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The government's policies are too much leaning on the left side. Cost of living is too high. Spending too much on constructions and other cash-grabbing projects that have no due dates and never end; they drive up the taxes on everything. The quality of new immigrants are also one of the major factor.

My immigration process took 14 years in total until I could get here, it was a blessing and I had a lot of gratitude to be here after living in a warzone. Ive lived in Winnipeg for 10 years, a part of me was always happy and okay to deal with the cold because at least nobody would be killing you or attempting to on a daily basis, with rockets and bombs. 10 years later, I was wondering that the only reason we came here was to escape war, and not find a better quality of life. You can tell me “you don’t like it then leave” but i find it disturbing that many Canadians here don’t recognize how bad the situation gets, when governments don’t do anything to enhance quality of life and corporates take control everywhere and raise the costs to unbelievable numbers. Housing crisis, most can’t afford houses or even rent a nice apartment. Healthcare system is a complete dogshit mess, people here don’t recognize the importance of how much this industry needs to be supported by governments and citizens because EVERYONE benefits from it and stay alive longer. I don’t know man, I only see it collapsing going forward, especially when everyone is divided and the aboriginal issues are a constant trend.

The high cost of living has made it 'unlivable' for even native Canadians who are earning 6-figure incomes. So many of them are now planning on moving to Asia where the cost of living is much lower, or to Italy where the aging population is resulting in houses costing only a few thousand dollars to buy. You get born in Canada, then you rush to leave before you starve to death here, unemployed and living in a tent due to lack of jobs, lack of housing.

Canada is a TRAP you end up being a SLAVE cost of living much to high and your Taxed to hell.

A lot of people use Canada as a bridge or backup just in case of... They stay until they get their passport and then leave. The reality is, Canada doesn't offer as many opportunities despite the government claims. Highly demand jobs are most like in the construction areas or some medium-lower non skill jobs, Tim Hortons or some food chain retail stores companies etc.Considering today average pension is around $1600 dollars, so doing a simple math just to rent a room will cost you $1000 dollars, only that plus food, and remember, if you are lucky, don't pay more for some extras, such as special medical treatment or so, all that plus taxes.There's not much motivations to stay half of your life in the freezer ,or in the oven like chicken.

Using Canada as a stepping stone to go to USA where salaries are higher and cost of living is so much lower.

Lol why does everyone moving to Canada think cities are the best place to go?\nSmall towns are far cheaper to live in, housing is at least 1/4 the cost.\nDon’t look at cities to live.\nShopping is done online now.\nWait times for the hospital in a city are crazy. Small town hospitals have much faster wait times.

heck do that survey with canadian resident not migrants now and prepared to be unpleasantly surprised ... why stay in a country that doesn't give a rats ass about you , employers and big business can do pretty much anything now because of covid and the '' worker shortage'' ; so again who wants to stay here when you are treated all around like crap , where gov services are all around going down the toilet , taxes high and for sure going to be even higher , where food prices are sky high while the quality is less than mediocre ; where its now almost impossible to build a family because of the housing crisis and general cost of living crisis. So again why stay in a country where you have NO FUTURE !?

Sky high taxes, low wages, sky high cost of living, most foreign education isn't recognized, far too much immigration causing problems finding jobs that pay a wage you can survive on let alone live on. Racism, divisive politics, very racist police, selective policing. I could go on and on. Many reasons not to move to Canada and even more why we Canadian citizens should leave.

Multicultural = Failed. Here is why (in my opinion) there is no reason to move in any big cities in Canada, and in Canada in general. \n1. Insanely expensive housing with next to none disposable income left in the pocket. \n2. Inability to get into the real estate market unless $$$ was brought in as an investment. This will leave locals and people who were born in Canada left out for good even further. \n3. Extremely competitive job market. Newcomers will have to suffer for a long time to break-in. \n4. Depression and drug addiction is everywhere. It's more deadly than covid but the government can't address the problem because they lose control for good. \n5. Canada is far away from many other places, which makes things worse as you feel trapped in a workcamp with no place to escape. \n6. The cost of living is getting much faster with the salaries significantly behind year after year. \n7. Canada became the country of failed government, failed multiculturalism, too tolerant as a result. \n8. Retirement in Canada will be impossible for 95% unless you agree to live in the middle of the nowhere until depression kills you. \n9. Many who came to Canada 25+ years ago and still around felt trapped. Canada's source of immigration will likely be the poorest communities who will agree to put up with everything listed above just to get out of where they live right now. \n10. Sad, but true. I have seen a steady decline in Canada since 1998. Things get worse every year.

Reddit is a very leftist platform and so these types of responses were predictable. A lot of it would have been true in the 70s and 80s but these are Canadian stereotypes that people are desperately holding onto. More and more things are being delisted from our healthcare coverage, meaning that I often hear of people getting charged out of pocket. I was surprised 3 years ago when my doctor ordered a cancer screening after I was suffering a digestive issue. I was not prepared to pay out of pocket for something as essential as cancer screenings. This sort of thing always used to be covered. It was always covered by our much higher cost of living and our higher taxes. If my taxes keep going up, I expect services to get better, not to decline like they have been. Our seniors are afraid to go to the doctor these days. Suicide is being offered to them instead of proper care and treatment. After they had spent decades working and paying into the system they are being shut out.

As former Calgarians, my wife and I had lived in that beautiful city for 30 years. We moved to the GTA in 2008. We had observed that the last 15 years, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) has had seen a gradual decline in both affordability as well as crime and safety. The last 5 years or so had been especially obvious with significantly steep jump in living (dwelling & food) costs as well as crime rates.\nAfter a couple of visits to Alberta in the last year or so, my spouse and I had decided to pull up stakes and relocate back to Calgary where housing is still reasonably affordable. We also feel much safer over there. Oh, did I mention that the ring road around the perimeter of the City is very near completion and it is free. Yes, it's free of charge, i.e.: it is not a toll road.\nIn general, drivers in Calgary, are also way more courteous than their counterparts in the GTA.\nOur relocation will happen in the next two to three months. Bye bye GTA (with no regrets) .......

How in the hell are the immigrants from the third world able to live in Toronto? The government must subsidize not only their wages but also their housing costs and much more. I don't see how else the africans could manage. The so-called asylum seekers depend on the taxpayers to cover their asses, even though the taxpayers can barely manage.

Great work of yours BUT I really need to say something to most of u making those videos and the ones that go along. I come from a very civilized country with a lot of education and history but awful economy. ?? I am myself educated but my country’s main salary is 700€/month and a descent one bedroom apt is the same price. There are no jobs no future if u don’t come from a rich fam. I am taking the brave decision to leave my country and loved ones and immigrate to Toronto. I Google ‘moving to Toronto’ and I only see videos that are pointing how awful is to leave in Toronto. Like it’s garbage city! \nHave u ever lived in a country like mine? Have u seen the cost of living and salaries in Europe? What about third world countries?? \nHow can u speak down so much on a place just because u have to hustle to start? Does life owes us an easy effortless life? \nYour POV is very Americanized - I have lived also in the USA for almost a decade. \nDon’t discourage ppl that way. I have high standards but I’m not entitled, I can work and u should be more thankful that u can follow your dreams and live from YouTube in Toronto. People hustle big time u don’t seem to understand so I really can’t engage with that even if it’s well made. \nThank u ?

Certainly, she is not being fair when it comes to presenting the facts. Her honesty is quite questionable. If someone secures a job like the one she's discussing, undoubtedly, very few would choose to remain in such a place.\nA message to the author: Please refrain from misleading young individuals for the sake of views. It's not advisable to continue creating videos when you can't truly understand the challenges of Canadian life and employment in just a few months.\nI strongly advise young people and families to reconsider their plans of moving to Canada. Invest a bit more effort and consider going to the United States instead. You can establish yourself in the USA, and don't assume that it's necessarily expensive. While it might be costly in larger cities, Indian students often share apartments to split the rent. In smaller towns like Kalamazoo, MI, the cost of living can be very affordable. Additionally, you'll likely find Indian employers who can provide you with cash jobs.\nWho am I? I'm someone who immigrated to Canada 22 years ago with a master's degree from a prestigious institute and a B.Ed. certification. I'm a certified teacher in Los Angeles and Ontario, Canada, but I never managed to secure a proper job in Canada. Later on, I earned a Master's degree in statistics from McMaster University, but I still couldn't find a suitable job, not even a laborer's job at that time.\nToday, you might be able to find a laborer's job, but you'd likely be stuck in such roles for the entirety of your working life, struggling to make a decent living. That's the reality of Canada. Moreover, don't assume that you can easily move from Canada to the USA; it's quite challenging to do so. Instead, consider the option of moving directly from India to the USA, which is a much more feasible path.\nMy sincere request is this: If you wish to pursue your dreams, seriously consider the USA. If, like me, you want to face the kind of challenging circumstances I've experienced, then you can come to Canada.\nCheers.

Certainly, she is not being fair when it comes to presenting the facts. Her honesty is quite questionable. If someone secures a job like the one she's discussing, undoubtedly, very few would choose to remain in such a place.\n\n\nA message to the author: Please refrain from misleading young individuals for the sake of views. It's not advisable to continue creating videos when you can't truly understand the challenges of Canadian life and employment in just a few months.\nI strongly advise young people and families to reconsider their plans of moving to Canada. Invest a bit more effort and consider going to the United States instead. You can establish yourself in the USA, and don't assume that it's necessarily expensive. While it might be costly in larger cities, Indian students often share apartments to split the rent. In smaller towns like Kalamazoo, MI, the cost of living can be very affordable. Additionally, you'll likely find Indian employers who can provide you with cash jobs.\n\n\nWho am I? I'm someone who immigrated to Canada 22 years ago with a master's degree from a prestigious institute and a B.Ed. certification. I'm a certified teacher in Los Angeles and Ontario, Canada, but I never managed to secure a proper job in Canada. Later on, I earned a Master's degree in statistics from McMaster University, but I still couldn't find a suitable job, not even a laborer's job at that time.\nToday, you might be able to find a laborer's job, but you'd likely be stuck in such roles for the entirety of your working life, struggling to make a decent living. That's the reality of Canada. Moreover, don't assume that you can easily move from Canada to the USA; it's quite challenging to do so. Instead, consider the option of moving directly from India to the USA, which is a much more feasible path.\nMy sincere request is this: If you wish to pursue your dreams, seriously consider the USA. If, like me, you want to face the kind of challenging circumstances I've experienced, then you can come to Canada.\nCheers.

Toronto resident here. Cost of living has become more expensive. I share an apartment with my someone and we are paying about $3,000 per month with few amenities. It requires both our incomes to be able to afford to live here and we're just getting by. I have lived in the core of the city since 2005 but was born and raised in the GTA and have never lived anywhere else. Since about 2015, costs have gone way up and now they are just plain unaffordable. I live close to Sherbourne and Queen and while I see a lot of homelessness, I do not really see much violence. The area south of Queen is much more gentrified and I am never walking in fear, no matter what time of day or night. The Transit system has been under construction for over a decade and it just doesn't seem to end. More and more historic buildings are being converted to condos and I see tons of construction everywhere. Traffic has become nightmarish with too many cars and not enough roads. We are considering a move to Montreal because of the rental costs are about $1000 per month lower, though neither of us is francophone. I am not sure how the powers that be will be addressing the housing crisis moving forward. It's a huge challenge and I may not be around to see the outcome. Having said this, it's going to be really tough to say goodbye to this city.

I’m a Canadian snowbird. Most of day to day life is not much different between Canada and USA. Sales tax is a little higher in Canada, and some of the insurance rules and options are a bit different. Overall costs seem a bit higher in USA. However, health costs are way(!) different. Last year I had some lung blood clots in Arizona. I went to local hospital and was admitted for 22 hours. I was investigated quickly and efficiently, and discharged on a blood thinner. \n\nThe hospital costs were $21,000 US$. A foreigner coming to Canada and being admitted would likely have paid ~$2,000-$3,000. The drug cost for one month supply in Arizona was $750 US$. In Canada, it costs $25/month.\n\nThe US politics are certainly more entertaining in the USA than in Canada. Also, the recognition of military and military service is much more a big deal in USA

Couple is honest and hard working, no question about it. Canada is not land of opportunities anymore, as it claims to be. If you are here for like 15-20 + years, then things might be different for you. Trudeau has pretty much open the borders for like anyone, I do understand that without immigration Canada cannot survive economically, but we need to beef up the immigration process. Australia is like middle of no where, but cost of living is not as high as Canada, and wages are higher. I need to understand the salary of Sr Manager and executives in Australia, that would explain the difference between both countries.

6:30 I've defintely heard $10k as a number thrown out for how much child birth costs before

I've recently had experiences with the US healthcare system through my partner, who is American, and I was appalled. I would challenge that the health care is higher quality in the US than Canada. I saw a complete lack of care, unprofessionalism, incompetence, and a bureaucratic mess the likes of which I've never experienced here. Even the premiere hospital in the region couldn't compare to the level of care I have experienced in the larger city hospitals here. Of course, his care did cost several thousand dollars a day, for which they sent him a bill after sending the original bill to the wrong department to get paid (through his insurance). It was a mess, all during which he suffered, had them come up to 2 hours late with his narcotic pain meds, taking up to an hour to answer a call bell, and generally being the antithesis of care. I am very happy that when we first began our relationship, I made it clear that I would never move to the US, and he was okay with that.. In fact, he's very much looking forward to leaving the country of his birth, for whom he served in the military for 20 years, and moving to Canada.

I've been to 30 states in my many decades of travel. The US has become a scarier place over the past 20 years. The politics is very partisan, Evangelicals have expanded their influence resulting in less tolerance of others, gun violence is insane, the poor are very, very poor with no way out, the very, very rich don't want to share at all (contrary to Christian teachings), the US version of capitalism verges on slavery (certainly not what Adam Smith envisioned anyway), the race issues are becoming simply stupid, the MAGA supporters and the socialist far left and wokeness are simply beyond comprehension . . . overall, tolerance for differences is becoming lost. People on the left and the right are equally are to blame. \n\nOne of Canadians' favourite activities is to crap on America(ns). This is unfair. There are wonderful places in the US and wonderful people. Collectively though, I think the US is coming apart at the seams. Canada certainly has its warts and our politics and society is becoming polarized too. But overall I'd say, Canada is friendlier, less violent, not as bigoted, more open minded, fairer, much less hierarchical, and more educated with regard to what's happening in the world. I do like the entrepreneurial bent to the US but its version often comes at a huge cost to people.

I take my pet to the vet in the US because the price in Canada is insane. Pets are not covered for health care and they really ding you for something as simple as dental work on a dog. It was going to cost us $1500 to have my pet’s teeth PULLED in Canada and it was only $500 in the US. A significant difference! So that is one positive thing about the US that is better than Canada. Also US turkeys are cheaper and juicier than in Canada. It has always been a tradition to get turkeys, cheese, milk, shoes, different flavoured chips, and gas when we cross over. Lol! After visiting the US regularly and vacationing, I do love Canada better because of Health Care. It is a big deal. You folks in the US should be fighting harder for it since it is the norm in Canada and the UK. Yes, we really pay for it in our taxes, but you don’t feel it as much if something bad happens.

It's a misconception to assume that the US medical care is always better, or that the wait times in Canada are a lot longer.\nWhile there's no question the quality of care depends on where you live, rural areas in both countries don't typically have specialists or all the latest equipment. Major urban areas are much better served.\nAlso, the measured outcomes for many types of surgical procedures are often statistically better in Canada, with higher success rates and better recoveries for many types of procedures. The big difference is because more Canadians have regular check-ups, problems are typically caught sooner, before they become serious. That's a big reason why our life-span is several years higher, and our infant mortality is much lower than the US. Because of the extra co-pay costs or because they don't have insurance and cannot afford basic medical care, many Americans put off doctors visits until they're really sick. \nDuring a routine check-up I was diagnosed with a minor heart condition last September. Was able to see a specialist within 5 weeks. That specialist sent me to a heart surgeon a few weeks later who scheduled an Arterial Ablation day surgery in December. (I walked out 6 hours later...) Lots of pre-surgical and post surgical testing and follow-up. As it turned out, the other side of my heart also required the same surgery, and by March that was completed successfully too. Again, multiple follow-ups and tests, and I've got a totally symptom-free outcome.\nI had a hip replacement a few years ago that went well and resulted in a totally pain free hip that allowed me to return to normal activities I could no longer enjoy before surgery.\nTotal cost in the US for both these types of surgeries would have likely been well over $100,000. The most I paid was for the hospital parking...\nIs it better in Canada? - Absolutely...!!!

I'm Canadian. I was born here, raised here, and have lived here all my life. However, my parents are American (they came during the Vietnam war), and I have full dual citizenship. I could cross the border into the U.S., get a job, start working and live there for the rest of my life if I ever chose to do so.\n\nHowever, I will never live in the U.S. Why? The cost of healthcare insurance and healthcare in general is definitely a part of that, but another huge factor is the socio-political atmosphere down there that is very unappealing to me. Everything from politics, the gun issue, much higher violence than we have in Canada, more racism issues, the media, and from what I have observed from decades of visits to the U.S.: there just seems to be a lot more people that are on edge and hostile than I am used to compared to Canada as well. For me, the general culture and mindset is just not something I want to live amongst.\n\nThere are some things I enjoy in the U.S., and there ARE wonderful people there too. I have several friends in the U.S. (born and raised), not to mention my entire extended family is American. But for me, the U.S. is a nice enough place to visit, but it's not somewhere I'd ever want to live.\n\nNo matter what kind of trip I take to the U.S., whenever I get back home to Canada it's always like a deep sigh of relief. I feel safer. I feel more relaxed. I feel at home. No matter how good my trip was, when I set foot back on Canadian soil again I always get a feeling of humble gratitude that I live here. For me, other than the warmer weather and some of the sights the U.S. has to offer, I'm much, much happier in Canada. I feel very fortunate to live here.\n\nAs a side note, I have never found our public healthcare system here in Canada to be lacking whatsoever. Any healthcare I, or anyone else I know that has received any, has always been prompt, of excellent quality, and reassuringly delivered in a professional manner.\n\nAs an example, in 1994, my father had a seizure and it was discovered that he had a benign brain tumour that had to be removed. Not even a week later, he was booked for his surgery and he had his procedure. He was operated on by one of the top two neurosurgeons in North America at the time, he spent three weeks in recovery at the hospital, and he had months of rehab afterward. About 2 weeks later, he had another seizure (the last one he ever had), he stayed in another hospital for an additional two weeks.\n\nHowever, all of what I just mentioned, and I mean ALL of it, was paid for by our public healthcare system. All he had to do was show his healthcare card and sign a release form for his surgery, and that was it. Nothing more. There were literally ZERO bills, no insurance companies, no paperwork, no phone calls, and ZERO hassle. Nothing.\n\nAnd no, our family was NOT rich or privileged either. Just an average middle class family. However, my dad's neurosurgeon told us his surgery and all the months of care he received afterward would have cost $180,000 (in 1994!), and our family would have been out on the street if it wasn't for our healthcare system. My dad also had a very minor heart attack in 2007 which didn't require surgery, and he didn't have to pay a dime or do anything else other than show his healthcare card for that either. Since those two events, my father has lived a healthy, normal life thanks to our public healthcare.\n\nIn Canada, EVERYONE receives that kind of care, regardless of if they are a billionaire or they are homeless. Because that's the moral and ethical thing to do, and is just one of the many reasons why I plan on staying here.

Prior to the mid-1960s, health care in Canada was private, as in the USA. Couples could easily be bankrupted by the cost of the hospital birth of a child. Dental care was (and remains) very expensive; it isn't totally covered by the socialized medicine. Audio, optical, physiotherapy prescription medicine:all pretty much not covered by socialised medicine. Canada does not have a comprehensive medical system. However, it is possible to get medical attention from a General Practitioner without paying a co-pay. Consider, though, that a large number of Canadians cannot get medical attention at all because they have no family doctor simply because there aren't enough GPs to fulfill the country's needs. Have they all gone to practice private medicine in Florida?

We've had 2 kids in Canada with no insurance and it costs us nothing. So any amount seems too much to me

I could and would never move to the US. It has some amazing people that I am friends with and some beautiful places but I would never move there because of the guns, the Bible Belt, the much bigger religious issues, the terrible cost of healthcare and the fact that the Republicans are so terrible. You couldn't pay me to live there. I never paid a cent giving birth four times, having a miscarriage or any surgery or hospitalization of any length.

11 years ago a trip to the ER in Texas cost close to or more than the cost with insurance than a the cost for an ER visit in NS (for those out of country who are not covered by our provincial program). \n\nWe would pay $50 copay at the ER, then over. The next few days we would receive a bill for the physician, then from pharmacy, then from the facility, then from X-ray, etc, every separate department would have its own portion. \n\nAnd then there was the unpleasant surprise when the doctor who saw you in the ER was not an “in network” doctor even though the hospital was “in network”. Our insurance paid 70% of (approved) in network costs, but only 50% of out of network costs. Keep in mind that “in network” hospitals and providers had lower negotiated rates with the insurance companies. Which meant you would have coverage of 70% of a negotiated lower rate for in network but out of network was 50% of a higher rate.\n\nMy neighbours were lovely people. The culture was much different than I expected. The gun culture really hits you in face. For the first while it seemed to be so obvious - signs on pharmacies, hospitals, and schools that state that guns were not allowed, even with a conceal and carry permit. Very quickly, that became “normal”….\n\nFood was amazing. Gas was cheap. Politics was everywhere. Christian mega churches were everywhere - along with some very vocal overbearing people who force their beliefs and opinions on anyone who is near them. \n\nI was surprised with the number of people who felt it was appropriate to discuss religion, politics, and money with virtual strangers. A lot of very personal questions as well. I am guessing it is the difference between what is considered extremely rude in Canada, vs what is just a regular question in the US (or that area of Texas). \n\nAnd another very different thing was how hardly anyone swore. I had the bottom drop out of a bad carrying glasses when I was in San Antonio, the glasses broke, and I said “Shit.” I have never seen so many heads turn towards me. Most of the females looked at me with complete disgust and a lot of the males laughed. I expect that the American who heard me swear, were thinking I was the rudest person. One of my children’s friends was from Australia and when their mom came over one day, she said something to the effect of “so glad you are Canadian” because she sis not have to worry about offending me if she said fuck. That was a relaxing afternoon.

Both Canada and America have huge problems right now. As a 73yo Canadian I have NEVER seen so much hate for our Government. Everyone has the exact same complaints, like it was scripted. Our press is constantly stirring the pot and it makes unsatisfied Canadians more angry every day. The negative press pounding on our PM never ends. There are YouTube channels that take every little Canadian fault and make it into the crime of the century. Worse, they make money doing it.\n \nCanadians have been spoiled with our social services and lack of crime, and our beautiful country etc. I'm so tired of the complaining and whining that makes my life more miserable than the cost of living does. Canadians have been spoiled rotten, and now that the candy is less sweet, more expensive and less plentiful, Canadians whine and complain like spoiled children. \nMost countries in the world have the exact same problems and Canadians seem to think our problems are unique and directly connected to our Government only.\n\nAll said and done, I would still rather live in Canada with all of our faults, miserable people, and the haters. When I look at our American cousins there isn't any place on earth that I would rather live than Canada.\n\nI enjoy your channel Tyler, as it's light hearted and enjoyable to watch. It shows us that our Countries are the same, but so different.

Pretty sure the woman who was pregnant was mostly concerned about no mandantory maturity leave. Not health car so much.\nThat said it is common for Alaska couples with no health insurance to come to the whitehorse yukon hospital to have their babies. They pay for the services but save a lot compared to the cost in Alaska.

Canada has become “Land of Hardship “ . Employment is hard to find to match your qualifications. There is no job security. You could be fired without proper explanation. Discrimination is always there though not openly. Specially in higher positions. Houses have become unaffordable. Food costs are rising every day. Waiting times in hospitals emergency is too long and getting worse. For surgery you have to wait months. My brother died by falling from stairs in his house while waiting for knee replacement surgery. Things are not getting better at any time. After working hard all your life when you retire your pension is not enough to live a comfortable lifestyle. With inflation your retirement becomes “hand to mouth “ life. After spending almost all my life in Canada my brother and friends in India have become much richer, happier and healthier than I am today.

Hey, be negative. I hate the positivity cult. Be honest. The world is falling apart. Let's not mince words. This is a global crisis. America has been crap for a long time, but it's sad to see Canada now going through the same, and deteriorating. Such a beautiful country. I remember being there years ago, and the energy was so much lighter, uplifting, and I always loved this about Canada in general. It was always the nicer bit of N. America....but now it's much like what the USA is experiencing with insane prices, housing crisis, drugs, crime, homelessness, etc. I don't feel this will get better anytime soon. I think we need to demand some serious changes, and they need to start with forcing down the costs of living, whether they like it or not. It's a giant scam. Anyone who knows what is really going on, and why, knows that it's not even 'the market', but it's predatory price gouging. People are charging high prices because they can, not because it's actually worth that. And no one is stopping them. Same with food, and everything else.

Life in the USA is much, much expensive than in Canada and healthcare is the most costly of the world. In the USA, many people have lost their homes and even filled for bankruptcy because of medical bills. The USA doesn't have universal healthcare insurance and many people die because they can't afford to get medical services or pay for the high cost of medicine/drugs. Many people in the USA also leave the country when they get old or retire because after retirement, they not longer can't afford to stay. In the USA seniors are victims of many crimes, that's another reason they leave the country not to mention that their lives will be cheaper in many countries of the world. Many are forced stay in the USA after retirement because the USA doesn't allowed people to get retirement funds in many countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, etc.

I am a South Sudanese Canadian who pretty much grew up in Kenya before travelling abroad. Life in Canada is not easy.. especially after Trudeau came to power.\nI make pretty good income in IT, but i pay like 30% in taxes...30% of my money is gone. I dont see it. I know others who pay more than me in taxes. The grocery is also high, as are the other bills. Rent is really high. In my city, an average house costs 800k. Even my cousins in the US are shocked at the prices of homes in Canada. My rent is much higher than the mortgages being paid by my cousins in the US. In places like Toronto or Vancouver, it is worse.\n\nI went back to Africa last time and saw so many opportunities, that i made my decision yo transition slowly back home. \n\nThe problem i find with most Africans is thinking of finding jobs in the government or private sector. If you are a Kenyan, or Ethiopian or South Sudanese, etc, think of creating jobs instead.\n\nThe opportunities for entrepreneurship in Africa are endless because alot of the problems in society have not yet been resolved. You dont have to have alot of capital to start farming for example. So many Africans have access to free ancestral lands that they can farm and make money from. But many want to spend time in the cities instead. A change of mindset is needed.

the biggest challenge with most people is comfort, threiving abroad requires more than just one job. If you have gone to hustle please forget about comfort. 2ndly if you are going to canada make sure you have someone who is gonna shelter you for a few months as you stablize, or help you figure out your next step and also have a few bucks on you, otherwise you will die on the streets. And then once you find a job, please subsidize the costs, you can share an apartment with someone, cook your own food.\nlastly people should know that much as canada is a rich country, it also has poor people living there.....inclusive of beggers. I think you should just forget about the negative comments for the people who are not doing well....

I paid for my house including furnitures $24.500 in 1980 \nI live in the country in quebec where prices are much lower than elsewhere in canada, specially in big cities. \nNow it worth $400.000, So you can see how canada has deteriorated. \nThe same house would cost 1 million dollars in Toronto and 2 millions in Vancouver.

Thanks Lynn for bringing this up. I am a Kenyan living in Canada. You highlighted the most important thing- due diligence. There are a lot of people that come here with a promise of a better life and the notion is that it’s instant. I want to confirm to you that it’s better life, but it’s not instant. You have to put in the work and prove your worth. You have to gain Canadian experience to get a decent job. Also be ready to go back to school and upgrade your skills. There are jobs here zinaitwa Trades. These are the jobs that we don’t value at home but pay amazingly well here. Construction, Electricians, Plumbers, Mechanics, Carpentry, Welding, Hairdressers, Tailors.. Those are very valued skills here- if you can invest in learning these trades but pia ukikuja hapa you have to convert your certs to Canadian ones by doing an exam or going back to school . If you are into office jobs, make sure you have market relevant skills that align to this country. Be ready to embrace the digital revolution and mpende hesabu. Accounting is very much valued here. The secret is be ready to start from the bottom, be ready to upgrade yourself, be ready to work like you’ve never worked before… You will make it eventually .. Mungu mbele! \nI am confirming that we are going through a recession here and as per the market trends, it’s only going to get worser until we get to a point of stabilization. The housing market is crazy, food costs and gas (fuel)costs are off the roof .. it’s not easy. So if you have a good job in Kenya, hold onto it for now until things get better ( due diligence /research) .. Make sure you have the right visa that allows you to work here. That visitors visa theory is not working anymore. \nOverall Canada is a good country with lots of opportunities but it’s not for the faint hearted. \nLastly, be prepared for the harsh winters and days of severe loneliness- Si lakini ni life? Kila nchi ina challenges zake. God bless!

I live in Canada as a Kenyan and I have been here for sometime .I work as a HR/Payroll Specialist also certified in the field. The problem is not Canada , Canada is a very good county which I love and I am gland God gave me the Opportunity to Come and settle here with my family.. The problem with some people coming here is lacking of knowledge how Canada works .It’s system is very far from how things work in Dubai or Gulf countries. A lot people are thinking than you can just come and get any job even without proper papers or you can earn a lot of money and then build wealth quickly. Which is A BIG FAT LIE. The tax in Canada keeps you humble. That is how Canada funds it's high end life many admire and want to be part of. The more you work in Canada the more tax you pay and many don't know this, and it is one of the main reasons why a lot of people start to regrets, because they realize there effort of working hard is not paying as they hoped. Another thing in Canada is next to impossible to get jobs or rent a place without proper paper work, like work permit, It is not like USA where you can use someone else papers to work. the The main available jobs , easy to get , don’t pay much. And also the cost of living is very high in some provinces like Ontario and BC. They hardly recognize credentials from outside unless you came through a job offer. Also because a lot of things in Canada are paid by the government through taxes, like health care, education. Unless you are tax paper with (and I repeat) Paper work, you cant access the benefit, including thee free food available for the needy. \nMany people forget Canada is looking for people to work for them. Not to grow rich and leave. The system is meant to keep you working. Unless you understand how a system of a country works, one will continue to blame it. Let people get well informed and well educated first , before they jump in the river. And it’s not Canada a lone , but any country in the world. Also a lot of these media post about Canada are misleading. And there is also another trap called debt, a lot of people once they getting working, rush to but things they cant afford and it becomes a stress instead of a blessings.\nIf you want to live well and enjoy Canada . One of the top thing to do is, go back to school once you enter in it, get a good education and you will get a good job. Also give yourself time to adjust. REMEMBER you are starting from square one. You are not continuing where you left in Kenya or in the country you get from. Also, the general social climate is not as friendly as those in USA for example. Not many people are willing to help for free. The most jobs advertised in Canada are the lower end paying jobs, which a lot of people pay a lot of money to come for, just to realize the job they left behind was far much better than this, but no one told them that, just because it said $18 hrs and you converted it to your country and looked a lot, doesnt mean it carries the same wait once you earn in from here. The living expense are very different. The reality is, it is not where you are , but whom you are and determination knows no barrier. Anyone who will trust God for help, work hard/smart and be patience in life, they will make. It might take longer than they expect, but they will get their eventually.

I moved 26yrs ago from Kenya. I've worked in the social services sector in USA and I can tell you that I have seen poverty here on a level that most people in Kenya will never understand until the land over here. The mind control, plus debt, plus high cost of medical care etc keeps people stuck. I have surrendered completely and made my peace. Life is better for people who come straight from the village or they are escaping abuse etc. But if youre doing well in Kenya, I would just stay there. But remember neocolonialists have already made their way into Kenya and life won't be much different once they get their fangs into the system.

Hi Lynn, this is a very interesting conversation. I moved to Canada in 2003 went to college and became a nurse. First of all it was not easy paying for college I was lucky that husband was supporting with the bills as I went to school. So I would say that I have skills that are very marketable. Our combined family income was over $100,000 CAN. We mortgaged our first home which was very basic for a LOT of money. We had our kids and we had to struggle with childcare as most young families do. By North American standard, we were doing good. We each had a good car ( loaned), we made trips to Kenya every so often but in 2016 we decided we wanted to move back home and we sold our home and we did. I HAVE NO REGRETS. There were several things that made us reach our decision. First, I truly believe that for the Canadian system to work as it does, it has to entrap its residents. Even after 10 years of work we did not have money in the bank. Everything we owned really belonged to the bank. The light bulb moment for me came when I evaluated my net worth. A primary school teacher in Kenya after 10 years of work with good financial management will own a plot, a simple house and will start to invest for retirement. After 10 years of work, there wasn't much in the account, our house would need 25 years to finish paying mortgage and to be honest there wasn't much to show for those years of work. Quality of life really sucks the amount of stress will definitely send you to the grave sooner. This is the case for most first generation immigrants. You might say you are sacrificing and building a future for your children but, my observation was since our diaspora children have not grown in Kenya to see the need for money and what life really looks like without the comforts they are used to, they do not have the same drive as the parents so they often do not excel they are just ordinary. There is also the struggle of growing up as a minority group. A lot of our children because they are seeking acceptance will struggle with self esteem, will have depression or will join the LGBTQ community where they get sense of belonging regardless of their colour. The morals are also different from their parents and they are shaped by the society they grow up in. When I looked at what my life would look like if we kept living there, lets say we eventually pay off our mortgage, when we are old and requiring care, our children will not be able to support themselves and support us because they have to work to sustain themselves so we would to move to assisted living or nursing homes. The cost of senior care is not covered by the government unless you have no money. so we have to sell out home which would be old and outdated but still very expensive and we would have to pay $5000-$10000 per month depending on the type of care we need. so as you can see if we ended in a nursing home for 5 years we will have depleted all the money we made from the sale of our home. So by the time we die, we would not have money to leave for our children. So we worked really hard, supported the economy, and die leaving not much at all for our children, we sacrificed our quality of life, and ended up with children who don't think much of themselves or have very distorted morals. I still remember in my mind as we drove to the airport on our way back to Kenya, I thought of the story of Lot. He was pretty successful in Sodom but I'm very sure on his death bed he had lots of regrets why he ever went there. I know its tough being in Kenya but if you have a job or any way to make ends meet, be like Abraham. God will bless you regardless of whether you are in the dessert.

As a Kenyan living in Switzerland, one of the most expensive countries in the world, i‘d share these thoughts: \n\nDo due deligence. Don’t leave your country without any proper structure of what you are going to do\n2. Once you are there, live within your means. Like for example why should i get a car and incur additional cost when there is cheaper reliable transport system. You must be financially disciplined to be able to survive here.\nAs a matter of fact, I am a PhD student, in the lowest salary bracket, but I am far much financially more stable and liquid than I was as a high school teacher. \nSo do your due deligence and be disciplined. And people should stop generalising stuff because they screwed up somewhere

I landed in Toronto in 1984, it was clean, safe and affordable. I was able to support myself going to university in the early 90’s working part-time as a waitress. Tuition was much cheaper back then and of top of that I was able to get a grant from the government (which was scrapped I believe). I used to walk down Yonge Street late at night with friends until we reached College Street to go have breakfast at the Golden Griddle on Carton Street. I miss the Maple Leaf Gardens and the CNE Grandstand. There were no shootings at nightclubs when I went dancing. Then things started getting really bad, the cost of living and the violence skyrocketed so I decided to move to Quebec City at the end of 2014. I worked hard on my French and now I am a civil servant for the Quebec Government. I have no regrets. I am lucky to have known Toronto The Good. If you want to reminisce about the streets of Toronto in the 1980’s look for the Night Ride videos here on YouTube. Cheers ??

I used to live at Yonge and Gerrard for many years. Loved it. I moved away to Alberta in 2009. I am shocked at how much the city has deteriorated as well as the cost of living. \nAllan Gardens has always been no go….but my god! Just ridiculous. No excuse for this level of homelessness.

I have had a home base in Toronto for the last 20 years, traveling almost consistently for work until covid hit. While I am not a fan of the city tbh, I have stuck it out there this whole time as I have not been able to figure out where else in Canada I'd rather live. The way things have gone in the last little while however, I'm now making plans to leave Canada altogether. Even though I am unaffected by high housing costs as I've owned a home in the city, the general cost of living across Canada is now extortionate for what you get. Toronto was fine for me to use as a base for my traveling lifestyle in the past, but with crappy weather much of the year, a left leaning electorate that keeps voting ultra woke politicians at all levels of government, the now increased cost of living there is no longer worth it to me. I'm headed for the exit. All this said, I don't feel that your coverage about crime in the city was balanced. Yes the news stories you used actually did happen, but I do not feel unsafe in the city. A handful of incidents in a city with the population of Toronto - this is a blip.

Simple economics should dictate that if rents are so high that the majority can't afford them, they should drop. The peoblem is, there are a small number of people who are more than capable of meeting the high cost of rent and of real estate generally. This is indicative of how much economic inequality has grown in Canada, as it has throughout the English speaking world.

These issues are big city problems, and seen far worse in the US. If you go to NYC, you will see cost of living being astronomical (much higher than Toronto), homelessness being worse, crime is worse and mental health services are non existent. The same is true for LA. \nIn fact, in the US petty crime is more lethal due to the mass access to firearms and rampant gun violence. \nThings can be better in Toronto but it is still far better than many equivalent cities in the US.

I was just in Ontario and Quebec, last month with my 13 year old daughter. We talked with many native Canadians during our travels. \n\nThe common theme was too much immigration, without letting the natives feel comfortable about it, or giving time for the immigrants to assimilate. Besides cultural concerns, it really hurts schools, hospitals, and the cost of living. \n\nIt doesn’t appear that Trudeau has much concern for Canadians. I heard a lot of anger directed at him. Especially from eastern Indian immigrants—they were very upset about the forced inoculations. \n\nCanada was very much different than it was just a few short years ago. It’s very sad to see. Hopefully they can get some better direction than what they have now.

Thank you Alina for your objective assessment of Toronto. It changed too much my liking, I have been trying to move there but costs of living are a huge turn off.

People are so cold ... if rules and access to help in our great land costs to much, is to hard with non background tests, and just want to be free.... legal applications should not cost and no real no unless violent offenders or cartel/ terrorist affiliated... let them into new Mexico we have space