by A Special Correspondent
As a Chinese immigrant, I was confronted with a horrifying and deeply racist encounter on the campus of a school I frequented. One day, during my walk around the campus, a white school employee approached me in an aggressive manner and said, “You are like a cockroach that can’t get rid of!” This was said right in his office during regular working hours. The words stung not only because they were cruel but also because they represented a deep-seated attitude towards non-white individuals in a society that claims to value equality and justice.
But this was just the beginning of my realization. I soon discovered that Canada, a place I had believed to be a land of fairness, freedom, and human rights, had created a network designed to cover up its ugly truths. What I encountered was systemic racism and colonialism entrenched deeply within the fabric of society. As I filed complaints to the Human Rights Tribunal, I quickly learned that these institutions, which are supposed to provide justice, are merely extensions of the government’s efforts to perpetuate its own power and to whitewash its actions.
The reality is that these legal and governmental systems are rigged. The Human Rights Tribunal, rather than serving its true purpose, acts as a barrier, dismissing complaints on procedural grounds to avoid any serious investigations into racial discrimination. Lawyers, who are supposed to advocate for justice, refuse to take on cases that challenge the government or its institutions because of the immense power and resources at play. The system is designed to protect the white power structure, while silencing those who seek justice.
This realization came to me after reading the story of a Chinese lawyer who, despite his prestigious education from a top Canadian law school, was forced to quit his legal career. His parents, who had suffered immense racial discrimination, had hoped that their son would become a lawyer to protect their rights and fight for justice. But despite his dedication, he could not win a single case involving Chinese or minority clients. Eventually, he and his wife opened a small business, the Sunrise Salad Bar, in an attempt to survive in a country that systematically closed its doors to their success. The lawyer’s story is not unique; it is a grim reflection of a system that makes it nearly impossible for people of color to thrive in this country.
During my time in Canada, I began to witness the tragic consequences of systemic racism. I read about the millions of dollars paid to victims who were abused and raped by law enforcement, including RCMP officers and military personnel. These individuals committed heinous crimes, yet none of them faced any real consequences. The victims, often marginalized Indigenous people, were left to suffer while the perpetrators remained protected by the very institutions that were supposed to ensure justice. And still, the Canadian government maintained its narrative of being a just and fair society.
Even more chilling were the stories of Indigenous people who died in police custody. These deaths were routinely dismissed as failures of social policy, yet it was clear to many that the policies were working exactly as intended – to eliminate the lives of those they deemed unworthy. These ongoing deaths are not isolated events; they are a direct result of the colonial policies that continue to govern Canada’s treatment of its Indigenous populations.
The words of Chinese diplomat Wang Yi resonated with me, as they mirrored the pain I felt in this land. Wang, speaking on behalf of China, reminded the world that East Asians cannot and should not aspire to mimic the ways of the West, a place that has historically used violence, colonization, and exploitation to build its wealth. While Japan once tried to emulate Western success through violence and conquest, China, on the other hand, offered the world gifts of silk and tea. However, once Asians arrived in the West, they were subjected to a new form of colonization, where their identities were erased, their contributions dismissed, and their lives rendered insignificant.
The West, under the guise of democracy and equality, has perpetuated a legacy of systemic violence against people of color. It is a society where the elites are allowed to maintain their power through the oppression of others. I have personally experienced this, not only in the way I was treated by individuals but also in the way the system has failed to protect me. From being verbally attacked by a white school employee to being monitored by authorities in public spaces, I realized that my civil rights were being violated daily. In a society that claims to uphold human dignity, I found none of it. The government and its institutions were the true perpetrators of harm.
Canada presents itself as a land of opportunity, democracy, and human rights, but for people like me, the reality is far from this ideal. It is a land built on lies, where the powerful continue to exploit and oppress the weak, where the truth about its violent and colonial history is hidden, and where the very systems meant to protect us instead serve to bury the truth deeper. From the white supremacist attitudes of certain individuals to the systemic abuses within the law and political structures, I have seen the truth about what Canada really is.
The racism in Canada is not just individual acts of hate or bigotry, but a deeply ingrained system that has existed since the country’s inception. It is a place where laws have been used to oppress Indigenous peoples and people of color for centuries. Racism is embedded in the very structures of power that run this country, and those who dare to challenge it are silenced or crushed. The Human Rights Tribunals, the justice system, and the media all play their part in maintaining this facade of equality, while in reality, Canada continues to perpetuate the violence and discrimination it was built on.
In the end, Canada is not a land of freedom and opportunity for those who are not white. It is a place where the oppressed are blamed for their suffering and where the powerful continue to profit from exploitation. Canada’s claims of being a democratic and just society are nothing more than empty promises, serving only to maintain the status quo for those in power. If you are not white, you must understand that your rights, your dignity, and your life will always be secondary to the interests of the colonial elite that controls this land.
Concluded
