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We need more opportunities and infrastructure built outside of Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver.

Shocking to watch this video. 20 years my family and I had an enjoyable stay in Vancouver especially the Rocky mountain trip. Beautiful scenery and I was thinking of migrating to Canada, Vancouver. \n\nRecently I heard horrible stories of racism and anti Chinese. Canada economy now is bad and no safety staying there. High taxes, rising crime rates and not much opportunities for work or business in Vancouver. Within 20 yrs Vancouver was once a beautiful, safe place became a rundown crime infested place.

The ironic thing about the government calling for more housing to be built is the fact that they're the primary culprit for why its not getting built. I was speaking recently with a developer for a large development company in Vancouver area, and he made it very clear that their government instituted fees and restrictions and unreasonable requirements have made it almost impossible for them to pursue anything but the most surefire projects. The overhead costs are just way too high. And this of course translates into housing prices. So you want to look at why housing is so expensive, especially new housing? Take a look at your local, provincial and federal governments first.

Part of the problem is Canada only has two cities, Vancouver and Toronto so the cost of living has skyrocketed in both cities. Most immigrants just only know to go to these cities.

To be fair you weren't meant to move to Toronto or Vancouver when you came here. If you moved to places like Alberta or outside the major cities you would be fine with wages and cost of living. People who were born in Vancouver and Toronto had to move out the city so I'm not sure why immigrants think they're entitled to just show up in some of the most expensive cities in the world and have it easy.

Vancouver is my home town. I have a pretty good deal where I currently live, but if that changed, quite possibly I'd be looking for a cheaper, more relaxed country to move to. Mexico? Philippines? Not sure, but Canada is kinda fucked these days. Not totally, but in a lot of important ways.

I live in Toronto. Everything you talk about in Vancouver applies equally to here. Toronto has become, under socialism, the most expensive outdoor toilet in Canada. And our taxes are going up 16.5%, and mayor and city council have voted themselves a similar salary increase.

Canada was built by immigrants no doubt. When Canadians are unwilling to do the low pay hard labour, and give birth to kids, there has to be immigrants to fill the gap. Housing crisis is the elephant in the room, it has been around for quite a while. Remember one decade ago in Vancouver #donthaveonrmillion? Its worse now. International students became easy solution/target for politicians to blame because they cannot vote. They were considered as solution of labour shortage back during Covid then there was a labour shortage. Sean Fraser the minister of immigration back then made it super easy for international students to stay in Canada permanently. When he takes the office of Minister of Housing, he starts to point fingers to those students. Who let them into this country in the first place? We need more roads more houses. IRCC needs to work faster to get more skilled workers doctors into the country. Putting a cap on current immigration level is not a good idea.

It's all good when you're a greedy landlord collecting rent, or a crooked private college collecting thousands of dollars. These are young kids who are being exploited by our country. On the other end of the spectrum, you have single occupancy residents living in multi-million dollar mansions with no declared income. We need targeted immigration strategy isolated to each province. We need provincial and municipal governments to start building affordable public housing again as they did in decades past. Expecting private developers to build housing is ridiculous. I am a son of immigrants, i am Canadian, I have a great job but I live in Vancouver. The average house in my neighbourhood is 1.7 million dollars. I think that is criminal.

I’m not sure what is meant by “making friends” exactly. In my opinion, finding people you can be open with and trust takes years, no matter where you live on this planet. So, for what it’s worth, I thought Calgarians to be easygoing, Montrealers to be outgoing but click-ish, and people in Ottawa kind of dull (at a social group level). I’ve only spent a couple of weeks in Vancouver as a traveler so I can’t really judge but my sister and a friend who both studied and worked in Vancouver - and who are both outgoing people- found it difficult to crack through social circles in Vancouver. They basically thought that Vancouverites are a little elitist/snobby.

What’s really wrong with 50% of one income going to rent? Rent is dirt cheap in Canada compared to similar cities. Are you serious? You think Toronto and Vancouver is Hanoi or Accra? Find a roommate.

hey @febbylyan, great points. totally agree. Let's make friends. I am in Vancouver as well.

Reality check: \n#1) IF you are a rich immigrant OR you are coming from a 3rd world country Canada is heaven\n#2)Walk at night around downtown Vancouver you will see condo's with 70% of lights off, Rich Asian owners with no one living there, \n#3)UBC you will see millionaire Asian kids owning mega mansions; driving supercars\n#4)embezzled money from a certain Middle eastern country allowing minority to live like millionaires in british properties area\n#5) Go to ANY casino and you will see it always packed with people spending money like it is monopoly paper

Naging Mature c Andrew Chang from those days na nasa CBC Vancouver cya, I like his professionalism!

Some of them come , right after grade 12 only one thing in their mind to get immigration! Most of them come to get same degree management or hospitality managing hotels ! These degrees don’t get them anywhere ! They all want live Vancouver Toronto no one wants to go to Manitoba Saskatchewan and up North ! People open up private colleges,have little room to teach them on line classes ! Money grab ! No one give them right information before they leave their country! We got not many skill student only business digress! Student from Indian love to get their PAR ! It cost them too much money to get here, but then they have to work hard to pay for their fees , or they have to buy work permit , it cost 35 to 50 thouesd to buy work permit as long as they work for same people for two year, not making that much money ! Life becomes hard !

Altogether, the damage to this country by bringing in so many international students will cause Canadian citizens to immigrate elsewhere, including me at some point. It's hard to have this discussion sometimes as people will say you're being offensive, but really, I doubt the current climate of Canada is satisfactory for these overseas students either, their housing and job options here are poor and this affects Canadian citizes. If you go to places like Vancouver or Ottawa, it's completely unrecognizable to the unregulated amount of international students who are typically in poor situations.

Canada has been turned into a left wing, entitled fascist utopia. By the way, Vancouver and even Alberta are considered more of Hollywood North then high crime Toronto?

In Quebec province and toronto and kingston can make good friends. Not difficult. Vancouver they are weirds. Not easy make friends

Vancouver has gone down as well

She talking about Vancouver now just imagine Toronto. High prices of houses is just plain mismanagement on behalf of CMHC. Which I believe have no clue what they are doing.

Vancouver job market is fucked, you need to earn abroad or remotely then comeback wealthy to enjoy Vancouver thats the only way imo

Toronto, Vancouver are used by Chinese Triads like 14k and such to import the materials for Fentanyl from China and produce the final product there before delivering it to the US. Government officals got paid since 1990s so they can do in Canada whatever Business they want, there are many good documentaries about that. While many believe the most drugs for NA come from Mexico, Canadians would be badly surprised.

Honestly Toronto is still a lot better than Vancouver because honestly even in a good neighborhood you are scared to walk down the street and even go for a walk because you don't know if the person walking past you is going to pull out a knife like it's that scary here. We have a lot of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec's homeless population here and that means we have a lot of Alberta Quebec and Ontario's mentally ill population. So many of the homeless I speak to have moved here for the warmer weather even though it's frigid as heck today but that's why they moved here just for a warmer place to be homeless. We are also a port city and have a wicked problem with drug addiction.

This is a national and global problem. Western countries have hit their economic growth peak and the rich are hiding their money. It's easy to blame foreign home buyers which in Toronto and Vancouver is a legitimate part of the housing problem but it more so has to do with some people not paying their equal share while they profit off of our labor and our spending. The system only works if the money comes back and creates some level of spending. The only issue we have with immigration is the downward push on wages and the Fast Pace at which it's happening because local infrastructure including housing Healthcare and transportation cannot accommodate such a rapid increase and again it's happening mostly in the big cities. This worked in the twenties and the 50s and the 70s to bring in mass number of immigrants because we had big economic growth at the time. We have the poorest industrial policy out of the G8 countries it's Dreadful it doesn't even exist

We are US Americans. When our child decided to attend the University of Toronto, out-of-country, 15-some years ago, we researched so much, including the university’s international student pulse. We were horrified to learn the lion’s share of UofT’s international students body intended to use UofT not for a high-caliber education but as a fast-path gateway into the US upon graduation, if not before. International student forum members were quite clear and unapologetic their intentions. In the years since, the US has learned most of these immigrants can’t compete once here and do poorly. The reason is part expectation and part inflated self-assessment — 1. Our urban and suburban housing is just as expensive as Toronto and Vancouver, 2. We don’t have free health care except for the destitute. Even then, it’s minimal, 3. Our ivies and other great universities already supply our best employers, 4. Our academic standards are more rigorous, in most cases, to Canada’s, 5. Our winters are just as cold and snowy, 6. Our summers are so hot, your car and anything in it will melt, and 7. We generally don’t have public transportation except piecemeal in our cities. Further, most of us don’t want Trudeau’s increasingly fascist politics to take hold here, any more than they have already, under Biden.

Canadian here, from Vancouver. This is 100% true. Why do we accept so many immigrants? Because we have to. We can't afford to have our own kids. It's too expensive. As my kids are finishing their post secondary education, I'm going to suggest taking their edu and leaving Canada for the USA - higher wages, more affordable cost of living. It's actually simple math.

Toronto is as terrible as Vancouver or Montreal. It is a horrible city that decent people should avoid. And only Torontonians think Toronto is Hollywood North. Everyone else knows it’s Vancouver.\n\nTokyo however is an amazing city. It’s clean, fun, and has amazing people. Something you can’t say about Toronto.

8. Govt subsidies to refugees are far better than immigrants.\n9. Chaotic political disagreement.\n10. Canada is a big state of USA, ask JT the loyal American dog. Political independence is fake.\n11. Company with 30 more people is big.?\n12. Many guns smuggling from USA.\n13. Vancouver first Zombie city, and Toronto will be the second. Ask the drug boy JT.\n.....

i lived in canada vancouver 7 years ago,,and i could scape fromt there, why ?\ncanadian government is become communist, they use drugs and medications to control everybody whos are not agreed with government laws, \nthe laws defend imkigrant muslims, \nthe laws hace become more more a chiness laws communist, \ni spoke with immigrants and canadian people and all of them speak bad from canada, \ni,m glad to leave that communist country

amazing video. found you through True north. I ditched vancouver 7 years ago and haven't looked back. Nice to visit in the summer for the amazing sunshine but damn the winters are brutal.

I'm 75, was born in Toronto, lived in Vancouver, New York City, but moved back to Toronto in 1985. Toronto was/ is a great city from May to late October. Today the developers own the politicians. Toronto, is now all terrible condos, ugly steel with glass walls. So sad what has happened to my Toronto, the Toronto I used to know.

The sad truth for your reputation, is that there are more people STAYING than leaving, otherwise, our population would only increase by the number of births, minus the number of deaths every year. It is NOT. It is increasing by a LOT more. And those are EASY to find stats.\n IF you took your time to get out of your pity party and realized that you are WRONG about that fact, you might ALSO understand that choosing WHERE you live n this country is a pretty important choice. Unless you are REALLY rich, Toronto or Vancouver would be a miserable experience for anyone. If you limit yourself to the most expensive places we have to offer, you only have YOURSELF to blame for your failures here, AND you weren't going to contribute where we NEED immigrants, but where we already have too many, causing that RARITY, making prices go up. \n Have a nice flight out. But know that it could have been different if you'd taken the time it took to make that video, to INFORM yourself about the choices that might have been better for you instead.

well dont move to vancouver its way worse. till we take canada back nothing will change\nps vancouver is the hollywood of the north\ni believe what is going on is we have become slaves and we arnt a 1st world country now we a 3rd world country thanks to justin

Vancouver Is the Anti-Asian Hate Crime Capital of North America, reported by Bloomberg 2021\nCanada is not safe.

I lived in Western Europe, Japan and at the moment, Canada. I lucked out getting a well paying job in Vancouver when I moved back a few years ago and my average tax rate is actually the exact percentage you stated in the video - 28%, which includes income tax, pension and employment insurance. I'm actually doing better in terms of quality of life now but I do miss being able to travel around Europe for cheap. (e.g., quick train ride to Paris for the weekend) Now, I take cheap flights (e.g. Flair Airlines) to Mexico instead.\n\nJust to state some data points: when I was in Europe, I paid a total average of 39% income tax on a lower salary than I have right now in Canada. Things like utilities (e.g., gas/electricity), restaurants, certain grocery items and electronics (e.g., iphone/PS5/computers) were significantly more expensive because European VAT (inclusive) is usually 20%+. \n\nI don't have the exact numbers but on average I believe I was paying 70 - 90€ ($100 - 130 CAD) just for electricity each month for a small flat, but I am now paying $30 - 50 CAD for a decent sized 1 bedroom. I believe my housing gas bill was about the same or possibly a bit more. In addition, automobile gas prices were much higher (about $2€/L on average which is $2.90 CAD/L) and I think they could go even higher right now. \n\nHowever, rent is definitely more expensive in Vancouver, but I believe that is true for many West coast cities in North America. Right now I'm paying $2300 CAD a month for a 1BR, and I split that amount with my partner. In comparison, it would have been about €1300 ($1900 CAD) for something similar in the city where I was living previously. In a more expensive city (e.g. Amsterdam) a 1BR would easily cost €1800+ ($2650 CAD).\n\nFor me, the difficulty of making friends in my late 20's stays about the same. I think it is difficult to make new friends after graduating from school, and you have to put yourself out there by joining groups and events. (e.g. Meetup or volunteering?)

I lived there for 13 years. Loved it. Then COVID happened, lost my job, got evicted, had to move back in with my mom in Vancouver. Another unaffordable city. Can’t afford it here, or there but am looking at buying a house in the EU

Toronto is the most boring, non-descript, major city I have ever been in my life. Sure it has all the amenities of a major city, but they do it boring. Landscape, boring. Architecture, boring. Neighbourhoods, boring. People, boring and a little stuck up. Seriously, the city is a character vacuum with no real distinguishing features. Montreal is everything Toronto is not and at least Vancouver has the dreamy landscape. Indian restaurants are alright tho.

So much misinformation. For one thing they don't call Toronto Hollywood north. That's Vancouver. You're out to lunch

Well good luck if you wish to live in Vancouver! Nowadays housing and basic commodities are high and on top of it work pay is so low. Better of in some province of canada but if you choose to live in the city better be ready.

I left Vancouver with my family (which has many of the same issues) 4 years ago and now live in Southeast Asia. I do not regret my decision!

As a Vancouverite, I agree with all 5 points. Vancouver is too expensive

As a Vancouverite, I find it weird that some Torontonians claim Toronto to be Hollywood North. Maybe New York North. Vancouver is actually north of Hollywood. Toronto is a lot more east of Hollywood, than north. Toronto has a lot more in common with New York than California. Vancouver at least has similarities. West Coast, for starters.

2 top cities Vancouver and Toronto are filled with fentynal zombies and rent 7 or 8 times higher than 2012

you are absolutely right. been here since 1983 and this country has declined dramatically since then. as for making friends.. its a vancouver thing..

Canada in general has changed, and not for the better in the last 15 years. The cost of living has gone through the roof, and salaries are not any better. This is from the point of view of someone from Montreal, so I cannot even imagine how expensive Toronto and Vancouver must now be.

Vancouver is surrounded by mountains with nowhere but up to grow. So the cost of living crisis will only get worse there.

I'm using someone account. As male and business men in Canada since 1977 the problem is that British origin culture or its people, they want to turn anyone into slave. You ask for price and people say NO!!! Then they ask you> are you any good<? I mean, I done 250 homes in Vancouver BC and they still have doubts. After that they refuse to pay for services and so you work from hand to mouth. Even in the third world country, now, you make some of profit due to respect...Because they have to pay mortgage, people turn bitter and want to revenge on someone, or they are, or become> just mentally ill. When you are successful, due to your innovative methods, or providing for workers what they need, they cut you down saying > that you are propagating socialism in Canada, or will begin to block you, while using elite high tech mind controls... In my case they started to block my incoming business calls, because people I know for 30 years and I met in person in restaurants or while shopping, they just complained to me saying> I wanted to give you contract and I needed your reasonable services and tell me> why you are not unswerving my incoming cell phone calls? I mean, I sit in Starbucks in good reception zone and having two of cellphones and there is nothing....Maybe the other providers will not want to cross connect phone call to a Fido?

Normal that Canada is not right for everyone. It is ok to leave.\n\nThat being said, Canada just ranked second best country to live.\n\nToronto and Vancouver are unaffordable due to rich immigrants buying up property.\n\nInflation, was a world wide problem in the time period she is discussing.\n\n Her comments about job opportunities is just off.\n\nI could continue, but I think you get the drift of my post.\n\nSounds like she is just dissing Canada, but for who?

A big part..........at least here in Vancouver why the healthcare system is broken here is due to the ongoing opioid crisis. The downtown eastside where many of the homeless and drug addicts live is known as the vortex because it sucks in all 1st responders across the lower mainland. Yet when someone who lives somewhere else in the city needs an ambulance you are screwed. Last year I had to wait over 8 hours for an ambulance........I live less then 10 minutes away from the nearest hospital. Because I couldn't move I had to sit there while my roommate had to call 9-11 over a dozen times to get me an ambulance. Doctors are even telling people to take a cab to the hospital if they can walk, because it's faster. \n\nAnd even when I finally got to emergency I had to wait hours to get looked at. The doctor didn't see me for almost 6 hours while i'm lying there screaming in pain. And this was on a Tuesday night, not even a weekend.

vote liberal or NDP, you get Toronto, Vancouver, etc.. this isn't surprising.