Close Reading

1) Toronto is poor value. Getting housing of any kind (buying or renting) is stupidly expensive. And the quality you get for the price is lousy. Especially the newer builds, which are just thrown up as quickly as possible and sold to investors. Policy measures generally all seem to serve to just inflate the price of housing further. The occasional lip service given to affordability is amusing, but ultimately sad. There are lots of people who really do not want the housing bubble to pop. They will fight against it with all they have.\n\n2) It has become kind of boring. There is lots to do if you have money, but it’s harder to find entertainment on a budget. Even the free stuff like parks are filling up. Stuff like sporting events, eating out, going out is very costly across the board. Even the “cheaper” stuff is expensive. It seems like a lot of local culture is disappearing. Even the cool neighbourhoods are filling up with the same chains. I think the high commercial rent and bureaucracy is deflating a lot of would-be entrepreneurs. Most landowners seem to just be banking on cashing out their land for condos.\n\n3) Canada overall has a high cost of living compared to salaries. In the US you can find lower cost of living areas that still give you a real city experience. And in Europe you can be poor but still live a decent, if no frills, life. In Canada the basic necessities are all expensive. Phone bills, grocery bills, rent, insurance are through the roof. Domestic travel is expensive. And the dollar sucks if you want to travel abroad. Health care is free but good luck finding a family doctor or waiting 8 hours in the ER these days. It’s expensive to be poor, or even middle class.\n\n4) Most of the Greater Toronto Area, outside the core, is soulless suburbs with awful transit - very “American” except with worse traffic congestion. You will need a car, which is another huge cost. Row upon row of old cookie cutter suburbs with the same crappy houses. Good luck walking anywhere, and if you do you will need to walk down boring, treeless arterial roads with cars zooming past right beside you, and cross giant eight lane intersections that were never built for humans on foot. In a rainstorm or on a fall evening you have to be really careful not to be run over by aggressive drivers.\n\n5) It is hard to raise a family in an apartment here. You can do it but it’s not very easy, and also you are still kind of judged for it. Lots of young people are feeling stuck and are deferring or avoiding starting a family. Buying any type of house, even a basic townhouse, requires pledging your soul to a bank by taking a massive mortgage with eye watering debt in a volatile market. But few apartment buildings have the kind of sensible gentle density, the family unit sizes and the common amenities, like little courtyards with jungle gyms, that you might find in Europe. No one ever contemplated that anyone would ever desire to raise kids in an apartment. It’s just a cultural thing that has worked its way into how things are planned and designed.\n\n6) The transit system is ok by North American standards but awful by international standards. There are only two real subway lines, one stub line, one line that is permanently out of service after a derailment, and another line that was supposed to open a couple years ago but still has no date for opening. The subways go out of service frequently, sometimes for the dumbest reasons, and then it is a zoo of shuttle buses. The streetcars are nice but so slow. The buses are fine if you find yourself dreaming about riding a daily herky jerky rolling tin of sardines. They are building a lot of transit but it will take decades to get done.\n\n7) There is still a lot of cool multiculturalism and opportunities to experience different foods and cultures - one of the best things about Toronto. Increasingly though it seems to be losing the fun vibe of the 90s, when everyone celebrated each other’s backgrounds and was chill. It seems the immigration is not as broad based anymore and also people are importing a lot of their “old country” grievances here. The immigration system also kind of preys on people abroad by selling them a false fairy tale, so they end up dejected when they arrive and see how things really are.\n\n8) This one might be controversial but it’s kind of an ugly city. There’s nothing particularly of historical meaning or value. Some of the older neighbourhoods are kind of nice, but the last 25 years they have only built giant glass skyboxes, one after another. There aren’t the cool “missing middle” walkups like in NY, Chicago or Montreal (or even LA). There are very few buildings with much architectural character. Some of the buildings they deem “heritage” here are an embarrassment.\n\n9) For safety, honestly on this score I think Toronto is not bad. There are not too many real “ghettos” and it’s night and day compared to much of the US. With that said, there is more vagrancy and social issues these days, with tents and such. It’s very sad but the shelters are full, lots of homeless go into the libraries, parks and transit system. It does make it harder to enjoy these public amenities safely. It is nowhere close to Europe where you might let your kids run free around town. Canadian parents still helicopter their kids and the place again is not designed to really be safe for kids, in the same way as Europe.\n\n10) Finally, a bit of a double edged sword. Toronto had a lot of youthful energy - people coming here from all over. It is definitely not as sleepy as many parts of the world. With that said, it is becoming a bit of a transient place (minus the world class experiences like London or NY). If you are from elsewhere you might find it hard making and keeping friends. I’ve seen lots of people struggle because it’s is hard to build a strong social network. We have a very “shallow” culture here - people are extremely polite but not overly warm and hospitable. We treat one another kind of like neighbours - meaning we’d like to have a cordial, drama-free coexistence and otherwise kind of stick to ourselves.

This has gotten out of control. The US is not the solution to everyone's problems. They think the grass is greener on the other side. So, we already had homeless people on the streets - even the veterans - . Americans are having a hard time, I think that there should be planes/buses taking these people back to the country they lived in. They need to be on the what list. Our country is failing Americans, and a fair amount of those crossing do have criminal records. Seeing a crowd this large, is this going to turn into a civil war? It's sad.

this isnt even just a toronto issue this is a canada issue. Canada was never going to be a successful nation because Canada only has access to 12% of its land mass that's habitable for humans to live on a day to day basis. Due to this Canada was always going to fail its just sad to see that it happened sooner rather then later

It is very sad to see this like a high-profile country. This needs to be solved immediately by the Canadian government

Because compliments to our woke idiocy and bloaded welfare programs and drug legalization they see that canada is living on borrowed time.\nThe sad thing is that it's such a beautiful country and is yet falling to the ground without a single shot fired.

It's sad to see Canada being destroyed by corrupt politicians.

We came from many oppressed coutries, then years later see that our country changed, to something closer to what where we came from...So sad.\nDecades later, some previously oppressive coutries cleaned up their act, and people are moving back there, because Canada is now less free than there.

I wonder what it will take for liberals to look in the mirror and realize they are the problem they claim that they want to solve. It’s terribly sad that immigrants no longer see Canada as a safe haven where anyone can build a life and prosper.

Good!, sad for them, but they see there is no longer the Canadian dream.

it's sp sad to see what is happening. here . i can see why you are posting this video many thanks ps 2 full time jobs wow

I wasn't born here but I've lived here now for 45 years and my god! This place is sadly going into a nose dive. Our Politicians don't realize how good this city and country is and they have ruined it over the years by having an obtuse outlook on the future of Toronto and this country. Crime rate is so high, cost of living is insane. No housing.Housing is suppose to be a fundamental human right and our politicians have made it into a pure luxury now. The other thing is wages have not reflected the cost of living in this country since 2000. Most do not earn a living wage here and its so disappointing to see. The Federal Gov wants to bring about a 1million more immigrants into Canada within a few years...Where would they live? Most are already living in tents in the streets. Its fine now but what happens when winter makes its entrance? From the Provincial Gov to Federal Gov this country is sadly run by idiots!

NO GOVT FOCUS ON PUNJAB ...see the royal and honest people of punjab. But now in punjab ...u will find bhaiyas. its really sad.

I’ve lived near Toronto for the vast majority of my adult life. Around 2016 I was working there and started to explore the city a little bit more, living there for a short time. I think the draw and attraction was that it always was a little hectic. Always something to look at, so many different cultures. Also such contrasts, walking through the downtown core and then out to a neighborhood like Greek town. With parks and even forests to be found. It went from tense to a feeling of refuge and a sense of a natural oasis within a chaotic machine. I think the sense of calm which could be found has become a little more rare. Also a certain openness that people and cultures had towards each other has been fading. Discourse with other opinions morphed into the near impossible. It’s all by design and sad to see. It’s a tangible and significant change. When you zoom out at the infrastructure, social and economic level. It’s very hard to see a healthy recovery happening anytime soon. Mostly due to those being in charge not caring. Still lots of beauty there. I would never choose to live there again, but if anyone is still living there and reading this. My advice would be to explore the greenways, parks and forests to be found. The juxtaposition of city and nature gives a heightened appreciation to both realities, and really gives a more balanced/peaceful mindset to explore the good which can be found

You're cute. Anyway, I visited Canada in 2005 and I thought that it was better than the US. It's sad to see that such a nice place has fallen so far.

I don’t see many comments about the education system. Canada has one of the best public education systems in the world. Teachers are also valued and get paid much better. I make double or triple what an American teacher makes and that’s sad. Also Canada has the highest number of citizens that have post secondary degree (per capita)

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.

This is really sad to hear and, unfortunately, is happening in many cities all over (DC, NY, SF, LDN, SYD, etc.). The pandemic, inflation, and the cost of living crisis are all significant contributors to the rise in homelessness and even violence that we're seeing.

YEP. DO NOT MOVE TO TORONTO. I think you're beings very kind. It's a mess. No planning has led to a city that is out of control and ugly. The worst part is the water front.... which simply has disappeared. \nYeah, anyone living in Toronto needs to be seeing a therapist...unfortunately you won't be able to afford one!\nI live outside Toronto in an apartment, (I never, ever thought I'd live in an apartment) and I pay $3000. And there is plenty of random violence where I am as well. I had a first hand experience. It's really, really sad \nI would leave this country no problem, but living here through lockdown and stuff has me rather down?

It's sad seeing people falling for this trap, I lived their for 15 years and you can never pay me to go back even to visit and sometime I wish i can afford to export people to canada so i can have kenya for me and the patriotic brothers and sisters. Kenyans have became lazy and always looking for easy things.

all you people that voted joe biden into office are to blame for this mass entry . sad thing is you will vote for joe biden again. when they take your home then you will see why we need to build the wall and put President Trump back into office. wake up sleepy joe biden

Sadly we are only seeing this now because of TRUDEAU’s gaffe ??

I feel so sad after watching this vlog....Powerful countries are spending huge money on weapons, and to reach the Moon for Research but on the ground why they don't see these helplessness of human history!!!?

It's very sad to see how the city of Toronto has changed. thanks for sharing

i remember when toronto was full of potential and promise. the music scene was blooming as well as film and television and tech industries. i used to describe it as almost like new york but cleaner and friendlier. sad to see homelessness has hit there as well. there are worse places with the homeless issue, but this looks to be a stark contrast to how it was before. would like to visit there again someday and hope things improve.

Sad to see a developed country having homelessness.\nDid Justin Castro sold it to CCP?\nWhat about the drugs they give in shelter to these homeless Canadians (if they ask, social worker gives them cocaine, fentanyl etc) and its allowed by the bankrupt government.\nWake up Canadians your government is not working for you, they are working for their pockets.

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.

I'd love to see a compilation of all your old commercials! They looked very entertaining. Something about Japanese commercials make me laugh. Think about it. As for Toronto, it's sad to see and it seems most big cities are following a similar path.

A somewhat depressing video, because it's an actually accurate portrait of the city, as it is. Toronto and Canada as a whole is governed by politicians and bureaucrats, who rely on experts opinion of what could be, if x,y,z all come together as envisioned. These pixie dust ideas are often aspirational, but sadly lack a base in reality. Slogans and cheerleading don't make things happen. Rarely is there enough funding to support implementation of these grandiose ideas, and somehow these same leaders ensure they get a chunk before anyone else, cause they have a standard of living to maintain. They just really feel for the pain and suffering of those who are not them. Toronto and Vancouver used to be Canadian examples, that those of us didn't live or want to live there could still be proud of. These cities also were viewed as examples to follow by other Canadian population centres. So the same issues keep reoccurring, because in abstract theory they could work. By the time reality shows that they are not working, it is too late, and too hard, and too embarrassing to change course. \nA very interesting video by a creator who took her rose coloured glasses ( we all have a pair just admit it), and sees what is and then says it out loud.

Sad to see the city of Toronto changed. After watching it, the people live in that city is almost in the state of poverty. ?

I am originally from Toronto but have lived for 35 years in Los Angeles. It is sad to see the same problems that my 2 favorite cities both have. Two big advantages that LA has is the weather, and higher incomes. In Toronto there is a drastic gap between income, and cost of living. There is that in LA too, but the gap isn't as big. People still make a lot of money here, but with more money, that increases inflation.

very sad to see.

I am sad to see no mention of the disabled . Toronto, disabled receive 1100/month, a room in some ones house rents for 1300. Our most vulnerable are being forced in to homelessness .

When was that?? that's so sad to see

I have mixed feelings about this topic but I know we all want better lives . But it’s sad too see these people struggle and get turned away and kept out just because there from Mexico. Very sad but don’t forget, god is watching all of us and what we do in life and then he’ll judge us at the end !

I’m born & raised in Montreal, Quebec and while it’s extremely multicultural and has an incredible education system, we have been experiencing a continuous housing crisis. Every year the rent prices and general cost of living are skyrocketing yet wages remain the same. It’s actually becoming a huge problem in Montreal. Young people are being pushed out as prices are starting to little by little be comparable to Toronto. \nAnd don’t get me started on the hate Anglophones receive here. Even Montreal natives like myself who are historically English get discriminated against every day. \nThe Quebec government is pushing the English language out of Quebec, making it harder and harder for Anglophones to be able to function and live practically here. You can’t even go to the hospital and get service. If you don’t speak French you can’t call and speak with any government services, and even businesses are forced to have French names, and only conduct their business in the French language. \nI myself am bilingual, but for someone who doesn’t speak the language, or is learning having trouble it’s nearly impossible to live in Quebec as they wouldn’t even be able to get a job. The discrimination Anglophones receive is insane and we are seen as a ‘bottom of the barrel’ minority, which is so sad seeing that this is where I was born and raised and where I call my home. \nThey’re taking away more and more public & social services and literally funnelling multi millions of dollars of funding , which is desperately needed for homelessness and many other social problems we have within Montreal and it’s all now going towards pushing the French language in Montreal (we literally have what’s called the ‘language police’ who’s job is to enforce French. They will give businesses thousands of dollars of tickets and even shut them down all because someone is caught speaking English) \nHopefully something will change soon or else Montreal is going to continue to become a place completely taken over by hate and discrimination and it will experience a MASS exodus (which is already starting).

Sad..the ones who do make it in commit crime in the US n blame the blk man.. So it's sad that the good ones don't make it in... but they should do what other countries do with large numbers like this... they team up n go for their leader n vote somebody new in...but they rather just run to another country instead...n refuse to learn English but will fight to get here...sigh we got Mexicans here who still can't get a green card but yet they want to skip steps to get in... we have kids from gratulama right now mad that they don't know where their parents are n mad asf they live here not realizing they parents got them here to make the best of it not be a maddening thorn to society about being here...like show them this n they should shut up.... it's unfortunate the only way to protect our borders is capital punishment n the US just isn't that cruel but if they see the large mass of .... the borders wouldn't look like this cause they will know they aren't gonna live if they cross this line...sad reality with what our ancestors did but it makes awful sense using fear for order sigh...

It is so sad to see an intelligent man like this brother say he is trying to make a better future for his children .\n\nAnd who is going to build Nigeria ?\nTinubu ? , Come on . . .

This gentleman is smart, articulate with his analysis of the situation. \nI echo his comments. If I am doing well in my country I wouldn’t leave— especially Africans and the African Diaspora. I see the horrific atrocities committed against the Africans crossing these borders to get into Europe. It is sad to the point where I said before I leave my country I would rather eat from my land than to come and be dehumanized.

Keep it up? dear... don't sad it's natural when you leave your home you feel you are alone in this world but every goal and destination demands some sacrifices but don't worry you are a brave girl focus on your goal inshAllah one day surprisingly your family will come to canada to see you soon... Allah always with you..... bless you dear?

I do feel sry for those people, but theres few things we need to address.. if they get here.. how they are going to survive if we hardly have jobs for us..\nThey forgit that america is not longer a place of freedom, our leaders had 5urn us into democracy, iron walls.took our freedom of speach, teach our kids they are praying nouns n to disrespec their parents if they tell them something else, where christians are becoming the enemy and evil the friends.. the president is a child molester n his wife has to shutup, our unborn child is already mark with a death sentence, America is NOT longer the land of the freedom, and the braves.. America. Is worse than their own country, to die here i should die were i was born, sadly im american n see my country gong down hurts… people u are no one here just like we are.. \nwe work all out lives, n when we need help is denied, but imigrants not even an id to proced who they are are been gupiven, housing, food, medical and money, im disable working for america, n i cant even get food stamps cuz i was granted ne (1) lousy dollar ne time n the food stamps said i made enought dont need food stamps, but my neighbors is an imigrant, her husband work, they even pay for her house, n me i was told no help cuz im not old enough.. what u mean.. i dont say anything about my friend cuz shes my friend but we can keep housing those that never put a penny into our land. Why they get benefits n we dont? Again i feel sry for them i really do, but what about us..the real citizens of United States of Anmerica..??? The real Americans.. we work, we paid, n we die.. they dont do a thing n yet they get more than me..i only applied for food but she said u did a dollar extra this mo, we closin* your case.. but ne time food n one time that dollar..

This is so sad to see for everyone

Its sad. I understand we need borders.. but its sad seeing these crying people at the border.

Go to uncle joes house and break thru those gates and let’s see if he cares then! So sad that the country is just being not cared for anymore!

That's really sad to see those people crying because they want to come into america. ❤❤

It's sad to see observation of religion is becoming a crime. Luv to paji from Pakistan.

Hi Tyler, born and raised Cdn here. I have American relatives and ancestors. I spent a lot of time going to the States to visit them when I was young and US felt like our big brother back then. Nice, clean, safe, fun and just big. Heck, when I was 15 I even took the Greyhound bus from Toronto to San Francisco. I've been back a few times but last was in 2015. Lkg to come back maybe this Christmas. I know media is biased but to give you some explanation, we don't have guns up here to the extent you guys do. Of course we have crime and sick things do happen up here but, we don't have to fear that every single person we come in to contact w is packin a gun. And the news intensifies our fear of that one aspect of your country's culture. And yes, the amount of mass shootings at schools terrifies us. I am sad to also see the political extremism in the US now. I miss the US of my childhood and certainly do agree, small town rural people are salt of the earth there. I even found New Yorkers nicer than Torontonians.

The thing that sucks is that this is not only hurting the US but Mexico as well. I get it. People want a better life, but it shouldn't be at the expense of other people. They still have to think about food, housing, health care, and so much more. A strain on an already crumbling economy. I'm working for a company that has a Medicaid/Medicare contract. Seeing the benefits some people get vs. what they need and cant/can afford is heartbreaking. Sad

The sad reality is when they get here they proudly wave their country's flag. Every time i see a Mexican flag i want to burn it! If you love it so much go back!

Sad to see Indian immigrants have to go through so much blocks n setbacks to settle in any foreign country leaving friends n families behind with a full turnover of culture etc. Better to live back home if the economic conditions of the country are good enough for the citizens to survive

You know what i see people saying oh they wont follow laws they'll take our jobs our housing yada yada ya which i get but at the same time....THESE ARE HUMANS...WHAT ARE THEY FLEEING FROM? THIS IS FVCKING SAD THESE ARE FAMILIES THESE ARE MOTHERS AND FATHERS WITH CHILDREN PEOPLE TRYING TO LIVE A FREE LIFE....we CANNOT be so heartless and cold to humans my heart breaks for them.... We do to have enough resources to let others in and still thrive America is not just Americans America is everyone That's what America is everyone! Everyone should be welcome here. If our government would get their s*** together and quit f****** people over there would be plenty for everyone! We as humanity are cold as f*** and heartless