Canada’s Great False Hope: The Modern Immigrant Experience

A must listen episode to gain perspective on Canada's Immigration Crisis. Two young men from India sit down with us and tell a story we can’t shake. They came to Nova Scotia with a plan, followed the rules, studied hard, built careers, paid taxes, and still may be forced to leave Canada because the rules changed while they were already here. We keep their identities private for their protection, but we don’t soften what they’re living through: sleepless nights, shrinking timelines, and the feeling of building a life with an expiry date.

We talk about the real cost of the “international student to permanent residency” pathway in Nova Scotia, from $45,000 tuition bills to GIC deposits, rent, and the pressure to juggle multiple jobs under strict work-hour limits. They describe an education experience that didn’t match the marketing, including being moved into Cineplex classrooms because the university didn’t have enough space. We also dig into how immigration quotas, the provincial nominee program, and changing priorities toward construction and healthcare can leave established workers in other needed fields stranded, and how that uncertainty hurts employers who train people they may soon lose.

Most of all, we focus on the humanity behind Canadian immigration policy: what fairness means when someone has already invested years in Halifax, built networks, and planned to start a business and create jobs. If you’ve ever wondered what “policy shifts” look like in real life, this conversation puts it in plain language. 

Subscribe, share this with someone in Nova Scotia, and if your touched by the story of these two young gentleman. Write your MLA!

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Transcript

When The Rules Suddenly Change

SPEAKER_04 0:14

We talk a lot on this show about experiences. Starting something, finding your way. Today we're talking about what happens when you do everything right and it still might not be enough. We recently learned that two people we are close to the people who went to school here, build careers here, contribute to our country every day, may be forced to leave. We also learned that there are many more in this circumstance. Not because they failed, but because the rules changed. We've talked before about housing and economic strategies. This one is about how people are affected when the rules change. Today's show is about some of the harsh realities about immigration in Canada. Cheers! Cheers! Cheers! Guys, cheers. Welcome to the afternoon plank, gentlemen. I'm Mike Tobin. And I'm Matt Conrad. And who do we have with us today? My name is S. How's everything going? S and V, yeah. So we're going to protect your identities today, as I was told that potentially that could affect your eligibility to stay in this country. So I really don't want that to happen, Matt, and I don't want that to happen. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that's good.

Why Canada And Why Nova Scotia

SPEAKER_05 1:19

Awesome. Alright. Let's start off with the dream. What and either one of you can jump in at any time, but like why Canada and why Nova Scotia?

SPEAKER_00 1:29

It was my dream back from 2017 to settle in Canada. Not because I was not able to find a job or I come from a poor financial background. I decided to move to Cape Britain in Nova Scotia and I did my postgraduation in diploma in business management from 2022 to 2024. The reason I chose that program because I thought that I will be able to contribute towards the society, and Nova Scotia was willing to take a lot of people. They were asking so that they can grow the population of the province, and there were a lot of job opportunities, and I decided I can start once I'm able to get a job, and once I'm able to get my permanent residency, I will be able to set up a business which will create job opportunities for everyone in Nova Scotia. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 2:22

How would you be? Yeah. So yeah, uh back in 2019 when I did my high school, I was planning to move to Australia first because it's my one of my dream countries. But uh applied for it. There are some immigration problems. I am not able to go there. So one of my cousins who's already living in C Breton, Clay Spee, is my last five years. He said, like, yeah, this is a good place, you can come here. I was like, okay, yeah. So I search about it. I find Cape Breton University, which is uh one of the best universities in Canada. Also, not close to big cities because I always live in farmhouses. So I was more interested in the nature and things because in Cape Breton there's like mountains, rivers, oceans, everything is good. So I was like, okay, let's move there. It's a good plan. I'm gonna study there, I'm gonna I'm gonna work for maybe some good companies and got my permanent residency here. I applied for my a visa for Caberton University for my study and I got approved. I already double-tracked everything. My cousin told me, like, hey, when I'm gonna move here, you have to complete your study for two years, maybe find a good job, and it will help you to get the PR. I was like, okay, yeah, that that's that sounds good. I got my uh diploma in government management. I chose a study because it has way more information about the government, how it works, and everything. So I took that diploma, I did completed it, pay like about$45,000 from my pocket for the fees, and I did I did score well as well. So then after I moved here in Halifax, working a good job, and now I find out okay, Rick, all your five years is going too dumb. You have to go back to India, and that's what's going on. That sucks.

SPEAKER_00 4:01

How old are you guys? I'm 26 and I'll be turning 27 this August.

SPEAKER_03 4:06

I'm 25, we'll be 26 in November. Wow, same close age, close time.

SPEAKER_04 4:10

Did you guys go to school together in Cape Breton? The same time. So, yeah, did you guys know each other when you were at the university? Yes.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

Oh, that's cool. Small world. At that time, there was like very less students in Cape Britain. It was maybe like max 200 200, that's it. From like India. That's why. 200 people. Wow. Like 200 uh immigrations at that time. Yeah, okay. But now it's like yeah, more than 6,000, I guess, right?

SPEAKER_05 4:32

6,000 immigrant people going to CBU. Yeah, yep. So yeah, because I was thinking CBU really kind of like recruited people internationally. Way too many. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:41

I I tell you what, in 21 September, when I move, there is only one bus to Glaceville to CBU. Comes in one hour. In that bus, max like four people. Maybe like two students, maybe two Canadians, that's it. And now when I when I go there in 2024 December, two buses in half hour, both buses full with students.

SPEAKER_05 5:05

Right. Wow. So you're back in India and it's 2017 kind of thing, right? Or 2018 kind of thing. How does Nova Scotia literally around the other side of the world, how does that come on your guys' radar?

SPEAKER_00 5:18

To be like precise, Atlantic provinces were the province needed more people. They were inviting lot of lots of people. So that's why I chose Nova Scotia.

SPEAKER_03 5:29

I mean, yes, they are inviting people in at in like 2019, 2020, I was going to do my English-speaking course or something because I have to do it before I come here. Yep. And at that time, in that particular like as a like a center, immigration center, most of the people are getting rejection if they're going to like Ontario or Quebec or other provinces. Okay. So I I double checked it. I spoke to my agent as well. He was like, CBU is a very good university, and also they're inviting people. You will be having a good chance, you will get your PR. I was like, okay, yeah, that sounds good. Also, my cousin is there, so I don't need to worry about my accommodation, my food, and everything. You're gonna take care of me. So I was like, yeah, okay, that that that sounds good. That's why I come here, and that's why I studied for like two years and spent my time in in Nova Scotia. You come from farmland.

SPEAKER_05 6:17

Yeah. So Cape Brighton probably felt pretty at home over the way, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:21

I mean, my father only do agriculture also, and I was like about 19, 20, also helped my father in the farming. What did you guys grow? Oh, everything. Green pepper, onions, potatoes, wheat, rice, you name it when we have it. Yeah. Mango is uh guawai, everything. Yeah. In in my family, they we don't buy vegetable or food items from outside. It's everything grown in the house.

SPEAKER_05 6:48

Yeah, you're telling me too, it's like it's completely off-grid. They generate their own electricity.

SPEAKER_04 6:52

Yeah, you guys generate your own electricity.

The PR Promise And Quota Cuts

SPEAKER_03 6:54

How? Like solar that also we do have the you use the cow, not the electricity, but the gas. I mean, we use the cow dung, and then we can use that gas to like cook our food or something.

SPEAKER_04 7:05

So cool. Yeah, that's awesome. You guys are looking at Canada, you know, obviously you saw the the opportunity here. It looked better than other places. Did you feel like it was a sure thing that you would have just been able to kind of put in your time and do the work and stick around and be in this country? That was the goal? And that was did you feel like that was the promise?

SPEAKER_00 7:23

So the immigration quota was increasing year by year by year. So it gave us hope. It gave us hope, yes. If we are coming here, the immigration quota is so high, our chances are 100% we'll be able to get a permanent residency easily. It's not okay, I will go there, do nothing, and I'll get my PR. No. I knew from the scratch that I have to work hard, I have to get a good job, which I did. And later back in 2025, the quota decreased. The immigration quota for federal government, for provincial government, everything it slashed by half.

SPEAKER_04 8:06

We know who you work with and who you work for, and guys are both considered top employees. Yes. And we know you're very hard workers uh in your field, and it's a respectable field as well. And it it's it's something that's not particularly easy to employ for anymore in Canada. And it's not in one of the couple of trades that seem to be more approved today. It's not in healthcare and it's not in construction. Yeah. Right? And but it's still a very much needed 100%. What were your feelings when you heard this recent news of them leaning more into immigrants staying here only if they were in healthcare or construction?

SPEAKER_00 8:42

Sleepless nights. Yeah. Honest answer.

SPEAKER_04 8:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

It changed. Suddenly, we were not told that this is gonna be our priority. Otherwise, to be honest, I would have come in the priority sector, I would join the construction course. Right. So that I can do a construction course for two years. After that, I work in that industry and stay here. Right. We were never told that the priority is gonna be healthcare, construction, and believe me, I know that's something which we really need right now, and it's prominent right now in the province. I completely agree with that.

The Real Price Of Coming Here

SPEAKER_05 9:17

Uh the industry that you are in, there even though it's not a prioritized industry like the healthcare and construction, which like you said, we need it. But there are industries now where we have uh a like a dire need. And if people like yourself end up having to go back, and you're you know, we have many people like yourself working in this industry, it would be devastating to certain like uh those industries because all of a sudden there's a vacuum. Yeah, I I think strongly that it should be, you know, there should be almost uh like a hyper focused on those who are here now. You're here now. The investment that you guys put into this country to come here and all that, like it's large. I don't think people realize that. I think people sometimes think it's just like you guys get handouts, but you guys have invested a lot of money into our like talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_03 10:07

So back in India I have to pay like fifteen thousand dollars for my fee, another twelve thousand dollars for my GICs, like there was an amount we have to put the money, and uh they will give us back month by month when we come here. Also, as a a big amount of immigration fee as well, we have to pay to our agents in India. Yep. I mean they just charge about like another fifteen thousand dollars.

SPEAKER_04 10:32

That is that's before tuition, that's before you go go to school or do it.

SPEAKER_03 10:36

So when we move back here, like in Canada now, and when we move here and uh we have been told like we have to pay about$2,200 for one course. I have many clean in France in university back. They told me like they're only paying the same course, exact same, only$22,200,$220. We're paying$2,200. Right. It's like 10 times more.

SPEAKER_04 10:58

They're paying$200 and something, and you're paying$2,200 for the same course.

SPEAKER_03 11:02

Same exact course, same same professor, everything same. Wow. But I mean like we already know about it, that's why we're still doing it. We I pay my fee, I pay like in total$45,000 for my tuition fee. Yeah. And I also like I'm I'm trying to get my house, get my business done, but now everything is going to again to garbage because we have to go back. We are not enter their private and priority sector.

SPEAKER_05 11:27

Right.

SPEAKER_04 11:27

And yes, like uh was a big investment for you also?

Paying More For Less At School

SPEAKER_00 11:31

Yeah, 100%. As we said that I also put$10,000 for GIC. In total, my tuition phase for two years was$45,000. After that, I came here, I paid rent. I guess for two years I paid more than$15,000 for rent and all. Right. Because it was very hard at that time. And one more thing that I want to tell. I didn't go to the university at all. The classes were in Cineplex.

SPEAKER_05 12:06

Yeah, that's right. He was telling me this.

SPEAKER_04 12:09

What do you mean they were in Cineplex? You went to the MCU. So that's a marvelo joke if you're a nerd, hopefully like we are. Okay, cool. Yeah, so you went to the MCU. Yeah, that's that's great. Oh my gosh. So why were you not at the university? I mean, you paid all this money. You paid more than the students, that the Canadian students. Why are you not in the university with everybody else?

SPEAKER_00 12:32

The reason is they didn't have that much seats available in the university to fill out. Wow. They didn't have that much classrooms. So all the courses, like people coming from different countries and applying for a particular course, they were shifted to Cineplex. I never went to university apart from any playing any sport or anything like that. I lived in my residence for the first four months. Yeah. That's it. And that's because I need to find a house.

SPEAKER_04 12:58

That's not a great experience. Thinking that you're coming to this nice university in Canada and you end up at the movie theater. And how many hours a week were you spending at the movie theater doing classes?

SPEAKER_00 13:07

I used to have three classes in a day, I guess. Oh, yeah. And each class was for two hours. So six hours.

SPEAKER_04 13:12

Six hours a day? Yeah. That's a lot of popcorn to go through over the course of a week, yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Yeah, that's crazy. Now, uh, and uh again for both you guys, did your parents did they play a tremendous role in this sacrifice to this in the in this cost to get you guys to Canada?

SPEAKER_03 13:28

I'm uh I'm the only son for my parents. Yeah. If I have to I have I'm coming here, I have my grandparents, my father, mother, my sisters. I have to leave everyone there. So my I as I said, my father is a farmer, he spent most of the time in the farms. Yeah. And I'm the only one after him who take care of the family. Like going to doctors, voicement, going to, you know, do the groceries and stuff. I'm the only one to do it. But they sacrifice everything. It was like, okay, your future is main. If you're gonna stay here, you might be end up in the farms. Or if even if I'm gonna do the studies, I have to struggle way too much. I have to do like big, big courses. End of the day, it is not confirmed that I'm gonna get a good job. Maybe you're only paying maybe 10,000 rupees. Did your parents help financially? Of course. I mean, all my fees and everything was paid by my par my parents.

SPEAKER_04 14:18

Yeah, same for you, Sid. Same for me.

SPEAKER_03 14:20

I mean, I have zero dollars in India. I'm not earning anything. I just passed my high school, I'm zero money. Right, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

I'm grateful of my dad. And as I told you, like I'm like my financial background is a bit strong. But he supported me every moment in my journey. He was like, okay, if you need anything, ask me. I'm here for you. But once I came here, I was like, let's just be myself. Yeah. So for that.

SPEAKER_04 14:45

I can't I can't imagine being a parent investing that much in your kids. Yeah. And and then just seeing that them, the kids themselves, performing so well and doing everything you know you were expected to do and did some, and then still have to come back home as a feel like a sense of failure. Like, you know, yeah, it sucks.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

I also wanted to tell you one more thing. I was one of the top performers in my course. I got scholarship two times in my university. Wow. In every course I scored more than 80%, and 60% of the course I scored more than 90%.

SPEAKER_04 15:17

Yeah. That's awesome. I heard I heard something. You could give me clarity to this if I'm wrong, but like in India, academically, it's very competitive. Yeah, probably probably more so than it is in Canada.

SPEAKER_03 15:28

More population, yeah, more competition. That's that's yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:31

So really in in in in India, you're often fighting for to be in the 95th percentile of uh academically. Is that accurate?

SPEAKER_00 15:38

Yep, approximately like that, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:39

Yeah, wow. Yeah, so I mean, so it's like when you guys are coming here, you're not coming here without an education, you're coming here, you know, being have studied very hard and knowing yourself, of course.

SPEAKER_05 15:49

Usually with a second or third language in tow. Yeah, yeah, that's another thing too. Crazy. And so I mean that's what I'm hearing when we talk about the investment, is like different situations for people who come to Canada and all different types. And I think the you know, the heart of it here right now is that what uh Mike and I really want to talk about is just the a lot of the humanity of it all, because you know, it's we're we're talking about people's lives here, right? Like you literally came with tens of thousands of dollars in tow and brought that money from India and inserted it into the Nova Scotian economy. Yeah, there's something about that that kind of just like the investment that was put into Nova Scotia by these students going to Cineplex kind of thing, right?

Family Sacrifice And Academic Pressure

SPEAKER_04 16:28

Yeah, yeah. Were you ever told directly or indirectly that your chances of going to university or making this investment to come to university in Canada would heighten your chances to be able to stay in Canada? Were you ever alluded to that? No, no, but you just believed it to be true. How about with the jobs, like uh keeping the same job for a period of time? Because I've heard that is one thing that folks that immigrate to Canada will do is they'll try to keep the same job for two or three years in hopes to stay. Were you ever alluded to that?

SPEAKER_03 16:58

When I'm doing my studies, I only have limit for 20 hours. So I'm trying to do work maybe like 10 hours in subway because they only give minimum hours to the students. Right. I have to do like two, three jobs, then I am able to pay my rent. Also, the very first job I did is like they put put us like five people in the RV, standing in a jungle in a forest. We have to plant the trees, we have to stay there for like one week. That's my like literally second month in Canada. Crazy now I do such things in India. I was like, okay, where the hell am I going now? And it's like I literally pick up snakes with my hands. Like I have big clubs, but still have to pick up the snakes and throw it away. Like, there's coming. I don't know what's going on. We have to stay there in the jungle. We are like going to fresh. I'm confused.

SPEAKER_04 17:42

Okay, you're talking about the jungle in Canada?

SPEAKER_03 17:43

It's like we have to plant about 3,000 trees in a week.

SPEAKER_04 17:47

Do you know where you were?

SPEAKER_03 17:48

I I'm not really sure the name. No, that's okay. It's near the second wildlife century in Cape Brayden. Oh, okay. All it did was go for one week. Yeah, they pay good, that's why I go there, but crazy job.

SPEAKER_05 18:02

But I mean, well, and and I know there's like even avoiding the whole potentially having to leave type of thing. I know you and I've had conversations in the past where it's like you've been up for potential promotions and won't take them just to keep stability. Yeah. Right? Oh, yes, yes. Which is also a kind of a messed up thing.

SPEAKER_03 18:20

So the last year, I mean, I'm offered a very good other position, a promotion. But if I take that promotion, I have to withdraw my application and I have to redo it. Even with the same organization, same exact thing. But it's gonna be my job title is going to be different. That's why I have to do the whole thing again. Gonna be Q in the end. So, like in the last year, they are caring. Like, let's say if I put my file a year ago, they're gonna pick up my file now. But now they said like there is no time limit. Doesn't matter if you apply for PR two years back, they're not gonna consider it. It's it's in the pool. Let's say if I supply today, I applied two years ago, maybe he got the permanent residency before me. That's what they did. Wow.

SPEAKER_04 19:05

I mean, uh to me, it seems like a it's quite a scandal, right?

SPEAKER_05 19:09

Like, you know, it's weird to stunt growth like that, yeah, right?

SPEAKER_04 19:12

Stunt personal growth and start, but and then like it back to what you said earlier, Matt, like about the the organizations themselves, the organization suffers because they make an initial investment in you to hire you to train you to do the job for their company, yeah, right? Imagine if you know, no company wants to lose a bunch of their employees one year or two years down the road. And if they don't have that certainty that they're gonna their employees are going to be able to stay, then you know what's the point of hiring them?

SPEAKER_05 19:40

Well, I mean, yeah, I mean, cost of training and rehiring is a large thing. But on top of that, like now at this point, we're talking where some people are three and four years into their working world in the same company, and now that's three or four years of experience, that's not easily replaced. It's not like you can just go and hire somebody off the street and be like, okay, we're gonna replace a bunch of people here, but because then you're starting from scratch and you have to hire, right? You're four years behind and on top of the investment to train.

Survival Jobs And Early Shock

SPEAKER_03 20:13

What it looks like is like they are forcing people to work in construction and healthcare. Let's say by myself, let's I only have four months left. Yeah, let's say if I have two years left, I'm working in with my current job from last two, three years. I like it, I love it. I'm gonna work here. But they're forcing me to do another job. Okay, I'm gonna do it from a PR. Let's say I go to construction, work there for one year, got my PR, then I'm gonna leave it again, gonna go to my previous job. It doesn't make any sense. I mean, that's what people are doing, and that's that's the main thing bothering me. I mean, I'm here from last five years. I did whatever they said. I did I did this and study and say you do your job from two years, we'll got you something. But now what's happening is people living in big cities looking for PR, they come here, they're paying the employers about$20,000,$25,000, and that employer helping them to get PR in like two months in these fields that are like construction healthcare in the yeah, in the future. That is a big topic talk about people. I mean, like, I'm not against anyone, I have no beef to anyone, but it just it doesn't sound fair.

SPEAKER_05 21:18

Yeah, I can understand. Like you're doing things the right way, you're not trying to find the loopholes. You want to work in the industry you want to work in, and here you are faced with something, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:26

I mean, the people coming from different provinces, they're gonna get the PR here in six months, they're gonna moving back from what the promise they come from. They're not gonna stay here in Halifax. Right. They're just coming for PR, and they are getting the PR.

SPEAKER_01 21:37

Yep.

SPEAKER_05 21:37

Yeah. Wow.

SPEAKER_00 21:39

I've seen so many people coming from Ontario, British Columbia. They're coming directly in construction. Yeah, they don't have any prior experience. They come in construction, work, get their P, get their permanent residency, move back.

SPEAKER_05 21:56

Well, yeah, that's the thing. So, like you guys uh in this situation work in a financial industry which has uh levels of degree where you need to like pass exams and study and all like these other continuous educational courses, and it does seem and and this is not a downplay construction. And we need it, and there's hard working tradespeople, and like I have all the respect in the world for that. But you don't have any experience in construction. So, like, literally, when I say this sentence, like you could take all of the exams and courses in education you have and literally go just swing a hammer and you might be able to stay. That seems weird.

SPEAKER_04 22:32

Totally weird. Yeah. When would you guys put the year or the moment that you saw in Canada where you felt like things had changed? Like, where, like, of course, at one point, I'm sure you probably felt, wow, this is this is where I'm going to live for the rest of my life, or probably, or whatever, right? This is where I'm going to settle down, maybe have a family. When did you feel like it changed for you?

Careers Put On Hold For Paperwork

SPEAKER_00 23:19

In 2024, November. What happened at that time? By the end of the year, the immigration minister sets a target for the provincial nominee program, federal. So they cut the program by half. In 2025, the annual target set by previous government was five more than 500,000. It came down to almost 300,000. Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_04 23:46

On a national level, right? On a national level.

SPEAKER_05 23:50

But this most recent change was Nova was uh like a Nova Scotian like provincial change, right? Not a federal change.

SPEAKER_03 23:55

Yeah, only Nova Scotia.

SPEAKER_04 23:57

So would you guys have a safer bet now if you took your existing jobs and move them to another province in the country?

SPEAKER_03 24:03

We can't. I don't have much time left. Only four months. Even if I do move to a different province, I have to work for one year and I can because my work permit is expiring. Right. So only option I have left. Go back.

SPEAKER_00 24:14

That's the point. I did not come here to move to another province. I come I wanted to contribute towards the betterment and the economy of the society, towards Nova Scotia. Yeah. I wanted to settle here. Even if I get my permit residency, my family, my business will be here. But I didn't want to go to any other province.

SPEAKER_03 24:30

Yeah. I mean, like, we do have many options. We can go to Ontario, Quebec, Vancouver. And even when I come here for the studies, they do have like colleges, and I can pay way much less fee, maybe like$51 for a course. Yeah. I can do, I do have an option, but I don't want to go because I want to stay in Nova Scotia. That's why I'm here from the last five years, spending my time. Because I love it.

SPEAKER_04 24:51

Can I ask if both you guys are single? Like, do you have relationships here? I'm single.

SPEAKER_03 24:55

Yeah. I have a girlfriend, yes.

SPEAKER_04 24:56

Yeah, and where's she from? India, same. Okay, yeah. And and what's her story?

SPEAKER_03 25:01

It's gonna be the same, I guess. So she might be going back too. I guess, yeah. Yeah. There's another option we have until she has to change the job, working again, healthcare construction. That's the only option. Wow. There's no other thing we can do.

SPEAKER_05 25:15

So sit single. So if there's any ladies who are born in Canada who want to marry Sydney, you've got four months.

SPEAKER_04 25:20

If you marry Sydney, we can keep Sid around at least. Yeah. Yeah, that'd be awesome.

SPEAKER_02 25:24

You know, you can adopt me.

SPEAKER_04 25:26

Or yeah, legal adoption. There you go. Man, I mean, to me, this is one of the saddest stories ever. I've got, I mean, I've gotten OV, and uh, I mean, I I think you're an awesome guy. I mean, I really do. You're so kind. You're a generous person with your time and to others, and and I know you a little bit too, uh S, and I think you're both terrific people, right? And I mean I'm so glad you guys are comfortable enough to chat with us about this. Yeah, it's important. I I guess I have to ask you the toughest question, right? In your 20s, as as young men, what does it feel like to build a life somewhere and not know if you're allowed to keep it? It's scary. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:07

When I moved here, I was just 22 years old. Yeah. That's the time when a person builds his life, his career, he gets into a relationship, gets a family setup. If I have to go back, I'll be 28.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:21

Starting from a scratch, setting up a business, it's not like something I cannot do, but just imagine how it would be. I will be in my 32s when I'm setting up a new life.

Sector Priorities And A System That Warps Choices

SPEAKER_04 26:31

All those folks that stayed in India the whole time, they have an advantage over you now. They have an eight-year lead, they've got their education there, right? You know, may now maybe maybe your education will still play a major role in your success. I think it totally could. I mean, you know, from like especially if you look at a consultant type basis and stuff, there's probably things that would be greatly help you in your career.

SPEAKER_05 26:49

Oh yeah, definitely. But it's true, he had the other people there have like a net an eight-year network lead, right? Yeah, yeah. Networks are are crucial, right? 100%.

SPEAKER_00 26:58

When I came, I was like, in order to survive here, we need to get good networks. Yeah. I get I got all the knowledge how to set up a business, how to start a business, what are the what are the taxes like, how to manage with people. All the knowledge I got was from Nova Scotia. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't I don't have any knowledge how to set up a business over there.

SPEAKER_05 27:19

Right.

SPEAKER_04 27:19

Yeah, totally different. I hope it's easier because it's not easy here.

SPEAKER_05 27:23

But but but honestly, though, like if for anyone listening here, like what I'm hearing are we have two guys here that are fighting to be Nova Scotians. Yes, right, and in in a time where sometimes people are bouncing all over the country, like you know, people in our country are coming and going and all that stuff, and they're trying to seek sometimes opportunity out west or in like Ontario, like whatever. We have two people that want to stay here.

SPEAKER_04 27:49

When you guys, if you guys end up leaving Nova Scotia and you end up getting on that plane and going home, in the rear view, what's your impression, your honest take on Canada going to be?

SPEAKER_00 28:01

It's not like a hate at all, 100%. I'm blessed what Canada gave me. I'm grateful, but it just like some false hopes. Yeah. Some what?

SPEAKER_03 28:13

False hope. False hope, yeah. Yeah. I mean, like, according to me, 20 to 25 years age is the mean when you know you can build up a career, you can learn things, you can start something up, right? And I spent that five years here to building up something, to learning, to get skills and everything. And I did. I'm I'm on a good job. I have like weak contacts outside according for my job. I'm doing very good here. And I'm built for Nova Scotia now, like how to do things here, how to work here, how to live here. If I have to go back, it's gonna be from zero. I mean, I don't know what I'm gonna do. The thing is, a different country in Canada is different, India is different. Yeah, whatever I did here, it might not be good enough to like do a business or something in India. Because let's say if I'm doing um like a financing job in India, they only gonna pay me like$200 for the whole month, that's it. Right.

SPEAKER_04 29:10

So if we if we title this episode The Great False Hope, the immigrant experience in Canada, do you think that's an accurate title? The Great False Hope?

SPEAKER_03 29:18

Yeah, of course, of course. That that is, I guess, the best you can do. I mean, I don't know what to say, but if I have to go back, it it will be done for me. I'm gonna end up in my farms. It will be a good life, but I don't want that life. I want my life in Novascus.

SPEAKER_05 29:35

If you have to go back, what what are the steps like that you could apply to come back? Is there a second chance?

SPEAKER_03 29:43

For me as of now, there's there's none, I guess. No? For him, yes, but for myself, my work from the case.

The Moment It Felt Like It Changed

SPEAKER_00 29:49

What's different for you? So how it works, in order to boost my score, in order to get the permanent residency in Canada, I need to reach a particular score. For that, I was waiting for my promotion nominee program. I was not able to reach that score because I didn't have any foreign experience. But if I go back, get one year of foreign work experience, I'll be able to reach that score, get my score over there, and get my permanent residency, and then come back. But I cannot rely on that much because what if the rules change again? I go and take one year of experience. I'm like, okay, now we are not counting that experience. I'm like, I did another job so that I can come back because I really wanted to stay here. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:52

In your your opinion, gentlemen, what do you think a fair system would look like to you if you were to design it to make it fair for all?

SPEAKER_00 30:59

I have two answers for this question. First of all, in terms of federal wise, I will see, I will say that please don't change the rules and targets. We were told different targets, and now the target for permanent residency is changed.

SPEAKER_04 31:14

If the agreement on something was yeah, to change it while you're here halfway through your your your your process is really unfair.

SPEAKER_05 31:20

Yeah, it would be almost make sense that like if you came after this date, the rules are different for you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:26

That'd make more sense. But yeah, it doesn't matter if you come today or two years back, same.

SPEAKER_01 31:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:31

The main thing is the government have to look for the people who are already in Canada, not for the ones who are coming here. They can stop the immigration from other countries and they're gonna work for the people who's already here. Yeah. Give us some answer, like, okay, maybe we can give you PR, let's say in another one year, two years. But what they're doing is opposite. They are throwing us away and they are getting new people from other countries. That's true. I want to do the same exact thing with them as well.

SPEAKER_04 31:59

Because you're just gonna keep having the same problem.

SPEAKER_03 32:01

You're just why it's never gonna stop.

SPEAKER_04 32:03

So uh different than the employer thing. Well, they're getting money. That's that's the problem. Yeah, but I mean, like this there's investment in here. But that's a short-sighted investment. Yeah, it's not really an investment over time because you know you're gonna lose the citizen in two, three years. What's the point, right?

SPEAKER_05 32:18

You know what's a bigger investment is like, you know, these guys want to open businesses and actually start hiring people.

SPEAKER_04 32:23

Sure. Or if they just want to do the the work. Or just work, work fine. You know, work, pay your taxes, right?

SPEAKER_00 32:29

You know, become a citizen. Another point is if given an opportunity to me, I can resolve two issues. They're saying that they want people in healthcare. I have a like my family set up a girl for me who is a nurse, registered nurse. She's in India, she can come and contribute towards the society of healthcare. I can set up a business and which will create job opportunities for Canadians, everyone.

SPEAKER_05 32:51

Yeah, right? Right. That's the long-term investment, too. If people are coming here with like that business mindset.

SPEAKER_04 32:57

So, so this is your take, guys. We're talking to the government of Canada right now. Mark Kearney is listening. Mark Kearney, you're there, right? Tim Houston? Houston, we have a problem. I don't want to say that. It's being said a lot right now. I know it's getting a little corny. I know. But uh, you know, if if you could speak directly to the government of Canada on your experience in Canada and what needs to change to make it better for others, what would you say?

Building A Life With An Expiry Date

SPEAKER_00 33:22

All I will say is please retain those people who are already here. We don't want to go back. We will contribute towards the society and betterment of the economy. We are not doing any protest, anything like that. I come I'm also not in the favor of protests, anything like that. I just want someone to hear the story and feel the pain. Because I'm not an illegal immigrant, I'm I just came here legally. I paid taxes, I am still paid taxes, and I'm grateful what Nova Scotia gave, what Canada is giving it to me. So just help us stay here and believe me, Canada and Nova Scotia will not regret. I love that answer.

SPEAKER_03 34:04

Yeah. I mean like same thing as it uh said that uh we spend our time, we we did everything in favor of Nova Scotia. We we spend uh like at the age of 20, 25, people go to clubs, do their other things, but we didn't. We work hard. We uh I did many jobs, I did terrible jobs, I did good jobs as well. But if end of the day this is gonna happen, that according to me, Canada is not a good country, then for immigrants, they just I mean the tech thing is same thing, they are not looking for the people who are already here. As speaking for K Burton University, they're getting money. As I said, like we uh immigrants have to pay more fees, so they will be having good money if they're gonna invite more students. That's what they're doing, that's what's happening. So if governments stop doing more immigrants from other countries and start working for the people who are already here, who spend time, who work hard, and then it will be maybe more good for everyone.

SPEAKER_05 35:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:13

Not prioritizing only two sectors, maybe like employers as my company, they they do need immigrants in in my company itself. Maybe like there are more than 50% people from outside of Canada.

SPEAKER_05 35:25

Yeah, 50%.

SPEAKER_03 35:27

If this gonna happen, they all have to leave and they have to hire new people, train them, get them licensed, and then it's all gonna work.

SPEAKER_05 35:36

Can you imagine in a workforce if you knew in the next 18 months you're gonna lose 50% of your workforce and you have to rehire? It's crazy, devastating.

What A Fair Immigration System Looks Like

SPEAKER_04 35:43

Yeah, well, I mean, that is crazy, and and guys, I I think we might get into some fun a funner tone here now, because I mean, you know, being in this state, I want to give you guys the authentic afternoon playing experience uh on our show here. And I think we're gonna roll into that 10 seconds. 10 silly questions. Matt and I are gonna make them up as we go. So be people listening, thank you if you're listening to the show still. And Matt and I just hope that we want you to realize what it feels like to go through this experience as an immigrant in Canada. And we're only touching on the experience. We didn't delve into some racist remarks that people receive unsolicited, and just uh how ugly it's kind of gone for a lot of people over the last few years. It seems like we're going into a kind of a crappy place. Would you agree, Matt?

SPEAKER_05 36:26

Yeah, yeah. There's a lot of yeah, I try to avoid the comment section for these types of things. So yeah. So I encourage people who are listening to this. Sure, it's it's great to go and voice your opinion on social media and things like that for for in you know to help like people in this situation. But what I would actually encourage you to do is put pressure on our politicians. And how do we do that, Matt? You reach out to your MLA, you reach out to your MP, email them, just yeah, visit them for everybody. Email the MLAs, you can email their constituency office office, you can go online, you can see the MPs, the all their emails are online, everything they're fully accessible. Let's flood their inbox. Yeah, flood their inbox.

SPEAKER_03 37:07

I don't know how many times, right? Yeah, well, maybe we need more people. You need numbers though.

SPEAKER_05 37:11

Yeah, and quite honestly, what you need really is you need voters, you need voters to put the pressure on. Because then if someone comes up and says, fix this, or you don't have a job, yeah, that hammers it.

SPEAKER_04 37:26

So share the message if you can. If you're still listening to this episode, uh, I encourage you to share it with as many people as you can. Ask them to write their MLAs and help these young guys out and stick it around. I'd like to I'd like to see you guys more in the future, you know. And it and if it doesn't work out, I'd still love to set up a Zoom call or something overseas. Maybe we can do another pint together in the future. Afternoon point India. All right, let's get to dumb questions because that's what we're good at. Okay, ready? All right. So uh I'll give him a lava.

SPEAKER_05 37:51

I'll give him a lava question. Well, just ask one person a question, we'll go back and forth, okay? All right. Best Indian restaurant in Halifax.

SPEAKER_00 38:00

Ooh. Where's that at? It is in downtown. Okay. Nice. All right.

SPEAKER_03 38:06

What's the best thing to get there? Get there. I don't know the name of the restaurant, but I just visited like two days ago. It's old lady. Past food.

SPEAKER_04 38:16

Is the restaurant called Old Lady?

SPEAKER_03 38:18

Because that's a great name for restaurants.

SPEAKER_04 38:22

That would be a good name, though. It would be a great name.

SPEAKER_03 38:24

The name is Spice Kit if you're listening.

SPEAKER_04 38:27

Oh, I've seen that one. That's just around the corner from me. Okay, okay, from an undisclosed location. It's a very, very small restaurant. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:34

But the food is like really crazy.

SPEAKER_04 38:36

Oh, cool. I've never been in there. I'll have to check that one out. Yeah. Okay. Question number two to you. Okay. When what was your favorite food experience in Canada? Unique, something you never tried before that blew your mind when you got to Halifax. Pudding. First time it was in Canada.

SPEAKER_02 38:56

Tried it. Same. How about you, man? Oh, I tried a Korean hot dog. It's very nice. Oh, the Korean dogdogs. Corn dogs? Yeah, yeah. It's on the Badford Hive. Yeah, yeah. Condog, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 39:08

Shout out to Condog.

SPEAKER_04 39:08

They're awesome. Absolutely delicious. Don't eat too many of them at once, so you don't feel good though. Because I've I've I've overdone it at the end.

SPEAKER_02 39:15

I tried all four. You did? Yes. Oh my god. The first cookies.

SPEAKER_05 39:20

I was going to share something, and I was thinking, like, oh, people are going to judge me on this because I had three the first time. And I was like, it's very full after eating three of them. And I was like, I'm like, I don't want to tell anybody that I ate three of them. And you just admitted eating four of them. You're supposed to eat one of them.

SPEAKER_03 39:35

I did a little smoke and then ah, there you go. There you go.

SPEAKER_05 39:40

I can eat like four more.

SPEAKER_03 39:43

It's nice, it's nice.

SPEAKER_05 39:44

Yeah. Question number three. Okay. If you had a theme song, what would it be?

SPEAKER_00 39:50

Believer. From Imagine Dragons.

SPEAKER_04 39:53

Okay. Ah. Yeah. That's like it's off your playlist or something. Something you'd listen to. My wife, yeah. Yeah? She loves Imagine Dragons.

SPEAKER_03 39:59

Yeah. Yeah. Um, I don't have a song. I don't listen to my song.

Put Pressure On Politicians

SPEAKER_05 40:03

So no. No. You just listen to the afternoon pine podcast all the time on repeat. Well, yeah. Good man.

SPEAKER_04 40:08

All right. Cool. All right. Next question. I wanted like something deep. Okay. Okay. If you could send a message 200 years into the future, what would that message be?

SPEAKER_03 40:21

Save the environment.

SPEAKER_04 40:23

Save the environment. I love it. Cool.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

Work hard. Cody's watching you. Okay. Very cool.

SPEAKER_04 40:30

All right.

SPEAKER_03 40:31

That's very ominous.

SPEAKER_04 40:34

I was like, was that God that sent that message 200 years ago? Who was that? That said that. It'll be kind of over 200 years out there. Messenger of God here. There you go.

SPEAKER_05 40:43

Keep it moving, yeah. All right. So we got this is question number five. Keep track of this topic. Okay. Let's do the one of the classics. We're gonna make a we're afternoon pint's gonna produce a movie of your guys' life. What actors are gonna play you guys?

SPEAKER_00 40:59

It's an Indian actor.

SPEAKER_05 41:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 41:01

It is a Vicky Koshan.

SPEAKER_03 41:02

Okay, alright. Okay. My favorite actor is again Indian actor Aksha Kumar.

SPEAKER_05 41:10

So there you go. I think I think it would have been hilarious if S said like Danny DeVito. That would be funny. No one can see this, but like he's like 10 feet tall. So you do not look anything like Danny DeVito. No, it's just six over to you.

SPEAKER_04 41:26

All right. A book people should read.

SPEAKER_00 41:30

Rich Dead, Poor Dead.

SPEAKER_04 41:32

I've read that one.

SPEAKER_00 41:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:33

Cool. So sorry, never read a book. No, not a fan for books, never. No. Only like when I did the studies, that's it. Only my studies. After that, I didn't even touch a book.

SPEAKER_05 41:46

That's fair.

Ten Silly Questions To Breathe

SPEAKER_04 41:47

I don't think you're alone in that. I think a lot of people secretly don't read at all. So that's that's okay, man. I mean, we listen. I more listen to audio.

SPEAKER_05 41:55

I find audio books are easier for me most of the time. Yeah, yeah. And over to me for question number seven. Yes. Alright. I should be thinking about these while we're doing that, but I'm listening to your idea. Yeah, I know. It is what it is. If you could you can't pick cricket, because I know that's what you might pick. But if you could pick to play any of the four North American major sports, what one would you pick? Baseball. Oh, baseball. What position? I would say striker. So a hitter? Like a hitter. So designated hitter? Yep.

SPEAKER_03 42:28

Okay. Ice hockey? Ah. I went to the game, I guess, four or five times.

SPEAKER_05 42:35

Oh, yeah, the mooseheads. Yes, mooseheads.

SPEAKER_03 42:37

Yeah, yeah. I really like it.

SPEAKER_05 42:39

Yeah, that's right. That's good. It's good. Right on. Alright, question number eight, over to you. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 42:45

If you could invent one thing that just doesn't exist in the world, but you think it would change the world for the better, what would it be?

SPEAKER_00 42:52

If the person is honest or not. If I can if I can get detected, like can I get an honesty detector?

SPEAKER_04 42:58

Yeah. Ooh. A bullshit detector.

SPEAKER_03 43:01

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna be Doctor Strange. Oh, like I'm gonna open the portals.

SPEAKER_02 43:09

Okay. You know, like Cody Unless open the portal, got the hard docks.

SPEAKER_05 43:15

He's a teleporter.

SPEAKER_02 43:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 43:17

There you go. Teleportation. Teleportation is.

SPEAKER_02 43:19

Best thing you can have. Best thing. That's fair. That's legit. No immigration problem, nothing. Do work here in US. Go back, open the portal, go back to your family. Easy peasy.

SPEAKER_05 43:29

Alright, there you go.

SPEAKER_02 43:30

That's no card, no insurance, nothing.

SPEAKER_03 43:33

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 43:34

All right. Okay, let's see here. What uh what else we got? What let's dig in the bag of uh of questions that we normally ask. Would you prefer, wait, like say you're going on vacation? Would you prefer to go on vacation to a place that like you're really familiar with and you love going back over and over again? Or always go somewhere different every time?

SPEAKER_00 43:55

100% always go somewhere different every time.

SPEAKER_03 43:57

Yeah, yep. Always, yes. New experience, new people, everything new. So I always love it.

SPEAKER_00 44:03

That's good.

SPEAKER_03 44:04

I have US US visa. Every time I go there, I try it to go something new. Like last time I go to Wagas, before that, I go to Chicago, new places, new people, everything.

SPEAKER_05 44:16

You went there last year and I was like, oof, careful, dude. Question number nine over to you. I think we're 10, are we? Wait, no, I always the first one. So I'm nine, you're 10.

SPEAKER_04 44:25

Am I this is 10? All right, so I'm just gonna do last call. Yeah, and and uh so this is our last call question, and and this is gonna be a question I want both of you to answer individually. I'll start with US. And a piece of advice you were given in your life that you want to share with people today. You could have been given the advice from anybody, you could have read it on a book or saw it on a rock. Advice that you'd like to share.

SPEAKER_00 44:47

An advice was given to me by my uncle. He told me that always be humble and respect towards elders, and no matter what, never break. Someone's trust. Amazing. I love that.

SPEAKER_04 45:01

Very good advice.

SPEAKER_03 45:01

And you, my friend. So I have an advice by my grandfather. I always go about it. So if you are not doing anything wrong in your life, if you're not doing anything wrong, you don't need to apologize. You can stand for yourselves. Take a stand for yourself. Don't depend on anyone. You are a man. You are living the same oxygen that everyone's doing. So if if you are facing any difficulties, try to do it by yourself. There is no one here to help you. You are alone in this world. Because when I come here, this is what he told me, and it's I have that like goosebumps.

SPEAKER_04 45:38

That's crazy. Well, you know, all Canadians need to hear that advice because we're notorious for saying sorry, right? You know, that's one of our stick to it. Yeah. You know what?

SPEAKER_05 45:46

That's not bad advice given your situation. Like you're literally were leaving to go by yourself.

Final Thoughts And Cheers

SPEAKER_03 45:50

Yeah. The thing is, I have one more very small story. So you I used to leave uh work in a subway. I'm like supervisor there. There was something happened. They do have a video proof that I didn't do anything wrong. But according to their policies, they can show that video footage to the person who is involved in it. So they asked me to apologize with a video on Facebook. I was like, no, I'm not gonna do it. Then they said, okay, either you have to do it or you have to leave the job. Right in two seconds, I take my t-shirt like here a t-shirt, I'm going, I just left. If I if I did apologize at that time, I might be PR right now because that does that job is eligible to get PR at that time. Oh wow. But I then I remember my grandfather said I was like, okay, no, it's not my fault, they already know it, and we're gonna do it. And I just left.

SPEAKER_05 46:41

Wow, good for you. Yeah, it's very good. Yeah. Principal over PR. Good job. So this was awesome. This was a great chat, guys. You guys are awesome. Anything that like you felt like you need to get off your chest before we kind of call her a day.

SPEAKER_00 46:57

Anything else you guys want to say? I just hope the province helps us. If somebody is listening to this podcast, yeah, you're here towards the towards the betterment of the society, and believe me, I will create lots of top opportunities in Nova Scotia. And Nova Scotia will never regret. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:17

A thing coming from my heart is like Matt and Mike, you are the best person in Canada, I guess. Oh, actually.

SPEAKER_00 47:25

Yeah, yep.

SPEAKER_03 47:25

And I really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_04 47:27

There's a lot more people.

SPEAKER_03 47:27

Yeah, I mean, but we only met a few. I mean, I have a few, I've met many, I live also with the Canadian family, but you guys are different. You feel it's like home. Awesome. Thank you so much for everything you do. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_04 47:39

I appreciate you guys sharing your stories with us.

SPEAKER_05 47:41

This this helps us too, right? So exactly. Really, really appreciate it. All right. Write to your MLA and MP flooded. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 47:48

Flooded. Cheers, cheers, guys. I hope we can do a round two one day, no matter where we all end up. Cheers.