Is the decline of the Canadian dream leading to more people returning to Punjab?

Canada has long been a popular destination for individuals from India's Punjab province who are seeking better opportunities. However, there is growing concern that the Canadian dream may be losing its allure. Billboards advertising easy immigration to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK are scattered throughout Punjab's fertile plains. Consultancies in the area offer English language coaching to aspiring youth, and single-storey brick homes are adorned with hand-painted mural advertisements promising quick visas. In Bathinda, a town in Punjab, numerous agents compete for space on a narrow street, all promising to expedite the dreams of young individuals. For more than a century, Punjab has witnessed waves of emigration, with Sikh soldiers being inducted into the British Indian Army and subsequently traveling to Canada, and rural Punjabis settling in England after independence. However, there is now a growing trend of migrants, particularly from Canada, choosing to return home. One example is Balkar, a 28-year-old who returned to Punjab after just one year in Toronto. Balkar's family even mortgaged their land to finance his education with the goal of pursuing Canadian citizenship. However, after a few months in Canada, Balkar was disenchanted. He found the cost of living to be too high and had to work long hours just to make ends meet. Balkar has now established an embroidery business in his home and also helps on his family's farm to supplement his income. He believes that he can have a good life in Punjab and make decent money without facing the hardships he experienced in Canada. The BBC interviewed several reverse migrants in Punjab, and their sentiments echoed Balkar's experience. Among the videos on YouTube shared by Indians who chose to leave Canada and return home, there was a stark contrast between the rosy picture painted by immigration agents and the harsh reality of immigrant life in Toronto and Vancouver. While the desire for Canadian citizenship remains strong among middle- and lower-middle-class individuals in rural communities, there has been a decline in applications from India for Canadian study permits. This decrease can be attributed in part to ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, as well as concerns over job availability, housing, and healthcare in Canada. The decline in interest among Indian migrants is concerning for a country like Canada that values immigration and relies on it for economic growth. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has championed a liberal immigration policy to counteract slowing economic growth and an aging population. Immigration accounts for a significant portion of Canada's labor force and population growth, and international students from India contribute billions of dollars to the Canadian economy each year. Despite the small numbers of individuals returning to their home countries or migrating elsewhere, reverse migration in Canada hit a two-decade high in 2019, signaling a loss of confidence among migrants. There is a need for Canada to restore the value of its citizenship, according to immigration advocates. As the country grapples with housing shortages and strain on its healthcare system, policymakers are considering a slowdown in population growth. The Canadian government has even introduced a cap on international student permits, which may further decrease Canada's appeal among potential migrants.