The dream of studying in Canada is turning into a harsh reality for thousands of Indian students, warns YouTuber and podcaster Kushal Mehra. In a viral podcast, Mehra urged parents not to send their children abroad through fake colleges or agents promising easy immigration and jobs.
“If it’s a reputed university like Waterloo, York, or Western, that’s different. But if someone offers you a diploma mill admission, it’s a trap that will destroy your future,” he cautioned.
India currently has over 90,000 students in Canada, one of the largest international student groups. However, Mehra said many face joblessness, house shortages, and growing hostility from locals. He linked the crisis to Motion M44, passed in 2022, which allowed students to work full-time during studies. The policy triggered a surge in migration that Canada's economy and infrastructure could not support.
“Housing costs have doubled, jobs are scarce, and public services are stretched thin,” Mehra said, noting that rent for a single room in Toronto has jumped from ₹500–700 ($6–8) to over ₹1,200 ($15).
Even more concerning, he revealed rising cases of human trafficking, especially among young India women. “In three years, I have personally sent 13 girls back to India because they were being trafficked,” Mehra said, estimating that nearly 4,000 Indian-origin women are trapped in Toronto’s sex trade.
He blamed lax visa checks that let people with criminal records enter Canada as 'students.' His advice to Indian families: “Stay grounded. There are good universities in India — don’t sell your future for a false promise.”
