Can We Call This A Scam, Even Though A Country Is Doing It?
We live in a world of double standards and rank hypocrisy. Strangely, we have all become so accustomed to this reality that we have stopped complaining. We convince ourselves that it’s just a fact of life. “Learn to live with it,” we chide ourselves.
However, if we think that the absence of convictions and lack of moral principles are confined only to individuals who “were born on the wrong side of the tracks”, we are mistaken. This issue affects industries, nations, governments, and entire systems.
A case in point is Canada’s handling of its international students and their shattered dreams, aptly characterized by a recent media report as “Canada’s dirty secret.”
The Story: Canada marketed itself as a land of opportunity for international students, promising world-class education and pathways to permanent residency. Yet, behind the glossy brochures lies a troubling reality that no one discusses. Many of these graduates end up working jobs far below their qualifications, forced to navigate a cycle of survival rather than achieving the success that they had dreamt of when they decided to come to Canada.
We have all heard stories of engineers driving Ubers, accountants stocking shelves, and healthcare workers serving coffee. These graduates invested years and tens of thousands of dollars into Canadian education, only to discover that their credentials carry little weight in a job market that emphasizes “Canadian experience.”
Fresh graduates quickly learn that nearly every entry-level job posting includes the phrase “Canadian experience required.” This creates an impossible situation—how can one gain experience if experience is needed to obtain a job? Employers use this vague requirement to filter out international graduates, even when their education was obtained from Canadian institutions.
Many graduates resort to volunteering or taking unpaid internships to meet this demand. Others spend years switching between contract positions and temporary gigs, never quite breaking free into stable employment. The cycle becomes exhausting, particularly when they see their local classmates landing suitable jobs with ease.
The gap between the promises made and those delivered represents a fundamental breach of trust that damages Canada’s international reputation. Word spreads within communities about the real challenges that international graduates face. Current graduates grapple with the psychological toll of feeling that their host country never truly wanted them to succeed beyond paying tuition fees. This sentiment can feel like a scam—not a deception by a shady individual in a dark alley selling a fake Rolex watch, but rather a grand betrayal by a nation.
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