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.

I'm sad to say I've been living in Canada since 1980, and you are absolutely correct. Between the pandemic and the lousy government and politics in Canada the last ten years or so, we are in serious decline. I used to highly recommend people live here.. not so much anymore. It's simply not affordable. There is just too much wrong with this country that is going to take years to fix, if they can (doubtful).

Brilliant video Nitish...\nIm a proud Indian Sikh from Jammu, settled in Bangalore for almost 10 years as a Senior Software Professional. Quite happy with my life (apart from crazy traffic). Have visited many countries for on-site business work, including Canada but India is good despite all the chaos, espcially South India. Started my career in infosys Chandigarh, then Gurgaon then Bangalore. My parents also might move in with me next year and Im also planning to start my own Food eatery. Over 95% Sikhs are just like me and patriotic and Love India, but yes there are issues in Punjab which need to be addressed...\nBut a large portion of the blame sadly goes to Sikh politicians. I want to tell the youth that Khalistan is a waste of time and politicians in Punjab, especially sikh politicians are completely bullshit. They are corrupt and have no vision and rely on rural votes which is sikh majority and Jazbaati over every issue and largely into farming. The Punjabi Hindus, baniyas, aggarwals and Jains own the urban economy and are comparatively more practical and forward looking in life. Many of these sikh politicians sadly themselves are involved in drug, own illegal abortion centres and labs, and even coaching centres to send students to canada on fake letters in exchange for a lot of money...\nI want to tell the youth, There is a lot of good opportunity in India. I know Punjab doesnt have much as of now (hope someday one of us can take our experience and setup a startup hub there), but other cities like Pune, Hyd, Bangalore, Mum, Chennai etc are good and once you have a stable job, its quite satisfying. Punjabis especially Sikhs are also loved everywhere by common people. Please dont spend your money on fake asylum letters and Canadian Dreams without thinking and planning.

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.

So sad to watch what’s happening in Canada! Awesome country! I don’t know if liberals are solutions but the results show us other side

I WISH I could leave Canada, not only cuz of inflation but cuz of their support of Israel towards bombing palestinians. But I have no choice but to stay in a country that support the killings of over 10,000 how sad. SHAME! The true terrorists.

... And here is why:\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.\nAmen to that. I'll be visiting Lviv in 2025 for the first time since 2000 to check on my apartment in the city centre, not far from my Alma Mater LPI. I THANK GOD every day I didn't sell it and so I have a place for retirement!

I’m sorry, but that is really disgusting. We do not need more immigrants. Our infrastructure and medical system is already burdened. Not to mention the government often pays for everything for them for the first year so they think they’ve got it good and suddenly when they can’t get a job, because Canada may not recognize their degrees, then they are struggling again. And sadly, if they are Muslim, sometimes they just don’t want to integrate they just want to live their own ways here, but have a better life in our country, and that’s not fair to us. That’s just my big overview and don’t get me wrong in every day life, I have some friends who are Muslim.

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

I came to Canada when I was 4 and was immensely proud of this nation and it's history. It's sad that Cultural Marxism and all the woke forces of modern society have made Canada a socio-cultural and political wasteland. It feels like a country for sale now. It feels like a means to an end.

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.

Truth is that the immigration system has been a source of income and financial gain for the system but gives little back. Sadly many Canadians think the opposite is true. They think because refugees are given shelter while waiting for processing that means they receive support more than the locals. Truth is immigrants come here mostly on loans, spend years working and spending to support families back home, it takes years to understand the taxing, credit, wealth, education and many other resources that drives the Canadian community. This put immigrants in a position where they work more than the local just to meet the bare minimum life standards. If many of the immigrants knew the ins and outs of the system, then they would really take over and appreciate being in canada. \n\nCanadians and canada as a whole are welcoming. You might meet a few who have little knowledge of the global system and standard against immigrants, something that their countries economic system depends on. Remember your countries have never lived without immigration. From the day the first white personal stepped onto this lane, immigrants have continued to come in more different colours. It’s our duty to focus on making life better not on how we can make life harder for others. Wanting to live in canada with your own specific community and wanting others to stay away from a land that has been shared for decades is just a selfish stand. We all love canada because we all find peace here.

I'm leaving next year as well. I've been in Canada for 5 years now and I love Canada.\nBut practically i don't think i can ever buy a house here and start a family. I'm 24 and i came here when i was 19. But looking at the way things are changing in Canada, the amount of tax burden it puts on honest tax payers because of illetrate immigrants from some parts of the world, refugees and people who don't wanna work is astonishing.\n\nMoreover Trudeau keeps giving away the money which is ours and keeps feeding others. Hence I've had enough. Canadians are nice but the government and some sections of society especially some Punjabi's are way too much for me to handle now. Canada isn't Canada anymore. People are trying to change it and make us believe in their faith.\nI'm Indian and when i came to this country i came to live the way it was but sadly it's changing fast. \n\nI'll be done in next 7-8 month. \nGod bless Canada ❤️

Canada is looking like a third-world country, Health care has basically collapsed, you can not afford basic goods anymore, housing is a disaster, and the national debt is out of control, It is very sad where this country is heading

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.

What’s sad is the the government has no idea it’s happened, neither did they try to get any data around this. Busy giving away money to other countries and bleeding Citizens dry while fomenting trouble by supporting terrorists! Idiots in power dancing in colorful outfits & spending on vacations & trips while charging carbon taxes from people. ??

Sad but understandable. Too expensive and allow only those needed into our country.

The sad part of this is that it's the immigrants that we want that are dragging up and leaving, the ones with degrees in medical and engineering. The ones with skilled trades and abilities. \n But sadly all we will get to stay are the dregs of society that came here looking for a free ride and hands out! The ones who've spent time and money and effort to improve themselves and better their lives will always be the last to count, Eco-immigrants and freeloaders who've jumped the border while ditching their passports and real banking info just to get a $1000 a week free taxpayer funded handout and free cell phones and housing and access to our social assistant network , will never leave unless you run them out of the country.

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.

East west home is best, it’s about time Africans start convincing themselves to move back to Africa instead of jumping from country to country east to west, this is sad,

There's no punishment for chaos. In fact there are benefits. This country is going under. So sad. The fall of Rome. We haven't learned anything from History.

Its fckd that the government made up by mostly white children of immigrants doesnt allow people into the country they pretty much stole. Its hilariously stupid and sad at the same time

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!

Very sad to hear that, Everywhere is good for those who work hard, I am a great example of this. I came to this country when I was 40 years old. After 8 years, my daughter has also come here and she is doing medical….???

Canada is a great country if you wanna be a dependent slave to the government. No guns, free speech is policed and your children can be taken away if you dont agree with them taking hormones and having their genitals mutilated. America isnt perfect but id rather the US then living in a country run by far left wing idiots. Also Canadian healthcare is very overrated. Sure its free but you might die waiting for life saving treatments because the government doesnt want to allow any form of private healthcare if its already “provided” by the government. Most of the gun violence in the US is in the lower income neighborhoods and at least you’re allowed to defend yourself. In Canada if you defend yourself, straight to jail. If you have evidence of self defense youll be ruined by the legal fees. Its sad, Canada used to be great but after 8 years of terrible liberal economic policies the prices have skyrocketed and now canadian kids are being told they’ll never own a house. Who would want to stay here? Most canadians dont care though, as long as they get to smoke their pot they’ll always remain complacent.

I am much less gracious than you are hearing criticisms about your country. Good for you Tyler. It bothers me when I hear all the criticisms of Manitoba. We have amazing cultural diversity here, beautiful provincial parks, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Rainbow stage and super friendly people. We honeymooned in Florida forty years ago and we loved it, just to let you know. Sadly, Florida is not the place to visit right now with the current Governor, but I look forward to visiting again another time.

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.

Thank you brother, where national media will tag Khalistani to any person who wears a turban and criticise government or ask for their rights and the majority will then push the same narrative too, it’s sad how it’s still happening to this day where government is harassing Sikh youth and imprisoned our brothers falsely and in many cases they torture them just because they wear turban or belong to Sikh religion, barbarism like I saw videos where police tortured Singhs and wrote ‘Gadar’ , ‘Atwadi’ , ‘Khalistani’ on their backs with hot iron rods, even if someone support a separate nation like Khalistan which is approved and accepted by the supreme court of India this is what makes me to hate the government, WE LOVE OUT COUNTRY TOO AND WILL HAPPILY DIE FOR IT BUT ONE CANNOT LEAVE THE LOVE FOR THEIR STATE “PUNJAB” OR RELIGION BEHIND

This is our country, our ancestors were born here \nIt is very sad that some people want to destroy this country ??

It's sad that our government can help people from other countries, break our laws and yet we can't get help from our government paying taxes all our lives!! Send them back ,and remember it's getting worse every hour!!!?

Sadly, you have essentially described Vancouver as well. The elephant in the room is immigration. When you count refugees, immigrants, international students, etc. there are about 1 million people coming to the country annually! Even in the 1990s, CSIS even warned the government that high immigration would lead to a housing crisis. And that’s really sad as immigration has now tuned into a net negative for Canada. I personally think it is an invasion at this point. And things are far worse than the 1990s. Honestly, if I wasn’t settled in a place I bought near Vancouver 20 years ago, my family and I would have to seriously make other plans!

This is so very sad...while i dont believe in illegal immigration for the most part..I do believe WE ALL want bettwr for ourselves and our kids.. These people want the same.. It's not their fault they were born in another place.. The system is broken by greedy men.. There has to be a better way.. But we shouldn't have such hard hearts.. Not to want to help these poor families and children..\nLeaders should come together collectively that fixed their countries as best as they could.. And they wouldn't be fleeing... But so much corruption in leadership doesn't allow it. But we have to remember these people on our enemies.. We would do the same if we were in their shoes...

Looks like they're all getting along with each other. Sad picture. No hope for this country.

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 what the country once touted as the best country on earth has fallen to. I shudder what the Trudeau Govt. would do if they were to manage 1400 -1500 Mn lives like here in India. Their system failed to sustain a mere 40 Mn population. I am not a fan of the Modi Govt. in India but I think it’s time the current govt. under Justin Trudeau focused on the current crisis instead of fostering and sheltering the Khalistanis

Wellll letting tooo many immigrants arrive here when there are no places for them is insanity!!! It affects our health care and education facilities!!! Very sad we have so much land here and resources and we don't use it?? Why do we all have to crowd in one place--Southern Ontario??? Why not build up in Northern Ontario??? Our politicians are lazy and they reallyyy don't care about their citizens---if they did their wouldn't be any homeless!!! Again more population does not make for a better country!!!

This is the same everywhere Lynn. I know a few kenyans here in Australia came as visitors and told they could easily switch to a resident Visa while on shore unfortunately thats the worst lie ever made by an agent. I’ve looked for this girl I met at the train station and someone said she was taken to the detention centre. PEOPLE DO YOUR RESEARCH INFORMATION IS IN MOST OF THESE COUNTRIES WEBSITES! Cant travel and leave home only to try claim asylum it doesnt work like that. Its really sad ?

Blame TRUDEAU for bringing in all THE FAKE REFUGEES AND GIVING THEM THE SHELTERS AND GOVERNMENT FUNDED APARTMENTS, AND PRODUCING BABIES LIKE FACTORIES AND GETTING ALL THE FREE GOVT MONEY AND NEVER WORKED ONE DAY IN CANADA. THEY ARE LIVING THE RICH LIFE IN CANADA.\n\nCANADA SHOULD HAVE THEM SIGN A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT THEY CANNOT RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRIES THAT THEY APPLIED FOR FAKE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS. AMERICA HAS THAT LAW. IN A AMERICA THEY HAVE TO PUT ALL THEM BABIES AND CHILDREN IN DAYCARE, GET WORK PERMITS ASAP AND FIND JOBS. AGE DOES NOT MATTER. STOP SUCKING MONEY FROM THE TAX PAYERS.\n\nEXTREMELY SAD

Sadly the woke leaders/presidents have messed beautiful countries.

I am sri Lankan but sad to hear it. A country must care their citizens first then look others. Canada spend much money outside of country

I think the same issue and complaints are stated by New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles… big cities in countries that used to be doing really well but have slowly lost money. Sadly rich Arab countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia don’t take refugees neither do rich Asian countries…

That’s so sad about Canada. Somebody derailed this country. As an immigrant I feel so bad because for years I was advocating Canada as a best country on this planet. Now, still living in the moist beautiful place in Canada in The Rockies…I am very proud I am immigrant because if things go the way they go now I can always escape to my mother land… thank you Justin ?

Y wont they find out y them people running from their own country ,something is wrong?and its sad ?

It's all quite sad. Cannot afford to have family downtown. Lack of social services. I'm afraid in Canada, there aren't many cities to choose from, unlike U.S, for professional careers. A flee to suburbs could be feasible but generally it's a steep learning curve on managing a house (which is $1.5 million CAD these days). Perhaps it's time to look at other countries.

Sad a population of only 38 million? Rich country G7 what is the use

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!!!?

sad part of an develoved countries.....

True canadian ppl become poor coz, canada now become land of extremists and terrorists. Gov protect them but not protect real canadian. So sad. Third world country like canada what u expect? Good luck to become land of terrorists in near future

Sad it's not just Toronto, it is ALL of North America. The 2 clowns running these 2 country need to be jailed for the amount of damage done to our great countries.

Delhi ki air quality itni buri nahi hai ab...it has improved alot after AAP govt took over ....kisi bhi badi city main ye problems hoti hai.... lekin Canada ke depressing atmosphere se tou delhi ka pollution bhala ... Canada is the loneliest country with a very sad mindset