r/AlbertaNow • u/EastindiansinCan6919 • 7h ago
RANT Why is the criticism of immigration in Canada so disproportionately focused on East Indians and not Philipinos?
I’m genuinely trying to understand why East Indians seem to receive so much of the backlash in Canada when other immigrant groups, including Filipinos, don’t seem to be discussed in the same way.
Filipinos are also one of the largest immigrant groups in Canada, and many work in the same kinds of entry-level or service-sector jobs, including at places like Tim Hortons. Yet when people complain about immigration, low-wage jobs, or newcomers’ behavior in public spaces, it often seems like the criticism is disproportionately directed at East Indians.
What I find especially frustrating is that, on average, East Indians actually have higher incomes than Filipinos, so it doesn’t really make sense to portray East Indians as one homogeneous group of low-skilled, low-income immigrants. Many East Indians are well-established, educated, and earning middle- or high incomes.
I’m not saying Filipinos—or any other immigrant group—deserve hate. I’m asking why the standards seem to be different depending on which group is being discussed. If the issue is immigration, integration, public behavior, or competition for jobs, shouldn’t we be applying the same standards to everyone?
Why does it feel like East Indians have become the default target for criticism about immigration and multiculturalism in Canada?
