The familiar rise of anti-Indian racism in Canada| Canada has a history of blaming vulnerable minorities for longstanding problems

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2024/anti-indian-racism-canada/