Close Reading

I'm perfectly happy with Canada and being Canadian. My business is thriving. I don't own a house (i'm 50) and probably won't. They aren't good investments and both a recession and a housing crash are necessary to lower prices. \n\nLet me say something about the housing crisis - it's not immigration. Canadians are overleveraged. Many own second, third and fourth properties that they rent out. Once they have to renew into the teeth of higher rates you'll start to see a correction like what we saw in the 1980s. Couple that with higher unemployment and you have a recipe for a crash. Everyone wants lower house prices -- until we get them. Go try to renew your 600,000k mortgage on your million-dollar house that's now worth $800,000. \n\nHealth care is a problem - but where isn't it? The UK? The US? Many parts of the US are close to third-world countries. \n\nI'm happy here. The rest of the world seems bonkers by comparison. Go ahead and leave.

I'm an immigrant and my immigrant friends and I were talking about exactly this just the other day. I'd like to add some context on why so few international students stay: they can't. Schools prey on this very fact. In international recruiting, these schools use the promise of thriving local industries and trot out graduates working locally as major draws to these expensive programs. Then once students are in Canada, many of these schools couldn't care less: they offer little or sometimes no housing support, no immigration advice (or in my case and many of my friends' cases: they give straight-up false immigration advice that can screw you over or even get you in trouble). There absolutely needs to be regulation and accountability for these predatory schools; I think a good starting point would be capping the number of visas they can apply for based on the number of housing units available (either on-campus or via local development subsidy and homestays). Tons of students come to Canada completely unprepared due to false promises made by these schools, and then get spit out into an egregiously inefficient and broken work visa system.\nMy immigrant friends and I are all highly skilled in our specific field. There are only a handful of people in the world (let alone in Canada) who can do what I do at the level I do it, so I would be incredibly difficult to replace if I left Canada. Despite that, and despite being Canadian-educated (Canadian resources invested in me that you'd want to keep in Canada), remaining in Canada has been a massive struggle for me and my friends. We individually spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars every year to apply for permits that have to be renewed annually, but take the government 6+ months to process. Because the government is so backed up, we have to apply for *extra* permits to bridge that gap (more money, and more work added to IRCC's already-long line of applications). I'm in limbo for the majority of the year where I can't switch employers, can't leave the country, etc. It's horrible. \nBut I have it better than most. Of the international students in my year, only I and one other student are still in Canada because the transition to work permits is so needlessly long and difficult. Even a graduate who does manage to get a work permit might have to sit unemployed for 6 months or more before that permit is active. How is a student supposed to survive without work for that long? In order for employers to even apply to sponsor a graduate, they often have to do a lengthy labor market impact assessment, and so these graduates are stuck in a holding pattern, and they're the lucky ones. Immigration is absolutely vital to Canada and I hate how quickly these stories turn to xenophobic rhetoric, but we have to make space in the conversation to take a look at how schools are exploiting students and policy loopholes, and why they're doing it, and address those problems. The current system isn't fair to anyone.

I used to work for a Canadian guy. He was a wealthy, successful man and had very few good things to say about the current state of things, and he was a success story. He's got 3 well educated, entrepreneurial sons and they're all going to the US.

All Canadian and U.S. cities are not looking good. Kinda seems like how NYC looked in the 80s with the increased crime. We all know the issue. They screwed us during covid. They devalued our currency and ruined opportunity for younger generations.

I’m a born Canadian and Canada was once the envy of the world. Cost of living was decent and plenty of good paying jobs. I couldn’t imagine being an immigrant here now. Cost of living is skyrocketing and our government does nothing about it. We are taxed so high and get little in return for the high taxes. Though our healthcare system is free and We do have state of the art facilities and skilled doctors it takes forever to get treated due to high wait times and staff shortages. There are many people immigrating to Canada with high education and experience but Canada does not allow them to practice here because they were not educated here. They are forced to take lower paying jobs. Many young people are leaving because it just too expensive to live here and the political climate is not what it used to be. Growing old here is very difficult unless you have support from family or have a large enough pension account to live in a retirement community

Good at the end of the day, we don’t need to defund things like police, what we need is to defund school. At this point, it’s a useless system that’s been overdated. It’s does absolutely nothing for the Canadian and the Canadian working class, and just gives international student a free pass to a PR statue. Which doesn’t nothing but take up resources. At fanshew college it’s basically a place with a bunch of immigrants using it as a holding cell till they meet the requirement and what’s funny is that all fanshew Programs and degree only take not even haft of the minimum effort to pass and get a diploma. So now we are recruiting a bunch of immigrant who are gonna rely things like our society infrastructure which ends up taking away resources for people that actually contribute to this country. IMO it’s a bit of both to blame but Canada need to step there foot down and say enough is enough, I got took advantage but not anymore. I not blame the international student as the fault is the government but at some point I gonna be like can you stop abusing the system students.

I understand and agree with you. Everything here is expensive with high taxes that go up just about every year. Europe is much cheaper and there are many countries that are a lot safer. I understand how you feel as Muslims and I have nothing against other religions. You don’t have your calls to and I as a Christian I don’t have the church bells which happen to also be a call to prayer. If I was not 70 years old I would leave. I am not Canadian but I am a citizen, my husband, however, is Canadian, so we stay because leaving would be extremely difficult. You are correct about the government and the ‘woke’ ideology in schools and everywhere we turn it seems which we also do not agree with. I also do not like how MAID is becoming just a part of life here, it is deplorable. I wish you and your family good luck and happiness

its good for canada because students are paid lower, in short they being used by the canadian system, ordinary citizen cannot even afford housing, but at least they have cheap students labor, what a shame

The matter is more about making sure that Canadians who wants to go to post-high-school degrees shouldn't have to be drowned in debts in order to get the career of their dream. Foreign students are a good thing but not in a context where only the rich and privileged can go to university unless getting drowned in debts.

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.

Universities and colleges reaping the benefits of \nNo one gives a ? about the Canadians that are struggling to eat and find good paying jobs to sustain themselves.

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.

Good luck trying to convince entiled canadian kids to go to college at the rate international students do. The real issue is that Canadian kids are not interested in attending higher educational institutions as they once were in the past

Not often and not many Muslims Seek a better life in Muslim countries And it's not Islam's fault per say Christianity WAS much, much worse Crusades, Inquisitions, religious wars ! ! \nYou surely know all of this It is at what level of EVOLUTION is present Islam is at ? With ISIS et al. wanting to throw it back even a few more centuries back ! ! ? I think you are both intelligent enough to realize that present day Muslim countries Are full of corruption, wealth inequalities, wars and terrorism and INTOLERANCE And As we painfully learned It is going to stay like that as long As Islam claim to have all answers Precluding them from learning anymore (as they have all the answers) \nAnd Muslim not pushing back to just another version of Theocracy \nThis one the RIGHT one, this time ! ! ? You really got to me when you mentioned your 2 young girls Which like any children of immigrants Have no problem with winter, local food And INTEGRATING (As they carry no ideological baggage... yet) \nYou are factually stealing many good opportunities to develop themselves to their full potential The exact reason forcing many immigrants in much worse situation than you guys To stay and put up with the mentioned and real difficulties (Yes difficulties are much harsher with immigrants) But you guys are Canadians ! ! ? You had it easier ! \nBTW Muslims have it easier than blacks or natives Not that it necessarily will make you feel better to know that you could be more badly treated So... I worry for your daughters \n(I have lived happily in Muslim countries for 15 years) Which make me say that \nIf you guys are not back here in a few yours I would be surprised I would be even more surprised If your daughters eventually, immigrate back here \nIn challah \nAnyway Life is full of challenge Parents have to take the best possible decisions, at the time I wish you guys luck And hope for the best for you guys Salam Halle Koum

Let's see: Canadian landlords are out of control, completely unleashed by governmental regulation, renovicting and jacking rents to insane levels, people can't afford what little existing housing there is, and our government insists on adding a million people a year to the population, with no good-paying jobs available for Canadians, never mind the imports.\n\nStart voting left, people, because in case it hasn't become blatantly obvious yet, the Liberals nor the Conservatives are not looking out for you. This is clearly an attempt to break the middle class and create a new serf class.

The same with work permits. It has been a vicious cycle, the Schools, the businesses owners and the Immigration Consultants, all of them taking advantage of the Government Immigration 'laws'.\nThey bring foreing workers on batches, because the Gov refund them 50% of their wages; so, for a restaurant owner is a good deal and I have seen them throwing CANADIAN's Resumes to the garbage because they need to demonstrate that 'Canadians don't want to work' ???\nSame with schools, they reclute International Students because they pay TRIPLE for the Diploma or Certificate; So the schools are selling Citizenships. And now, they will bring foreign Nurses...and on and on...\nIMMIGRATION is GOOD BUSINE$$$\n????

What good is a college to a Canadian education system if 90% of its students are not Canadians?

I lived in Canada for over 20 long suffering cold years. My rent in 1982 in Kamloops for a large two bedroom appartment was 105 bucks a month. Then when I moved back to Toronto and got an apartment right on Young at Grosvenor our rent shot up to a tough 620 bucks a month (all utilities included) but I was making a lot of money so it seemed like the good life. I wonder how expensive that luxury high rise is today? Probably about $4500 per month would be my guess. Canadians don't like to talk of the negatives in Toronto, but I feel really sorry for some of my family still there. My mother in law broke her back. All they could do is give her pain killers for the four months before she could get penciled in for surgery. And that was before it all went to hell. It's nice to see so many shots of places that were once so much a part of my life, but in all honesty moving to the States was the best thing I ever did. It was in fact like an escape from madness. Now similar crazyness is here, even on the South East coast of the US. Time to look for another escape. Any suggestions?\nOh, and my friends cousin got murdered in the Jane and Finch area years ago. Just a guy with a gun that nobody is supposed to have - shot him in the chin.

I used to teach and coordinate programs for international nurse, this is spot on - and I have always wondered about Canadian students getting into programs - we need Canadian students who are talented and want to study but cannot afford it. There is so much i could unpack. In general, most of the students are lovely and hard-working, but the intent in most cases is to get a PR status - so most of them stay. Many also are disappointed with Canada - as they may come from a place where they were in a different social class. I know many of my students now are productive members of Canadian society working in their chosen fields. I am proud of them - as the move was not easy and they left their families behind. Considering that most of the world is a collectivist culture versus our individualist culture of the West, there is much to adjust to. Good piece.

Immigration (especially the student visa back door) has become a lucrative business for a few people (colleges, ESL schools, universities, construction companies, realtors, etc) without thinking about the impact on all the most basic needs for Canadians. There have been record numbers of immigrants, but where are the record numbers in new housing, new hospitals, new nurses, new doctors, etc? Obviously, this is a good business for construction companies and realtors because they can maintain high prices forever and keep making money on the Canadian dream. It is time for the Canadian government, whether liberal or conservative, to stop this nonsense until the coverage of the basic needs of Canadians are covered.

Canada sucks. I came here as a doctor only to find endless blocks and hoops and loops. Before settling here I was told ENDLESSLY about the paradise I was about to move to (Canadians love to present their country as such), and how a job as a doctor would be there for me since I meet the qualifications. You come here and reality hits, this is a bureaucratic nightmare of a country! The lack of Canadian experience is also an excuse for discrimination. I speak four languages, worked in different countries including Colombia, USA, France. Somebody please explain to me what is so extraordinary about Canadian experience that one cannot learn elsewhere? BTW Canadian medicine is TERRIBLE, BAD! I am leaving in June, got a pretty good job lined up back home in Colombia!

many new immigrants who rushed in thinking canada was some honeypot are now leaving for good which is the most compelling reason why canada is not a destination to immigrate! unlike US there are no mechanisms in place for new immigrants to succeed with higher costs, unaffordable housing and taxes jobs are difficult to find and on top it to adjust as new migrants it’s very difficult so yes the canadian dream is very much over for most immigrants, international students can go anywhere for education it’s not a canadian specialty as such but most students came to canada because it allows them to do work after graduation but other countries are also catching up with attractive schemes to attract these students so it does look like lesser students are expected in canada from now on…

Lots of useless colleges. The security guards in my condo are studying logistics. Some work for Amazon delivery. Others are flipping pizzas. And if you go to the grocery stores at certain times, they are pulling goods. Dollarama has lots sorting goods (they say this is a Canadian company).

As a once proud Canadian who served in the forces for 21 years, I no longer feel that way. This country has lost it's way and is not getting any better, now at 65 years of age am also thinking about leaving this country for good.

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.

I am a Canadian but I understand there is no such a thing as a perfect country . Having said that Canada is still one of the best places in the world to live. I see some Canadians saying they are happy you are leaving. These Canadians do not represent their majority of people in Canada. There are racists everywhere in the world including Canada. Have a good journey and find peace regardless of the country you choose to live.

I am a Canadian on pension and I left Canada for the Philippines . I now have 50 % more money left over every month . Rent is $300 vs $1200 per month . Haircut is $2.40 , beer is $1.15 , Internet plan $ 19.00 per month . Food is cheaper and Restaurants also . Pick a cooler city such as Baguio or do your homework . Women here are feminine . People are good . Choose to live in the Province over the big cities . Immigration is killing Canada and Trudeau is the culprit !

I think you leaving Canada is a good move for you and your family. Why? Because it's unreasonable for you to expect an entire nation to change to accommodate your personal choices. \nAs an aside: If your faith in Islam so strong, profound and ingrained, why do you need a reminder to prayer five times a day? \n\nWhen you say you believe what you believe and others are free to believe as they want- why are you seeking to force your beliefs on others why wanting the call to prayer to be broadcast everywhere? \n\nI hope you surrender your Canadian citizenship when you leave and find the lifestyle you prefer in a Muslim controlled nation.

Im a Canadian citizen and I live in Canada for more than 30 years the problem in this country is the government system is not good this is a kind of communist system and it will get worse if the system in Canada is not changed and the thing about having Canadian experience this is a crap and this is a stupidity. People from Canada which they are born there and they have business there they have to allow people and to receive people with their work experience and they shouldn't discriminate other people this is a their mentality and needs to be changed. I am in Europe right now and I was surprised to see the news a few days ago what's happening in this country if the system in Canada is not changed Canada will be a very poor country that's the truth and that's what's going to be happen ?

Truth. Our once great country is a wreck. Our prime minister with the good hair is an idiot who has ruined Canada. I don't even recognize my home country anymore. Immigrants have been given everything that our Canadian forefathers worked so hard to give their families. It's beyond tragic. It's criminal. Housing and health care are in crisis to the point where anybody can become homeless or die waiting for hours in an ER for treatment. It's sick and sad and unforgivable that our government has set 4th and 5th generation Canadian individuals and families up for poverty and death.

You can do good works in Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan ??Stay safe Canadian

As a Canadian i think that a lot of people are feeling like this but i sure dont want to here speakers going 5 times a day have a good trip

Canada is not an Islamic Country. Dont expect Canadian \nCitizens to change our traditions to suit your needs. This is a free and peaceful country, you say your grateful but you are clearly not good luck and goodridens.

Finally, some good news for Canada. I'm sure Canadians are stunned. Are you settling in Gaza?

Good, gtfo . Many many of us have no place to run to when the weather is less than fair,.\nNothing more than Canadians of convenience. \nGtfo

As a canadian and québécoise living in Montréal... its even worst in our province then anywhere else in canada! I am also thinking about leaving for good.

Born and raised Catholic Canadian and I would move to a country that was more aligned with my faith if I could, though that is hard to find! I will stay and enjoy the small community that we have built with my fellow Parishioners. \nI am sorry to hear you feel you aren’t safe here or your children. We may disagree on religion but we can certainly live harmoniously. Good luck on your future endeavours ❤

Good on behalf of white canadians, we wont miss you.

You will live well anywhere in the world if you have money or a good source of income. All the Canadian ex-pats living abroad have either money (they made here), real estate that they can sell or rent to have income from here, a Canadian pension or a willingness to live in the forest/off-grid, as many videos show. No place is affordable for the people living there, and that's why many immigrants still leave their countries and come here. For example, many Canadians move to Mexico, while many Mexicans are moving here. Canadians still have it good, believe me!! I travel and see. Yes, we have many challenges with housing and the high cost of living like BIG cities worldwide do. So, people saying they will leave Canada are still privileged people.

If you don't want to assimilate and conform to Canadian culture and values, then good riddance. Hope more follow.

I'm not muslim, but I've lived and worked in Saudi where Islam permeates every facet of life. I also lived in worked in Malaysia where Muslims make up the majority. Both countries have their advantages and disadvantages. As you have a Canadian passport you're more likely to get a better job in Saudi. No guarantee of that in Malaysia. \nI found the food better in Malaysia, but the food in Saudi is pretty darn good too. \nWinter in Saudi is very nice, at least where I lived in Khobar. However, it is brutally hot for 7-8 months a year. Malaysia is tropical, meaning its very warm to hot with high humidity and rain. \nI can't talk about other countries as I haven't that much experience. Wherever you go, best of luck.

Canada was beautiful. Current Canadian PM destroyed it. Vote him out. Change is possible with good leaders who actually have morals.

As a Canadian born citizen, I feel horrible and relieved. The relief comes from the fact that there are too many people here, we need a mass exodus, but also horrible because these people were lied to that this is a good place to immigrate to, and had to lesrnt he hard way that it ain't

I have to ask are you giving up your Canadian citizenship? And I have to tell you I bet you are going to keep it. And although I agree with some things eg: the extreme stance and slide into extreme liberalism, your move is one extreme to the other, and despite the cancel culture here it still stands for real freedom when compared to the middle east. So please do us a favor and if war breaks out where you are going to, please do not ask the Canadian people and government (like so many islamic homesick have in the past) to rescue you at the monetary expense and potential risk to our Canadian men and womens lives- that would be so insulting not to mention hypocritical and Canadians take note of such things and they don't forget. Having said that have a good trip or I guess I should say permanent move.

Go to Florida if you think life is expensive in Canada. You will get the surprise of a life time. Good luck! You would like as well Dubai. As a Canadian, I know that Christians do not show on the street their religion. We have a tendency to keep our religion to ourselves. It is a different culture. Good luck to you guys.

“Canadian Experience”? My husband is German and has both American and German citizenship. He had worked in Switzerland and all over the US. He is a Rocket Scientist and entrepreneur. I guess he has no chance in Canada. This is not good for a country.

I wish you and your children the best. I hope you're safe, healthy and as happy as one can be these days given the environments we live in. Just as a matter of curiosity, are all of you Canadian passport holders and if yes, are you going to renounce citizenship at any time, or wait till your children have grown up so they can choose too? Good luck whatever you do.

I'm so happy for the Canadians you're leaving,\nInshallah more will follow, just not to Europe.\nYou have a pretty good Muslim environments in Muslim countries

Good decision. Thank you. Dont come back. We Canadians will appreciate grealty. Thanks again.

This is a good example of what differentiates a Canadian from a person who holds Canadian citizenship. Not that you're wrong about the state of our morally bankrupt secular culture and government, but that's something that I'm going to fight against. I'm not going to run away, because this is my country that my ancestors spilled their blood for, and it's still worth fighting for, at least to me. I and every other Canadian have no other home to flee to. As far as Canada not being Muslim-friendly enough, why should it be. This is a Christian country founded on Christian morality and Christian-based law. I'm not an islamophobe, but I do believe that our cultures and people should remain separate, as they are quite alien to one another in many ways and there's no getting around that. I don't want my country becoming more Islamic just as you don't want your home country becoming more Christian.