Anti-immigrant sentiment is surging in Canada, with politicians and far-right pundits blaming newcomers for crises in housing, health care, and unemployment. But these problems stem from policy failure and inequality, not immigration. Scapegoating immigrants diverts attention from the real causes and fuels racism at a time when solidarity is most needed.
“Us versus them” is a concept as old as time, and if you can twist your political rhetoric around to fit it, there’s always a segment of the population that will lap it up. That the current generation of politicians is making use of that is disgusting, but not at all surprising.