In a powerful response to escalating online hate and racism targeting Indians and immigrants, Canadian-Indian chartered accountant and career coach Nidhi Nagori has delivered a compelling defense of migration's historical and economic significance. Through a video shared on her YouTube channel, Nagori challenged critics to reconsider their stance by examining the foundational role immigrants have played in shaping prosperous nations.
The Historical Context of Immigration
Nagori boldly labeled countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe as 'coloniser states', emphasizing that their development and workforce have been heavily reliant on immigrants. She urged viewers to reflect on history before blaming migration for contemporary issues, stating that the booming economies of first-world countries today would not be possible without immigrant contributions.
"If you live in a colonial settler country and you’re not Indigenous, immigration is what got your ancestors and you here," Nagori asserted, highlighting the universal migrant roots of many populations in these regions.
Debunking Economic Myths
Addressing common misconceptions, Nagori argued that modern immigration systems, including H1-B visas, primarily exist to fill labor and skill gaps that locals cannot or will not address. She countered claims that immigrants steal jobs, explaining they often take positions that native-born citizens either avoid or lack qualifications for.
"Without us, you will have no one to do your manufacturing, sweep your floors, run your research, build global tech giants, or even treat you in hospitals," she declared, underscoring immigrants' indispensable role across sectors.
Data-Driven Evidence
Citing statistics from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Nagori revealed that 37 per cent of scientific researchers and developers in Canada are foreign-born. Immigrants are pivotal in STEM fields, manufacturing, healthcare, and service industries, actively expanding local economies without burdening taxpayers.
She firmly rejected the notion that immigrants are an economic drain, pointing to their net positive impact. This rebuttal comes as some groups, like the MAGA base in the US, continue to allege that immigrants displace American workers for lower wages.
Rising Tensions and Systemic Failures
Nagori's video emerges amid heightened immigration tensions in Canada, where hate crimes against South Asians surged by 227 per cent between 2019 and 2023, fueled by growing xenophobia. Factors such as housing shortages and job competition have exacerbated these issues.
Nagori argued that immigrants are being unfairly scapegoated for systemic failures stemming from corporate profiteering, climate change, poor urban planning, and government policy shortcomings, including tax structures and bureaucratic red tape.
"The people in power don’t want to work for you, so they make you work against us," she remarked, addressing the rich-poor divide and the diversion of blame.
Who is Nidhi Nagori?
Nagori is an Indian-born chartered accountant and US CPA, founder and CEO of Globalogy, a Toronto-based career coaching and immigration education platform. With a background in finance at multinational firms, she regularly creates content on global careers and migration pathways, amassing over 320,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel.
In a pinned comment on her video, she clarified her intent: "I’m a proud Indian. I’m a proud Canadian. The goal of this video is to educate, not fight back."
Canadian Sikh Community Context
Further illustrating Canada's immigrant fabric, the Sikh population plays a significant role. According to the 2021 Census, over 770,000 people identify as Sikh, making Canada home to the world's second-largest Sikh community after India. Sikhs constitute about 2.1 per cent of Canada's total population, a result of longstanding migration, robust community networks, and immigration-friendly policies.
Nagori's message serves as a timely reminder of the integral contributions immigrants make to societal and economic vitality, urging a move beyond divisive rhetoric toward recognition and appreciation.
