems. Stop with the misleading narratives and put some protections in place.
An undercurrent of anti-Indian sentiment has taken root since Canada set out to significantly increase immigration to ease a tight labour market after the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. By last year, Canada had surpassed its target, with people of Indian origin making up nearly 30 per cent of new permanent residents, the largest share .
Anti-immigrant rhetoric online is potent and further exacerbates negative perceptions of Indians. Real-world implications are playing out, with the rhetoric influencing discourse and shaping public policy in counterproductive ways.
This is not the first time in Canadian history that governments have scapegoated immigrants for systemic problems they failed to address. But immigrants are not to blame for the housing shortage or our strained public services.
The federal government and provinces should be addressing the country’s longstanding problems rather than legitimizing misleading narratives and basing policy choices on them.
Canadians’ newfound aversion to immigration
Public support for immigration is in sharp decline despite Canada’s reputation as one of the most immigrant-friendly nations in the world. Canadians are now evenly split on whether the country is accepting too many immigrants, a 2023 Environics survey revealed.
With this shift has come an alarming rise in hostility toward South Asians, evident from a surge in targeted hate crimes. Between 2019 and 2022, hate crimes against South Asians increased by 143 per cent and a quarter of South Asian-Canadians reported experiencing discrimination or harassment in 2022 alone, according to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
Anti-Indian racism online
Few platforms properly regulate hate speech, but TikTok and Instagram have played a key role in spreading anti-immigrant rhetoric.
For example, the popular Toronto Instagram account 6ixbuzz has been criticized for posting content to deliberately stir racist commentary against marginalized groups. The account also uses the city of Brampton, Ont., to dog-whistle xenophobic reactions and racist stereotypes about Sikh Punjabis, Indian international students, and the broader South Asian community.
It’s all too common to see clips of people with brown skin – assumed to be from India – flooded with racist comments. And on travel accounts, the reverse happens, too: videos of people visiting India often attract derogatory remarks about Brampton, filled with tired stereotypes about Indians and fears of what Canada’s future might look like.
In one particularly egregious instance, TikTok commenters mocked the suicide of a former Niagara College student , Charandeep Singh, celebrating his death and calling for more Indians to follow suit.
Such online comments are seemingly from a vocal minority, but they foster an environment of hostility and exclusion.
For instance, recent allegations of public defecation by Indian immigrants in the Ontario town of Wasaga Beach were spread by a TikTok user despite lacking any evidence . They quickly gained traction, further fueling racist sentiments against Indian immigrants with the circulation of a fake sign depicting a Sikh man defecating on the beach.
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The misinformation prompted calls for government intervention. Yet, rather than dispelling the baseless rumours, Premier Doug Ford gave the town $1 million to build washrooms and hire more staff. In legitimizing the misinformation , a provincial government allowed racist narratives online to shape public policy and discourse.
Canada’s history of anti-South Asian racism
Many Indian-Canadians have never forgotten the Komagata Maru incident of 1914 , when hundreds of Sikh migrants were denied entry to Canada when they arrived by ship from Hong Kong. They were turned away because of a newly drafted regulation that targeted migration from South Asia.
In 1907, riots against Japanese, Chinese, and Indian workers in Bellingham, Wash., spilled into Canada , exacerbating anti-Asian sentiment in the West. Motivated by the poor state of the labour market and xenophobia, protesters flooded Vancouver streets, calling for a “White Canada” and attacking members of the targeted groups.
Today, Indian immigrants are once again being framed as the cause of Canada’s problems, from economic strain to social unrest. Amid one of the worst housing crises since the 1980s, an increase in poverty and food insecurity and an overburdened health-care system, Indian immigrants are increasingly scapegoated by the public and governments.
Instead of addressing these systemic issues and providing new infrastructure, the federal government has capped the number of permits for international students and is looking to reduce the growth in permanent residents.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that “Canada remains a place that is positive in its support for immigration, but also responsible in the way we integrate and make sure there’s pathways to success for everyone who comes to Canada.”
And what’s the rationale for limiting international students? The misleading narrative that recent immigrants and international students put pressure on housing, health care and other services and that the move will alleviate that pressure.
A lack of affordable housing stems from an aging population of baby boomers who prefer to age in their homes and the longstanding complicity of all levels of government in facilitating the shortage of affordable housing by stifling the construction of homes.
Furthermore, the role of private colleges in this crisis cannot be ignored. The CBC’s Fifth Estate found that college recruiters stationed in India lure students and their families with the promise of better job prospects and an easy pathway to permanent residency.
For-profit colleges across Canada have preyed upon and capitalized on the dreams of international students, treating students as numbers and enrolling as many as possible without concern for the quality of education or support needed to succeed.
The federal government’s failure to co-ordinate with provincial governments and adequately regulate these colleges has left many students – especially those from India – in precarious situations. Many live in overcrowded housing and work multiple low-wage jobs all the while contending with anti-brown racism .
The path forward
Current and future governments need to do a few things. Canada needs to reaffirm its commitment to being a welcoming nation for all. Politicians must address the rise in anti-Indian hate and South Asian-Canadian politicians need to tackle this hate within their communities.
A tangible plan is needed to build affordable and sustainable infrastructure to accommodate those living in precarious situations. Private colleges must be regulated to protect international students from further exploitation.
With Indian immigrants and international students being the focal point for societal frustrations, Canada must shift away from its limited and profit-driven view of immigrants and implement policies that ensure immigrants are treated with dignity and respect.
To ensure that their futures are shaped by genuine opportunities and not empty promises, the welfare of marginalized communities must be prioritized. It’s high time Canada turns the page on scapegoating.