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2023-09-26 0
A lot of the problems you highlight are the same around the world: San Francisco, LA, Vancouver, NYC, London, Paris, Sydney, etc. Are you seriously telling me that Tokyo was cheaper than Toronto? The prices for housing in places in Asia like Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore all have extremely high housing costs. As for safety, I can't comment on all the cities I mentioned but Toronto is still safer than most - even with the issues over the last few years
2023-07-29 0
I was born in Lima Peru at the age 21 moved to the Canada Toronto was my first home and I lived there for 17 years ,but the Canadian winter was wearing me out , so I moved to Vancouver and my partner and I opened a video rental that last me for 24 years until the end of vídeos rental in the meantime I started to invest in real estate , I bough 2 condominium apartment one is a penthouse with roof garden , them 250.000 dólares back in 1994, same year I bought the second apartment for 175.000 dollars 28 years later that investment have increased to 2’200.000.00 dollars I lived all my life in Canada I am now 77 years old in good health,now as a Canadian citizen feel very proud to be Canadian and never consider moving anywhere I am very happy where I am, and I am sure many Canadian feel the same eh
2023-07-29 0
Canadian here. I will just say, after our pop increased by 1mil last year due to immigration (including foreign students that still drive up housing as they need to be housed), I can tell that the approval of our current immigration rates are a bit too generous. Maybe the survey was taken only in downtown areas of Toronto or Vancouver, so its really only asking other immigrants if immigration is chill, but that isnt the consensus of the nation. We dont make more than Americans, but we are taxed more (aka why we want more immigrants to get more tax $), and everything costs more here: from housing to food to energy. Its driven up by the current unsustainable immigration quotas. I myself an am immigrant, but when my family and I immigrated 23 years ago, we only took in 20 000 people a year. I wouldnt have an issue on this at all if we were building enough. Enough housing and transit for everyone. enough good paying jobs for all these newcomers. But these people (with excellent degrees) are lied to at the border with a false promise of prosperity, and just end up being uber drivers to make ends meet. Its a truly broken system. If you arent making 150k/year, you are very much considered lower--middle class.
2023-07-25 0
I lived in Canada from 1983 to 2016 after I left the US Air Force in '83. I was born in the SF Bay area, and grew up there in the Hippie peace love/Viet Nam era in the 60's and 70's. I now live in Seattle. As we have travelled to San Fran, New Orleans, Nashville, Miami, Vancouver (Canada) and New York in the last 6 months, I kinda have a pretty good idea how it was on both sides of the border way back then, as well as right now. We have 2 rental homes, and I STILL have to work until I'm 70 to retire without worrying about losing it all because of the the high cost of health care. Your observation of race/political/religion relations are naive at best, you need to travel the country first hand to see it. Canada has it's far share of right wing crazies as well. They're mostly not armed, and most fights are 5 minute shouting matches. I know this because I work on construction sites. Canada doesn't have commercials for pharma or ambulance chasers. Because big pharma is kept in check, and with a population slightly smaller than California, frivolous lawsuits would clog the courts. If the PM killed some one on the corner of Yonge and Bloor in Toronto, he'd go to jail. You can get an abortion in Canada. There's a fraction of the Fentanyl crisis happening in Canada, and they have waaayy less homeless in the street. Canada has 2 weeks paid vacation AND paid holidays. The tax rate is higher in Canada, but many of the benefits make up the difference. It's cheaper to buy a house in Seattle than Vancouver. You can get a 30 year mortgage in Washington as well, instead of 5 or 10 years. Good and services tend to be cheaper and more plentiful Stateside. Mail service runs on weekends, it hasn't done that in Canada since the 80's. As it stands, I'm in Seattle right now because it isn't the typical US city by far. But I'm thinking when it comes to retiring, I'm putting Canada on the list. Being a dual citizen also makes me eligible for the other Commonwealth (universal health care) countries like Australia.
2023-07-16 0
Don't listen to the naysayers... I am moving to the US next month and I CAN'T WAIT to get out of Canada! Everything you buy is too expensive, and that's AFTER the tax rate which is nothing short of grand robbery. Health Care was already abysmal with waitlists over a year for certain procedures, but in the last 3 years it fell apart even further. Crime is on the rise everywhere and government just releases everyone regardless of public risk (read into Saskatchewan mass shooting from last year).\n\nI am set to make $20,000 more in salary, without even taking exchange rate into account, and that is going from Vancouver which has among the highest salary average in Canada to a small American country side town.
2023-07-16 0
Hi Tyler I have been splitting my time between Florida and Vancouver for the last 25 yrs , my wife is American and my daughter went to high school and college in the US. The years prior to 2016 the Floridians were very warm and welcoming every year I returned for the 6 mo winter season. After the 2016 election things changed, I became one of those people (an unwanted foreigner). I still have my place in Florida but it’s time to sell and find a place that is more welcoming. I read an article a couple of yrs ago that Canadians pay approximately $500 m a year in property taxes to the State of Florida and contribute millions more to the Florida economy… as I see it now the division in the US is getting to be to much. We have our problems in Canada but we let people live their life their way and I live my life the way I choose and accept people just the way they are.
2023-07-16 0
My Grandfather was 5 years at war he was shot twice jumping in a fox hole. That is the year the American finally joined WWII and brag about how the American won the war. He hated America so growing up I never knew anyone. I started class at Second City Chicago last year. Maybe you guys aren't so bad. ? I live on Vancouver Island. It is 270 miles long and our whole island population is 875, 000. So ocean view. Hospital that doesn't charge. And while I do have hunting rifles and a shotgun. I had to take 3 written tests and 2 practical exams to have them. As well my license is criminal record checked every 24 hours. I would not move anywhere my grandchildren are doing active shooter drills.
2023-07-16 0
Greetings from Vancouver ??\nI often travel to see friends in Seattle, San Francisco, Santa, Anna, and Phoenix.\nI do enjoy doing some visiting and some travel, but I always feel on edge primarily because of the bat shit crazy people that have guns down. There is absolutely amazing and not in a good way. Don’t get me wrong I’m a Canadian gun owner here, but, I believe and sensible gun laws.\nI couldn’t do without a universal healthcare, affordable prescription, drugs, and federally legalised cannabis. \nAmnesty International has had a travel advisory about the US for a few years, now advising people not to travel due to the level of violence that occurs daily . Averaging one mass shooting a day and last year. I do believe there is 40 score shootings. To me is more than enough reason, never to advise anyone to move to the US. And women should have complete autonomy over their own body and make their own decisions.
2023-07-16 0
I have spina bifida and I’ve had 20+ surgeries. I’m not leaving a country that kept me out of bankruptcy and death and kept me from getting shot. I’m white, but I’m not playing Russian Roulette with my life. I just in the last few years discovered cannabis as relief for my chronic pain. I know there are some places where it’s legal, but it isn’t worth the risk for me. I remember visiting LA when I was 12 and hearing about how cool and hip Beverly Hills was. When I got there, it looked worse than the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, which is one of the poorest, most crime filled places in Canada. It was scary. That’s not the kind of “freedom” I’m looking for. You can’t exercise any freedom when you’re 6 feet under.
2023-07-09 0
That last reason is bang on. I've been calling Vancouver the boondock of the Western world for years. It truly is.
2023-07-04 1
As a Canadian who moved to (self-proclaimed world-class Vancouver) 30+ years ago, when it was a gritty, fun, quirky unusual city, I thought it was paradise in Canada. However, as time marched on, I saw the gradual change, the boring glass towers, the shoebox apartments, the closing of most live rock music venues downtown, the end of Indy races in False Creek, the cancelation of Seafest, the unchallenged foreign ownership of both commercial ond mostly empty condos, leading to a severe housing crisis - gridlock and crumbling infrasture. Furthermore, the cost of living and taxation is crippling. The present Gov't (either sides, 1 of the same) has lost all credibility. The media is garbage. Healthcare is subpar period. So, like yourself, I've also spent several years overseas in cities that are soooooo much more beautiful with amazing climates. I also spent as much time outside Vancouver possible during the last 4 years. I haven't changed much personally but wow(!) the rise in narcissism, anger and divisiveness in Vancouver over that period of time is palpable. You nailed it with 'status chasing and diengenuis' - When you leave, then come back you notice this change much more. For those that were trapped here for the last 4 years, I feel for you. I really do.
2023-06-30 0
Vancouver is not Canada..... \nleave the passport at the door. \n\nSpain is a economic basket case where their standard of living has been falling consistently for the last 10 years.
2023-04-28 1
Hi, I'm currently in India while my wife is already in Vancouver, working a survival job as a cashier at a grocery store. I'm planning to move with my daughter in the first week of June. I have 16 years of experience in the merchandising field, specifically buying agencies for exporting accessories such as bags, belts, and wallets. I've been searching for a relevant job from here, but I haven't been able to find anything for the last five months. Do you have any suggestions for how I could find good job options in the retail sector? I'm very worried and would appreciate any advice on how to move forward
2023-03-29 0
I live in Vancouver and it's such a garbage city! It spent the last 12 years run by radical mayors spending recklessly on garbage stuff and increasing the homeless population. It's also trapped in a corner surrounded by mountains. Even the Seattle metro has more room
2023-01-18 0
I was born and raised on the east coast of Canada, lived in Vancouver and visited Montréal Edmonton, Calgary with the acception of Winnipeg I’ve seen every major city in Canada. \n\nI will always have pride for my country and love for my family there but it has changed dramatically since 2010.\n \nI will say the transportation in Canadian cities are better and so is the crime and the food but you have to drive a minimum of an hour to get anywhere outside the city, your not leaving that city without a car and good luck surviving without a car outside the city, and VIA rail is way overpriced. The GO train is nice though.\n\nLiving in America it has changed a lot since covid too though people are a lot more desperate and you can feel it but people are too prideful to admit, where in Canada people are struggling and they dress and look terrible and fail to dress nice because there is less prideful.\n\nCanadians are not nice people they are passive aggressive and will not got out of their way to help you most of the time (modern day) kind of like Californians.\nThe east coast Americans are rude and trashy but they will help you if you show respect. There just no fun to be around mostly ? overall North Americans are chauvinistic.\n\nJobs are harder to get in Canada and opportunity isn’t there, but it is very relaxed.\nAmerica is overcrowded and stressful especially for a Canadian.\nMontréal is cheap rent great food, and being personally bilingual I like the French, but there infrastructure is terrible and the people are depressed and disgustingly rude and they have no customer service.\n\nVancouver is overpriced in every way possible, beautiful city, great seafood but it’s not worth the price tag, you would be better of living in a San Francisco, the crime in Richmond and burnaby and new Westminster and hasting street is just as bad as San Francisco’s tenderloin.\n\nToronto is big and fun yet it doesn’t feel Canada at all, it feels like it’s been hijacked by American and foreign companies. It’s beautiful but lots of rats and bad traffic. People are relatively nicer there but it’s still expensive like New York.\nCalgary is very pretty probably my favorite, it’s just cold AF and kinda pricey. Probably perfect for families.\nEdmonton is flat and boring but I like it’s proximity to Calgary ?\nOverall it’s one of the best countries to live in the west but if you like fast paced, opportunity, diversity, traveling and are rich enough for elite education then come to America. Lastly Canada is a democracy so bills can be passed faster but that can also be a bad thing if you have a courrupt gov’t, cough cough trudeau.\nAmerica is a republic so it is harder to pass laws which can suck but it is also harder for people like uncle joe to overreach. Overall in America you are more free but in Canada you are more at peace. \n\nI’ve lived in America for six years and moved here at 20yrs so this is just my experience.
2022-12-25 2
I lived for 8 years in Alberta (Edmonton) and for the last 30 in the GTA (Toronto, Whitby, Oshawa). Previously I lived in New York, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, and California. So I have been around a bit. Every country, state, province has its plusses and minuses. I have enjoyed every place we have been. For Canada I am especially appreciative of the health cares system. I don't fret about whether I have the money for the care I need. I appreciate the general civility of individuals. Yes there is homelessness, but I find that everywhere. Yes homes are expensive, but this largely applies to places such as as the GTA and Vancouver area. Yes, there is racism, but have you ever been (especially) in the U.S. South? My snese is that the complainers are more bitter over their own experiences than they are objective.
2022-12-16 0
First let me say that every country and I do mean every single one has their pluses and minuses Canada's major plus is the fact that crime is almost nonexistent as opposed to the United States where there is a mass murder every single day and a mass murder defined as four or more people killed in One Time by one person this does not even count where there is just two or three people killed at one time they're not included in the statistics the United States is out of control with violence guns you name it and I've lived here for 40 years I spent the first 20 years in Canada in my life was so perfect that I can't even dream of a better life the problem with most people is they move to the larger cities Vancouver Toronto I grew up 40 miles outside of Montreal on the great Majestic St Lawrence River one of the truly great rivers in this world my parents had a summer home on the river and every summer it was water skiing fishing boating golfing swimming you name it growing up 40 miles outside of Montreal if you wanted The Nightlife of Montreal one of the great International cities in this world then you could just drive there in less than an hour and enjoy the great nightlife that is Montreal as someone who is French and Italian I loved the winters because ice hockey was my favorite sport and I played all the sports nothing even comes close to the speed skill and excitement of ice hockey it is like soccer on steroids they're only two cold months during the winter January and February and even then it's really enjoyable as long as the temperature stayed below 32° I was happy because that meant that they could make outdoor ice rinks and I could enjoy my favorite sport of ice hockey all winter long Outdoors as someone who's lived all over the United States over the last 40 years I wouldn't trade Canada for any place else the United States is full of scammers I've been in all kinds of businesses working for different companies and there's rarely a company that I didn't get cheated by and had to take to the labor board for justice and compensation I trust nobody the main thing here is stay away from the major cities of Vancouver and Toronto and you will be able to have a great life with affordable housing and if you're into the outdoors Sports Canada is the greatest and best secondly Canada has the third largest oil reserves in the world and so there are a lot of Natural Resources that Canada has that is wealth for the country that will filter down to the average person what people don't realize is it when you live I've lived in Southern United States and most places the summers are unbelievably excruciatingly suffocatingly miserably hot hot hot at least in the Colder Weather you just put on some great looking ski wear and you can be outdoors and not be bothered by the cold because you eventually a climatize yourself to it Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area and has only a 35 million population there is a lot of room for growth and opportunity and in a safe safe environment to raise a family and at the end of the day that's what it's all about I wish I could say the same for the United States being safe but no it is not and Mexico is they have six out of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world and Tijuana is the most dangerous city in the world with almost 2000 murders and the year is not over don't believe me just Google it the reality is that the drug cartels control everything in Mexico and the police and politicians are afraid because the cartels are so ruthless there is way too much money to be made in selling drugs and the cartels will stop at nothing to make sure they get their money by the way most of my family still lives in Canada and are doing extremely well for themselves and I am the only fool that moved to the US
2022-09-13 0
LOL next time you go to British Columbia go to where I'm from and it's a little Valley called blueberry Creek it's in the interior about 400 mi from Vancouver Vancouver isn't as bad as you say it seems that way but truly I lived there for about 10-15 years after I grew up in blueberry and it is definitely unpredictable that's for sure you have to take an umbrella with you or a raincoat or a sweater or something cuz you could go out in the morning it's bright and sunny and by the time you get to the bus stop it's raining that is very true but it doesn't last long there is certain seasons that it rains but if you look at the meteorology it really isn't that much more than anywhere else and gloomy you want to talk about gloomy you live in Alberta I live there for quite a while and one morning I woke up and I just couldn't take it anymore all you see is different shades of gray and brown so I packed up and went home and finally saw green again I'm glad you guys are in Canada but boy do I hear you I used to be middle class owned a home and some land and then I became homeless because yes that's what our government is trying to do they don't want me to class people we have too much power when Harris came into power he almost succeeded in wiping out the middle class dirt poor have no say in anything so I'm trapped here I hope you guys have the freedom to go where you like I really do you guys are great
2022-09-08 0
I was born and raised in Canada and left 30 years ago. I went to Vancouver about 10 years ago to visit family and I also found it ugly. The big glass buildings looked so dirty and outdated. It felt like an old outdated logging town. Like most Canadians, I used to be proud of the medical system but now I've realized it doesn't cure people it just keeps the citizens sick. Everyone I know there is sick and they are all proud of how many operations they've had and how many pills they take. I remember paying 30% in taxes as a University student with a part-time job. It just wasn't fair. The last straw was when I saw how the Trudeau government responded during covid. They hijacking the news stations and brainwashed the citizens. And then, they froze bank accounts of those who dared to protest or even support protesters. I lost a lot of respect for people there who I thought were intelligent and It made me realize how that place turns people into drones. Now I'm ashamed to be Canadian. Most Canadians live in a bubble and think it's the best country in the world but that's because they don't know what it's like to live. Good for you for leaving. I wish you all the best.
2022-08-27 0
I don't agree with most of what you ladies counted as negative points! and I'm an immigrant living in Vancouver for the past 26 years. This is a multicultural society and a very successful one, we all mingle with each other and we love it! Loneliness?!! Come on! Have you been to Europe anywhere?!! :)) you won't last a month! Taxes are not too high at all and healthcare does work. I had a brain tumor removal for free and they admitted me after 2 days! If these don't make you feel right at home here, nothing will! By the way, it's TOTALLY fine to have a thick accent here! LOL.
2022-08-19 0
My wife, my 3 kids and I used to like Vancouver but not anymore!!! The weather is why we plan to leave for good but also the expensive rents! I also heard about horror stories at many hospitals (and yes, I have worked in Africa and to be honest, Africans hospitals are way more functional than the ones in Canada in terms of human aspect… there they care, Canadians do not give a shit about anyone!!! And I am saying this as a Belgian!!! I have some African colleagues at work here and at least 80 percent of them either want to go back to Africa (one is actually going to start an Afro business there and build his own house) or move to Europe (one of them plans to live to my homeland Belgium and two others in France as apparent the pensions there are way better than the Canadian one) as soon as they get enough experience in canada! None of us at work , including me, want to retire or get old here in Canada! For me personally, it is the Canadian extreme loneliness and lack of willingness to open to others that really shuts me down… I am fed up and and tired of paying taxes in a country where some (not all) hospitals and some retirement homes treat patients like … objects, not human beings! I now understand (as before I did not) why even some of my African colleagues are looking forward to go back to Africa or to some of them, immigrate to Europe! .. none of us want to be left alone and depressed in this so highly individualistic and unfriendly, falsely “cool” country called Canada… a country that claims America and France are racist countries when not even one CEO in Canada is coloured! I am also fed up of Canadians being cool!!!! Cool???? Yes, their humour is crap and they are all too serious… not astonishing why so many end up being depressed or on meds to be able to function! \nLast: I am fed up with 1. The stupid credit score system which makes North Americans anxious and frustrated!!!! Stupidity does not even exist in France or Belgium where I am from! 2.food is Canada is … not good…lol… really close to being bad! 3.the country is boring… reason… people are so disciplined and nothing happens!!! I just miss Europe even if we are far from being perfect and I prefer our imperfections to the Canadian perfect society which end up making people boring and annoying!!! 4. Canadians are shallow compared to us Europeans 5. Their transit system sucks if compared to Europe 6. Health care system is nothing comptable to what we got in Europe!!!! \nResult: I leave Canada years before retirement as The last thing I want for me is to remain in a country and get “sunk” Into Canadian depression, Canadian loneliness and Canadian “coolness”. \nOhh just as an indicator, it is really rare to see someone who is happy in Vancouver BC these days… the city just looks like a factory to make people work, make Canadian banks richer and pay taxes! Apart from that, I do not give a damn about the beautiful scenery and lakes as long as everyone around gets scammed with unjustified and ridiculous high cost of living!!!
2022-08-10 0
Bad things about Saskatchewan:\n-A LOT of snow, A LOT\n- negative 30c is the norm in winter, summer usually plus 25c (It's COLD)\n-housing prices aren't as cheap as the video says... sure you can buy a place for $280,000 :) ...an apartment. \nA new family house made in 2012 costs $550,000, an old one made in 1980 costs $330,000.\n- Not a lot of bang for your buck. Yes, there are jobs in the major cities but the pay isn't so great unless you are a nurse or work in health care. (Best province for upcoming nurses btw) Minimum wage for the win! \n-As I said previously, minimum wage for the win! There are jobs but you don't get paid enough to live without a roommate or almost be constantly broke.\n-Rent is okay. If you DO manage to get a decent paying job, like a teacher, plumber, doctor, etc, rent is cheap.\n-Expensive retirement. Thinking the healthcare is great for seniors? It is. But, get ready to give every last penny to your senior home. A neighbour got a quote from a local seniors home for him and his wife, $65,000 per year (MINIMUM) for the 2 of them. That's how much the old folks home costed.\n-You need a car. If you want to visit outside the major cities, you need a car. In the cities you can survive traffick by bus, but it is better with a car.\n-You can't see northern lights a lot. Not from the cities. You have to go north, north, north, out in the middle of nowhere.\n\nGood things about Saskatchewan: \n-No cougars. Bears and wolves live here, mainly in the north.\n-People are friendly. There isn't as much crime in the 2 major cities, Prince Albert does have a lot though just like the video said, so I'd steer clear of that place.\n-Great education. Good place to raise a family.\n-Great healthcare. Has most covered in universal healthcare I think out of every province. Seniors like to move to Saskatchewan for retirement. It's a great place to retire if you have the money to move.\n-Lots of local stuff to see. A lot of local shops, parks, camp grounds, etc.\n-Rent is cheap. It's cheaper than Vancouver or Toronto.\n-Food prices are alright. Not good, not bad, just okay. Even a poor single mother can buy some food I think.\n-Lots of land. There is lots of flat land here. Not that you could own it all lol But it is pretty to look at.\n\nHighlights/Best people to move here:\n-nurses\n-immigrants for fast food jobs\n-rich seniors\n-rich families (good place to raise a family)\n\nPeople not good to move here:\n-single people\n-poor seniors
2021-10-29 0
@ Make That Change, you are missing some topics!! A person who is born and raised in Vancouver before the 1980's and where both parents were also born and raised in Canada. Since the year 2000, the cost of owning a detached home has risen 10 folds. You could buy a corner lot house in a nice area and good location for an average of $160,000. Now that home would cost 10 times that cost in the last 20 years. Why? Foreign investors and immigration based on supply and demand as this also includes the increase in rent cost. People spend on average about $1000 to 1500 for a room to rent not their own suite in Vancouver. Twenty years ago, you could rent a whole house with a yard for that price on the waistcoats of BC. \n\nAnother issue, there are Canadians who do travel to USA due to people being in desperate need of care. USA has a wider spectrum of medical options in comparison to Canada. Canadians travel to USA because the waiting list is often way too long. Canada is nota complete free medical system as people hear and rehabilitation expenses are not free unless it is inside a hospital. It was from at one time as Medicare was founded on the grounds in the 1960's by Tommy Douglas, former premier of Saskatchewan, who initiated Medicare but it was no sustainable. \n\nJust because a person gets referred to a doctor, particularly a specialist when there are very few doctors in that area of care, it does not guarantee you will receive the treatment. I waited 2.5 years for a treatment in a hospital, only to be told that I was not a candidate for that treatment even though they did not screen me as a precursor before making a rational decision. DEVESTATING! Canadians if they have money often go to USA or Mexico when in desperate need. \n\nThere is a lack of doctors as many people do not have a family medical doctor who know their case personally. Complex diseases do not receive proper care as Canada does not have an integrated medical system of care amongst other doctors for patients. It has been on the news media where people have died being on the waiting list, returning back to hospitals where the hospital emergency because the concern of the disease was undermined with the overcrowded medical system.\n\nThere is a increased gentrification in the metropolitan cities that is an issue as the richer are now richer and the poorer are more poor. As there is an INCREASED immigration there is a huge stress in cost of living as there is not enough affordable housing and increased homelessness in Vancouver and Toronto. Vancouver is the worst place in North America as it is known as the drug hub called Skid Row. You can google this information as there are article written for 2021 and previously. Expo 86 and the 2010 Winter Olympics skyrocketed tourism and immigration that many people who are born and raised here before 1986 are very angry and resentful of how drastic the decline of how the quality of life has become.
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