Toxicity Scores & Embeddings

English and French colonization had a devastating and intentional impact on the Indigenous languages of Canada, leading to the severe endangerment and, in some cases, extinction of many languages. This was achieved through explicit colonial policies aimed at cultural assimilation and the suppression of Indigenous identities.  Key Impacts of Colonization Forced Assimilation via Residential Schools: The most significant factor in language loss was the government-funded, church-run residential school system, which operated from the 19th century to the late 20th century. Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and sent to these schools. Punishment for Speaking Native Tongues: In the schools, children were forbidden to speak their Indigenous languages and were often subjected to severe physical, emotional, and sexual abuse if they did. Intergenerational Trauma and Knowledge Loss: The experience in residential schools caused profound trauma. Survivors often did not teach their children their traditional languages, partly out of fear of punishment and partly because their own fluency had been impacted, which inhibited the languages from being passed to the next generation. Discriminatory Legislation: The Indian Act: This legislation, along with other colonial policies, was used to suppress Indigenous cultural expression, including language. Official Languages Act: Canada's official language policies recognize only English and French as dominant languages, effectively marginalizing the over 60 distinct Indigenous languages that existed on the land long before European settlement. Dispossession of Land: Forcible removal of Indigenous communities from their traditional lands and onto reserves disrupted the deep connection between language, culture, and the natural environment. Indigenous languages often encode unique knowledge about local ecosystems, which was lost when communities were displaced. Social Stigmatization: Colonial ideologies viewed Indigenous cultures and languages as "inferior" or "savage," promoting English and French as the languages of "modernity" and "progress". This created a social hierarchy where speaking an Indigenous language could be a barrier to education and employment opportunities in the dominant society.  Current Situation and Revitalization Efforts The legacy of these policies has resulted in low numbers of fluent Indigenous language speakers today, with many languages considered endangered or critically endangered. However, there are significant ongoing efforts toward language revitalization.  The Canadian federal government passed the Indigenous Languages Act in 2019, which aims to support the efforts of Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen their languages. Indigenous communities, educational institutions, and organizations are actively working to preserve languages through immersion programs, community initiatives, and documentation. UNESCO has declared 2022 to 2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to draw global attention to the urgent need for preservation and promotion.

As an immigrant to Canada (in 1982), my family and I integrated into Canadian culture. That is what immigrants used to do. Yes, you can keep aspects of your own culture, but the expectation was that you become Canadians first and foremost. I don't see that with many new immigrants today. They just milk Canada for all it is worth and try to make it a version of their country of origin. I love diversity and multiculturalism, but it has gone way too far IMO.

The questioner is just proving her own questions? What is non-compliance as a student? Not going to the college? How many colleges shut down their courses within the said period? Do you expect students to be firever students? What if they get work permit while still being student? This is very possible for the IT engineers from India, they are student here but get a job in USA or any other country and they leave. Where are the statistics of students who got married to Canadian nationals and decided to stop studying because of family expenses? It will be easy to track down the fees transfer and return of these said 8% non-compliant students. Did they get their money back? If not, then why didn't colleges paid the remaining fees back and report that non-obligatory to the study visa rules? Or, was the past govt quite about this because Canada needed cheap labor and money in other colleges accounts?

As a Canadian I'm so sad what our country has become, its heartbreaking 💔. Unfortunately we let everyone and their family in and our country has never been worse. No one can drive, Healthcare, our environment is being destroyed from them all. If you move here then change how you are as a person, learn the traditions of the country and respect it. Please pray for us

As a Canada who speaks both French and English and who follows politics quite closely, I have to say that the headline and some of the reporting here is quite misleading. A reduction in immigration has broad support across Canada. I wouldn't say that notion is dividing the country in any significant way. You do have certain industry groups that disagree, but among the population these reductions have broad support. This is a historic change in public opinion in Canada, but it has been driven by the unprecedented increase in immigration under the last term of the Trudeau government. To put this in context, non-permanent residents in Canada numbered around 1.5 million on Q3 2023, but by Q3 2025, that number sat a just over 3 million. The previous government increased immigration targets by 3 or 4 times over what they had been for years, which caused a number of economic issues. Essentially, the volume was simply too high for the economy and society to support. This was unfair to both Canadians and new comers, many of which could not find employment or afford a decent place to live. The changes being suggested are largely bringing Canada back to what the targets were for over a decade before, though a bit lower to account for the sudden surge. Canada remains one of the most pro-immigration countries in the world. However, and this is where I think DW's reporting is misleading, there is a distinction to be made between policies at the federal level and policies at the provincial level. Immigration, per our constitution, is a federal matter, however, Quebec in particular is distinct from other provinces. I don't mean only culturally and linguistically, but also in the powers that have been devolved to it by the federal government. On the question of immigration, Quebec has more powers and more ability to set its immigration targets and programs than any of the other 9 provinces. The particular program discussed here, the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), is a particular immigration stream that only existed in Quebec. So what is happening with that program cannot be labeled as a whole-of-Canada thing. Where the changes to the PEQ are controversial, unlike the general changes at the federal level, is that people who immigrated under that specific program were promised certain things. There was a multi-year time line to Permanent Residency and then Citizenship. Many of those people have been in Quebec for 5-8 years already. However, the changes made to the program were done in such a way where people who many years into the program, had gotten an education, started a career, had children, ect. are now being told they can't continue and must leave Canada. There are even stories of people who married Canadians, now have children, and the one parent who was under this program now faces the possibility of having to leave Canada and be separated from their family. All through no fault of their own. That is what many people see as unfair, and I agree, however limiting future applications under the program, to bring in less people, that is not controversial. Canada has no responsibility to bring in people who are not already in Canada, but Canada does have some responsibility towards people who uprooted their lives to move to Canada and built new lives here based on promises and representations made to them by the Canadian and Quebecois governments. We should no simply kick those people out of the country.

As a Canadian whose family were educated Indian migrating in 1970s thank you for posting

Why the goverment think is illegal immigrant is doing crime in Canada theirs Also citizen doing crime too a lots of illegal immigrant they goes to school Worked o help their family in their country They have no time to commit crime they brought in so much refugees in Canada some of them lied just to come Canadian goverment. Dosen looks after their citizen they take from the citizens and give to the refugees that worked here for many years the citizen suffer that’s wrong

Why the goverment think is illegal immigrant is doing crime in Canada theirs Also citizen doing crime too a lots of illegal immigrant they goes to school Worked o help their family in their country They have no time to commit crime they brought in so much refugees in Canada some of them lied just to come Canadian goverment. Dosen looks after their citizen they take from the citizens and give to the refugees that worked here for many years the citizen suffer that’s wrong

Before Trudeau's liberal government, Canada's permanent resident program was based on factors such as being fluent in English or French (in Quebec), passing standard exams in one's own country, being educated (Bachelor's or higher), work experience, family, age, and knowledge of Canada's general culture. If you had all the points, you would be selected. It took about three years, and while waiting, you could not apply for any visa to enter Canada. The security check was part of the process, and the Canadian government asked applicants to enter the country by bringing money (Like one year's salary). This system was a perfect plan, and many Western countries wanted to copy that (As I heard on many French and American radios before), but the liberals broke the system! And I still don't know why!

$50,000 per family. You Canadian tax payers are rich.

$50,000/year???? Canadian families don't get anything close to that.

My parents immigrated in the early 90s and I was born in Canada. It’s very hard to relate to the new immigrants in the last 10 years because we’re so different. The families that immigrated in the 80s and 90s had to assimilate and become “Canadian” which in hindsight was for the best. I learned about my culture and language at home, but my parents, emphasized the importance of being “Canadian first” and being a part of society and “fitting in.” This wasn’t at all a bad thing. I learned to ski, skate, make ice lollies with snow and syrup, went camping, played sports… I feel embarrassed when Indians are looked at in this light, but its true. 90% of this new wave of immigrants on “student visas,” dont intend to actually obtain any sort of an education, instead they use it as a pathway for permanent residency. I know this because I have relatives who say this out loud behind closed doors. I don’t agree with any of it, and quite frankly it’s very embarrassing, but most of us first generation Indian Canadians feel very upset about how its all played out and the negative light in which our people are now viewed under. Personally, I agree they arent interested in becoming culturally Canadian, they just want to be in Canada for financial reasons. They stay in their groups, dont integrate and think somehow this will play out well. It isnt discrimination when your own people also feel this way. I have yet to meet a first gen Canadian who disagrees

The great tragedy is that small town Canadian students who wish to seek opportunities in large cities, will never be able to afford to rent let alone buy… They are doomed to live in their small towns and hold on to small dreams… Here in Vancouver, the new immigrants wish to stay in and invest in large urban areas. They have extended family support to buy the real estate. Small-town Canadians don’t have a chance in this competition.

I was born in Canada, But Our Family migrated to the USA when I was 2 years old in 1976 we adapted to the USA culture. I grew up on US values. US laws, US living. Our Family moved back in Canada in 1997 to Nova Scotia. We then adapted back to the Canadian culture. Mother and Father taught us to always support the country you live in. Adapt to it's culture and rules. I live in Quebec now in Montreal been here since 2018. I'm always learning french here and there but speak mostly english. But I support the french language. Some days on the weekend though downtown when I see all the immigrants praying in the streets I am starting to miss the USA though. But I do not process an Green Card anymore.

Im also an immigrant but I came here because I liked Canadian culture, I didn't want to bring my Country's culture here. I simply wanted to live a North American lifestyle. This is entirely different. Its just changing your location, and continuing to live in a mini India inside a different geography. If I want to experience my country's culture again and if I miss it I simply do a visit to my family back home.

Two words: Country Caps. Preserve Canadian culture, my family assimilated to Canada when they came generations ago. Now the government is wholesale importing another country's culture and wondering why there are problems.

Just wanna say, cause I don't think its said enough, I commend the journalistic integrity that you started out with and maintain throughout your work. Thank you for your commitment to hearing many sides of the story. My brother is a journalist in NYC and he also amplifies voices that are so often drowned out by louder, flashier ones. As a Canadian, who was born in South Africa, but have grown up in BC since elementary school, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity this country has given my family. We all work hard to build on the values shared in this nation. I love learning about aspects of Canada that I am unfamiliar with, but ultimately help shape its identity. 🙏

I have many Indian friends who came to Canada over the years. My friends’ families came here for a better life, to integrate into Canadian society, to adopt our values and have started successful businesses based on those shared values. Sadly things seem to have shifted in the past 10 years…

Pls come to Alberta. They working in fast foods and they using the bank account to receive the paycheck deposited to their friends or family which is permanent residence or Canadian. They change location almost every year.

I had close family that's been in Brampton since I was a little boy. I visited every year so I for to see what it was like. I think sometime in the 90s I started to see more and more Indians. Either way, we are all God's children. I know this won't sit well with my fellow Canadians, but I welcome anyone who wants to build a life in Canada and adopt our values.

Dusabled 60 year old here. My government is kind enough to give this 6th generation canadian 940 dollars per month to try to exist on. All my family fought in ww1 and ww2 as well as other peace keeping etc.

Excellent reporting, sir. I, too, am an immigrant over 30 years. My family and I immigrated here from Ireland 🇮🇪 to become Canadians 🇨🇦 And all did just that. 🙏💜🇨🇦✝️

What Canadian tax paying family gets 50,000 a family to set up their household???? She didn't say this was a loan ...

I am being singled out in my family circle whenever the talk of being assimilated into the CANADIAN community, everyone understands the talking points of the rights of equality, no one trying to understand that rights come with larger responsibilities of fairness/sharing/respecting fellow citizens are the core values of Canadian society.

I am so sorry to my Canadian friends and family 🇨🇦