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.

Who in the hell would now want to immigrate to Canada ? Outrageous housing costs which consume most of your income . One has to work at least two to three jobs just to try to keep from completely drowning economically . A healthcare system which is on life support . It is next to impossible to get a doctor . Emergency waits times at hospitals can range from 4 to 24 hours . Traffic from hell in all of the major cities .... particularly Toronto , Montreal and Vancouver . The crushing cost of living . A political leader who is a complete fool who has basically destroyed the country in just 8 years . As if all of this wasn't bad enough ...... 5 months of winter from hell . Living in Canada is now an extreme struggle in every way imaginable . One will always struggle . One will always work like a dog . One will very likely fall into extreme debt in Canada just to survive . One has to pay outrageous taxes on their income leaving them with about 50% of what they actually earn after they have paid all of the combined taxes on everything that they buy or services that they use . Forget about ever being able to save money . Incomes are about about 35% less than other advanced than those in other advanced countries for the same skilled job . One will never own a home . One will never be able to start a family . One will always freeze in the winter . Life in Canada has become an absolute hell . The Canadian dream is as dead as dead can be . It is no longer a country where one can earn a decent living , own a home and live a good life . On top of all of this it has an authoritarian government which keeps passing new laws to reduce free speech and civil rights .

@10:55. Canadian system shows a better way?\nYou have not tired our system.\nA friend in Montreal Quebec almost lost his thumb in a workplace accident. He was in pain and the nurses would not give him any pain medication in the emergency waiting area, wait for the doctor. He called me at work and I took pain killers to him in the emergency room. He was in the emergency room for 14 hours before he saw a doctor, had to sleep upright overnight.\nIf any American favor's our universal medical system as it is so called free (comes from taxes we pay) come try it and see if you like it. Sit and wait for your service.

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.

Yet we keep voting for a progressive government, because we are stupid. Our government has destroyed us. If you voted for progressive leaders, you have nobody but yourselves to blame. I did not vote for progressive liberals so I blame you for what you did to us. Oh but you say you didn’t know this would happen? Then how did we know and avoided voting for Justin Trudeau? \nWait till antifa start moving in. Thankfully they are banned in Montreal Quebec

The only Difference between English Canada and America is 40 lbs and a handgun.....and Toronto is changing that...( Like Anthony Bordain said: without Montreal Canada would be hopeless)

Funny how at around 9 minutes of the video they show a graph of cities in Canada comparing minimum wage vs what you need to make to rent a 2-bedroom apartment, yet Montreal, the second biggest city in Canada by far at 4.2 mil people (metro area) is not even in the graph! Is Montreal that much better that it won't even make that list or the news just snubbing the city? Or maybe they know Montreal is just cheaper, nicer, with much less crime and it would just make Toronto look bad! ;-P

As a Montrealer, Toronto to me was pretty much like any big charmless American city but cheaper, cleaner and safer. So I understood that American visitors, at least, would like it. But no more. What hasn't changed is that it remains a physically unattractive city, replete with highways and strip malls, especially near and north of the 401, where most people I know live, as it's cheaper. Great for business, but Montreal is far better in almost every other way. Even friends who've moved to TO 25 or 30 years ago admit that.

Born in Montreal but lived the last 40 years of my life in Toronto… and as others have said… it’s not what it was. Trudeau has destroyed this country. It remains to be seen if the damage is reversible. \n\nIf I were you I would suggest checking out Budapest. It’s an amazing city and the country is run by a PM who actually gives a damn about his people and their culture.\n\nSouthern Brazil is also quite nice (as you know) and SÉ Asia is attractive if you don’t mind the distance. \n\nGood luck!

While I identify and agree with the overall sentiment of this video, here is the problem Alina. As a somewhat successful tech person who came from nothing, I refuse to move out of a city to a culturally or globally lacking city due to “budget”. I tried spending time in BC and Nova Scotia in the capital cities. I could not spend more than a week in Saskatchewan. I can assure you that someone with decent skills and lifestyle would not be able to sustain their social and personal life, and mental health anywhere in Canada other than Toronto. If I spoke decent French, I’d say Montreal is a decent option. Vancouver is too lopsided as an international real estate haven, even though beautiful. So the problem is that Toronto is honestly the only city someone like me (and most my friends) would consider living in Canada, and we are all unfortunately being forced to move to the US. We are in our very early 30s so it’s still not too late to have a big move but none of us wanted to try out NYC or SFO much later than now. I hope things improve and we are able to move back to Toronto. But right now, unless you make $300k+, it’s impossible. And we are only able to make that money in the US (most of us). Cheers and keep it up.

I wouldn’t put Quebec first. I was born in Quebec and we are one of the most taxed province. It takes 24h to wait at the emergency before seing a doctor (well usually at least 12hours of waiting). Some of my friends don’t have a family doctor since the past 8 years. And I would had this subject which is dark : suicide. I have some friends who work for the Montreal police and at least 1 per day throws himself in front of the metro ?.

I am so happy to be able to live, in my language and in my culture, in the magnificent city of Quebec. I'm not rich, but I have a magnificent three-story residence there in a beautiful neighborhood where vegetation abounds, where crime is almost non-existent, and above all where my daughter also lives with my grandson!\nIt would never occur to me to move to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or any other large Canadian city. On the other hand, I could do it in almost any human-scale city in Canada, the United States or Europe. Everyone to his own tastes !

I recently visited Toronto on a business trip for the first time living in Montreal. I loved Toronto it is a great potential city. However, I saw drug addicts on the streets, homeless people at every corner I walked in, it is very expensive and on top of that I was harassed by a group of homeless drug addicts in one of its streets. I am lucky I had friends that told me where to go and not to go later. But as a new visiter you want to explore the city and enjoy your time and see what the city can offer you. I totally agree with what you said. It would only get worse as more and more flux into the city without any managing criteria regarding housing, jobs and life in general.

My American husband and I moved to Los Angeles from Montreal, because of the fact there was still a lot of live music compared to other places. It was a great 17 years of music but guns started to be more of an issue. Health care was big, and was going to affect us soon, and then tRUmp came in . We knew that the changes were NOT going to be for better health care, or better gun laws, or better immigration policies, and we moved back to Canada. Now we don't even want to visit because of the current situation re all the aforementioned issues. I wouldn't dream of moving back. And numerous friends have asked how can they get into Canada.The Canadian immigration site crashed when tRump won. if not married to a Canadian, most people would be rejected. i appreciate our system of government; tRump would have been tossed out early on with a Vote of No Confidence.

From Montreal here, I,ve been to Florida on five consecutive winters, before Covid, stayed in Pompano (Deerfield area), on day time, I never felt unsafe, but, I was told to never wander outside the resort for an evening walk, sometimes, in the night, we,d hear gunshots popping . This fact itself gives you something to think about. This whole gun violence situation is keeping people from enjoying Life like we should, .I was there (10 minutes away from( when parkland school shooting took place, enough to reinforce our feeling of Insecurity. NO, I would never consider moving to the States

I'm from Montreal, French side of our country, that I really love. hey would pay me 1 million and would never move to the US in my life. December 6, 1987, Marc Lepine got in our engineer university and killed 14 female students just because they were women. Terrible event for French canadiens but also all across the country. POPULATION DID NOT ACCEPT THIS. We manifested and federal government took severe laws against fire guns. Imagine we can go to school or anywhere else without being shot by a crazy person.

I live just outside of Montreal, pretty near the border. One of my good friends used to live in Vermont, right near the border and we would visit each other several times a year. She moved to Tennessee, and I flew down to visit her a few years ago (haven't been down since COVID) while Trump was still president and I'm not even joking when I say that as soon as I left Nashville I was highly anxious 100% of my time there. And I'm white, I'm not a visible minority, I suppose if I kept my mouth shut nobody could tell I'm not from there, it really hit me how sad it is that I even felt that. All these patriotic gun toting Americans I feared would shoot me for whatever reason they could come up with. I understand that that's not ACTUALLY likely, I was glad I left my husband and children at home, and while I enjoyed my weekend there I couldn't WAIT to get back home. New England was easier to handle, but I'm not cut out for the openly racist, homophobic, anti women's rights, you name it kind of discussions. I was horrified that not only do people ACTUALLY think like this, but those who are being oppressed, or those who simply support those being oppressed are having to keep quiet for fear of being murdered because of this. Nashville was really cool, I loved it, but I truly feared for my safety outside of the city, despite being a straight white woman. I can't imagine what it's like for the minorities, it's so sad. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that you're just numb to it, because being on the outside looking in, it's hard to believe what's actually going on, it looks as though the country is regressing,

Yes I would, in fact I have, and absolutely love the US! ?? I really only like Montreal in Canada, and have lived in my share of cities in Canada, the US, and Europe. Americans are by far, the FRIENDLIEST people I’ve ever met, and love my American friends!! ❤❤❤ ??

Not to be impolite, but honestly no, I would not consider moving to the US for all the same reasons already mentioned, especially the political shenanigans. ( I live in Montreal), That said, I love watching your videos Tyler. You are very open to the world.

Funny, I would never live in any of the major Canadian cities especially Toronto Vancouver Montreal

I’m 47 years old, black (Caribbean descent) and have lived in Canada my whole life. I’ve lived in Montreal, Toronto and Calgary and visited all over the country. Have never experienced any racism of any kind. Toronto and Montreal in particular are incredibly diverse. Not sure how you would see any overt racism in those places. I don’t trust this lady’s story at all. Sounds like she’s making it up as she goes along tbh. If her brother’s boss fired him and called him the N-word that’s an easy lawsuit to win… and it’s difficult to believe that ANY boss would be THAT stupid. \n\nThere are ignorant people everywhere without a doubt… but please don’t believe this B.S. about white people hating anyone who isn’t white. We saw the farce that was BLM and what they did with the tens of millions that they took in after inciting riots and burning cities. Don’t believe their lies. Don’t allow yourself to be a victim. We are ALL one people. Black, white, brown and everything in between. ☮️

BTW its funny to see people in the comments talking bout they didnt experience the Cism in Montreal lol. Montreal is basically french-Mississippi???Edmonton would be like South Carolina but b4 they started removing Dixie Flags???

I can fully relate and agree with everything you said and more not said. I never thought I would hate being Canadian or my home country but Justin pushed me past the line. And I even premoted that elitest spolied ahole in the first elections. Now I want him well it starts with D. \n\nI live between Winnipeg my home town and Montreal over the last 20 years. And I like and hate both cities at times but realize neither are lovable. \n\nMontreal is grey 80% of the timeand the people are so rude and hurtful. I hate the french just absolutly hate them. Not becasue of the langauge, but how they are so gross in every standard of life. They speak a way that is offensive and rude. They hate all outsiders and want to live in a closed embreed society.\n\nI couldn't imagine how nice this city could be if they would drop the bs discrimination of the nonsense language laws. It is systimatic discrimination. \n\nWinnipeg is green and sunny in summer but winter is very very harsh as Canadian all know. Winnipeg has friendly people, but also some very violant people to the point I get into fights and or breakup fights and had to open carry a knife, and do wing chun. It is just harsh all around. \n\nThen I look into Toronto, and well that is even more expensive then anywhere else. \n\nAs I say I agree with all your points and maybe Portigal or Spain are intersting. Maybe after this was in Ukraine I will go there to make money, and move to a nice affordable place where I can keep working and enjoy the changes it offers me.

I’ve been to Montreal and I was only there for the weekend. I would like to see different provinces and cities

As a dual citizen, there are so many things that's incorrect about this video. First of all, to make it an apples to apples comparison, I see no attempt to adjust the comparison by population. There is no point comparing Montreal (where I have lived) vs. Columbus, Ohio. Montreal is roughly 1.7 million people or 4 million metro. The correct comparison would be something like Boston. Similarly, there is no point comparing Montreal vs. LA in terms of geographical spread when LA is more than three times the size. So of course your commute will be different.\n\nComparing Montreal to Boston for example, Boston is very very compact. Yes, Montreal does have better food options than Columbus or your random rural suburbs. It doesn't come even close to similarly sized American cities. It's the same reason for example that one doesn't compare San Francisco for example, against London, Ontario. It's a pointless comparison.\n\nAdditionally, the claim that the worst part of Canada is better than the best part of America is laugahble. There is no truly terrible neighborhoods in Canada compared to American ones (where you can tell if you're in a bad neighborhood), but Canadians can't even imagine the wealth and prestige of the best parts of America, let alone compare with it. The wealthiest don't live in downtown New York (where they maintain their work residence), they live in Montauk. They don't live in downtown Boston, they live in Newton or Weston. The most affluent parts of Canada like Bridle Path/Rosedale (Toronto), Westmount (Montreal) or North Vancouver would look like abject poverty by comparison.\n\nOh, let's not also forget other factors for being in the US. The median household income in Canada is $67,000 Canadian. The median for the US is $69,000 US. The typical American is far wealthier than the typical Canadian. Anybody who tried to buy any goods (or services) in Canada and compared their choices in the US, it's not remotely comparable. Of course, the usual, taxes.

Montreal rents in pretty good and in Quebec in general. Ontario is a fair bit more expensive. However even Ontario rents aren't that bad compared big US cities. Where Canada is really expensive is the cost of *owning* housing. I also don't really agree about food being more expensive in the US, I'd say it's pretty close, maybe even slightly cheaper in the US.\n\nAnd I don't think Columbus, OH would be that bad to live in. Sure, it doesn't have the big city life like Montreal or Toronto or even Vancouver, but it's probably on par with Edmonton, Winnipeg or London, ON or Kitchener-Waterloo? Maybe even like Ottawa, Hamilton or Calgary? (but warmer than all of the above).

2:05 If Canada was part of the U.S. Montreal and Toronto would be in the top 5 cities for population.

I think you ladies are way out in left field and you really don't know what you're talkin about. Unfortunately for some people it doesn't work out for whatever reason usually because they do not want to assimilate very well. I grew up in Ontario to a french-canadian father and an Italian mother in my life in Canada was so perfect said if I had to dream up a better life I could not have done so. I grew up playing all the sports and enjoyed all the different sports and the changes of seasons. My parents had a summer home on the st-lawrence river and every summer we water-ski swam fished, play golf in the morning and barbecues every night right on the water. Even though my grandfather was in the hotel business I was all about sports and enjoying everything about it. I grew up in a town of about 50 thousand about 40 miles from Montreal. When I wanted some great nightlife just drove a short drive to Montreal and it had everything did anyone could want in Nightlife. I have lived in United States for forty years and I can tell you that it really isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Heaven forbid should you get some kind of catastrophic illness you are screwed. I knew a woman who work for travelers insurance for 30 years at the best insurance a money could buy had suffered a couple of strokes and was on the verge of going broke had she not died when she died. People think that insurance continues to pay his long as you're ill and nothing could be further from the truth. This lady was going to have to sell her house to continue paying for round-the-clock care had she not died when she did. United States middle class is getting wiped out. I've seen enough poverty and hardship in this country to last a lifetime. I find greed to be running rampant in this country. When I grew up in Canada there was always the grass is greener on the other side and when I did move over to the other side the US that is I can tell you unequivocally the dead grass is not greener on the other side. There are more millions and millions of people here that are one or two paychecks away from being homeless. And we're talkin 2023. Now let's talk about violence. There is a mass murder in the United States every single day of the year. And a mass murder is defined by four or more people being killed by one person at one time. Killing these so out of control in the United States that now even six-year-olds are shooting their teacher. I find a tremendous amount of built-up Anger from people. Food is very expensive and shelter is also out of control and non affordable to most people. Again I find United States being able to paint a much Rosier picture then does really exist. And there are more con artists and thieves , Crooks, con-artists, bamboozlers, cheats and scammers then anywhere that I've ever been. And I will say this is it it ain't getting any better and I don't see it ever getting better. I find it is everybody out for themselves no matter who they cheat. I live in Southern California and I can tell you that night life where I live is non-existent. Understand that LA and Hollywood they always have to glamorize everything to sell it to tourists. Just remember that things today are not what they were 40 years ago. Middle-class people in Canada would also be just middle-class people in the US. But if your life means anything to you as far as safety and raising a family then Canada wins hands down end of discussion. People that say Canada is boring is because they are boring. That's what I found to be pretty standard across the board. Life is what you make of it. But I will say that you gals definitely need to move away if you don't like Canada. Do not let the door hit your ass on the way out. And just for your information Canada ranks annually as one of the top countries in the world to immigrate to. Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area and next to Saudi Arabia has the third largest oil Reserves in the world. Canada has huge amount of freshwater which most of the rest of the world seems to be lacking and having spent my Summers on the Saint Lawrence River one of the Great Rivers in this world. I wouldn't change my twenty years in Canada for anyplace else in this world and I will be moving back shortly.

I am an American born in NY, raised in VA. I also lived in Van Nuys for a year, also lived in Texas before my job industry moved me to Canada. \ni have been in Canada for 7yrs, been to Vancouver, Toronto and MTL and to be honest i like a lot of things in Canada like the health care differences and of course the lower insulin cost for my husband but i still want to go back home. If anything i would stay in Toronto because it's the closest similarity to home but where Aba and Preach live, in Montreal, it's literally been my nightmare. I feel like the tap water at least in my area has gotten worse over time. \nOne thing i feel like they didn't mention that I have to tell people from America to watch out for is the credit card vs debit card thing. \nI grew up only having debit cards because i didn't want to get into debt. when i came to Canada i continued getting a debit card and realized the hard way that not everything accepts debit cards and you NEED to also have a credit card to access certain things.\nbut overall i do feel much safer in Canada even though the crazy trump lovers are showing up here and there it's significantly less than i see when I'm back home.

It's cheaper to live in Dallas Texas than Montreal, which is one of the cheapest cities to live in Canada, so I don't know where you're getting lower cost of living (and yeah I heard you're trying to compare apples to apples, but this is impossible and honestly, wtf would someone want to live in a crime ridden city like NYC? Which btw is around the same housing cost as Vancouver..)\n\nAlso, I'm not sure if you guys pay taxes, but this is a HUGE factor; take home income in Canada is much lower, and when you consider Americans get paid the same as us but in US funds, their taxes are a joke, so their disposable income is much higher.\n\nCanada is a country where mediocrity is celebrated, it's a good country for average intelligence type people who don't or won't earn high incomes , who don't want to own businesses - yeah it's perfect for them , but I was born and raised here , and trust me seeing 60-65% of my income going to cumulative taxes is disgusting.\n\nOh and for the record, someone earning average income of $50k in Canada gives up 46% of that to cumulative taxes - this is a fact you guys seemed to have left out.\n\nFor good looking women, bro once again, Montreal born and raised, the quality has dropped severely - a lot of hairy legged far leftist anglo types taking over, it's not what it used to be....\n\nLived in both, once again, Canada celebrates its mediocrity, the US is where you go to make bank and build a business - And Toronto is the most racially self segregated city in the world....

I have family in Miami and that city is such a contradiction. Florida has one of the lowest per hour wages in America, yet Miami is one of their most expensive cities to live in. My sister works a salaried Florida State government job as a supervisor which would pay 6-figures in Canada, yet is only $40,000 there. That is considered a good wage there. Beyond the glitzy beaches, the poverty is nuts. But yes, America has us beat on flights! I can fly round trip to Miami, from Toronto, cheaper than to Montreal.

You did miss the one important issue and that is health insurance. I think you did a good job of discussing he issue again and were genuine with your opinions. I went to montreal in 1990 and it was great because it was like Europe and so french and unlike the US. I dont know what it would be like to live there but for vacation it was fun. And i think it is obvious because you both have money now the us Healthcare system is superior to Canada. If i dont have money for health insurance, i would love Canada for being free. But if i have serious illness, the us is superior.

As a New Yorker who frequents MTL. women in Montreal are way hotter on average. \nNew York women are constantly looking to finesse a situation and operate from a struggle mindset.\n\nIn Canada you'll have solid 10s working barely above minimum wage, you'll feel like you're tripping over baddies.\nTake one of their average looking girls, dump her in NYC and she'll be worshiped as a queen.\nCanadian women are also much easier/nicer to talk to and a lot less materialistic.\n\nAlso, (alleged fat shaming segment ahead) black women can't tell me shit about them being naturally fatter because Canadian black girls aren't big like that. Of all my cousin's friends, maybe 2 are out of shape and neither would be considered that big by American standards. It definitely shifts city-to-city, region-to-region. People in Western New Yorker are fatter than people in NYC

I moved from the U.S. to Canada. Some observations:\n1. It's unbelievably safe in Canada. The most dangerous places in Canada are still very safe compared to much of the U.S.\n2. Outside of DC and New York and I guess Chicago and L.A. in the U.S. and Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, you need a car. I disagree that city planning is that much better in Canada.\n3. The maternity leave in Canada is great \n4. The unemployment insurance in Canada is great too\n5. I prefer the Canadian health care system. I never experienced any long wait times. My wife had literal brain surgery and it was free whereas it would've been hundreds of thousands of dollars in the U.S.\n6. Canada is further to the left and is much more woke than the U.S. Everything here is about equity, diversity and inclusion. Even many Canadian conservatives would be moderates in the U.S. but most people know this already.\n7. There is a better work life balance in Canada. I worked a lot more when living in the U.S.\n8. Most Canadians live by the U.S. border  so the weather is not that different than most northern American states. But once you go to northern Canada, it is as cold as they say it is.\n9. The U.S. is better for making money.\n10. It is much more racially segregated in the U.S. \n11. Outside cities like Montreal and Toronto, Canada is very white.\n12. Things are much more spread out in Canada. When I lived in the U.S. driving for 1 hour to go somewhere was a long drive. In Canada, that is normal.\n13. Canada is pretty great if you like the outdoors. There's only 36 million people here and outside the major cities, you find small towns and the wilderness. \n14. Canadians are quite friendly. I know my neighbors in the country. I never knew my neighbors in the U.S.\n15. Canadian politics is boring and I like this. However, in the rural areas, it seems that people really hate Justin Trudeau.\n16. Since Canada is so similar to the U.S. it is very easy to adjust to life here.\n17. Outside of Quebec, you really don't need to speak French. \n18. The nationalism of the Quebecois is very surprising. There is no group in the U.S. this nationalistic.

As someone who lived across America and in Montreal and Vancouver, the cost of living there isn’t worth the pay disparity compared to other major cities. I’ve had the same company send me an offer $30k less to work the same job in Montreal instead of Vancouver because of the cheaper cost of living. I did the math and still would make more net profit in Van than MTL

As a native New Yorker from (NYC), whose lived in the north part of the state near the border between Canada and the US. Who would visits Ottawa and Montreal frequently, I enjoyed every time I went up north. The “ruff women” are in NYC. They’re a product of the environment ruff city ruff people, everyone is always in a rush and with an attitude. The water in both Montreal and Ottawa is amazing!!! Both tap and from the bottle. I felt safer walking at night in Montreal and Ottawa then in NYC which is hilarious.

As someone who lived in every continent except for Africa, I'd never go back to the U.S.A except if I got like a 200k+ salary in NYC or Chicago. Hell, I'd rather move to Mexico again cus of the culture and lifestyle. But Montreal is definitely the only city in Canada where I'd evne consider staying, but it's as always depedant of the salary (Vancouver but only downtown would also be an option).

I think this is a very Montreal centric view - public transport, safety and cost of living in montreal is honestly the best in Canada. Definitely not true for other cities (I live in Ottawa for example - COL and Public Transport are both pretty terrible here)\n\nBut I definitely would live in Canada over the US lol, as soon as you cross the border you can tell you’re not in Canada anymore

I disagree with the racism part. It's not that it is not existant. It exist, but no where else in the world would you have places like Fairmount bagel, Willensky, Schwartz that are reknown internationnally. How can Canada be racist when ethnic food could thrive so much? How can places like Satay brother in Montreal thrive? How can we have so many Korean, Japanese, Chinese businesses thriving in our country? I've never heard of a famous poutine( the dish) place in Roumania or China? What about Cubas world famous tourtiere? Never! In addition, you draw conclusion with being very biased with the statistics. I am pretty sure you don't know the margin of error of the study you used! It's just a free insult. If there is that much racism that I might be blinded by, well at least I can garantee you that you're not helping reducing it! Canada is a wonderfull place to live if our politicians don't act crazy like in the last few years. I am glad to encourage any the business I just mentioned. without them a least Montreal wouldn't be the same. In Canada, we almost all come from immigrant family. So, no! Most Canadians, born here or naturalised , are not racist.

Very accurate video, the only thing I would add is the social aspect or lack of social / nightlife / cultural life in most of Canada, people are too reserved, shy, don't smile much and one can feel isolated, so a lot of ethnic groups stick together. Montreal is an exception in Canada with respect to social and nightlife

Quebec in number one? I get that from a tourism standpoint...\nThis is how you tell the people involved in this list were tourists or not from there.\n\nAs someone with parents from Quebec and Ontario, well, I am glad they did not raise me in Quebec...as the case nearly was.\n\nSeeing how my cousins' education went (the fact they were learning stuff in High School that I had known since grade three was something), the taxes, the social short-fallings and the political atmosphere is quite alarming.\nQuebec is not NEARLY as affordable as you make it sound. \nOf my three cousins there one left for Ontario (much more affordable outside of the GTA and Ottawa). One moved out west as job options outside of Montreal and Quebec City are VERY limited for non-government work, and then one remains in Quebec, though plans to leave for reasons above and some more personal/family related ones.\nPlus when you go east of Montreal and the townships you find A LOT of separatist supporters.\n\nThe list would be VERY different this year with some political going-ons. Ontario's rotating issues. Quebec trying to 'considerably discourage' English at all in the province (as well as being the REASON we had a children's cough medication shortage...) Alberta struggling from a crippled energy sector (not just oil, but all thanks to the Federal government) and BC's pending drug policies and related issues.

Québec would be my number 1 too. In smaller towns and regions you can get very good houses for less than $250k. The old historic cities of montreal and quebec are breath-taking and it just feels really nice and cozy to live basically anywhere in the province. There are tons of jobs too and we have cold winters but also nice warm summers and beautiful autumns. The food is great because we get fresh local/regional products from fertile fields. Eating seasonal is the best. And it’s so goddamn safe. In the small town where I grew up, we never locked our doors. Never been robbed. And we’re party people too! Bars close alot later than in other places like Ontario, and people here really love soirées and microbreweries. I’m grateful everyday that I was born in a place where it feels so good to live.

If anyone wants to move or visit montreal, you can very well make it without speaking french. The very vast majority of montreal speaks english as their second language. However, I still strongly recommend you learn at least a bit of french as the further you get from montreal, the less english speakers you will encounter (this can be as low as 30km away). Also, even if people do speak english as their second language, no one likes to get forced to adapt their speaking to someone who doesn't even try to make an effort to speak in the local language. So it is best if you learn at least the basics like: Hello -> Salut; Do you speak english? -> Parlez-vous anglais?; I don't speak french -> Je ne parle pas français;... And other basic sentences you would expect to say. More likely than not people will still switch to english if you know nothing in french, but usually people are more than happy if you try to speak their language and it makes for a more enjoyable experience all around.

Being from Montreal QC myself, there is only one other place in Canada where I would see myself moving to: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It is simply spectacular. The food is awesome. The people are friendly and helpful. 10/10 locale.

I was born in Quebec, I grew up there, studied, worked, lived almost all my life, except for a few years in Toronto and Ottawa for studies and work, where I never really felt at home, but like in a foreign country. I love Quebec, its history, its culture, its language, its way of life and Quebecers in general. I get used to its climate, its six months or so of winter, but still with nice, hot summers. I also put up with the high cost of living due to the multiple taxes to be paid, the highest in North America, which means that, paradoxically, it still costs less to live here than elsewhere in Canada and to the social safety net Quebecers benefit and which is the envy of many citizens elsewhere in the country. The shadow on the board: the hostility and racism of English Canada, including most Anglophones in Quebec and the allophones who join this recalcitrant community towards Quebec and Francophones in general, the ambient wokism, the complacency of the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, who has transformed the city into a huge bike path, Justin Trudeau's hypocrisy regarding Quebec legislation for the protection of language and secularism, which he intends to challenge before the Supreme Court of the country . If I weren't so attached to Quebec, these would be the main reasons that would make me leave Quebec, but to go where, like the wandering Canadian of song, banished from his homeland... Where? Any informed suggestions?

I hitchhiked from PEI to northern BC I lived In Quebec, for me the 4 best cities are Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Now I live In Seattle for 15 years, if I had to move back in Canada I would move to Montreal, no where else.

Holy crap! This channel is amazing! I am trying to find my way as an American through the process of moving to Montreal and the content here is invaluable! I am looking for software development opportunities in Montreal primarily in English. I am learning French now, but will probably not be proficient enough to work in a job that requires me to be bilingual. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Quebec wouldn't be my number one pick. Montreal is a nice but the winters in Quebec are cold as are a lot of the residents. The government is socialist with high taxes and the worst covid lockdowns in North America. Not a welcoming place for Anglo Canadians or American traveller's. I would probably say BC is the best province. It has the best of everything.

Justin.. justin... just tell the truth. It’s impossible for youngs to buy South of Nunavut if they don't have access to BANK OF DAD. \nI am 36 and managed to get a decent house for 291k in the montreal suburbs 3 years ago. \nIt took me and my wife 8 years of savings while renting an appartment to FINALLY get the MINIMUM down payment. \nAs soon as the pandemic started it was already impossible for others that did not buy in time. There was like 60 buyers for every seller. I was just lucky. \nThe current rate at which you can save VS the current rate at which houses go up ? The only way for a young, would be to live in this truck while working for a gold mine.

Thanks for this video! I'm a biologist with experience in biotehnology and I'm looking for jobs in Montreal. I also have a master degree in chemical engeneering and I would really appreciate some specific advice! ?