This viral moment highlights Canada’s changing demographic landscape, stirring conversations about immigration, culture, and identity in a country renowned for its diversity
A Chinese woman’s astonishment at the large number of Indians in Canada has captured widespread attention on social media. Her reaction, recorded at a driving licence test centre, has gone viral, drawing both agreement and debate online. In the video, the woman, wearing sunglasses, films herself with a sense of disbelief, commenting, “Terrible, surrounded by Indians in Canada.” She then pans the camera to show several people, many of whom appear to be of Indian origin, with some wearing turbans. “People who didn’t know would think I was in India,” she remarks.
The video quickly amassed 1.3 million views, sparking a flurry of comments. The caption, which reads, “A Chinese woman is shocked by the number of Indians in Canada. Canada is becoming less Canadian by the day. Everyone is noticing it,” further fueled the debate. Reactions were varied—some viewers agreed, noting the significant Indian presence, while others pointed out the growing Chinese community in Canada. One user observed, “Agreed. But there are a lot of Chinese in Canada too,” while another recalled, “I remember visiting Canada in the 90s and wondering why there were so many Chinese.” A third commenter added a political note, saying, “Trudeau’s New India.”
The increasing Indian population in Canada is backed by statistics. According to a Forbes report, Indian immigration to Canada has surged by 326% between 2013 and 2023, with the number rising from 32,828 to 139,715, according to an analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). Moreover, Indian students are increasingly choosing Canadian universities over American institutions. Over the last two decades, Indian enrolment at Canadian universities skyrocketed by over 5,800%, with student numbers climbing from 2,181 in 2000 to 128,928 in 2021.
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