Anti-immigrant political rhetoric and online hate speech have fueled a disturbing trend of anti-South Asian sentiment in Canada. Apartheid has manifested itself in verbal and physical attacks, discrimination and exclusionary policies, creating a hostile atmosphere in South Asian communities across the country.
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Exclusion and speech policies: The Canadian government's recent decision to lower immigration rates, citing housing and health care concerns, has fueled anti-immigrant sentiment. Observers note how politicians from both the Conservative and Liberal parties have contributed to a narrative that blames immigrants for these social problems. This rhetoric has real-world consequences, as evidenced by a recent incident in Waterloo, Ontario, where a South Asian man was verbally assaulted and told to “go back to India.” Experts warn that incidents like this are becoming more common, with South Asians and Black people facing higher rates of hate crime.
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A climate of fear: Online platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram, have become hotbeds of hate speech against South Asians. The spread of the “Great Replacement Theory,” which falsely claims that South Asian immigration will lead to a non-white majority in Canada, is very concerning. Online hate often spills over into offline spaces, where racist immigrants in the gig economy and service sector are vulnerable to abuse. “There is certainly a trend in places on the far right, particularly in Canada, to target South Asian communities,” noted researcher Peter Smith. This normalization of hate speech has created a climate of fear and anxiety for many South Asians in Canada, who feel unsafe and unwelcome in their communities.
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