09/20/2026
We need to be able to talk about real problems without turning them into prejudice.
When we repeatedly hear about people from the same nationality involved in similar offences, it becomes very easy to notice the nationality first.
But this is where we need to be careful.
A person’s nationality is not their character. And the actions of some should never become the identity of an entire community.
There are legitimate concerns surrounding crime, fraud, organized crime and immigration enforcement in Canada. I don’t believe we should minimize those issues simply because the individuals involved are immigrants.
If someone breaks Canadian law, commits serious crimes or abuses our immigration system, they should face the consequences that Canadian law provides with due process.
But treat them as individuals.
There are approximately 1.35 million people of Indian origin in Canada, according to the 2021 Census. Think about how dangerous it becomes when the actions of some individuals are used to characterize a community that large.
And we shouldn’t forget the Indian immigrants who have made extraordinary contributions to Canada.
-Aditya Jha became a Member of the Order of Canada for his achievements in business and his work supporting education and entrepreneurship, particularly among Indigenous and disadvantaged youth.
-V. I. Lakshmanan, an internationally recognized scientist and entrepreneur, developed sustainable technologies that helped Canada’s mining industry reduce pollution emissions and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
-Baljit Sethi immigrated from India in 1972 and spent decades helping newcomers integrate into communities in northern British Columbia while promoting racial harmony and supporting immigrant women.
-Rohinton Mistry, born in India, became one of Canada’s celebrated authors, winning the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Giller Prize and becoming a Member of the Order of Canada.
And those are simply recognizable names. They don’t represent every Indian Canadian any more than someone who commits a crime does.
As a Filipino immigrant myself, I apply the same principle to my own community.
I’m incredibly proud of the many Filipinos who have built lives and contributed to Canada. But I would never pretend every Filipino is a good person simply because they’re Filipino. Filipinos commit crimes too. When an individual Filipino does something wrong, that person’s actions belong to them not to me, my family, or the entire Filipino community.
Why should we treat another nationality differently?
This isn’t about defending Indians. It isn’t about defending Filipinos. It’s about refusing to judge human beings collectively because of where they were born.
Hold criminals accountable.
Enforce Canada’s laws.
Protect the integrity of our immigration system.
Deport foreign nationals when Canadian law legally requires or permits their removal following the applicable process.
But don’t turn accountability into collective blame.
Being pro-immigration doesn’t mean being anti-enforcement. Being pro-enforcement doesn’t require being anti-immigrant.
Generalization becomes stereotyping. Stereotyping creates prejudice. And prejudice can eventually become hate.
Judge the individual. Judge their actions. Not their passport.
That is where I stand.
