In recent years, the number of Indians moving to Canada – chasing better quality of life, cleaner air, and stable income – has seen a steep rise. Every year, thousands pack up their lives in India and move across the globe, driven by the promise of a more “developed” lifestyle under the maple leaf. But is that dream cracked beneath the surface?
Caleb Friesen, a Canadian living in Bengaluru and the host of the Backstage with Millionaires podcast, has sparked debate with his recent viral video. In a no-holds-barred message to aspiring immigrants, Friesen warns, “If you are Indian, don’t move to Canada.” Shared on X, his video challenges the mainstream narrative around immigrating to Canada, and paints a very different picture. According to him, many who move to Canada under schemes like “Express Entry” often come from a relatively comfortable life back home – good jobs, some savings, a house, and access to healthcare.
But just a few years into life in Canada, that comfort vanishes. He describes a downward spiral where people who once had savings and stability find themselves living paycheque to paycheque, stuck in rental housing, and juggling multiple jobs to get by. Story continues below this ad “Three years later, they’re in their 30s, renting, broke, buried under debt, unable to take a vacation, and counting pennies at the grocery store,” he says in the video.
Friesen accuses the Canadian system of drawing in immigrants to plug economic gaps using their money and cheap labour. He doesn’t hold back, calling the immigration system a “scam” and a “pyramid scheme” that “preys on vulnerable people,” luring them with carefully curated promises. “Canadian immigration scam first makes people believe that Canada is fundamentally better than their home countries just to fill the gaps in the Canadian economy,” he says.
Watch the video: 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 His views stirred a storm of opinions online. Some commenters echoed his sentiments, especially those who felt misled by the glamorous image of life abroad.
“This is not just Canada, it’s every foreign country.. Everything is 8x expensive in every developed country, plus you lose Healthcare & social schemes to get benefits from moving, plus you have to pay taxes in both countries,” wrote a user. However, not everyone agrees with Friesen. Many argue that India isn’t exactly a paradise either.
A user commented, “Should you stay in India, pay high taxes, and get little in return? Besides proximity to family, friends, and access to affordable domestic help, the country offers little to the average middle class. They’ll be financially drained, often realizing it too late.
If you’re 25–35 and have a chance to leave India, don’t hesitate—you can always return. You might have loans or lose a few years, but it’s worth trying.” Story continues below this ad A third person commented, “The grass will always be greener for Indians in Canada due to the disparity in income and purchasing power, did you know that if a person gets minimum wage in India he will never be able to afford a four wheeler.” A Reddit post by a Delhi man who moved to Canada also went viral recently. He said he deeply regretted the move and called the experience a “scam.” He pointed to the isolating work-life culture and described international degrees as “useless,” especially when weighed against the cost of living and emotional toll.
