If nothing happens by Christmas Day, Kamal says he'll be on a plane, flying back home to India. For 12 years he's been clinging to the "Canadian dream" of building a professional life for himself. He's the Canadian prototype of the overqualified cab driver, the unmined talent who's become disillusioned after having the doors closed on him one too many times.

Kamal Agnihotri is new to the taxi industry. He's only been driving with Royal Taxi for the last six months. He greets his passengers with a warm, soft-spoken hello and inquires politely after their destination. The thing that keeps him behind the wheel, he says, is the story of a driver who got a new car from a generous American passenger.

"I always think that, maybe today, I'll meet someone who gives me a chance," says the 49-year-old. "But after December 25, it's the end of the game.""

Agnihotri speaks about his situation with an air of resignation, and it's obvious he feels defeated. He pulls out the University of Toronto-stamped diploma in computer applications and graphic design, as well as the Humber College 3D Animation certificate he completed in the late 1990s. Despite the skills upgrades, the best he was able to find was work as a printer and production co-ordinator at printing presses.

He had worked for eight years in India as a graphic designer before coming to Toronto, for clients like Air India, and electronics firm Televista. His is a "riches to rags" story, he says, having come from a long line of overachievers, starting with his father who's a newspaper journalist and author in Calcutta. His family doesn't know he drives a cab here in Toronto. He likens his departure from home to a soldier gone off to war, with a gun slung over his shoulder looking for fame and glory.

"But, I've lost the war," he says, and can't bear the thought of returning with his tail between his legs. Though he started driving thinking it would be easy money, he's since learned it can be a thankless job at times.
"It looks like an easy job, but it's the most difficult job I've ever had," says the former white-collar professional. "There are too many risks involved."

Still, Agnihotri takes the cab out every day between 4:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. hoping his "someday" will come before Christmas. He hasn't booked a plane ticket for India — yet.

TORONTO STAR
14 August 2004

The reality for most is that "Canadian dream" is that is was never anything more than a fantasy....

Often created by selective hearing and rose coloured glasses...

I'd like to blame the individuals, but I think we have to be honest in so much as many that come here and "downsize" still choose to talk it up... Canada is a nice place to live.. but you'll never be rich..

and if you come without a job, and thinking that your field will be in demand as much here as at home.. then more fool you...

This nation is working hard to give its ‘citizens’ a chance, with a neighbour that still wants it all... when you come here your not only going to compete with Canadian's but also with Americans that envy the healthcare and life style.. this is one competitive market.. Where the good jobs already have "known" candidate lined up before the post is even vacant...

And to make matters worse.. the jobs are nearly always in the big cities, not where the life style is

Having said that It can be done… I’m here for the second time on a work visa… Both times a step up in my career…but I’m also aware that I could and probably would make more by going back to Europe….

I looked at the work visa option and took the PR route instead - I really wanted to come here and would have been heartbroken if I'd had to go back to the UK.

Everything you say is true - some people can't separate fantasy from reality and come down with a big bump when reality hits them between the eyes.

The story above is not unique to immigrants or to Canada. There are thousands of unemployed Canadians in the tech/graphic industry as a result of the dotcom bust. However, people seem to have the mistaken sense that you can somehow get rich by working for someone else and finding a job. The reality is that Canada and the U.S. are capitalist countries. This means that they reward capitalists -- those who take risks, create businesses, jobs and wealth. There are many extremely rich and successful immigrants in Canada, but none of them got that way working for someone else. They took risks and started their own businesses and were rewarded accordingly. The story above seems a little silly -- the gentleman continues to drive a cab hoping a rich American will give him a new car?? That attitude won't get you anywhere in Canada or any country for that matter.

Here's a story in contrast to the one above. Ely Bueno, a Phillipine immigrant who couldn't find a decent job:

"When Ely first immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 1971, he joined his brother in Winnipeg. A year later they were joined by another brother and sister, all four of them living in a one-bedroom apartment. He had a bachelor's degree in the Philippines, but could not receive accreditation for it in Canada; so instead of returning to school, he decided to work. After working at odd jobs for four years, he married his wife Carman in 1975 and a week later bought a corner store, spending his honeymoon working there. Since its humble beginnings, Ely's business (called Bueno Brothers) has expanded to include three supermarkets, three restaurants, a bakery and a freight-forwarding operation. Ely is, rightly, very proud of his accomplishments, but he is most proud of what he has contributed to Canada. He sees his greatest contribution to be the more than 100 jobs his businesses provide to his community."

I tried being a capitalist in the UK and I'm well aware of the risks and effort involved - eight years of venturing into bleeding edge IT technology, web ventures, etc and I personally came to Canada for a rest.

Right now I don't have any great urge to work my butt off to become a billionaire or take the required risks.

The big problem with the north american dream is that it equates being rich to being happy. Having money contributes to quality of life, but it isn't the be all and end all.

If your main aim for coming to Canada is to enjoy the wonderful countryside and the wise open spaces, you'll be much happier than if you expect to become the next Trump.

My point was not about getting rich. It was aimed at people giving up in defeat because they couldn't find a decent job. There are other ways to make a living.

I find it depressing when I hear that Brits have given up and headed back to the UK. We're in a different position from a lot of immigrants - our version of english is closer to canadian english, if people have done their homework they should know that they have a chance of getting a job.

The real problem with this forum is that discussions get too polarised too fast

I know of a Brit who got a job in Canada as a Draughtsman but then got laid off. So he started a Fish & Chip Shop. Now twenty years later he's quite a successfull local restauranteur.

Flexibility and taking advantage of opportunities helps.

If life gives you lemons, make lemonade

You know, that's one of the wisest quotes I ever read.

Did you come up with it?

as per the above comment (page1) its a great quote...... untill


yep its got a great big catch.... you still need a sweetner to make it work....


I prefer the analogy of Life and a Shìt sandwich.....

The more bread you have the less shìt you taste per bite......

I wish I had, I would have copyrighted it

It's an old one, don't know where it originated.

LOL!!!!

My old manager used to say if you want to find sympathy, look it up in the dictionary between sh*t and syphilis.

LOL!!! That's another great one.

Seriously, one of my favorite quotations comes from John F. Kennedy, and it's very apropos to this forum, because moving to another country is a crisis.


When written in Chinese the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.
John F. Kennedy (1917-63), U.S. president. Speech, 12 April 1959, Indianapolis, Ind.