Rising anti-immigrant sentiment in Canada: Indo-Canadian lawmaker raises alarm

Anti-immigrant sentiment in Canada is increasingly becoming a matter of concern, especially for the Indian diaspora. Hardeep Grewal, a member of Ontario’s provincial parliament (MPP), recently highlighted a disturbing incident that underscores the persistence of racial hate in the country.

Grewal recounted on X (formerly Twitter) that while enjoying ice cream with his family in downtown Muskoka, he was subjected to verbal abuse by strangers. One person shouted, “Hey turban head, go home,” while another passerby added, “You all should die.” Reflecting on the experience, Grewal wrote, “I was reminded that the fight against hate is far from over,” noting the emotional toll such incidents take on targeted communities.

Muskoka, a scenic township in central Ontario, might appear tranquil, yet for Indo-Canadians, public spaces have increasingly become sites of racial hostility. Grewal urged his fellow Sikhs to remain vigilant, proud, and resilient, emphasizing, “Hate never wins. Good will always triumph.”

The situation has been compounded by a recent act of vandalism in Mississauga, a major city in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Graffiti reading “Indian rats” appeared near a children’s park, reflecting a disturbing pattern of targeting Indian immigrants, who form the largest group among new arrivals in Canada.

Naresh Chavda, founding director of the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians (NAIC), linked the rising prejudice to anti-immigrant rhetoric emanating from the United States under former President Donald Trump. He criticized Canadian politicians, including Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish, for failing to publicly condemn such incidents.

Political science expert Shinder Purewal of Kwantlen Polytechnic College noted that economic anxieties often make right-wing, racialized narratives more appealing. “During economic downturns, the underemployed and jobless find these views attractive,” he explained. Sikhs are particularly visible targets due to their distinct religious symbols, while other non-white immigrants also face challenges but are less immediately recognizable.

Responding to these developments, Peel Regional Police, which covers much of the GTA, has announced the creation of a centralised Hate Crime Unit. Deputy Chief Mark Dapat stressed, “Our new dedicated Hate Crime Unit will relentlessly pursue and hold those who commit hate crimes accountable. Acts of hate have no place in our community.”

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The rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, bordering on xenophobia, reflects broader societal shifts in Canada. Once seen as one of the most immigrant-friendly nations, public opinion has shifted in the last three years amid economic concerns and the influence of anti-immigrant narratives abroad. A recent Leger survey for the Association for Canadian Studies found that 60% of Canadians now feel the country does not need new immigrants, highlighting growing resistance to the country’s traditionally open immigration policies.