Close Reading

Thank goodness I chose the United States for my education. In 2010, I had two options -Texas A&M University and University of Waterloo. I thought of Waterloo at first (being top university in Canada vs 15th in US) as I was naive, but Texas A&M gave me teaching assistantship which meant 100 % tuition scholar and monthly stipend. Being from a lower middle class family in India, I took the option. \nEven 13 years down the line, that was the best decision of my life. I had chance to work with best researchers and professors in world, work in highly funded research labs, publish papers and patent and later get good job in my domain. \nI never aimed for green card and moved back to India. I applied for Canada and even received ITA but didn't go ahead. Things are not perfect but even today in India, most people are impressed by some niche work I did in US.

I feel the same way about my hometown of Halifax. It's impossible to live here, now. It's impossible to live anywhere in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotians are poor. We are a poor province. We cannot afford 1M+ dollars for a three bedroom house. Common Nova Scotians just don't have that kind of money. Regular folks cannot afford a 5K/month mortgage. I live with my family in an apartment, with a leaky roof and cockroaches, in a decent neighbourhood, and it's 2160.00/month and I know this is a good deal in this city. Crime is rising here, as well, because jobs are disappearing and wages aren't increasing. I think this is country wide. We have a huge homeless problem in Halifax, and it is not following the past statistics. Most of the people living in tents have full-time jobs and families. But, there are literally thousands of empty houses. New appartments and condos get built, and there are no vacancies before the building is open. And not a single person is living in them. They get bought by out of province and out of country investors to fortify their investment portfolios. This is ridiculous. What is happening?

It's good you tell Nigerian youths and big youths the truth, while they will keep abusing and insulting Nigeria, let then know the grass in often greener on the other side, but there are prices to pay, all those who sell off their houses, quiet good paying jobs and relocate, let them always come out and tell the truth of what they are going through and their regrets

Hey Lynn, I pray that you are well, I live in Canada but currently in Kenya on ministry for about two months.\nHii stori ni mrefu, As you say, things are not easy everywhere, One has to do what is needed or required of them anywhere they live. Yes, it can be extremely hard in Canada but again, it can be the best direction one takes in life. \nThe question is not where you want to be, the question is always where does God want me to be. Maisha ni ya God. Good job and God bless.

I hve saved over 50 videos related to Canada Visiting Visa and i have watched a few of them... I was elated and excited... yours crushed me in a good way! \n\nOne thing I'm taking away from here is that I've got to be auper aggresive, go to a city thats going to be easy to get this LMIA jobs... i mean i have paid 350k for sponsorship and the $185 for the normal process... no turninf back now... I will work this out aggressively and strategically. \n\nI'll subscribe to this channel for now and keep learning in the meantime. God has blessed you, Chokor! ??

Lyn Canada is good , quality of life is good . I always say for us Africans, the best way to come to Canada is through a work permit with a secure job. Reach here knowing you're coming for work or to be a student. Mambo ya kukuja kienyeji through agents or visitors visa then you reach here juu agent amekuchocha you find you can't convert that visitors visa to work permit ,,is what messes people up. Because here in canada you can't survive without papers. People are straight as an arrow hakuna mlango ya nyuma .You need the papers , you need the skills, lower your expectations, make money , jenga nyumbani .\nyou will survive. \nGreetings from Vancouver Canada ??

My experience been very good in the USA.i only work one job ..3days a week..i live comfortably. \nKey thing: have the legal papers from the word go.

You can't just get clips on tick tok and make a story that are very uninformed. How do you expect people who came a month ago as refugees to have a job? This does not happen in any country. That notion of going as an expert does not hold either in Canada. People are misinformed about moving abroad, they need to talk to people who live in a particular country, do good reach and find out why they need to move to any country first before moving. Every country in the western world has very high cost of living

Good job. Trudeau and Pollierve both were unanimous on that, both having fun and they are showing good qualities of open minded leaders.

It’s good to have a skill from your home country but still before you get a job in Canada, you will be asked for Canadian experience. Due to this, most foreigners end up doing general labour jobs(manual jobs)including those who were in high ranks such as MDs or managers. If that doesn’t bruise your ego, you will survive.

Thanks Lynn for bringing this up. I am a Kenyan living in Canada. You highlighted the most important thing- due diligence. There are a lot of people that come here with a promise of a better life and the notion is that it’s instant. I want to confirm to you that it’s better life, but it’s not instant. You have to put in the work and prove your worth. You have to gain Canadian experience to get a decent job. Also be ready to go back to school and upgrade your skills. There are jobs here zinaitwa Trades. These are the jobs that we don’t value at home but pay amazingly well here. Construction, Electricians, Plumbers, Mechanics, Carpentry, Welding, Hairdressers, Tailors.. Those are very valued skills here- if you can invest in learning these trades but pia ukikuja hapa you have to convert your certs to Canadian ones by doing an exam or going back to school . If you are into office jobs, make sure you have market relevant skills that align to this country. Be ready to embrace the digital revolution and mpende hesabu. Accounting is very much valued here. The secret is be ready to start from the bottom, be ready to upgrade yourself, be ready to work like you’ve never worked before… You will make it eventually .. Mungu mbele! \nI am confirming that we are going through a recession here and as per the market trends, it’s only going to get worser until we get to a point of stabilization. The housing market is crazy, food costs and gas (fuel)costs are off the roof .. it’s not easy. So if you have a good job in Kenya, hold onto it for now until things get better ( due diligence /research) .. Make sure you have the right visa that allows you to work here. That visitors visa theory is not working anymore. \nOverall Canada is a good country with lots of opportunities but it’s not for the faint hearted. \nLastly, be prepared for the harsh winters and days of severe loneliness- Si lakini ni life? Kila nchi ina challenges zake. God bless!

I live in Canada as a Kenyan and I have been here for sometime .I work as a HR/Payroll Specialist also certified in the field. The problem is not Canada , Canada is a very good county which I love and I am gland God gave me the Opportunity to Come and settle here with my family.. The problem with some people coming here is lacking of knowledge how Canada works .It’s system is very far from how things work in Dubai or Gulf countries. A lot people are thinking than you can just come and get any job even without proper papers or you can earn a lot of money and then build wealth quickly. Which is A BIG FAT LIE. The tax in Canada keeps you humble. That is how Canada funds it's high end life many admire and want to be part of. The more you work in Canada the more tax you pay and many don't know this, and it is one of the main reasons why a lot of people start to regrets, because they realize there effort of working hard is not paying as they hoped. Another thing in Canada is next to impossible to get jobs or rent a place without proper paper work, like work permit, It is not like USA where you can use someone else papers to work. the The main available jobs , easy to get , don’t pay much. And also the cost of living is very high in some provinces like Ontario and BC. They hardly recognize credentials from outside unless you came through a job offer. Also because a lot of things in Canada are paid by the government through taxes, like health care, education. Unless you are tax paper with (and I repeat) Paper work, you cant access the benefit, including thee free food available for the needy. \nMany people forget Canada is looking for people to work for them. Not to grow rich and leave. The system is meant to keep you working. Unless you understand how a system of a country works, one will continue to blame it. Let people get well informed and well educated first , before they jump in the river. And it’s not Canada a lone , but any country in the world. Also a lot of these media post about Canada are misleading. And there is also another trap called debt, a lot of people once they getting working, rush to but things they cant afford and it becomes a stress instead of a blessings.\nIf you want to live well and enjoy Canada . One of the top thing to do is, go back to school once you enter in it, get a good education and you will get a good job. Also give yourself time to adjust. REMEMBER you are starting from square one. You are not continuing where you left in Kenya or in the country you get from. Also, the general social climate is not as friendly as those in USA for example. Not many people are willing to help for free. The most jobs advertised in Canada are the lower end paying jobs, which a lot of people pay a lot of money to come for, just to realize the job they left behind was far much better than this, but no one told them that, just because it said $18 hrs and you converted it to your country and looked a lot, doesnt mean it carries the same wait once you earn in from here. The living expense are very different. The reality is, it is not where you are , but whom you are and determination knows no barrier. Anyone who will trust God for help, work hard/smart and be patience in life, they will make. It might take longer than they expect, but they will get their eventually.

I’m a Kenyan American and this is my two cents….Moving abroad for better opportunities is actually not a bad idea but people need to understand that you need the right papers and an actual skill to make it….I’ve lived in Europe, America and the Middle East over the years, the hard pill to swallow is all this places will give you a job depending on the kind of passport you carry. I’ve had the same skill and the minute I got my naturalization and finally carry an American passport…there are job offers all over. My African peeps get yourself a good skill and become very good at it….that will get your foot through the door

I have been in Canada for 22 years and I cannot imagine people saying Canada is bad. You have to get skills and get a good job. Whether in Kenya or in Canada there’s always people that are not happy. First years are hard to settle but perseverance pays!

1. Canada's immigration is primarily skilled labour. Non- skilled labour is imported mostly from the Carribean countries especially Jamaica and you have to leave every year and come back in the next. So, that can be disruptive, but I've met Jamaican's who've been on those programs and done well as well as those who haven't.\n2. If you come to Canada illegally utakipata. Be prepared to hustle for long.\n3. Since Covid everything has become very expensive especially housing. \n4. The videos you've shown of people sleeping outside is because of an increase in the influx of refugees wanting to come to Canada. Refugee shelters are allocated money in the budget for what the Govt estimates will be the number of refugees they'll take in, but there's been an influx lately.\n- A point to note though, ALL refugees Canada received from Ukraine had jobs within 2 months. Why? very skilled labour.\n- Canada's refugee policy is much more lenient than in the US and thus most refugees have been coming to Canada even from the US. The US ones have since been blocked by an agreement signed by both countries.\n5. Are there jobs in Canada? YES, but they require certain skills. The good thing is that once you get one, its the beggining of good fortunes.\n6. If you have skilled qualifications, be prepared to start at a lower level than you are used to and claw your way up. Just don't expect to start where you left off. A Nigerian friend of mine who had performed several surgeries in Nigeria could not be hired until he went back to get certified here in Canada. He has since joined the medical field after going back to school.\n\nAll in all, research, research, research before you make any move.

You must have earned enough to put your kids in extra carricuLar activities . Thats a huge expense. And you were lucky you got a good starting job im a school system which is hard to get. I have grown up in cNADA AND YES ITS EXPENSIVE AND EVEN WITH TWO GOOD INCOME YOU CANT SAVE MUCH AND CAN NEVER REALLY BECOME RICH.

Hi Lynn, this is a very interesting conversation. I moved to Canada in 2003 went to college and became a nurse. First of all it was not easy paying for college I was lucky that husband was supporting with the bills as I went to school. So I would say that I have skills that are very marketable. Our combined family income was over $100,000 CAN. We mortgaged our first home which was very basic for a LOT of money. We had our kids and we had to struggle with childcare as most young families do. By North American standard, we were doing good. We each had a good car ( loaned), we made trips to Kenya every so often but in 2016 we decided we wanted to move back home and we sold our home and we did. I HAVE NO REGRETS. There were several things that made us reach our decision. First, I truly believe that for the Canadian system to work as it does, it has to entrap its residents. Even after 10 years of work we did not have money in the bank. Everything we owned really belonged to the bank. The light bulb moment for me came when I evaluated my net worth. A primary school teacher in Kenya after 10 years of work with good financial management will own a plot, a simple house and will start to invest for retirement. After 10 years of work, there wasn't much in the account, our house would need 25 years to finish paying mortgage and to be honest there wasn't much to show for those years of work. Quality of life really sucks the amount of stress will definitely send you to the grave sooner. This is the case for most first generation immigrants. You might say you are sacrificing and building a future for your children but, my observation was since our diaspora children have not grown in Kenya to see the need for money and what life really looks like without the comforts they are used to, they do not have the same drive as the parents so they often do not excel they are just ordinary. There is also the struggle of growing up as a minority group. A lot of our children because they are seeking acceptance will struggle with self esteem, will have depression or will join the LGBTQ community where they get sense of belonging regardless of their colour. The morals are also different from their parents and they are shaped by the society they grow up in. When I looked at what my life would look like if we kept living there, lets say we eventually pay off our mortgage, when we are old and requiring care, our children will not be able to support themselves and support us because they have to work to sustain themselves so we would to move to assisted living or nursing homes. The cost of senior care is not covered by the government unless you have no money. so we have to sell out home which would be old and outdated but still very expensive and we would have to pay $5000-$10000 per month depending on the type of care we need. so as you can see if we ended in a nursing home for 5 years we will have depleted all the money we made from the sale of our home. So by the time we die, we would not have money to leave for our children. So we worked really hard, supported the economy, and die leaving not much at all for our children, we sacrificed our quality of life, and ended up with children who don't think much of themselves or have very distorted morals. I still remember in my mind as we drove to the airport on our way back to Kenya, I thought of the story of Lot. He was pretty successful in Sodom but I'm very sure on his death bed he had lots of regrets why he ever went there. I know its tough being in Kenya but if you have a job or any way to make ends meet, be like Abraham. God will bless you regardless of whether you are in the dessert.

When you immigrate, to get any Govt service like a Driving License, School admission, and even a job, you need a social security/insurance number. That number is pegged on your entry visa. If you are a visitor, you have to convince the Govt why they should let you work? If you are a student, it is limited the number of hours you work. Any employer is obligated to employ only those with credentials. If you are coming for work, like Nurses do, employers will have done your paperwork. Green cards are one legal way to immigrate. If you have legal papers, you make your way around without issues. Cost of living varies on location. As for skills, you need them, get them over time. There are good and bad stories, even locals who mess up end up in crap like an illegal immigrant would.

I have lived in Canada since 2000. My dream is to go back to Kenya and live there. We lived in Toronto for ten years and it wasn't easy for our parents to make ends meet. I moved to Alberta in 2011 and I am so happy that I moved here when I did. We live well. My husband and I are into trades and we thank God for taking good care of our family. It is getting harder here since Trudeau became the prime minister. Food, gas, clothes. housing everything has gone up and you need a good job and have legit papers. The grass isn't always greener on the other side

Happy birthday Lynn! I’m so happily amazed you touched on this subject. I am commenting from Canada and seeing people getting frustrated coming on visitor visa to look for work/convert visa to work permit. Even employers with LMIA approval are asking for work permits. Anyone coming to Canada should preferably secured a job or school before coming here. It is so so so expensive and jobs aren’t easy to get without Canadian credentials or experience . Any Canadian credentials including a certificate will up your game in getting a job. Meanwhile while in school you can now work unlimited hours but ensure you stay in school and finish. Be careful with agents promising jobs . It is hard here but once you get into the system hard & smart work pays. And getting into the system can only be done front door. What one pays an agent for visitor visa, you might as well do a one year certificate that’s approved for post graduate work permit. Less headache and better opportunities. When a deal sounds too good think twice- agents are really smooth talkers and super salespeople from what I’m told by those coming here through them. Be wise….I have no regrets coming here I wish I did it earlier as I’d have gained more through longer school options in my youth ?.

Happy Birthday ?Thank you Lynn for what you do, may the Lord bless the work of your hand. I was a very good volleyball player, I used to play for this company in kenya, I will not mention their name. Guess what? Every time we won the games, they promised to employ us. They will tell us to apply and write an essay to why you needed that job. I suffered for 4 years writing essays and applying. Little did I know, the secretary would hide my application in her drawer and bring in her family member. It happened I got a scholarship to play and go to school. I finished school, I work out of the country and never regret again. My point is, some of us left kenya because we were pushed to the edge, it is difficult to get a job and people are very mean in those offices. If you try to invest, you get conned too.

Lyn kenya is good, very good. People leave Kenya coz they are no jobs. Infact if there were jobs here, believe me, Kenyans couldn't leave their country. Majority who have succeeded to leave and are making it there, all are coming back to invest here coz we love our country. I wish things could change to make our country conducive to everyone. We love Kenya

Everyone's experience is different. I've lived in America for many years, I have masters degree and a good job. I've managed to build several high end apartments in Kenya, buy a house here and invest in the stock market and fund a retirement account. Same applies to my brother and sister. You can make it here and you can make it anywhere in the world. He shouldn't generalize.

First one to comment leo nipewe likes za line for the good job she is doing

Ma'am we have our PR and my elder daughter is in University of Toronto studying Life Science and we are in Dubai. Now next year my wife and younger kid will travel. Wife has good job and I am not moving. My elder daughter is already staying there. My younger one is 13 years

I have lived in Ottawa for over 30 years, and we have many of the same problems outlined as in Toronto, especially when it comes to housing prices, and heating and air conditioning and gas and groceries....I have a very good job, but can't imagine maintaining any quality of life here post retirement. Personally, I am looking to spend my twilight years in Colombia where life is better for a fraction of the price.

We lived in Toronto for 30 years and moved to Calgary 6 years ago because of a good job offer, and the hope for a less congested, polluted, dangerous, expensive environment. Here in Calgary, we are living in the inner core and can enjoy sitting in the back garden without hearing the drone of traffic or airplanes. Toronto was fabulous from 1994 to 2014. All our friends and family who still live there are unhappy with the decline of the city.

Better opportunities in other countries,salaries are low and no real good jobs are here since the Americans are pulling out its too cold and RACISM rent is very expensive its very hard to make here and poverty is increasing no good opportunities are here for well educated people A lot of well educated people come here sponsor by company and they said they dont have any money to continue to pay them well qualify doctor he works in England and America and want a experience the hospital could not find work for him he was a highly qualify doctor even the refugees dont want to come to canada they said they hear life is very hard in Canada is when the top countries is full they reluctantly come here no real good opportunities is here a lot of people dont want to come here

Awesome content Diamond?? i also came to Canada ?? similarly in 2002, I'm in Toronto, the struggle will be over soon. The best thing about Canada is that, once you finish your program you'll easily get your papers & a very good job. There's less racism in Canada ?? to get promoted when you're educated.

God bless you guys ? keep the good job going ?

Great information. Good job

The grass is greener on the other side. In Canada it is white for 6 months. Winters are horrible and it's a very expensive country. Cost of living is high. I'm a Canadian -Indian. If you can tolerate the winter and have a good paying job then perhaps it's OK

I really don't understand why the federal and provincial governments don't really plan immigration better. There is a lot of potential in the smaller cities of Canada and the smaller provinces that need to grow. Why is there a push to expand the bigger cities like Vancouver and Toronto, where services are not meeting the need? Besides, why is it that there is now vetting around immigration the way it used to be? It is both the federal and provincial governments' duty to ensure the availability of housing, health care (including mental health), good jobs BEFORE new immigrants are brought in?

Good day CM\nI like what you're talking and wisdom almighty God will blessed you on the advise...you're really doing a good job

Good job pandering to Brut India.

Chokor Millionaire, I don't agree absolutely with the blame on the government. At least from what I have seen in Ghana, people are starting businesses.\n\nI am going to say something I observed about Ghana. I found out that women, as usual, are more hard-working. I realised that the men don't have work because they are lazy or have too much pride. I have watched so many videos where so many business owners complain about the ineffectiveness and inefficiencies of the workers. They are not dedicated when they work for other people. I watched these business owners whose workers in the farms are mostly women, and they were very happy that women are easier to control and have good work ethics as opposed to men. The men prefer jobs where they don't use their energies such as Yahoo Yahoo boys, selling in shops where they don't touch anything or lift a finger.\n\nGrowing up, we knew that men were supposed to do the hard-working jobs in society. But these days, men like to idle around and touch nothing. The reasons being that the African culture teaches us that men are not supposed to do anything at home. They are supposed to be served by women. Then, instead of the men going out there to do the hard work and make the money, they wait around expecting cushy jobs that don't make them lift a finger.\n\nLook at China that you mentioned. These boys work absolutely hard. Even in the villages. Look at Muslim countries. You will never see women working on the streets. The men are even the ones who cook the food on the streets and sell. Check countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In Africa, most things are done by women.\n\nAll this japa that people are fighting for. Have we ever thought of the agenda of these people needing free and cheap labour? I came to realise that we stupid Africans don't yet understand. Our children eventually become strangers, and we remain just surrogate parents. Most of our children are never going back to Africa, and when they get to an age, they become like strangers to us. Whatever we say, they look at us like archaic. What then makes them Africans anyway. We have seen so many of them who barely know their countries of origin and have never ever been there. They do not know their relations. In fifty years' time, that generation has lost their roots, and was that our intentions initially? This all dawned on me recently with my children, and I feel absolutely dejected because they are not interested in our country. All my hard work is gone down the drain, and all that can happen is for us to leave our children behind and live like people who never had children in the first place. For now, most people see it like something to be proud of, and are happy to say ( my children live abroad). Africans are the most stupid people I know, and that is why we are always used for slave labour. Why are they all approving all these visas and allowing all these people to drown at sea? \n\nThese countries allow these fake visas deliberately because they drain African countries to enrich their own since they can't get the minerals easily these days.

It takes TRUE DOUGH to live in TORONTO. Get a good political job so you can suck off of the taxpayers and don’t exercise free speech to keep your job.

Alina, I'm glad you covered this. Don't apologize for anything. Toronto is a great city but it's not for everyone. It's only good if your super rich or have a job that pays you a 6 figure salary or more. Canada is just not what it used to be since Covid -19.

Ego better Republic of Ghana. We have no selfless leaders but selfish ones only interested in enriching themselves. Thanks for the good job you are doing ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Good morning gods mother and GodBless yuo allways and yuors family, Toronto ther hiring job like factory worker, forklift operator cow attendant for family need assistance

Bro you are telling the truth good job

Good job sir

Good job guys, I enjoyed your chat. Very informative and encouraging. Keep doing it Chorco!!!

I think what I’ve scene living 30 mins from Canadian border is Canadians have forgotten what there job is . They are a natural resource country with oil, mines and timber. It always has been. It was just furs in the beginning. See a lot of law makers and citizens turning away from that, but climate isn’t good enough for lots of agriculture, other then the Pierre and lots of people turning there backs on the family farms there as well. Lots of unskilled migrants that suck resources away from the rest of Canadians.

Canada is NOT a good place to live, I've been here four years and I am still struggling, jobs are not very good, not well paid, and the only thing you can at is retail or coffee shops. \nMost people here are over educated and compete for the few good jobs there are. Healthcare is a disaster. I thought it was just me, but I already know at least nine people in my situation.

Let the Mexseco ppl get in the USA cuz Mexican ppl need a good life and get job

Good job

The big difference is in cost of living vs earning potential in urban areas vs rural areas. Following is true for non farmers in India, Canada, or any other country. If you are highly educated, there are high paying jobs in urban areas, but the cost of living is higher as well. There are fewer jobs for highly educated in rural areas, but cost of living is low. Choices of lower educated are better in farming in rural areas. Choices for lower educated are lower in urban areas, but if you are young, then you can get college degree by part time education (easily available in urban areas), and then you can get a high paying job. In urban areas, owning a car can become optional with careful planning. So, the provocative title in Hindi that coming to Canada is stupid, is a terrible conclusion. You have to consider your personal assets (education, health, skills), and your liabilities. Then you can make an educated decision, whether coming to Canada (urban, vs. rural), is good for you, or India is best for you? Terming one choice vs another stupid is full of giving wrong information, and being a zealot about your choices, while you do not have the full picture yourself.

The best way to do this as an immigrant is basically live like a pauper and use that exchange rate to invest at home. Don't live a comfortable life in the West. That's how people are making it work, because the work culture is toxic over there and strenuous. If you don't have a high flying job, you have to work 2 to 3 jobs and rack up overtime when they allow it to make good money to invest over there and at home.

Good job Igor