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New York is facing the same thing (been living here since I was born). It's a shame to see Toronto go down a similar path. Hopefully both cities improve with time.

I've been living in Toronto for over thirty (30) years with a little two years try in Halifax, which didn't work due to the lack of meaningful jobs.\nWhen I arrived here in the late 80th I was very impressed with all the services provided and the speed to see medical professionals.\nI'd spent almost 10 years without a family doctor since my first one retired, and now I'm fortunate enough to have one who is so busy that I have to wait months for an appointment.\n\nIt is painful to notice that already paid services are disappearing and how dirty and dangerous this, once an amazing city, is today.\n\nI'm retired now just waiting for my wife to do the same to move out of this country, with the hope that our very low combined pensions will be enough to live somewhere else.\nMoving out of the city, even out of the province, it is not an alternative since anywhere out of here, includes having a car with all the expenses that this include.\n\nSad reality for retirees and specially for young couples with children in tow.\nSoon we will see this beautiful country devoid of human qualified presence to support all the neglected refugees that are coming.\n\nWho knows, maybe this is a new experiment on how so many homeless people can survive the harsh winter.\nGreetings from Toronto.

I agree with all of your points in this video. While I love this city and I’ve lived here all my life, there’s a lot of things I’m not happy to witness at all. Everything has gone downhill but it’s not making me want to leave T.O. I love almost everything about it but those social issues have just plagued it, even I’m not surprised so many people are moving out. I’d rather stay here and overcome those situations than move because everywhere else is so expensive Your opinions are transparent otherwise and yes, it might be the effects of post-covid. I wish things were a lot better than now but, it will just take time.

So sorry to hear and see this. So many hard working people are being negatively effected by all this.\n\nEventhough I am American I spent a lot of time in Toronto and always considered it it my closest big city and can remember it being the cleanest, safest big city in North America. In addition to that working families could afford to live there.\n\nStill a great place and plan to bring my family up for a visit sometime this year.

Agreed\nThere must be reason to live in big cities\nIn 2008 I landed and chose London ON the day 1\nBetter today......

So you are saying there is still a chance...LOL As a Torontonian, the truth hurts and I wasn't planning on watching this particular video. However, I did view it right to the end. Hopefully, one day Toronto the Good returns or at the very least things start getting better. It is our city and we all want the situation to improve. Hopefully, one day you will be able to make a new YouTube video on Toronto changing for the better and wanting to stay. I am originally from a small town and moved to Toronto for school and then work. BTW Thanks for filming and profiling my area the Harbourfront and Toronto Island ...I live just around the corner on Bay and Queen's Quay steps from where you were filming this video! I wish you continued good health and safe journeys on all of your upcoming trips! Looking forward to seeing your future videos and what comes next!

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 live in Edm but have been to TO many times and was just there 2 wks ago visiting family. It’s a super fun and exciting city that I love. However your points are valid but I think these things are happening in all the bigger Cdn cities right now. Inflation is ridiculous, the cost of living is untenable considering wages aren’t going up at the rate they should for people to reasonably pay their bills, resources and social services are being cut, our govt is a shit show and isn’t managing any of these issues appropriately ?. All of that leads to people being frustrated and disillusioned, homeless, having mental health issues w no access to help bc it’s unaffordable… it’s a mess. You’re def lucky to have the option to flee

When I was young I used to fantasise about going to Toronto Canada as I have some cousins who lived there. Today this makes me quite sad but it is a similar situation here in Sydney Australia but a few years behind you guys but affordable housing is a big issue and a small but growing homeless issue Rising. We don't have the extreme random violence like in Canada but stuff like that does happen in all major industrialised cities around the world. Growing population without good healthcare and infrastructure is a major issue in a lot of big cities around the world.\nWe have a government that wants to increase the population and at the same time acknowledge the fact that we don't have the infrastructure to cope for that and also squeezing that big population in a smaller and smaller space of course causing greater mental issues as a result

So sad. My Mom’s family all lived in Toronto and my earliest memory of it goes back to 1964. It was always my favourite city and I’ve seen many. It changed so much over the years. For me the best period was 1967-81. Despite these problems I still love it in my heart.

@AlinaMcleod This was a pretty good video, I think it is not a fair video about the city. Toronto is a safe place to live and like anywhere else on earth crime happens. I have travelled around the World and usually in Urban areas. I was in Toronto recently (Sept 2023), like most big cities in the World it suffers from the standard problems. I watched the video and the cuts of Toronto are really nice.\n\n Homelessness in general is a terrible thing, but what city doesn't have homeless?? What major city is affordable? Rent in New York is about $5000 USD for 1 bedroom and we are not talking about something luxurious, in a great neighbourhood. \n\nBig Cities come big problems. We all have to make more of an effort to help change things, not just in politics but at the person-to-person level. People are suffering around the World with homelessness, crime, drug use, mental health and etc. Most of us just focus on what we can have and totally forget about the other humans that we share this planet with.

Hi Alina, I used to live in NYC, I am use to the chaos of major cities, traffic jams, high crime, expensive cost of living, fast paced life style, etc. I wouldn´t mind moving to Toronto. I love your way and your videos, you beauty of beauties, rgs ❤❤❤

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.

Couldn't agree with you more! After spending almost 20 years working in Asia/Pacific, I returned to Toronto in 2021, thinking that I would settle back. I was shocked at how much the city had changed for the worst (although I had been visiting every year). Drugs on the street, young people struggling with mental health issues and city that doesn't spend enough in social services to help the marginalized in society. I left in 6 months. Now live in Istanbul, a vibrant city steeped in history and culture that predates Christ.

Hi Alina. I want you to know that I completely agree with you. In my case I only spent the first 8 years of my life in that city and it was much safer and better back when I was a kid but not anymore.\n\nThere's no way in hell I would ever live in that city ever again even if I were rich and had the money to do so.\n\nWAY too much crime for my liking. \n\nMy best female friend lives in Manitoba. It's cheaper to live there than it is to live in Ontario

I live down the 401 from Toronto. Visited it many, many times since I was a kid. It has definitely changed, but as you say, the changes (not for the better) have accelerated over the last 10 years or so. The traffic is crazy almost every day now with accidents that lead to unbelievable congestion. One can no longer guarantee that one can get to any appointment on time.\n\nYour assessment is balanced but honest, Alina. Although you are lucky to be able to work remotely, you should look for someplace that has good travel connections. Unfortunately, in Canada, that usually leads to the most expensive cities. Good luck in your search for a cozy, affordable travel hub! (It may not ultimately be in Canada :(

More and more crime in TTC and you may notice there are a lot more people start to cycling everyday due to this. Not because people like cycling, only because TTC is honestly the worst forever system in the same scale cities around the world. By the way, the city doesn’t provide with good biking infrastructure. People are just risking their lives daily for commuting in the city

I live here. The homeless issue isn't just in Toronto, it's affecting all Canadian towns and cities now. While I agree Toronto has gone a bit downhill, it's nothing compared to how bad Hamilton and Ottawa have gotten, regarding homelessness/druggies.

Just like any major cities in the world Toronto is expensive. Forget Toronto- waitress or a model job compensation wont let you live comfortably in cities like Tokyo or New York let alone Toronto. Toronto may not be comparable to those cities but if the expectation is Toronto should be like Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, or Lao that'd be delusional.

I live here the city is being run terrible by all levels of government and trudeau is probably the biggest problem. I'm lucky I've been in the same place since 1994 under rent control, if it wasn't I couldn't afford to live in Toronto.

My wife and I have managed to escape the shitty, er, city. WE now live 40 minutes or so north, in the country. A year ago on the subway we had to deal with a whack-job who just wanted to menace everybody. Screw this left wing mental health nonsense and lock these idiots up. Forever! Piss on T.O. It's a crap hole and I'm glad I'm gone.

Toronto is so expensive now, I can't even afford to visit the city! Let alone live there if I wanted.

I agree, Toronto is not the best place to live in at the moment due to the escalating cost of living and crime. But it would have been nice if you had discussed what the options are. Sounds like you moved to a better place. Please share what province and city that is

In Quebec City, my house that I bought a year ago cost me almost five times less than it would cost in Toronto, and I get one of the safest cities in the world with absolutely fantastic quality of life.\n\nI can afford it on a single average income while I take care of my disabled wife and of my daughter.\n\nReally, the choice is easy. We would live in absolute misery and squalor in the big expensive cities.

To Everyone bad mouthing Toronto I got a few thoughts to share. First off I’ve lived in Edmonton all my life. But growing up there were two constants in my life almost every summer. 2 places where I could get away have fun not come back for weeks or even months on end. One of them was Toronto . That trend has continued into my 40s.\nSecond I don’t consider Edmonton home. I consider Toronto and my other favourite place my homes always have always will.\nThird Toronto like Every other city has bad and great things about it. But the great things far outweigh the bad things. Yes Toronto is big. But it’s also beautiful vibrant majestic lovely a sight to behold once you visited it long enough. You got the blue jays you got the cn tower you got a lot of stuff no other city has. Toronto is my dream city. It’s where dreams can actually turn into big dreams That result in major success. Toronto is for me. I love it I always will and to be honest it’s way better than Edmonton.❤️❤️❤️????.

I've lived in Canada before - twice, and it changed drastically between those two times. These days, I wouldn't touch Canada with a ten foot pole. You may remember, I was living in Lviv, Ukraine — and then the invasion happened. That pushed me out; I have moved to Croatia. I found cheap rent on a 5 bedroom apartment — in a seaside city with a Mediterranean climate — and signed a 5 year lease. By now, I am more than 1.5 years into living in Croatia. (And, Croatia developed a reputation like Sweden, for very little Covid restrictions. So I have 1.5 years living with no medical questions, no mandates, no masks, and no vaccine passports. Outside of Sweden and Croatia, the rest of Europe is less interesting, because of how they were during Covid.)

Winnipegger here who lived in Toronto 2014-2020, moved back to Wpg 2020-2021 and is now back in Toronto. \n\nFirst and foremost, your comments on crime are inconsistent with the data and blown out of proportion. I suggest viewers take a look at StatsCan’s crime severity index which confirms that Ontario is the safest province or territory in Canada (safer than PEI lol). There are also scores for cities and Toronto is safer than almost every other Canadian city, safer than even Ottawa or Calgary, twice as safe as Vancouver, nearly three times safer than Winnipeg. If we start comparing to US cities, it would be even more shocking. Suffice to say, Toronto is not only safe, but it’s the safest major city in Canada and one of the safest major cities on earth. \n\nThe homelessness crisis has certainly gotten a lot worse, sadly. As has the cost of living, but you get what you pay for.\n\nHaving travelled to 35 countries (doesn’t mean I’m an expert, but I have some experiences in other places), I respectfully disagree and think Toronto is one of the greatest cities. It’s one of the greenest cities in this continent, safe, on the lake, super close to other major cities, great infrastructure (relative to Canadian cities anyway), it’s beautiful and there’s a ton to do, not to mention the diversity. \n\nDon’t be turned off by this, if you can afford it, it’s one of the best places you could live on this planet.

I live in Toronto, and it is complete woke garbage city with endless socialism

I live in the suburbs north of T.O. and look forward to moving back to Toronto. But, T.O. Is such a mess and I put that on self serving politicians who let the place run down. When it’s not a condo, turning into a condo, it’s boarded up stores waiting to be condos. No city planning vision, just more congestion.

I grew up in the states but am a dual Canadian citizen. I'd love to move to Canada one day but the cost of living compared to the low wages is a huge turn off. Even though the US has a host of problems, for my field (tech) all its major cities pay far beyond what any major city in Canada would.

Lived in TO in the late 60s and it seemed a clean and safe city. My brother-in-law lived in TO for about 50 years and loved the place. My wife used to visit him often in the 70s and 80s and she liked Toronto a lot. We went again in 2019 for my BIL's funeral and I thought the place was a dump.

Sounds like why when I had the opportunity to leave Cleveland; I made a bee line to the U-Haul garage to line up my truck and car trailer. When I left on a very busy morning looking down I-480 and going west from a west end suburb, going out of the city, and looking at the traffic entering the city ( 4 to 5 lanes going east and 4 to 5 lanes going west with everyone moving at 80 mph/129 kph except the east lane which was moving at 35 mph/56 kph with no more than 1 to 2 car lengths between each other) it hit me that I was darn lucky to survive all this without any major incidents. I also remember saying to myself, I can not wait to get out of this traffic. Either I was lucky or God had my Guardian Angle on 24/7 over time pay for the last 7 to 8 years. I was missing the people I knew but not the place and above all not the crime and traffic. ( at that time it was a 10 mile traffic jam into the city and getting worse every year & has gotten worse every year) That is why I am now living in a place like Melfort but in the USA. I am not recommending Melfort to you but if you want to stay in Canada then perhaps you need to find a place like Melfort or some nice far flung suburb of Calgary so that you can visit a city now and then. Take your time as you can travel around and work anywhere you think that you might want to stay, and for as long as it takes you to find your permanent nesting place. This is a luxury that few humans experience on this planet.

Like you Alina, Harriet and I lived in a city where we were born , raised and loved. Boston. What's happening in Toronto is happening in Boston. The big cities in North America are experiencing\nsimilar issues, some better than others. We still have family in Boston. We continue to go there as you do in Toronto. It's been a while since we've been to Toronto. The two cities are very\nsimilar. Harriet and I are optimists, we hope that the future of yours and our beloved cities will bring us back to a place that we remember fondly. Sending much love❤❤ from Richmond, Va. Harriet, Jim and Yuki

I lived in TO and loved the multiculturalism, but the rate of demographic change needs to be managed and new immigrants properly supported and integrated. With the mass immigration of the past 2 decades, with a great share of the immigrants moving to TO and the GTA, what made TO great has been destroyed. Especially with the pressure on rents and house prices as the population sky rocketed. In the early 1990s TO was a great middle class city, now its just like other cities with the rich doing well and the rest struggling to hang on. Left in 2017 and will not be going back.

I have lived in Toronto many years i originally as a child grew up in Mississauga. Both cities have changed with time. One of the saddest things is that many people don’t feel safe in Toronto. I have many great memories I still currently live in Toronto I can afford my place a one bedroom in west Toronto. But at the same time my landlady’s. Doesn’t provide what’s necessary. Being no doorbell inadequate heating mice around at times. However I put up with it because the alternative is not there at this time \nI work hard like many do. But at the end of the day. Not much left over

IT hard in most of the European nation, including the USA major cities. In these hard times, IT looks better to be married right now because you will have two incomes. The cheapest place to live at right now is in one of the countries in BRICS. But those counties are still in development.

I am born and rasied in Toronto and I would have to say what is happening now in this city is do to the covid fallout. Toronto has always had higher rent then most Canadian cities but I think with the loss of jobs and and the rise in cost of living all over Canada due to covid I would say that Toronto is going through some hard times like everywhere eles in Canda. Unfortunately because it is the bigest city alot of people have moved here in the hope of a better life. I have noticed a rise in drug use but have not noticed a rise in violent crime. They do say that the TTC is got worse...Hard to say as I take the TTC every day across the city and have not noticed any diferance other then more and more people are useing it again. During covid the subway was empty and now all these people that have never used it before are having to learn how it all works and subway edict. I think media is making the subway seem worse then it is. To me it has not changed. I do agree the real problem is dealing with homeless that was more hiden but now is out in the open. Funding from all levels of goverment needs to help all big canadain cites more. I think Toronto will come back again to what it was pre-covid. Hopfully soon!!

With all the major cities with all their problems (ie. high cost of living), Toronto ranks as the best for me.

Are there any towns within a 50 mile radius where you can live cheaper and commute daily to the big city?

These issues are big city problems, and seen far worse in the US. If you go to NYC, you will see cost of living being astronomical (much higher than Toronto), homelessness being worse, crime is worse and mental health services are non existent. The same is true for LA. \nIn fact, in the US petty crime is more lethal due to the mass access to firearms and rampant gun violence. \nThings can be better in Toronto but it is still far better than many equivalent cities in the US.

There are just not that many options of places to live in the US that are good, especially if you don't want to be isolated. As an American I thought about moving to rural New Hampshire.. which doesn't have city problems, but still, kind of cold and isolating and they might have meth problems. I decided on Miami as a home-base, its expensive, but there aren't many other good options out there.. Living in another country is psychological hard after awhile and dealing with visa issues.. I thought about moving to somewhere like Budapest which is very nice, but if you aren't part of the culture or know the language, its hard.. Its better sometimes just to settle down somewhere, I can't get anything done as a nomad, constantly worried about where I am going to next, living in other people's apartment isn't always comfortable..

Sobering, but spot-on. I am primarily a theatre actor based in Ottawa and travel to Toronto frequently, for stays both short to long-term. The rise in cost of living, rental, traffic gridlock, safety concerns, everything you alluded to has dampened the experience of working in the city. It is near impossible to find affordable accommodations that is not in a basement or shared space. As you say, all the attractions and big-city appeal are there to enjoy, but only if money is not an issue!

What I've noticed living in Toronto during the covid and then traveling around other cities is that some cities took covid as an opportunity while Toronto just got neglected. For example NYC doesn't smell so bad anymore, Montreal and London(UK) got a ton of public spaces, Paris transformed the road network and even Belgrade got nicer. Meanwhile Toronto couldn't even restore drinking water and toilets in the parks after 4 years.

I used to live in Toronto and I left for different reasons 2.5 years ago. It is not the same place that I remember it to be. I understand that places change but it’s changing far too fast for me. I used to like going out to various independent shops (especially bookstores) and because of the condo boom a lot of these places can not exist anymore. I also liked going to places where the ttc struggles to go to (further out of the city) but having a car and dealing with traffic has gotten way worse. My other thing is the people. Years ago people would talk about fun things and now all they talk about is money, real estate, and traffic short cuts. I agree with the crime and the housing issues that you mentioned. It’s ok to visit but I try to get out of there (otherwise I’ll be spending all my money on parking)

I am a resident of Toronto for the past 11 years now. I moved here from Calgary because back then I had a better opportunity. I was an aspiring pastry chef. I landed in pretty stable and well paid job. I've already noticed the changes in city a few years before the pandemic. The drug addiction and mental health problem were already quite evident as injection sites were popping up around the cities including public parks. Then the pademic happened, it exposes the cracks in our society, some people are becoming selfish and intolerant. I lost my job due to the pandemic, it was very traumatic, I developed severe anxiety/depression. Luckily, i had some savings when it all happened. Fastforward, I've been working in the last 2 years now but I can no longer find the same job and pay I used to have. Most companies are now more ruthless. They let go employees any minute as soon as they felt the business is slow. There's no more job security. The only reason why I am surviving is because I am living in the same apartment since i moved here. However, my new neighbours who just moved in are paying twice as much. I've been attempting to leave the city but that would mean that i would be paying at least twice of my current rent and there aren't much opportunities elesewhere. I honestly felt trapped in my current situation but I am still grateful that I am still better off than many people who are already living on the edge. Sadly, the situation is only getting worst according to many analysts. I think the country is at a breaking point in many aspects.

A somewhat depressing video, because it's an actually accurate portrait of the city, as it is. Toronto and Canada as a whole is governed by politicians and bureaucrats, who rely on experts opinion of what could be, if x,y,z all come together as envisioned. These pixie dust ideas are often aspirational, but sadly lack a base in reality. Slogans and cheerleading don't make things happen. Rarely is there enough funding to support implementation of these grandiose ideas, and somehow these same leaders ensure they get a chunk before anyone else, cause they have a standard of living to maintain. They just really feel for the pain and suffering of those who are not them. Toronto and Vancouver used to be Canadian examples, that those of us didn't live or want to live there could still be proud of. These cities also were viewed as examples to follow by other Canadian population centres. So the same issues keep reoccurring, because in abstract theory they could work. By the time reality shows that they are not working, it is too late, and too hard, and too embarrassing to change course. \nA very interesting video by a creator who took her rose coloured glasses ( we all have a pair just admit it), and sees what is and then says it out loud.

Way to go Saskatchewan girl! I go Toronto couple of times a year but that city is not for me because I am from Seoul in Korea which has 40 million people live in the city size of GTA lol? I love prairie life

I am from Toronto. It has never been an 'affordable' city to live in. The current situation is not unique to Toronto. It just has evolved into a big city that other large cities have experienced as they grew but people have grown used to.

I love Toronto, but it's too expensive. Easier to live outside the city and just train it in for a day.

Sad to see the city of Toronto changed. After watching it, the people live in that city is almost in the state of poverty. ?