Ottawa Sees Rise in Anti-Immigration Sentiment Targeting Indians

(OTTAWA) Indian families in Canada’s capital say they are facing a sharper, more public wave of hostility in 2024–2025, driven by rising anti-immigration sentiment and a steady stream of hate incidents online and on the street. Community members describe slurs shouted at bus stops, threats spread on social media, and, in one tragic case near Ottawa this spring, deadly violence. Police data and civil society monitors point to a clear trend: hostility toward South Asians is rising fast, and Indians in Ottawa are among those feeling it most.

The pattern reaches beyond any one city. Police-reported hate crimes targeting South Asians in Canada climbed by more than 227% between 2019 and 2023, with community advocates and researchers reporting continued growth into 2024 and 2025. In major Canadian cities, South Asians now rank as the third most targeted group for hate crimes, after Jewish and Black communities. Researchers tracking online spaces say the hostility is not just growing; it’s accelerating, with keywords and slurs tied to Indians spiking in frequency and reach.

In April 2025, a 27-year-old Indian national, Dharmesh Kathireeya, was fatally stabbed in Rockland, just east of Ottawa. Community organizations and fundraisers described the killing as a hate crime, noting witness claims that the suspect, a white man in his 60s, had used slurs and anti-Indian remarks toward Kathireeya and his wife before the attack. Police have not confirmed a racial motive and the investigation remains active, but the case has shaken many recent arrivals.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has expressed concern and is providing support to the family, while Indian community leaders in the region say they have stepped up informal safety checks and community watch efforts.

Data shows a sharp and sustained rise

The numbers are blunt. Police-reported hate crimes against South Asians rose more than 227% between 2019 and 2023, a surge that community groups say is not only continuing but deepening in 2024–2025.

Over a 12-month window from May 2023 to April 2025, monitors counted more than 26,600 posts on X (formerly Twitter) using anti-South Asian slurs, a 1,350% jump compared to the previous year. Analysts say this points to a larger trend—hostile rhetoric can move quickly from fringe channels into mainstream feeds, and then into real-world settings.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and other hate-watch groups report that far-right networks and online influencers are amplifying anti-Indian and anti-South Asian themes. They note the spread of the “Great Replacement Theory,” a false narrative claiming immigrants are replacing the native-born population. According to ISD’s tracking, that theory has been repackaged in Canadian contexts and tied to current debates about housing and jobs.

It is getting more eyes and clicks through short videos, memes, and thread replies, making it easier for hostile content to reach users who are not seeking it.

Community organizations in Ottawa say the numbers match what they hear daily:

• Students from India describe insults during off-campus part-time jobs.
• Rideshare drivers report passengers refusing service after hearing an Indian accent.
• Parents talk about their children being mocked at school for speaking Hindi or Punjabi.

These stories map onto the broader data pattern: the growth in online hate is mirrored by more confrontations in public spaces and service settings.

Mental health impacts are deepening as well. A 2025 survey by the Canadian Mental Health Association found that 62% of South Asian immigrants reported higher anxiety due to rising hate, and 45% felt less connected to their Canadian identity. In Ottawa, settlement workers say more clients now ask for advice on safe routes home, whether it’s wise to wear traditional clothing in public, and if they should switch to English only on public transit to avoid drawing attention.

These are personal, daily choices that add up to a quieter public life and a sense of shrinking space.

Some business owners in Ontario report a 7% drop in revenue, which they attribute partly to hate-driven boycotts and public fear. Indian restaurant owners describe online campaigns urging customers to “buy Canadian only,” with comments suggesting Indian workers are to blame for rent spikes or job shortages. A grocery shop owner in Ottawa’s east end said foot traffic dipped after a review thread called for locals to “stop funding newcomers.” None of this is easily proven in court, but the chilling effect is real: fewer customers, nervous staff, and higher security costs.

Online spaces driving real-world harm

The past two years have turned online platforms into megaphones for hostility toward immigrants, and Indians in Ottawa say they feel that heat daily. Monitors counted over 26,600 posts on X with anti-South Asian slurs over a recent yearlong window, and hashtags such as #DeportIndians have trended during bursts of political debate.

While most users do not endorse violence, researchers note that repeated calls for exclusion can normalize threats and make intimidation seem acceptable. The mechanics are familiar:

1. A clip of a tense exchange on a campus or in a shopping plaza goes viral.
2. Public comments fill with insults, stereotypes, and suggestions that “they” don’t belong.
3. Far-right accounts pick up the clip and tie it to broader grievances about housing or jobs.
4. The narrative spreads, sometimes turning online hostility into real-world confrontations.

South Asians are now the third most targeted group for police-reported hate crimes in major Canadian cities. This ranking reflects a mix of incidents: vandalism of temples and cultural centers, threats on transit, and harassment in workplaces.

In response, community and campus groups have taken actions such as:

• Faith leaders hosting joint community safety nights to teach newcomers how to recognize escalating situations and when to call police.
• A student association organizing a volunteer escort program for late-night shifts after reports of people being followed or heckled.
• Settlement agencies providing digital literacy workshops on documenting online abuse and reporting it to platforms and police.

The emotional toll keeps rising. Many Indian immigrants report avoiding public displays of culture—no traditional attire at weekend gatherings in parks, no shared language on the phone in crowded areas—because they fear it sets them apart. One Ottawa family said they now drive to neighborhood markets rather than walk, even on warm evenings, after a stranger shouted “Go back” at their teenage daughter last fall.

Campaigners argue that platforms bear responsibility for the scale of online hate, but enforcement remains patchy. Even when a post crosses the line into direct harassment, takedowns can be slow and accounts often reappear. When slurs and threats remain online for days, the harm multiplies: targets feel exposed, and the public sees the language as ordinary.

Civil society groups in Ottawa are trying to break that cycle through:

• Rapid reporting to platforms and outreach to trust-and-safety teams.
• Digital literacy workshops teaching newcomers how to document abuse and seek help.
• Coordinated efforts to flag repeat offenders and viral incidents quickly.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, anti-immigration sentiment often surges during periods of economic stress and policy change. When housing costs rise and job markets feel tight, newcomers can become symbols for larger frustrations. In Canada’s case, a high intake of international students and temporary workers in recent years has coincided with a housing crunch. That overlap does not prove causation, but it does shape public anger that bad actors can redirect toward immigrants.

Policy shifts, public debate, and the road ahead

In 2025, Ottawa announced a reduction in overall immigration levels by about 20% alongside stricter rules for low-skilled workers and international students. Officials framed the change as a way to ease pressure on services and improve housing supply over time.

But the timing carried political weight. Some voices treated the move as proof that previous numbers were “too high,” while others said the cuts were unfair to people who made plans based on earlier targets. For Indians in Ottawa—who make up a large share of recent arrivals—the debate has put more attention on their presence in classrooms, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

Community leaders stress that policy can be debated in good faith; the problem emerges when debate bleeds into open hostility. Online threads that start with concern about rents can slide into calls to “roll back Indian visas” or exclude specific groups from certain jobs. Posts tagging Indian students as “fraudsters” or “line-cutters” spread fast, even when there’s no basis.

Hate-watch groups, including the ISD, warn that far-right networks are skilled at using mainstream worries to push a harsher message. They point to content that pairs real data points—like the size of the international student cohort—with false claims about crime or welfare use. The end goal, they say, is to make anti-immigration sentiment seem like common sense. Once that sticks, some users feel license to harass or intimidate, and a smaller number may edge toward violence.

Authorities say they are responding. In 2025, the federal government introduced hate crime legislation aimed at closing enforcement gaps and making prosecution more effective. Ottawa police and other local forces have expanded outreach to targeted communities, encouraging victims to report and promising stronger follow-up.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has asked nationals to be cautious and has offered support in cases involving harassment or violence. India has also issued advisories urging students and workers to keep emergency contacts handy and to stay in touch with local community groups.

Victims’ advocates say these steps help but are not enough. They want:

• More resources for community-based reporting.
• Legal aid for victims.
• Faster action on digital threats that pile up in the hours after a video or rumor begins to spread.
• Better public messaging on what counts as a hate crime, how to report, and what support survivors can expect.

Several organizations in Ottawa have started walk-in hours for hate incidents, staffed by counselors who help people document evidence, file police reports, and access mental health care.

For many newcomers, the threshold for reporting remains high. They worry about being believed, about the time and energy involved, and about possible backlash. A nurse from India who moved to Ottawa in 2023 said she never reported a series of slurs shouted from passing cars near her home: “It didn’t feel big enough,” she said. “But after the Rockland stabbing, I don’t know where the line is anymore.” Counselors say this is common—people minimize earlier incidents until a major event forces them to reconsider their own threshold for safety.

Public institutions are feeling the pressure. Colleges and universities in the Ottawa area have expanded orientation sessions to include guidance on bias, harassment, and where to report. Some now offer workshops on how to respond to online hate, because many incidents begin or escalate on social media. Student unions say they track posts but struggle to get platforms to act quickly, and note that students who speak up can face coordinated pile-ons that are frightening and hard to manage without professional support.

Policing hate crime remains complex. The law distinguishes between offensive speech and criminal acts, and proving motive can be difficult. Still, the pattern is clear: South Asians are the third most targeted group for police-reported hate crime in major cities, and community reports point to continued growth in 2024–2025.

Many advocates want police to treat patterns of harassment in a specific area—such as repeated insults at a bus stop—as a signal to increase presence and outreach. That can deter repeat offenders and encourage reporting.

Housing, jobs, and public services continue to drive the broader debate. In Ottawa’s rental market, international students face long searches and high rents. When newcomers group into shared housing to cut costs, neighbors sometimes complain online, tying overcrowding to stereotypes about cleanliness or noise. That is where a legitimate complaint can drift into open hostility.

Local groups are working on constructive steps, including:

• Tenant education and landlord outreach.
• Community mediation through settlement agencies or neighborhood associations.
• Clearer channels for complaints that avoid turning into pile-ons against immigrants.

VisaVerge.com reports that moments of policy tightening often create a “permission structure” for haters to push harder online, claiming official cover for their views. That pattern appears to be playing out now: stricter rules for international students and temporary workers are being twisted into calls to exclude Indians altogether. Community leaders warn that if the respectful center of the debate collapses, hate incidents will keep rising and public trust will suffer.

Some Indian families in Ottawa say they are weighing their future more carefully. Parents ask whether to send children to schools with more diverse classrooms, hoping it will reduce bullying. Recent grads consider moving to larger, more diverse cities for work, even if that means higher costs. Others feel determined to stay and build deeper ties, joining neighborhood associations or volunteering at food banks and shelters to meet non-immigrant neighbors in practical settings. They say this creates small, real friendships that can push back against online stereotypes.

Faith and cultural centers are stepping in with quiet, steady work. Temples and gurdwaras have hosted town halls on safety and mental well-being, invited police liaisons to explain the complaint process, and helped families set up buddy systems for late-night shifts. These steps may not grab headlines, but organizers say they matter: people feel less alone, and small networks can respond faster when threats appear online or in group chats.

What advocates say should happen next

Advocates urge three practical steps:

1. Consistent enforcement online — platforms should act quickly when slurs and threats pile up, and users need clear reporting tools.
2. Community-led response teams — staffed by people who speak major Indian languages and understand cultural context, so victims can come forward without fear.
3. Better data — police need detailed, timely reporting that helps identify hotspots and repeat patterns, while still protecting privacy.

Law enforcement agencies say they’re trying to meet those needs, pointing to outreach at cultural centers, better training for officers, and simplified reporting options. Victims and witnesses in Ottawa can contact local police directly, and the federal RCMP provides guidance on recognizing and reporting hate crimes on the Government of Canada website.

For clear information on what constitutes a hate crime and how to report it, consult the RCMP’s official resource at Royal Canadian Mounted Police — Hate Crimes. Community groups emphasize that reporting—even when no charges follow—helps build the record needed to deploy resources where they’re most needed.

Closing observations

For now, the signals point in one direction. The 1,350% spike in online slur use, the 227% growth in police-reported hate crimes against South Asians since 2019, and the emotional strain shown in mental health surveys all suggest the current wave is not a blip.

The Rockland killing of Dharmesh Kathireeya, even with motive unconfirmed by police, sits heavy over the community’s sense of safety. Parents, students, and workers are changing routines—some going quiet in public, others speaking louder and demanding action from officials and platforms alike.

This is the human side of policy shifts and political debate. When talk hardens, people pay a price. Indians in Ottawa say they still believe in Canada’s promise of fairness. But they need the signal to be stronger and clearer:

Hate incidents must be taken seriously; online mobs should not be left to roam; and anti-immigration sentiment, when it tips into harassment and violence, has no place here.

The weeks and months ahead will test whether that promise holds—on buses and sidewalks, in classrooms and shops, and across the feeds that shape so much of public life.