Close Reading

If a person is not able to afford living in Toronto , how in the h--l are they able to afford a therapist at Better Help , having to work two jobs to afford an apartment , is what is causing people to have mental problems to deal with .

The person who said they had to pay in Toronto for a foot surgery only had to be because they lived in the states.\nYou also have to pay for whats considered not a necessity. You can get free cosmetic procedures if it the issue was from something like an accident, birth defect, disease, ect.

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

Look at the neighbour on the south of the border. They are even worst with organised shop lifting, drugs and guns. I used to live in Vancouver and Toronto, both were the best cities to live on earth but they started to become the cities of crime.

You lived through the best time the city had too offer… you’re completely right… don’t move back… Toronto is dead. Trudeau killed it.

I live in Toronto and am scared of riding the TTC!

Toronto is like anyplace,depends were you live,lived there 14 years,never had a problem, 90's

I lived in the US for 30 years. I hated every year, except for having my sons there. My American husband is a staunch NRA supporter. At the 30 year mark, when I gave him an ultimatum. I gave him 30 years down there, and the time had come where he needed to do 30 years in Canada. We've been in Canada for 6 years, and he doesn't ever want to go back.\nI feel for the new mothers, who only get 6 weeks maternity leave (8 weeks for C-Section).\nCanadian Mums get a full year. Nurturing your new baby is necessary for a well-balanced child. You can't bond in 6 weeks. \nYour health insurance is nuts. We paid $1500/mo. just for our family. Then you have a $5k deductible first! Just walking into the ER is $500 and THEN add on labs, x-rays, meds, etc. My son was in mental health treatment and our insurance capped mental health at $25k for life. \nThe biggest slap up my head, was when I found out I CAN'T collect my SSI. I paid a lot of taxes, since we made 6 figures/year. So, now I'm screwed, since they won't pay a former Permanent Resident. Had I been a citizen, I could get it. My husband is a PR in Canada, waiting to take his citizenship test. If he applies for SSI, he needs to go down to the States for 30 days and nights, annually. \nI'm from Toronto, born and raised and I am so happy to have my feet back in my own country. My boys are still there, as well as my grandchildren. Thankfully, they fly up twice a year. You couldn't pay me to move back.

Canada was good, but it has gone downhill immencely in the past decade or so. We are now in the top 5 countries on earth for housing cost to income ratio. Many Canadians can't even afford a home or rent here any more. A one bedroom apartment in Toronto where I live can go for 2,400 a month. Millions of immigrants arriving and the economy has largely stagnated despite all these new people. Lots of blindly partisan Liberals here though that will never admit the country is in serious decline. Don't let them lecture you about healthcare and social safety nets either there are literally MILLIONS of people in Ontario our largest province where I live that can't even access a family doctor even if they were willing to pay for one. With the number of people not being able to access basic medical services here I would not call it unviersal any more.

14:29 I have never had to pay out of pocket for any medical visit in canada ever and i have lived in Toronto, Montreal and St. John's, you do have to pay for things like an ambulance or crutches but not the medical care itself, he must have been visiting about something that was cosmetic or non essential treatment.

I'm Canadian who worked & lived in North Carolina for 3 years. Glad to have come back to Toronto!

As a Canadian I am actually going to set up a business that's taking advantage of America's horrible healthcare system. I actually wanted to move to the United States every since I was a teen ager. I went to the Detroit area and they failed me in nursing school. I found white Americans to be quite feral and maintain sadistic tendencies and arrogance as necessary cultural value. Regardless my life in Toronto, Canada has turned into nightmare and I still think America is a better place simply because you have more options and job opportunities. Would I prefer to live in the United States? The answer is YES!!

Hi Tyler, the guy that moved from Toronto to Seattle….of course the weather is better in Seattle, but I live on Vancouver Island and the weather here is comparable to Seattle and very different from the rest of Canada….love your videos ❤️

It's so interesting to see your viewpoint! Thank you for the insights! :) \n\nI live in Switzerland, and travel to Canada often, also Toronto twice. I love it there. I feel safe and seriously at home there, since well, Canada and especially larger cities are the safest place for the LGBT-community.\n... So still I want to move there, but let's see what my next visits bring :)

FYI, the Canadian Provincial health care is a shambles. Each province has their own health care system. A national system would make much more sense. In Toronto, there are many who can't find a family doctor, nurses in hospitals are overworked and mistreated, hence, they're leaving the profession. Those living in smaller communities must travel great distances for routine appointment, or emergency care. Our federal government does not recognize foreign trained medical professional qualifications, so they leave or work multiple minimum wage jobs. All I know about U.S. health care is that it's $$$$$$$$$.

I have lived in or near Toronto my whole life and I should be able to recognize your accent and where you are from... but I can't, so, where are you from?

The person who paid out of pocket in Toronto is likely because they are no longer a Canadian resident and doesn't pay taxes...therefore must pay for his own healthcare. It would be reinstated after a certain amount of time back LIVING in Canada, not visiting

The person who moved from Toronto to Seattle….the weather is better? You live in the Pacific Northwest…same as Vancouver BC! BC and Washington State have the same weather systems! It’s the exact opposite of Toronto! We are one of the highest minimum wages in Canada. Also….if you want ethnic foods Vancouver is the place to be. So many types it’s delightful! It’s like having the world in our own city. ❤️??

I live on the edge of Toronto, I go to hospitals in Toronto when I need to go to an emergency room, and I have NEVER had to wait more than 10 minutes.....\nI just don't believe that wait times are better in the states... \nI've been to emergency 30+ times, and have never had to wait... be it a broken bone, stitches, or a severe headache... I get taken right in every time... and it doesn't cost me anything..\n\nbut keep telling me how great American insurance is.... seriously...

I live in Toronto. Manhattan is like TO on overdrive.

I live in Toronto and I am not rich. I am regular person. \nIf you are an immigrant and especially if you are considered from visible minority group aka not white, DO NOT leave Toronto at all ! Work hard and make it work for you. I am sure the majority people from your coutires in Canada are located in Toronto and its close cities. If you chose to live outside this multicultural heaven called Toronto then expect to deal with deep racism. Yes people in Canada are rasicst althogh it is not openly like USA.\nIf you are into education and you want to do your degree, move to Montreal. Tuition fees in Montreal are way more cheaper than in Toronto or other parts of Canada. I lived in Montreal before and I went to university there. Montreal is great for education, aba rent are cheaper than Toronto but not for living there if you are visible immigrant. You will never feel you belong down there. Where as in Toronto, you will feel you belong to it within 30 mins max of you arruval. Toronto's motto are : you belong here and we have been waiting for you.\n62%of people in Toronto weren't born in Canada. You will find your community from your country in Toronto and the people are well established. I have been in different cities in Canada and I always felt stranger, even cities as close as ashawa.\nIn conclusion I would say to the visible minority immigrants stay in Toronto as much as you can for work and if you want to study in university go to Montreal. There are two major English universities in Montreal :Concordia university and McGill university, where McGill is one of top 10 university in the world.\n\nFor you Alina, I understand what you are saying and you can go somewhere in Canada and try it out with no racial or inclusiveness issues. Good luck and I hope you will come back to us again one day and I am sure you will. You belong here and we will be expecting you to come. No matter what enjoy your life wherever you are, darling.

Luckily Toronto never appealed to me. As a traveler of European cities, Toronto was a yawn fest of boring architecture, lack of history (at least history that I find interesting) & sites that I was completely uninterested in visiting.\n\nSo it's insanity to me to have to pay such high rent to live in pure boredom. Throw in the rising crime & it just seems that you have to hate your bank account to live there.

I was born and raised in Toronto but left in the early 2000s because I saw the writing in the wall back then. Every time I go back to visit I find it more crowded, more dirtier, more dangerous and just generally unpleasant. It used to be a nice city but no longer. I wouldn’t go back to live there.

I live in the GTA but not IN Toronto, and I gotta say... I feel unsafe whenever I have the displeasure of going into Toronto. Part of that is growing up in rural northern Ontario, but the cost, the abysmal failure of our fed and municipal governments to help Canadians with the housing crisis.... I think I'll keep putting my class 4 vest on whenever I'm heading to Toronto. Probably overkill but heck... makes me feel safer.

This isn’t a Toronto issue this is a global issue. I live in Toronto and took a trip to Los Angeles in august.. it gave me a perspective on how good we have it compared to other major cities.

I live in Toronto. I simply cannot reasonably afford it. I've already witnessed close friends forced into homelessness, for about two years now without fixed address, and unable to secure a bed through the primary homeless shelter hotline, which you have to call repeatedly to even have a chance. My friends were homeless due to a lack of affordable rent options. Lack of rent control in Toronto has been insane for quite some time, it seems criminal really that price gouging is allowed like this.

Ya it’s sad. I lived in downtown Toronto for 20 years and loved it! I left 3 years ago and moved to Mexico. I don’t agree w much of what is going on in Canada right now. My friends and family are all still in Canada so it was a difficult move but it’s no longer the Canada I know. Very sad for sure :(

Love it here in Toronto, Im lucky though i dont pay crazy high rent even though im itching to move for some odd reason. Maybe because I know I cant be here forever, I live in an old building that wont last, isnt mine and will be forced to move out when soemoen else buys it, like I was at my previouse apartment, which is my only problem, all he condo development, basically kicking out poorer people, thats why rent is high, but they're going to have to live with no sun in the city when all those towers block it. That being said the areas is just so bueatiful, it feels like its nestled in a forest, then the lake, its a great spot. Got 4 the seasons, i hear ist the most diverse city in the world racially and its climate is just as diverse going from -30 some winters to well above +30 some summers and everything in between. That being said I am getting tired of the city life and looking for a change although i think Toronto has a lot more potential and is actually underrated right now and will just get better. Maybe not more cheaper, but hopefully politicians will wise up and stop selling out for short term profits for long term problems.

Born and raised in Ontario, from immigrant parents. What I can say is Toronto was holding on before the pandemic and once it hit things fell apart. Parts of Toronto look like a Batman movie. What's wrong with Toronto? People who live in the city don't want to pay higher property tax like every other municipality surrounding it, so they can't pay for everything. Maintenance is neglected, very few rental buildings being built, a safe injection site at a tourist area (Younge-Dundas Sq) isn't really smart. Add the fact Canada was coasting on a good reputation internationally, so all types of people coming here seeking refugee status, which fine we are compassionate helpful people but at a certain point its too many people. Things aren't being run to benefit people and improve their lives, it more feels like we're patching things with duct tape and saying its fixed.

Toronto is a beautiful city but if you don't make a lot of money you can either live in studio apartments and hardly buy food to eat or end up homeless. Toronto is much more expensive than most american cities, it might be as expensive as New York City or a bit more. Canada is a truly gorgeous country but it is too expensive. The US is getting so expensive even in Texas,you feel like moving to another country too,in my case my country Panama. Makes you think when will the inflation stop and be controlled in Canada and in the US. We don't want all poor and middle class people to have no money and be left with nothing and end up homeless. Right now it is not a good idea to move to the U.S. or to Canada, just to visit for some months but living in those countries is crippling people's lives.?

I am living in Canada for the last 25 years. You are ? right. Thinking to spend some time in my home country. After retirement working for 25 years you may get old age benefits of retirement and pension about 950 cad dollars after age of 65 . Your medicine become free. Wait time in Emergency about 7 to 8 hours in Toronto and GTA. The 950 dollars are a help for bill payments. If you have mortgage you can not survive. Comparing Canada to USA , one can find job easily in USA.

The people that come here thinking it is some easy life with gold paved streets you have NO IDEA. My mom came here when me and my sister were still very young. We lived in a tiny town my mom worked at a cannery and motel cleaning rooms. She worked 5 jobs before she saved enough to move to Toronto. We lived in a shelter for mothers and children in Toronto. We finally settled in affordable housing (after long waitlist). Folks be warned, it is not an easy life. The climb is challenging- it is a climb out of a pit up a mountain. The country is beautiful and peaceful but life is not easy. You have to work very hard to make a decent life for yourself.

I moved in Toronto in 2015 and been living here since then. I was really happy to move here and became a resident and citizen. It was what I wanted for a long time. Now I can’t deny the fact that I’m not feeling in alignment with this city anymore. Hustle & bustle to cover your basic physiological needs get in the way of my peace and mental health. It has even become stronger after the shutdown. I’m currently planning my solo packaging trip to South East Asia and really considering moving out of Canada in the next year.

Speaking as a Toronto resident who rents in the city (and is thinking of moving out soon), I just don’t think you get the value that you pay for by living in Toronto. In addition to the concerning trends that this video mentions, the weather is crappy 8 months of the year, the transit system is one of the worst I’ve seen in a big city, you have to work a lot to sustain a good lifestyle, bars and restaurants here cost a ton of money and compared to other cities I’ve been to, I’ve found Toronto rather generic and not really unique in any way

Born and raised in Toronto. I have lived here my whole life for over 50 years. The city has changed drastically and very rapidly. As my retirement approaches and my kids finish University, I am out of here. The crime, the cost of everything, terrible transit and roads that look like they have gone through a war. I live by the lake and we have homeless tent encampments and people living along the train tracks ( and this is the suburban part of Toronto, by the Rouge valley) These are only a few of the reasons why Toronto has changed for the negative ( and I do not see it getting any better)

Every big city has changed,but your video is so negative on Toronto. Why don’t you go and live in every other big city in North America and then give your opinion. Toronto is by far, no American city is even close ,to how safe Toronto is. The 5th biggest city in North America,almost 7,000,000,seven million people and almost no crime. It is the second safest city in the world,after Copenhagen in Denmark. \n Toronto is diverse,great job opportunities,great public transit,high standard of living,airport,food,arts,waterfront clean and beautiful,everything is world class and “FREE Healthcare”\n Yes,Toronto is expensive,but has innovative,high tech world class companies that attract intelligent hard working people. Everyone works. \n So if a person is unemployable,won’t work and can’t afford to live in Toronto,then don’t move there.

After living in China and before that Europe, Canada is an apocalyptic dystopia. Want to leave hardly having arrived. After so much money, time and energy wasted to come here, quitting great jobs, selling our house and all the rest, here we go again planning to uproot our lives yet again. Takes time tho so tragically we must endure the disaster that is Canada and Toronto for some time longer before we can be free from this place for good.

Couldn't pay me to live in Toronto.\n\nDon't come to Halifax either. Its face has changed drastically in the last 5 years.\n\nI've paid taxes my entire working life yet if I frequent a walk-in clinic, there may be 50 people ahead of me and 95% will be immigrants. Thanks, Turdeau, glad to see born-and-bred Canadians matter.\n\nI got on a bus one day a few months back. Out of a dozen people, I was the only white. Unheard of even two years ago. East Indians make up about 25% of our population in Halifax and outlying areas. Why are they here?\n\nHalifax has changed and it depresses me.\n\nCanada has been sold out by Turdeau and the like.

Toronto has changed drastically. Crime and homelessness is out of control. Traffic is only getting worse. Good luck trying to get around the city during the summer with road construction literally everywhere. Our transit system is out of date and unreliable. The cost of living is stupid. Yet somehow everywhere you look they continue to build condos as cheap and as fast as they can. It really makes you wonder who is buying them. Sadly there’s no real culture or quality of life. Basically work to survive. \n\nLove the videos Alina ??

Im in Canada Toronto \nBut fr sure Canada is a trap, not worth living. \nPeople live in ver tiny room like stores , its real hell on earth

Good for you, I despise this city. Nastiest people I've ever encountered, having lived in 3 countries a decade at least each and travelled about 30 more. There's something really rotten about ppl in Toronto.

Reason to leave Toronto, the traffic on the 401. Reason to live in Toronto, weed stores every 100 feet, now magic mushrooms too.

Currently living in Gatineau, working in Ottawa. Visited Toronto twice and I love it but realistically, not feasible and not practically. Homelessness in Toronto is absurd and sometimes, not safe in some places. Rent in Toronto is also ridiculous, compared in Gatineau which is so cheap. My number 1 problem here in Ottawa-Gatineau is the public transit which is trash, sometimes, it gets lonely if u r single.

I have been living in Toronto for more than 2 year now and in addition to their contribution to India, I have huge respect for the Punjabi/ Sikh community in Canada. Despite whatever derogatory comments the locals might have, reality is they are honest and extremely hardworking people. The seva offered to everyone at various Gurudwaras is just so emotionally overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is one section- mostly the international students who have recently arrived seem to be influenced by Punjabi pop music and try to emulate which looks absolutely cringe and stupid. The situation now is their stupidity gets recorded and posted on social media which has resulted in local stereotyping the entire Punjabi/ Sikh population as destructive immigration.

Born and raised in Toronto. Also noticed its decline since covid (or maybe the past 5 years). I no longer live here, but I get sad every time I visit

Born and raised in Toronto. Established career. Can afford to live here. Can't afford a house unless because I can't spend over a million. Condo fees are ridiculous. TTC is not safe and condo parking spots cost over $10,000 plus $100 a month maintenance fee. All the things to do in the city are being torn down for unaffordable condos. I can afford to stay here but it is not worth it for what I get. I am looking to transfer my work credentials and move elsewhere. I mean leave Canada. It is not worth it now. Don't forget un-reasonable amounts of taxes as well.

I lived in Toronto during the '90s. I found it smug, with very entitled, self satisfied people. Definitely not worth the money considering not that interesting and very expensive.

I’m trying to move out Toronto but I can’t sell my house because nobody has money. I lived in Toronto all my life. And Toronto has changed a lot \nA friend of mine sold his house last year and move to Calgary , then he used that money to buy a cheaper house in Calgary and all he owes on his new house is $100K. He loves it there. Thanks for the video I thought I was the only one. ❤

It's post-COVID and post-Tory fall out. As well as meddling by Ford. Maybe Chow will make a difference, but the issues stem from chronic under funding and mismanagement going back a long time, so who knows. Feds and province need to stop undermining Toronto's infrastructure and see it for how important it is for the country as a whole. Yeah, I know the joke about being the centre of the universe but having lived in various places across the country, the economy and population of Toronto DO make it very integral to the whole country.

You’re right. Toronto is a beautiful city to visit. But will never live here. We stayed at the Hazelton hotel for days and enjoy what the city has to offer. It’s a lovely city. \n\nI still love Montreal, tbh. ???✨\n\nCanada has changed and not for the better. ?