Canada Calling: A Punjabi student’s suicide, Brampton loans and the dark side of Canadian car culture

“Ohnu car di lod payi as he struggled to manage college alongside work,” Bikramjit shared with Red FM Toronto. “I recommended he purchase an old second-hand car, not exceeding $5-6,000. However, he was misguided into buying an expensive BMW X1 at a Brampton dealership.”

According to Bikramjit, the dealer informed Bhavjeet that the BMW would cost $600 a month, neglecting to mention the additional substantial insurance expense. Car insurance in Malton and Brampton can surpass the car’s value due to bad driving and auto thefts, among other things.

“A BMW X1 also requires premium fuel, further increasing its running costs. The dealer also suggested Bhavjeet drive for Uber to offset his installments but failed to mention that Uber requires a full G-class license,” Bikramjit revealed. Bhavjeet possessed a conditional G2 license, equivalent to a learner’s permit in India.

“So when he told me he had booked his car, for a downpayment of just 1000 dollars, I asked him tera loan inni chheti kiddan approve ho gaya! When we bought our car with a stable job, our loan process took a month. I advised against proceeding and urged him to reclaim his $1,000 from the dealer. He assured me, ‘Okay Mamu, koi ni (no problem) I will go to the dealer and ask to cancel it and get my money back.'”

Bhavjeet never contacted Bikramjit again.

Bikramjit mentioned his nephew left a note stating, “‘Mera gaddi da loan approve ho gaya siga, main hun pichhe ni hat sakda siga. Je main hatda taan vi phansda.’ (My car loan had been approved, I will be in trouble if I step back)

‘ This shows the dealership’s coercion tactics to prevent him from canceling the deal.”

THE BRAMPTON LOANS

In a tragic coincidence, around the time Bhavjeet arrived in Canada as an international student in December 2022, a viral social media post surfaced, highlighting the very circumstances and practices that allegedly contributed to his death.

The widely-circulated skit, viewed by millions on TikTok and Instagram, satirizes the shadowy practices of Greater Toronto Area car dealerships. It portrays a scene where a man impersonating a newly arrived international student fervently thanks another individual posing as a desi car dealer for securing a $50,000 loan approval for his coveted car, a BMW 5 Series. “Huney huney 7 mint hoye ne mainu (Canada) land kitte (I landed in Canada just seven minutes ago),” the pretend student declares to the camera and points to the pretend dealer, “attey paaji ne mainu gaddi approve kara ke ditti aa. (Indian) Aadhaar Card te gaddi approve hoyi aa (This bro has got my car [loan] approved on the basis of my Indian Aadhaar card),” Then the beaming dealer thumps his chest and asserts, “Je Baljeet ton (gaddi) approve ni hoyi, te kitthe vi ni honi! (If Baljeet can’t get a car [loan] approved, who else will)”

The skit carries parody but is perceived as authentic by many in the comments due to its resemblance to car dealership ads making similar claims on South Asian-oriented Canadian radio.

The success of these dealerships hinges on targeting a demographic that faces challenges in owning a car: international students and newly arrived immigrants.

Understanding the urgency for a car among these groups necessitates comprehending North America’s car culture. From Henry Ford’s mass-produced Model T in the early 20th century to the development of the Interstate highway network and the growth of suburbia, the continent’s evolution has prioritized cars over other means of transport. With unreliable public transportation systems, except in major city centers, owning a personal vehicle is imperative in the U.S. And, due to the weather, it’s crucial for survival in Canada.

Irrespective of one’s views on climate change, in -30°C at 8 am in Edmonton, the car feels like humanity’s single greatest achievement when dropping off your two-year-old at daycare before heading to work. Or fetching groceries from the nearest Walmart a few kilometers away.

Many jobs available to international students, from food delivery to Uber driving and flyer distribution, require access to a car. Even working in a warehouse on the outskirts or securing a security job in, say, Oakville while residing in Brampton is significantly easier with personal transportation. This flexibility allows students, to a large extent, to balance classes and work, a struggle Bhavjeet faced.

However, for newcomers, obtaining auto loans from established dealerships can be daunting. They require pay stubs, credit scores, and other documentation. Yet, some dealers offer financing with more relaxed conditions, while others resort to falsifying proof of income to secure loans.

In the Canadian lending industry, such dubious loans are pejoratively termed ‘Brampton Loans’ due to their alleged prevalence in Brampton.

The dealership that secured Bhavjeet’s loan insists its paperwork was legitimate.

NOT MY FAULT, SAYS DEALER

“We didn’t pressure him (Bhavjeet). He seemed content with the car. In fact, just a day before his death, he texted us asking if he could pick up the car the following day. So, it’s evident that the car itself wasn’t the issue,” Mani Boparai, the owner of the dealership, 22G Auto Sales, stated in an Instagram video.

He contested Bhavjeet’s uncle’s account, saying, “He approached us expressing interest in the car, but his uncle was against it. If he had requested to cancel the car and get a refund, we would have complied. Instead, he requested us to hold the car for seven days until tensions within his family eased, which we agreed upon. We possess evidence of all our communications with him and we want to understand the circumstances leading to his death,” Boparai added.

22G Auto Sales, pronounced as “bai-ji,” is a prominent car dealership in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), boasting two locations in Brampton and one in Caledon. Owing to its diverse collection of cars and more lenient lending terms, it has garnered popularity among international students. Remarkably, the dealership’s ascent commenced in 2017, aligning with the surge in Canada’s international student population.

During a podcast, Mani Boparai acknowledged the unforeseen impact on his business, saying, “We didn’t anticipate it. Students started arriving in Canada in large numbers at the same time as we started out, and it bolstered our sales.” He also credited the concurrent rise of Sidhu Moosewala — who himself came to Canada as an international student and whose early songs revolved around fancy cars and guns — for contributing to their success.

“We were the pioneers in our area to extensively use social media for car sales. Whenever a Sidhu song dropped, we’d make Instagram videos to connect with that audience,” Boparai explained.

However, Boparai’s aggressive marketing techniques and targeted approach towards international students raised eyebrows. In the aftermath of Bhavjeet’s tragedy, during an interview with Red FM Toronto, he was questioned about dissuading young students from purchasing cars beyond their means.

“I always advise in my videos to avoid unnecessary show-offs and only buy what you can afford. But ultimately, the decisions you make are yours; you can’t blame others,” Boparai asserted.

“It’s unfair to target the dealership. We merely conducted business. If his uncle had come the day after Bhavjeet made the booking and said, ‘This decision was wrong, cancel the car,’ if I hadn’t agreed, then I’d be at fault. We can’t bring Bhavjeet back, but I urge parents and guardians to be honest with youngsters about their desires. If they can afford it, don’t hinder them. But if they can’t, encourage them to earn enough to afford it eventually,” Boparai concluded.

(Daksh Panwar is an Ontario-based journalist and broadcaster. Twitter: @Daksh280)