SKEENA REGION, BC – A new report from a UK-based think tank reveals a staggering increase in online hate targeting people of Indian origin in Canada, with the use of hateful slurs surging by over 1,350% between 2019 and 2023.
The report, released last Thursday by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), highlights how online posts often use racist stereotypes, portraying people of Indian origin as “unclean” or “unskilled” and invoking conspiracy theories like the “Great Replacement.” The ISD, a non-profit focused on countering extremism, notes that these hateful narratives are often fueled by domestic far-right networks.
This alarming trend of online hate stands in stark contrast to the reality of the immense contributions that Canadians of Asian origin—including those from India, the Philippines, China, and many other nations—make to the country’s economic and social fabric.
As the report itself notes, this type of rhetoric often aims to create division and ignores the reality on the ground. Across the Skeena region and all of Canada, Asian Canadians are a foundational part of the economy. They are our doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals. They are the entrepreneurs running the local restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and hotels that are the backbone of our communities.
Furthermore, on the global stage, leaders of Asian descent are at the helm of some of the world’s most influential technology companies, from Google to Microsoft, driving innovation that benefits the entire world.
The hateful online narratives often seek to erase these contributions. Analysts suggest this kind of rhetoric can stem from extremist ideologies that feel threatened by the success of non-white communities in a multicultural society.
The ISD report serves as a stark warning that while so many Canadians of all backgrounds are working together to build a stronger country, there are organized online efforts seeking to tear that social fabric apart with disinformation and hate.
