'You're not wanted': Newcomer to Canada says racism forced him onto the streets

After fleeing Uganda, Kateregga Raymond Calvin is more reassured than when he first arrived in Canada just over a year ago.

The refugee claimant was harassed, so he sought a new life in what he describes as a “peaceful” country. Calvin managed to find a place in Montreal, but then the problems started in his apartment building.

“My neighbors started bullying me. So I was literally thrown out of the house,” 25-year-old Calvin said in an interview on Thursday.

The newcomer was the victim of racist taunts from other tenants, which he said targeted his dark skin color and accent. At one point, Calvin claims he was told he was “not needed in this country.”

“Something like, 'You're a refugee, you're an asylum seeker, you're nothing in this country,'” Calvin said, describing the spot.

Calvin began to feel isolated and unwanted. The racism became so intolerable that he approached his landlord, who told him to move out.

“It's very hard to live where you're not wanted,” Calvin said.

With no choice but to leave, he ended up on the streets last January.

For over a month Calvin had no home. He warmed up in the shelters before heading back outside into the cold winter elements.

'You have nothing to eat. You eat once a day, that's your dinner,” Calvin said.

The young refugee eventually found long-term help and now he has a new, safe home as he applies to universities in Montreal. But those who work with immigrants in Quebec are sounding the alarm, saying they are hearing more and more stories of racist acts.

Jesse Edmond, a social worker who supports Calvin, says his other clients have come to him with similar stories since the summer. These experiences are “very hard” for newcomers, he added, saying they “get the feeling that they don't belong here.”

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“I have to give them some hope, give them some confidence again,” Edmond said. “Because some of them get their self-esteem so low.”

Racism can sometimes escalate beyond taunts. Edmond told how a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo fled Quebec City after being attacked.

“I was talking to him and he told me they almost killed him because he was black,” Edmond said.

Preparing for more asylum seekers under Trump

Frantz André, who advocates for refugee claims, told Global News he is getting calls about racism – such as immigrants being fired for unclear reasons and others facing deportation.

He says the racist acts are so common and so heinous that even citizens like him are questioning their place in Quebec.

“I'm starting to get that feeling,” he said.

André blamed the growing intolerance on political leaders, citing public debates about how asylum seekers would cause or exacerbate problems in the province. He sees newcomers as scapegoats for various issues, such as the housing crisis.

“Yes, there are problems. But they should not point to asylum seekers as the cause of all the problems in Quebec,” André said.

His comments come as the Quebec government has tightened immigration controls for several types of newcomers in recent months, citing a lack of capacity. Last week, the province suspended two major programs that provide a path to citizenship and introduced legislation giving itself new powers to limit the number of international students in October.

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US elections: Quebec premier expresses concerns after Trump's victory

On Wednesday, Quebec Premier François Legault also warned of a possible influx of asylum seekers as a result of Donald Trump winning the US presidential election.

While Trump promises mass deportations, Legault said the province has “done its part” and simply cannot accept more newcomers. The Prime Minister calls on the federal government to secure its borders with the US

“The problem isn't the immigrants, it's the numbers. We already have too many. So we should not add to the problem,” Legault said on Wednesday.

But it's not just Quebec bracing for what could unfold with a new Trump presidency.

Edmond, the social worker, also believes Canada will see more asylum seekers if Trump takes office and “so we have to be ready.” Meanwhile, Frantz says he's been getting calls every day since Election Day.

But advocates also want local political leaders to have a different view of newcomers. They come here to build a life and contribute to society in Canada, Edmond explains.

“The way people see them has to stop,” Edmond said.

Despite the challenges asylum seekers face, Calvin has few regrets about coming to Canada. He is grateful for the help he receives, and he is making progress after the racism he experienced.

“You just have to live and get on with life and just accept that God is putting you where you are,” Calvin said.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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