Close Reading

I'm from Asia and recently moved to Canada with my family to live a slower-paced and safer life. I've seen firsthand that the drug problem here is worse than it was back home, and they're being coddled with no plans to discipline or rehabilitate them. I asked my friends how I could defend myself and my family if a random drug addict broke into our house and stole our belongings; could I at least beat that person up until the police arrived? They said you couldn't because you'd be charged with assault. It's funny. \n\nApart from the crimes and exorbitant living costs despite living in a rural area, even Canadians who have lived in the country since birth are struggling to make ends meet. \n\nSome positive comments, Canada provided me with a work-life balance that was not possible in Asia due to the competitive nature of the corporate world. So I had time to spend with my family, and you don't have to travel abroad to see beautiful scenery. Canadians are also very accommodating and friendly, in contrast to where I came from, where people will not help unless it benefits them as well. The Canadians here are extremely friendly. So Canada is great because of its people, but I can tell you that the government consistently makes bad decisions about how to solve certain problems, such as drugs and harm reduction strategies. Another issue is that they do not recognize internationally trained professionals, which could have helped alleviate healthcare issues in our area, where we have many internationally trained nurses from the Philippines working as restaurant servers and janitors. We have doctors from Kenya who have to work as general laborers and in other odd jobs where they can use their profession and experience to help people. I am also an immigrant, but the government should strategically distribute us based on our qualifications. I chose a rural area because I don't want to add to the number of immigrants in big cities and instead want to contribute to the local economy by bringing my skills and experience to the pool. \n\nCanada is a wonderful country, and I continue to believe so, but the government must reward and do more for its people who are trying their best to make this country great.

At least they have elsewhere to go. Inflation, low wages, high housing costs, competition for jobs, etc are beating us Canadians down. \nHow about supporting us before immigrants, thats your electorate.

I live in a small rural Northern community, East Indian immigrants have bought out or taken over nearly every business in the community, our car wash, both grocery stores, both Hardware stores, subway, pizza place, two of the three restaurants, only motel, nearly all the rental properties, and they are shifting their investment now to homes, as we can still buy homes up here for reasonable prices, they are buying them, doing some cheap renovations, and trying to flip them for large amounts. All these local small businesses in the community used to employ young people from the community, they used to be places of employment for summer jobs for students and for the elderly people who retire here to have jobs to keep busy. Since the influx of people from India, all of the jobs in these stores that have been bought out by them are now done by Indian people, nearly everyone who used to work these jobs in my community has lost the opportunity to do so because since the businesses were bought out by Indians they only hire their own kind as employees. I know at least 10 people directly that have lost their jobs due to this, and there are certainly more. We allow foreign investment in our business and real estate market, and these people come in, completely take over and dominate these small communities, and fill them with their young people from India and take away all the jobs from the local people living here. Its horrible. My wife and I are planning on moving to Eastern Europe, Canada in another few decades will be nothing more than a province of India.

Who in the hell would now want to immigrate to Canada ? Outrageous housing costs which consume most of your income . One has to work at least two to three jobs just to try to keep from completely drowning economically . A healthcare system which is on life support . It is next to impossible to get a doctor . Emergency waits times at hospitals can range from 4 to 24 hours . Traffic from hell in all of the major cities .... particularly Toronto , Montreal and Vancouver . The crushing cost of living . A political leader who is a complete fool who has basically destroyed the country in just 8 years . As if all of this wasn't bad enough ...... 5 months of winter from hell . Living in Canada is now an extreme struggle in every way imaginable . One will always struggle . One will always work like a dog . One will very likely fall into extreme debt in Canada just to survive . One has to pay outrageous taxes on their income leaving them with about 50% of what they actually earn after they have paid all of the combined taxes on everything that they buy or services that they use . Forget about ever being able to save money . Incomes are about about 35% less than other advanced than those in other advanced countries for the same skilled job . One will never own a home . One will never be able to start a family . One will always freeze in the winter . Life in Canada has become an absolute hell . The Canadian dream is as dead as dead can be . It is no longer a country where one can earn a decent living , own a home and live a good life . On top of all of this it has an authoritarian government which keeps passing new laws to reduce free speech and civil rights .

We never hear about the cost of immigration to Canadians. We have worked our entire lives (and for many generations) here, paying taxes to sustain the government. Immigrants get here, they get free health care, free education, welfare and I am sure they get extra money too (strange how immigrants can afford winter coats, can afford to pay the high cost of living, can afford cell phones, etc, but don't contribute anything to the health care system or the education system, at least for many years). Meanwhile, we, Canadians, struggle with the inflation and very hight cost of living while getting very poor health care, education and retirement support given how much tax we have paid our entire lives.

What frustrates me is that a lot of these immigrants are prone to vote Liberal or NDP. The problem with Canada is the leadership that they helped elect. Not all, but stats show this. When Canada comes back as a great country, these people will come back and then the cycle will repeat itself. This is why there should be a new law saying that in order to vote, one generation has to had lived in Canada for at least 20 years. Or else they'll just bounce back and forth and simply use Canada for its benefits, while we're the ones always fixing and rebuilding the country. I feel very bad for the people about to retire and now don't have enough because of the poor choices this government have made during these 8 years.

The Canadian economy is in stagnation (at best). The real estate in the mean time stays in a bubble (partly due to inflation and partly to that very unsustainable immigration policy). Labor market is as good as dead (at least for qualified skilled workers) - with too many businesses (including oil and gas) in decline or leaving. And the overall quality of life as well as the future outlook for young and new Canadians are in decline. Try to fix all that first!

I'm an immigrant from the UK, which is in someways worse than Canada and some ways better, both Governments are corrupt and beholden to the US Empire and huge Corporations. Tell me why I should choose this authoritarian, dystopian nightmare of a country, over my home authoritarian, dystopian nightmare of a country? At least the UK doesn't steal your hard earned money, for protesting the corrupt Government. They may beat you up and arrest you for it, but that's kids play compared to what Canada does. \n\nMost prices in this country are as similar as the UK's, allowing for exchange. But food is unbelievably more expensive and the UK is an island. My husband wants us to move to the UK, but I have fallen in love with this country, it's beauty and it's people. I'm heartbroken, I can only imagine what those who were born here feel. When skilled immigrants come here and have to start at the bottom in many industries, no matter how rich their CV. When pay is as bad as back home, in some cases worse, why would they bother? Not to mention the taxes. And I happen to be a traditional leftist, who believes in progressive taxing. Trudeau is too busy cosplaying his ego into US proxy wars and identity poltics, which serves only to divide the people. His days are numbered, I only have to listen to my friends and neighbours.

It’s been 5 years for me here and I honestly can say I have achieved nothing in my life yet. It scares me when I think I can’t return whatever my parents had invested in me. The fact is you’ll never have a good paying job in Canada being an immigrant. When I say this trust me I mean it. Most you’ll get is a minimum wage job which can make you survive the life here. Taxes are high definitely and what I feel is you’re working to make someone else’s life easier. \n(P.S: people who’ve stayed in Canada will understand who I’m implying to)\nNo one wants to be your freind, scope of socializing is zero coz mostly it’s cold round the year so everyone hardly come out, especially in Northern provinces like Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba.\nHealthcare is a joke. If you feel sick and not well and you wanna see a doctor be prepared to wait for hours and hours. I once had stomach infection and I had to wait 5 hours till someone could see me. I asked for painkiller at-least so I could bear the pain but they refused that as well. You might well see someone you love dearly and with whole heart die in-front of you and you could do nothing. (I’ve experienced it myself hence saying)\nYou’re a lone survivor who’ll always keep fighting. \nThe only person who can make money here is businesses and high paid jobs which are reserved to Canadians. That’s how Canada’s job market is. Canadians’ first and if there’s something left they’ll look at you. By the amount of money people invest here they can establish a nice business back in their country itself and earn accordingly on own terms. \nMost importantly you’ll cut yourself from all emotional supports like family, freinds etc.\nI was social person back in India who liked making new freinds and memories but it’s nothing like that here. \nAnd it’s the same life, no different.\nYou wake up, dress, eat, go to work, come back, eat, sleep. No different.\nNo fun and nothing. You actually don’t live in present, you live in an expectation of a better tommorow.\nYou’ll always have a smile when you greet someone but I guarantee you no one’s gonna check on you to if you don’t start a conversation even with a simple “Hi”. Mostly Canadians are nice but again some will systematically judge you and say nothing but you’ll see in their actions, the way they’ll talk in a twisted way etc.\nYes I’m not saying that Canada’s bad or it’s no good but trust me it will take forever to build a life here especially with the number of people moving here from round the world. \nIf you’re well off financially from back home Canada’s a paradise for you. Indeed it’s a beautiful country with lots of beauty and lots to explore but remember everything comes with a cost here. Everything comes with a cost. People need to stop believing in this fake illusion and come only if they got a purpose here. The only reason why they’ll let you in the country is for money and once you’re in you’ll have to keep spending, doesn’t matter if you’re broke or whatever you have to.\nOnce I earn I’ll happily give up my PR status and go back to India as i very well know what the situation is how it’s gonna be in future.\nSo just one piece of advise to every middle class person like me, guys please invest and spend your money wisely coz we know how hard it is to earn and it’s high time Canadians start appreciating what immigrants like us do for them by burning ourselves day and night and start realizing that their past generation once came from some other part of the world as well and settled here. Being white doesn’t make you a nice Canadian, you’re actions defines you more than your words. \n90% of this country is built by immigrants and that’s how it’s gonna develop in future, so if they keep treating us the same way good luck to them ?.\nAlso a plus note to anyone thinking that Asians are stealing your jobs, go get outside and have the balls to face them and take it away from them. Staying home and ranting and abusing us that we’re taking your opportunities and blah blah isn’t gonna work. We are so successful round the world because we are hardworking, honest and respectful to everyone. Even if we’re earning minimum and barely surviving here we always make sure we’re not burden on the government or anyone else and won’t keep crying.\n\nA big shoutout to all you guys who came here in the hope of a better future but are still struggling.\nKeep hustling and you’ll reach there, if not step down and go back and start your life again on your home soil. There’s no shame in experimenting continuously rather than sitting ideally and crying about future. \n\nAll the very best my people and lots of love to you ❣️

A single individual needs a gross income of a least $65,000 a year to even afford renting an apartment. Even if Pierre was made PM today and held a super majority in parliament it will take a least a decade to fix the problem. Liberals are targeting 500k immigrants per year and not even building a 1/4 of that many homes or rental units.

My immigration process took 14 years in total until I could get here, it was a blessing and I had a lot of gratitude to be here after living in a warzone. Ive lived in Winnipeg for 10 years, a part of me was always happy and okay to deal with the cold because at least nobody would be killing you or attempting to on a daily basis, with rockets and bombs. 10 years later, I was wondering that the only reason we came here was to escape war, and not find a better quality of life. You can tell me “you don’t like it then leave” but i find it disturbing that many Canadians here don’t recognize how bad the situation gets, when governments don’t do anything to enhance quality of life and corporates take control everywhere and raise the costs to unbelievable numbers. Housing crisis, most can’t afford houses or even rent a nice apartment. Healthcare system is a complete dogshit mess, people here don’t recognize the importance of how much this industry needs to be supported by governments and citizens because EVERYONE benefits from it and stay alive longer. I don’t know man, I only see it collapsing going forward, especially when everyone is divided and the aboriginal issues are a constant trend.

This has been building for at least two decades and I'm surprised that only now people are talking about this. There are few reasons anymore for quality immigrants to come to Canada. The only people coming here and staying are people coming from God-forsaken places that make Canada look like paradise, or wealthy investor immigrants who buy property here and maybe only live here for six months of the year.

I honestly don’t see how increasing numbers of newcomers and international students could help build more houses in Canada. The point based immigration system has nothing to do with construction or trades workers. You now need to have at least master’s or PhD degree, speak both English and French and have 3 years of skilled experience to be able to qualify for express entry in Ontario. Is that a profile of someone who wants to live here and build houses, seriously?

Weird I don't care in the least if migrants leave here for other areas. But it's certainly ironic that a major factor in housing prices (too high immigration with not enough homes being built to compensate) is in fact contributing to this.

Arbitrary migration targets are simultaneously increasing demand and suppressing wage growth. There are better ways to control immigration. I would suggest demand based approach with some guard rails in place. For instance, I would require all educational institutions to provide housing for international student (at least 50%). Businesses should be required to provide accommodation to all temporary/seasonal workers on top of the minimum wage. In order to hire foreigners employers should be required to prove that he is paying enough to afford housing in the region (market cost of accommodation is less than 30% of salary). Accommodation for refugees should be secured before bringing them to the country from around the globe. No accommodation = no permits. It would limit demand and prevent wage suppression.

Potential immigrants to Toronto may think it will be wonderful but you may want to think twice unless you can score at least a $120,000 job. Let's say you will clear $90,000 after taxes and deductions. A modest condo will cost you $600k and $600 per month fees. Figure on total housing costs' if you own, of $5000± per month. A detached house in Toronto starts at about $1.2 million. Lets say you have 10 percent to put down. Your mortgage at 7 percent will cost more than 75,000 per year. Then your annual costs for taxes, utilities, mtce, insurance will be close to 25k per year. Plan to buy groceries, have a car, eat out, have kids, travel? You'd better have a life partner who also makes six figures.

The world has changed. It's wild what we are seeing right now. Like the affordability crisis is like something I've never seen. We moved to NYC two decades ago and the rent for our first apartment never went over $1k a month. My mom was making minimum wage the entire 13 years we lived there and while we were very much meeting the requirements for public assistance, her job could at least cover the majority of the necessities. The immigrants coming in today would be lucky to find a room for the rent we paid.

Been in Canada for approximately 25 years. I can say that the effect that Canada has on a legal immigrant is neither here nor there. If you can make lemonade out of any lemon you’re dealt, you will thrive in Canada (and anywhere else where your efforts are not overwhelmingly quashed by corruption, blatant racism or other forms of segregation). \n \nLynn, I was a lecturer in Kenya, went back to school here in Canada after wallowing in culture shock the first year, then circled back to teaching in college again after an arduous journey in school, but this time in a different field. \n \nAfter becoming a single mother of four kids, I had to also hustle on the side to build a small business empire along my life’s ladder. Partnership with God, goal clarity, the get-up-and-go, and relentlessness truly work. It isn’t the size of the dog but the fight in the dog that does it, regardless of where you live. \n \nThe starting point for a new immigrant can be very low due to the weather, unpreparedness and culture shock, but if you know that the only way is up, and are self-motivated, those challenges are soon behind you as the tests become testimonies. \n \nBy comparison people have more human rights here regardless of their status. The wheels of justice grind slow but they do grind fine. Women and children have equal rights with men. Politicians are mostly there to serve not necessarily to exploit. \n \nOpportunities for self-development galore - including being trained to become employable and going to school at any age (sometimes for free while you are still at the bottom of the ladder). There are food banks so you never go hungry if it came to that. The disabled are better treated with dignity. \n \nThere are prolonged parental leaves for both moms and dads for up to 18 months. Commensurate with earnings, parents under certain thresholds are given Canada child tax benefits and other supplements for each child under 18 years of age. \n \nDepending on the number of kids and their ages, the money can add up handsomely. Not to mention that there’s no tuition to pay for primary and high school students. Tuition fees start at post-secondary level. \n \nTo see a doctor is free as it is paid for by taxes. It the meds that you and/or your insurance pays for. Some medical equipments may be paid for by either or both the individual/insurance and the government depending on eligibility. \n \nBy and large, there’s cleanliness of common spaces. There’s also safety and relative peace. At least wherever I have lived, I can’t tell you how many times I forgot to lock my door with impunity. \n \nThere’s a lot more stressful work here in my opinion, but like you said Lynn, systems work a lot more efficiently and effectively. \n \nThe elephant in the room is the extra hard work that those living abroad must put in to fulfil expectations back home. Also known as black tax, the overwhelming financial dependency of relatives on their diasporan loved ones places undue stress on many here, especially because there are no short cuts to getting money here. \n \nAnyway, Lynn, thanks for such a great topical issue you’ve shared. I have to stop here as I have written a lot. Hope this helps someone on this forum. \n \nAnd last but not least, you’ll be proud to hear that even though Canada has been good to me, my face may now be turning towards home to see how I can be of use to mama Africa. Super excited!

Thanks Lynn at least it was an eye opening information. Am longing to immigrate to Canada but now i need to do a better research before i weep or rejoice.

I just think there is alot of problems where kenyans are concerned\n\n1. Rely on fake agents and their short cuts. There are accredited agents from developed countries who source in africa and asia but not the other way round. These are sometimes listed on official government websites. \n\n2. Don't fully undertand skills. They think acdemic papers and some random corporate jobs equals skills. Lets call skills, trades and ICT expertise; carpenters, plumbers, nurses, teachers have a better chance than some bank manager in Kenya. \n\n3. Rely too much on youtubers with random clips on things they need to train in like nursings and such over a short period then land in Canada and get a job. It doesn't work like that. First of all, has canada said they need Kenyan nurses? Immigration in developed countries is based on policy. So even when they give visas, they know what they are doing and who they are letting in and for what jobs. \n\n4. Do not go to official government websites to confirm random research and advice\n\n5. Are still dishonest and think it's about trickery and knowing people. Well, not always. At least be able ans willing to yo flip burgers and clean toilets if it comes to that!?\n\n6. There is no affordable housing in developed countries. They too are struggling on that front.\n\n7. Last but not least, kurukwa na host..yes, betrayal from a Kenyan and that of Judas Isacriot ni bumper to bumper\n\nLynn, harusi tunayo ama tulikuwa nayo? ?????

At least Trudeau isn't importing illegal immigrants from the US southern border! ...Is he? Not yet?

*Man I hope all the ones in New York City see this....everyone is complaining? but internally I'm like man the new immigrants are in for a world if shit for at least the next six years. They will be paid the lowest and treated the worst*

What I have also realized is the in some instances, some are forced to seek asylum at the Port of Entry. I have personally assisted six Ghanaians out with the Asylum documentation who had no idea what it was. Two of them initially refused to accept Asylum from Immigration officers at Montreal Airport. They missed their connecting flight and had no other option than to either accept Asylum or return to Ghana. I will share this video with them, at least they will understand why.

Everyone who voted for Biden needs to take at least 1 illegal immigrant into their home! They voted for this !

I think the main problem is an aging population, if entire population is aging like that then nobody would create and run businesses, It is the job of new immigrants to create and run businesses, but they themselves are searching for employment from non existing employeers , at least in US companies like instacart are build by immigrants

Our current crises here in Canada are largely due to recent, unreasonable immigration targets. I'm not anti-immigration - we need immigration - but some questions need to be asked. 1. Are newcomers actually being matched to the areas in which we have labour shortages? The short answer is NO. 2. Would it not be more sensible to increase immigration in ratio to our ability to build new housing? Instead of the total disconnect we have now. Especially if many of the newcomers aren't actually being employed in construction industries? 3. We've had labour shortages and housing bubble issues for over a decade at least; how did the labour shortage crisis and housing crisis suddenly get so bad? Short answer: they didn't. Unreasonable immigration took a shaky situation and pushed it over into crisis almost overnight. 4. Most of our universities and colleges are now relying on international student fees to meet their budgets. Most of them are now operating as businesses, including property developers, instead of educational institutions. (I'm a university prof - 20+ years teaching - I can't believe the changes I've seen in our postsecondary system .) Who is tracking the number of international students who are here 4 plus years and apply for PR after graduation? What is happening with the manipulation of statistics re: international students and/vs immigration? There is a significant statistical overlap that is not being disclosed to the Canadian public. Thanks for reading!

Life in Nigeria is only decent for those living affluently in Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, certain areas of Ikeja and Abuja. Outside of that, life for everyday Nigerians is crap. Water & electricity (NEPA) are highly unreliable & intermittent, so fuel-powered generators are a necessity for living everyday life per household or per apartment in apartment complexes. The banking & government systems are notoriously sluggish, taking weeks and months to process simple paperwork such as drivers licenses, passports, certificates, banking transaction reversals, you name it. Bribery is a daily occurrence EVERYWHERE. Police (if you can call them that, mostly untrained thugs) detain & extort motorists and/or people innocently going about their daily lives, just for the money. Many many many people disappear mysteriously without ever being seen again by family or friends. Lots of inter-racial discrimination and animosity between the three major tribes that make up Nigeria… Yoruba, Igbo & Hausa-Fulani. The federal & state governments are horribly corrupt, bordering on dictatorship. Elections are undemocratic, to say the least, with thugs threatening voters at voting booths. I could go on?\n\nThis is why many Nigerians with any amount of wealth live in diaspora, whether that be the UK, Canada, the USA, Europe, or wherever. And, yeah, be prepared for everything being structured & organized in these countries, especially in North America. The cost of living is definitely higher to pay for a higher quality of living. That’s the difference between a developed country vs a country, such as Nigeria, that’s developing or considered ‘third-world’. Unfortunately, here in Canada we cannot account for the last 8 years under our current administration, which has gone rogue & is out of control, causing high inflation, interest rates and housing and cost of living to soar. This is not normal conditions even to those of us natural-born here. So, we feel for immigrants who have arrived in good faith in the last few years. I’m sure their country of origin is looking better than what is being experienced here in Canada currently.

That comment about no enjoyment with their work was spot on. We work with older equipment older software our businesses dont invest like american ones do. We dont get new forklifts. Nothing yet they put tremendous pressure on whoever shows up Monday. If we cant be rich can we at least be happy? If i was picking countries as an immigrant id pick usa!

Aside from what was said (making more money), other reasons why many immigrants would fight tooth and nail to get U.S. citizenship are the fact that the U.S. has a bigger and wealthier population, which translates to American companies getting more investment money. And in turn, are alot more willing to invest more of that money into their employers. Other underlying reasons include an overall warmer climate, rich pay less taxes, and the fact that an immigrant finally obtaining U.S. citizenship is considered a status symbol. \n\nAnd there are other reasons why Canada government is far more immigrant friendly. The government wants to increase their country's population to at least 100 million, and that isn't possible with Canada being one of the numerous countries experiencing a decline in baby's being born. And the new immigrants are to hopefully prevent the time in the future when Canada has too many old people, but not enough caretakers and young people to tax.

The strategy (at least for chinese immigrants) is to first become a Canadian citizen and then apply to be a US citizen fron there

I think this was a great video. I’m glad you mentioned the difference in wages because what that really indicates is that Canada doesn’t suffer from a shortage of skilled labour if anything we have the opposite: a glut. What we need is more business investment in our economy but the federal government seems completely uninterested in that topic. Well at least for the immigrants that do come here once they get their citizenship it becomes much easier to work in the states under NAFTA so I guess we’re kinda a back door.

I was born in Canada and studied here and it was harder to find a job in Canada than the US. Luckily, TN is far easier than H1B so I can at least work here temporarily. But if I wanted to stay for more than 3-6 years, I’d want to look at a green card. But because TN is non-immigrant, I’d have to stay in the US between applying for a green card and getting it. Luckily, there is not much of a wait for Canadians. And I guess given that H1B people need permission to leave, our ability to leave and comeback however much we want is a luxury (though you could always get a difficult officer)

Not entirely accurate. It's pro-wealthy immigration here in Canada absolutely. It's citizenship for sale. Not necessarily wealthy in terms of really wealthy (like Switzerland) but it's definitely citizenship for sale, so if you don't have money, don't bother. Newcomers with medical and engineering expertise can't get jobs here in Canada, in spite of our healthcare system being on the point of collapse and our supposed hi-tech push. Regulatory boards here have made it impossible. Estimates are around 175000 qualified, internationally trained doctors and nurses who gave up trying to practice here and moved into other careers. Ukrainian doctors, for eg, with extensive trauma experience and willing to staff our emergency departments have been told they have to requalify by going to Canadian medical school to retrain for at least 4 years. Same story in engineering. By IT, our government seems to mean low-paid call center IT work, moving the IT sweatshop racket from India onto Canadian soil. If you can afford to buy a business - I believe the total business investment was 500 000 pre-pandemic - that's another way in. Not sure if thats gone up now. So many of our franchise businesses are essentially being used as citizenship tickets. The big ticket item: If you can afford 4 years of postgraduate or undergrad university program, or 3 to 4 year college program - and if you don't have the cash, loan sharks in India will distribute debt across the whole family for decades so one student can go . There us a very good documentary by an Indian filmmaker on the Canadian college/University recruitment drive in India and its consequences. Several of our colleges have student enrollments at over 70% of the entire student body, direct entry from India. Additional problems like grade inflation, different education standards, and outright fraud on ESL testing also mean that Indian students are not well prepared for school here. Many do not have enough English to succeed in their studies. They either need to spend for additional tutoring, take a qualifying year or two ESL (on top of the 3 or 4 program), or fail courses. Universities and colleges keep the tuition though. Honestly our colleges and universities are staying afloat because of Indian students. They're being treated like cash cows - and Indian recruiters are scamming the system, taking fees on their end with unsuspecting students getting falsified documents, or being told they passed their ESL when they didn't. It's a national disgrace. I'm a prof here, I've seen all of this firsthand. Your data may be correct, but the narrative you've constructed for it is not the real picture.

I know correlation does not equal causation but you do not even examine the possibility that the far higher salaries in America in certain sectors like tech compared to those in Canada might at least partly be the result of having a more restrictive immigration policy for workers in those sectors in America compared to in Canada. The same possibility does also occur when it comes to the relatively much higher cost of housing in Canada. This possibility is to a relatively neutral (British) observer such an obvious logical possibility that I'm afraid I'm going to have to ding pretty hard this otherwise pretty good video for not addressing it. You start with a supposition - the American immigration system is broken and the Canadian system is great - but the facts that you produce in the video, assuming that the point of immigration is to raise living standards, seem to exactly contradict your supposition?!?

I’d be homeless without Medicare. Republicans are crazy, and get nothing done! The intolerance to people who make different personal choices, the treatment of immigrants and black people. The behaviour is completely outrages, offensive, rude and unkind. Last but definitely not least is GUNS Guns!

It’s what the fascist Republicans voted for. Thanks to the Republicans’ anti-immigrant paranoia, the USA is just a giant turd circling down the toilet bowl of deliberate Republican dismantling of the Federal government. Better off in Canada where at least there is guaranteed affordable healthcare.

Immigration is amazing. I recommend everyone try it at least once in their life, really makes you a better person.

Canada sucks. Mainly because of the cost of living which is causing many immigrants and those who were born in Canada to leave in droves. If you are reading this and are considering moving to Canada don't do it unless you are getting paid at least 90k/year or 120k if you move to a major city.

I think you missed the ball on two points.\n\n1) although Canada has a higher share of current immigrants, 99% of all americans are descended from at least one great grandparent who came from abroad before settling down. America is a nation of immigrants down into its blood, and the current state of affairs is more a reflection of abberation than the norm, even in spite of our history of the Klan and know nothing party.\n\n2) Québec sets its own immigration policy and it is WAAAAAAY stricter, like, they have a french literacy test that a parisian with a PhD in French literature failed, and when this is brought up most Quebecois say this makes sense because *the French* are doing a poor job of preserving frenchness against encroachment from foreign language and culture. Meanwhile L'Acedemie Français is the chief dead horse to beat amongst folks who want to make jokes of linguistic and cultural prescriltivism.

As a European I would say don’t complain! Neither Canada or the US! At least the bulk of your immigrants are educated! We here in Europe get all the uneducated and unwilling immigrants who’s sole purpose is to leech of our welfare system! \n\nAs that scene in South Park “they toook our jobsss”. they didn’t take our jobs, they just straight up take our money and sit on their ass having us to work to support them.

It took me 17years and a small forest worth of reams of paper to get from F1 to US passport through the H1B route, but I'm glad I'm done with that Kafkaesque mess that is the US immigration system.\nThere is so much ignorance in the US population of what is needed to immigrate to the US. A lot of the accusations that are leveled at employment based immigrants are just plain wrong: \nAnti-immigration hawks claim we lower the wages in the field: Wrong because the company has to prove they pay you at least the average prevailing wage for your position. An average cannot lower the prevailing wage.\nIt also costs the company many tens of thousands to file for a foreigner, so the company would very much prefer to higher an American. There's just not enough talent out there to fill ALL the positions needed to stay competitive. The company literally needs to advertise your position for 90s during the certification process and prove no locals are qualified. Companies meet this by always having positions available.

I can’t thank you enough. No one here understands nor wants to acknowledge the struggle or repercussions. And I also understand that skilled immigrant problems doesn’t matter to any citizen. For political parties it is not a voting block and it’s an anti-immigrant sentiment for the public anyways. \nIt’s 10 years to the date I’ve been in the US. Paid for Grad school and 100s of thousands of dollars in taxes already (mind you with not 1 benefit that PRs or Citizens get). It will take at least 15 more years in this state of limbo to get a green card! I sometimes feel disappointed in myself that I stayed this long. It takes life experiences to realize money is not life. Canada is calling.

I suspect that the wages paid referenced in the video reflect, at least in part, the fact the US immigration and work permit system is so restrictive.\n\nThose restrictions can artificially inflate the wages due to the small supply. It would be informative to look at how both countries compare to other major markets. Maybe Canadian wages are ridiculously low. Or maybe US ones ridiculously high.

i liked the ''by country quota system'' all countries should do that especially on indians its not fair that they make at least 1/4 of the annual intake of immigrants in canada and australia just because there are 1.4 billion of them ..they should accept more people from other countries in africa , latin america...and less from india to balance things

Ontario receives most of the immigrants because it sends lot's of nominations for express entry candidates. Those who accept must try to settle in the province, at least in the beginning, but most move away shortly after.

We need to slash immigration levels. At least this leaves the door open to some reduction. But honestly i dont trust the CPC, i think they're corrupted too and will continue mass immigration.

I would move to the US in a minute if it wasn't so difficult to immigrate. At least in the US you do have health care. Health care is practically unavailable here and now they are going to pass a lot to limit our access to vitamins and natural health supplements which I need to survive.

Well, despite many of the answers here, there are more Canadians emigrating to the US than Americans immigrating here. Considering the population difference, the disparity is huge. To make things worse, most of the emigrants are highly educated in specialized industries. Often, it's for economical reasons as income in some industries is ridiculously higher in the US than anywhere else in the world, Canada included. This brain drain is one of the reasons cited for the expected poor economic growth for Canada in the coming decade, at least compared to other developed nations. The one saving grace here is that there are a lot more qualified immigrants coming in from other countries than Canadian emigrants.

Lack of affordable housing -- lack of housing in general -- is the main reason people already living here are being priced out and why so many refugees and immigrants cannot afford the cost when they move here. When these people come to Canada for a better life and/or to escape the suffering that they were living in, they cannot bring their homes with them. It is the government's responsibility at all levels to ensure that these newcomers have a place to go when they come here. A homeless shelter should not be the answer. Buy up office spaces and convert them (if safe to do so with whatever codes need to be met) into affordable housing units. For years we've been seeing hundreds of news articles about vacancies in office buildings being at all time highs, yet only a handful of them are being converted. 500,000 people a year entering a country where there isn't enough housing for them (let alone the people living here already) is irresponsible on the government's part. If this is your pledge, at least give these people a better life and not send them to shelters or onto the streets as soon as they arrive. If Canada is to truly be a safe haven for immigrants and refugees escaping their hardships, it's paramount that the government does what it can to make these people actually feel like their life will change for the better. I'm all for immigration since it helps the economy and knowing that Canada can put people in a better position for themselves and their families, but it's the lack of preparation from the governments that makes me question their pledge in this way.

Now you see how we Germans feel but you can be lucky you Americans do not come close to the % of immigrants in germany. It’s over 25% and at least +15% got German passport but are foreigners.