For decades, Canada has stood as a dream destination for countless Indians seeking a better life, stable income, world-class healthcare, and cleaner cities. From young professionals to families, the lure of a more “developed” lifestyle under the maple leaf has driven thousands to pack their bags in search of greener pastures. But what if the dream isn’t what it seems?
Enter Caleb Friesen, a Canadian national now living in Bengaluru, who’s shaking up the rose-tinted narrative with a bold and controversial take: “If you are Indian, don’t move to Canada.”
In a video recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, Caleb pulls no punches as he lays bare what he believes is an exploitative immigration system that leaves newcomers financially drained, emotionally exhausted, and stuck in a life far worse than the one they left behind.
Caleb describes a typical Indian considering immigration under Canada’s Express Entry program: a 28-year-old with a bachelor’s degree, a stable job or business, savings of $50,000–$100,000, a family, a car, an apartment, and a decent lifestyle that includes international travel and personal development.
But fast-forward three years into life in Canada, and the picture turns bleak as now they’re in their 30s. He explains they are mostly renting, have zero savings, possibly burdened with loans, and can’t even afford a vacation. Their reality becomes a constant cycle of scraping by, optimising groceries to save an extra $10 and juggling multiple jobs just to afford rent and food.
Caleb alleges that Canada actively drains the lifetime savings and labour of immigrants to plug gaps in its economy, offering little in return. According to him, it’s a one-way ticket, and the cost is not just financial. It’s time, energy, peace of mind, and a version of yourself you’ll never get back.
He doesn’t spare the country’s image-building tactics either, calling Canada’s immigration strategy a “real estate and labour pyramid scheme” masked by layers of misinformation. The biggest scam, according to him, is “convincing skilled professionals that Canada is fundamentally better than their home countries”. Caleb also addressed the common rebuttals thrown at struggling immigrants: People say, ‘Why didn’t you move to a cheaper town?’ But that’s not what Canada pitches. It promotes its vibrant cities, tech hubs, and urban opportunities.
His words may ruffle feathers, but they raise uncomfortable questions: Is the Canadian dream outdated? Are immigrants being sold a lifestyle that no longer exists—or never did?
Internet reacts
The video struck a nerve online, prompting a flood of reactions from both sides of the immigration debate. Some users argued that staying in India isn’t necessarily a better option either—highlighting the high taxes, limited public services, and financial stress that plague the Indian middle class. For them, the opportunity to live abroad, even if temporarily challenging, is still worth exploring, especially for those in their 20s and 30s.
Others, however, applauded Caleb for shedding light on what they felt was a harsh but necessary reality. They echoed his concerns, pointing out that unless someone is extremely wealthy, relocating to a developed country often means grappling with sky-high costs, loss of accessible healthcare, and the burden of navigating two tax systems—all while being cut off from familiar support structures.
Enter Caleb Friesen, a Canadian national now living in Bengaluru, who’s shaking up the rose-tinted narrative with a bold and controversial take: “If you are Indian, don’t move to Canada.”
In a video recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, Caleb pulls no punches as he lays bare what he believes is an exploitative immigration system that leaves newcomers financially drained, emotionally exhausted, and stuck in a life far worse than the one they left behind.
Caleb describes a typical Indian considering immigration under Canada’s Express Entry program: a 28-year-old with a bachelor’s degree, a stable job or business, savings of $50,000–$100,000, a family, a car, an apartment, and a decent lifestyle that includes international travel and personal development.
But fast-forward three years into life in Canada, and the picture turns bleak as now they’re in their 30s. He explains they are mostly renting, have zero savings, possibly burdened with loans, and can’t even afford a vacation. Their reality becomes a constant cycle of scraping by, optimising groceries to save an extra $10 and juggling multiple jobs just to afford rent and food.
Caleb alleges that Canada actively drains the lifetime savings and labour of immigrants to plug gaps in its economy, offering little in return. According to him, it’s a one-way ticket, and the cost is not just financial. It’s time, energy, peace of mind, and a version of yourself you’ll never get back.
He doesn’t spare the country’s image-building tactics either, calling Canada’s immigration strategy a “real estate and labour pyramid scheme” masked by layers of misinformation. The biggest scam, according to him, is “convincing skilled professionals that Canada is fundamentally better than their home countries”. Caleb also addressed the common rebuttals thrown at struggling immigrants: People say, ‘Why didn’t you move to a cheaper town?’ But that’s not what Canada pitches. It promotes its vibrant cities, tech hubs, and urban opportunities.
His words may ruffle feathers, but they raise uncomfortable questions: Is the Canadian dream outdated? Are immigrants being sold a lifestyle that no longer exists—or never did?
Canada is one of the most popular countries for Indians to relocate to, yet many of them discover too late that the grass was actually greener back home. pic.twitter.com/9R8dch4D9B
— Caleb (@caleb_friesen2) April 29, 2025
Internet reacts
The video struck a nerve online, prompting a flood of reactions from both sides of the immigration debate. Some users argued that staying in India isn’t necessarily a better option either—highlighting the high taxes, limited public services, and financial stress that plague the Indian middle class. For them, the opportunity to live abroad, even if temporarily challenging, is still worth exploring, especially for those in their 20s and 30s.
Others, however, applauded Caleb for shedding light on what they felt was a harsh but necessary reality. They echoed his concerns, pointing out that unless someone is extremely wealthy, relocating to a developed country often means grappling with sky-high costs, loss of accessible healthcare, and the burden of navigating two tax systems—all while being cut off from familiar support structures.
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