Close Reading

Hello ma’am,\nCan I apply for a master's degree that lasts for two years and get a work permit for three years, enabling me to apply for PR?\nI really don’t know how it works, but I’m so confused at this moment. I have been in the UK for over 6 years, and I haven’t gotten anything yet. I wish to move to Canada, but I don’t want to make a wrong move that I would regret later on in life.\n\nWhat province would you recommend ma’am?

100% bang on.. I've lived in Dubai (traveled to many other countries).. this is nowhere near being considered as developed anymore (GDP criteria is outdated)..Canada got developed and they forgot to update and even upgrade..!! The drug situation is so bad that I really hope that you didn't come across crackheads/homeless who are under the influence of drugs at all times.. No doubt there are way more homeless people in India, but they are working or at least trying in some way to make their life better and they never hurt you at least, here, it's the opposite, as they literally can do anything.. you can find them roaming all over on the streets of Old Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa.. You can literally find them everywhere.. someone commented earlier that you should give 2 years.. Bro or sis.. it's a complete waste as I am at the same point.. and on top of it when you invested 2 years, it even becomes tougher as it becomes even harder to go back as you have spent so much on furniture, house, car, tools, n all and most importantly - 2 YEARS of life. I left my pregnant wife and have been staying away from her and a 1-and-a-half-year-old baby boy hoping that we'll create a better future and can afford to struggle right now.. its been 2+ years.. Honestly.. I am still not able to figure out whether there is any future or I have spoiled my present looking for a future.. its a dilemma beyond explanation in words, with no relatives or anyone based here.. I've a lot at stake currently and that's the only reason I am stuck otherwise leaving this place seems to be inevitable.. \n\nI travel extensively all throughout and forget about expressways anywhere in Canada (Except 407 which has an insane toll rate) it's a 4-lane highway just 80 km from Toronto to the rest of 450+ kms to Montreal which are 2 major cities of this so-called developed country.. same is for Ottawa, the same hold true from Calgary to Edmonton, and any other major town/city!! on top of it, they are struggling to even maintain those (always under construction - even construction is a wrong word to use as they aren't adding anything new.... it is just being repaired in true words) Same is true with adding new infra in terms of hospitals or any other facility... Banking sucks.. Still dealing through the mail (Postal mail).. (Mails not e-mails). I simply can't get that.. the tax agency - CRA sends communications through the mail, and the same with any other agency.. Comon.. grow up is what I feel at times..!! People are literally not willing to work (Except hard-working immigrants), Govt. doesn't have any plans for the future regarding the economy and development... just bringing in immigrants.. that's it..\n\nYou've made a very smart decision and really at a very good time.. wish you, and your family all the best..!!

Well you just got to love how this world tries to justify what's going on and then the media talks all their dumb b******* what you just come out and say it we're overpopulated and the homeless is getting bad we pressed how we got to have many many many and all we do is appropriate and appropriate and appropriate now we got so many people we can't feed them all we can't house them all we can't give them the education they need to get paid the good paid jobs cuz there's too many of us there's not enough to go around it's just going to get worse it's called overpopulated but hey they press for years you got to have kids keep having kids well now half of them are on the f****** street along with the older ones that can't afford nothing cuz of all the hungry money mongers in this world that's got to have the top dollar for everything they do I want the best money I can get for my rentals yeah you're fat and rich and they're out on the street The only thing is you can't find somebody decent to rent your place cuz they all screwing you I've worked around it all and I've seen it all I guess especially somebody in this world will figure out oh we're overpopulated has nothing to do with some of the b******* stories I keep seeing on this YouTube but keep denying and come up with all the theories you can because if you're afraid to face facts it's called over population and it's going to get worse cuz there's too many of us why do you think everywhere you go anymore it's like oh I'm waiting for this waiting for that cuz somebody's in front of me or somebody's else is there first or when I went in the service I thought that'd be the only place I'd say hi hurry up and wait but no now it's throughout life everywhere you go sitting in your car waiting sitting at the grocery store waiting wherever you go you got to wait because there's too many of us and eventually it's going to destroy this earth cuz we're destroying it the beautiful earth getting destroyed by the human animal but no we're so smart we can do that yeah my ass we're doing it right now and we're doing it so easily it it just right in her face and no one can even think they see it blind what a joke human race is

I have talked to Mexican people in food lines and one lady said her mother took her over to a boy's home when she was 12 years old to sleep with him so she would get pregnant as a little girl and then they could get monetary assistance. \n\nShe told me she had 2 children before she graduated from high school and when she left to live on her own, her mother was upset because she would stop getting checks.\n\nI talked to another person, a guy in a food share line and he was saying he was proud to be Mexican but doesn't want to go back. I said why and he said because they don't get free food and assistance there and I told him so you are not born here but come here to USE our resources? He told me California was Mexico before and I said Yes but where were YOU BORN? AND. HE SAID MEXICO. And I said I was born here and I am using the resources as a citizen I have been granted.\n\nWhat if American people went to Mexico, never trying to learn the language and ungratefully EXPECTING A HANDOUT????? MEXICANS WOULD BE PISSED OFF AT AMERICANS.\n\nWhen they are in food share lines, Mexican people never say THANK YOU. THEY JUST TAKE AND EXPECT MORE BUT ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR MEXICAN HERITAGE.\n\nIF THEY ARE SO PROUD, GO BACK TO MEXICO.

Ma'am, you have rightly said its a matter of one's individual temperament, priorities, expectations, and domestic conditioning. I know from experience of living in Canada, China, Japan and Sweden for over 25 years, your take would have been the same in any EU or American country. Of course, all sorts of handymen and cleaning services are available at a single phone call, but they're expensive which is why everyone keeps a tool kit and does most little things themselves. Only for complicated stuff we call professionals. If you can forget the maasis back home, these can be great countries to live in. Think again!

You are lying to the people about Canada or you don't know. West Africans, aka sub Saharan African are not the favoured group selected for immigration to Canada. For some reason the immigration policy favours Indians from India. 90% of the people favoured now for immigration into Canada are Indians and secondly Latinos from Mexico or some other Latin American country. People from West Africa are a trickle. All this information is on line, Google it. Also Canada is experiencing inflation and everyone is crying about the very high cost of living and finding housing. The housing market is now going through a depression and the amortization rate instead of 30 years is now leaning towards 40-60 years owing to high interest rates. People do your homework. \n\nDo not listen to people who want to blow up themselves making false claims. Also there is not overt racism but it definitely THERE, try promotion to the highest level of management in the work place and see how many years you will plateau till retirement, aka HIT THE CONCRETE SEALING. Bro, I don't doubt your experience but you are definitely an anomaly, aka an exception as you are saying that you are here in Canada living the good life. So many West Africans in Toronto are working with InstaCard, Door Dash and doing Uber and Lyft. It is called the GIG economy. You are not in a stable job. The living standard is high in Canada, meaning even the poorest has access to a quality life through the Social Services govt system. Maybe you think that is living the good life equivalent or on par with a person of European ancestry who is at least 3rd generation Canadian and in over 75% of the cases have had a transference of Generational wealth.

I live in Toronto for over 20 years. The demise of the city is noticeable and unfortunate, and I don't see what can stop the decline. The city government is corrupt and incompetent, the governance structure is such that the politicians are not held accountable, and the population does not have self-awareness to rebel against the incompetent and corrupt politicians and bureucrats.

1) Toronto is poor value. Getting housing of any kind (buying or renting) is stupidly expensive. And the quality you get for the price is lousy. Especially the newer builds, which are just thrown up as quickly as possible and sold to investors. Policy measures generally all seem to serve to just inflate the price of housing further. The occasional lip service given to affordability is amusing, but ultimately sad. There are lots of people who really do not want the housing bubble to pop. They will fight against it with all they have.\n\n2) It has become kind of boring. There is lots to do if you have money, but it’s harder to find entertainment on a budget. Even the free stuff like parks are filling up. Stuff like sporting events, eating out, going out is very costly across the board. Even the “cheaper” stuff is expensive. It seems like a lot of local culture is disappearing. Even the cool neighbourhoods are filling up with the same chains. I think the high commercial rent and bureaucracy is deflating a lot of would-be entrepreneurs. Most landowners seem to just be banking on cashing out their land for condos.\n\n3) Canada overall has a high cost of living compared to salaries. In the US you can find lower cost of living areas that still give you a real city experience. And in Europe you can be poor but still live a decent, if no frills, life. In Canada the basic necessities are all expensive. Phone bills, grocery bills, rent, insurance are through the roof. Domestic travel is expensive. And the dollar sucks if you want to travel abroad. Health care is free but good luck finding a family doctor or waiting 8 hours in the ER these days. It’s expensive to be poor, or even middle class.\n\n4) Most of the Greater Toronto Area, outside the core, is soulless suburbs with awful transit - very “American” except with worse traffic congestion. You will need a car, which is another huge cost. Row upon row of old cookie cutter suburbs with the same crappy houses. Good luck walking anywhere, and if you do you will need to walk down boring, treeless arterial roads with cars zooming past right beside you, and cross giant eight lane intersections that were never built for humans on foot. In a rainstorm or on a fall evening you have to be really careful not to be run over by aggressive drivers.\n\n5) It is hard to raise a family in an apartment here. You can do it but it’s not very easy, and also you are still kind of judged for it. Lots of young people are feeling stuck and are deferring or avoiding starting a family. Buying any type of house, even a basic townhouse, requires pledging your soul to a bank by taking a massive mortgage with eye watering debt in a volatile market. But few apartment buildings have the kind of sensible gentle density, the family unit sizes and the common amenities, like little courtyards with jungle gyms, that you might find in Europe. No one ever contemplated that anyone would ever desire to raise kids in an apartment. It’s just a cultural thing that has worked its way into how things are planned and designed.\n\n6) The transit system is ok by North American standards but awful by international standards. There are only two real subway lines, one stub line, one line that is permanently out of service after a derailment, and another line that was supposed to open a couple years ago but still has no date for opening. The subways go out of service frequently, sometimes for the dumbest reasons, and then it is a zoo of shuttle buses. The streetcars are nice but so slow. The buses are fine if you find yourself dreaming about riding a daily herky jerky rolling tin of sardines. They are building a lot of transit but it will take decades to get done.\n\n7) There is still a lot of cool multiculturalism and opportunities to experience different foods and cultures - one of the best things about Toronto. Increasingly though it seems to be losing the fun vibe of the 90s, when everyone celebrated each other’s backgrounds and was chill. It seems the immigration is not as broad based anymore and also people are importing a lot of their “old country” grievances here. The immigration system also kind of preys on people abroad by selling them a false fairy tale, so they end up dejected when they arrive and see how things really are.\n\n8) This one might be controversial but it’s kind of an ugly city. There’s nothing particularly of historical meaning or value. Some of the older neighbourhoods are kind of nice, but the last 25 years they have only built giant glass skyboxes, one after another. There aren’t the cool “missing middle” walkups like in NY, Chicago or Montreal (or even LA). There are very few buildings with much architectural character. Some of the buildings they deem “heritage” here are an embarrassment.\n\n9) For safety, honestly on this score I think Toronto is not bad. There are not too many real “ghettos” and it’s night and day compared to much of the US. With that said, there is more vagrancy and social issues these days, with tents and such. It’s very sad but the shelters are full, lots of homeless go into the libraries, parks and transit system. It does make it harder to enjoy these public amenities safely. It is nowhere close to Europe where you might let your kids run free around town. Canadian parents still helicopter their kids and the place again is not designed to really be safe for kids, in the same way as Europe.\n\n10) Finally, a bit of a double edged sword. Toronto had a lot of youthful energy - people coming here from all over. It is definitely not as sleepy as many parts of the world. With that said, it is becoming a bit of a transient place (minus the world class experiences like London or NY). If you are from elsewhere you might find it hard making and keeping friends. I’ve seen lots of people struggle because it’s is hard to build a strong social network. We have a very “shallow” culture here - people are extremely polite but not overly warm and hospitable. We treat one another kind of like neighbours - meaning we’d like to have a cordial, drama-free coexistence and otherwise kind of stick to ourselves.

Brilliant video Nitish...\nIm a proud Indian Sikh from Jammu, settled in Bangalore for almost 10 years as a Senior Software Professional. Quite happy with my life (apart from crazy traffic). Have visited many countries for on-site business work, including Canada but India is good despite all the chaos, espcially South India. Started my career in infosys Chandigarh, then Gurgaon then Bangalore. My parents also might move in with me next year and Im also planning to start my own Food eatery. Over 95% Sikhs are just like me and patriotic and Love India, but yes there are issues in Punjab which need to be addressed...\nBut a large portion of the blame sadly goes to Sikh politicians. I want to tell the youth that Khalistan is a waste of time and politicians in Punjab, especially sikh politicians are completely bullshit. They are corrupt and have no vision and rely on rural votes which is sikh majority and Jazbaati over every issue and largely into farming. The Punjabi Hindus, baniyas, aggarwals and Jains own the urban economy and are comparatively more practical and forward looking in life. Many of these sikh politicians sadly themselves are involved in drug, own illegal abortion centres and labs, and even coaching centres to send students to canada on fake letters in exchange for a lot of money...\nI want to tell the youth, There is a lot of good opportunity in India. I know Punjab doesnt have much as of now (hope someday one of us can take our experience and setup a startup hub there), but other cities like Pune, Hyd, Bangalore, Mum, Chennai etc are good and once you have a stable job, its quite satisfying. Punjabis especially Sikhs are also loved everywhere by common people. Please dont spend your money on fake asylum letters and Canadian Dreams without thinking and planning.

Thank you for posting this! I feel much the same.\nI was born in Toronto but my family moved to another city in Southwestern On. when I was 10. I pledged to move back and did in 2004 to become a student. I loved the freedom and vibrancy of the city, met many friends and had a wonderful time. Even as a student, working part time, I was able to afford a shared accommodation downtown and still have a bit of disposable income. \nAfter graduating college, I found full time employment and was able to live comfortably alone in my own 2 bd apartment in mid-town for many years. In 2012, I met my partner and we continued to live in North York in a 3bd rent-controlled unit. We could see the decline in the city over the next several years. We decided we would never be able to achieve what we wanted to by staying where we were so in 2018 we took the plunge and bought a home in Windsor and have never looked back (though Windsor also has many social/affordability issues) .\nIn all, I miss the Toronto I once knew and loved but the decline of the city is pretty shocking.

The government still thinks with 750 dollars welfare money a human being can live in canada. Single guys have to live in dumps called rooms in basements and couples have to give away 75 percent of their combined income to rent a half decent apartment. So much for the canadian dream life! Looking back after 28 years living in canada i think i was better off living as an alien in usa than living here. I am still lucky to have a house otherwise i would have been in a mental hospital now. Dirty cities, over crowded hospitals, freezing temperatures, high taxes and many more issues. Still canada is better than 90 percent of the world but to have a little better life you have to sacrifice a lot, almost all your life.

Having to pay for healthcare is a huge detractor for me. I would never move there because of it. I got breast cancer a couple of years ago. I had many rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation & I can’t even tell you the amount tests were done. MRIs, CT scans, frequent doctor & specialist appointments, Scans of all kinds. I’m still in awe of everything they did for me & of course, thankful (is an understatement). \nI can’t imagine what all that would have cost. I didn’t have to pay anything. It was all covered by the government. I ham now over one year out and currently cancer free. ???

I know a lot from working all over canada and they come for the free money and health care and school, as soon at they are legal canadians every single one I know/knew left because they don't want to pay the high tax and cost of living, 1 guy I was friends with for a year showed me what he got to come here and it was = to 10 years pay for me at that time. Then he sold the house and cars and left after his temp visa expired, I know of people in AB and on the east coast working here and living 5 and 6 guys in a 3 bedroom and they send every cent back to their own country so they can buy land and housing, For them it's a great get rich quick plan, The one guy I knew for a year offered to pay to have my car fixed and I said no but he insisted it was free on his free tax payer supplied credit cards, If I was not from here and they offered me all this money and stuff Id be here doing the same thing, 5 years here makes you rich when you go home. 2 bedroom condo in Mexico is $85g so if I offered you a good job that will get you a house paid off and lifetime of saving in just 5 years but you have to live in another country would you do it. 100% I would Im looking at my adult kids who will never own a home if they stay here vs the people coming over for 5 years then their set, All my kids are planning to move to a new country for this very reason they are saving and then getting out when the depression hits.

Quite a few of leaving are afraid that they may have unacceptable views, so they run away just in case so their bank accounts are not locked up ?. Definitely not the same Canada I came to, over 30 years ago.

?? With Affordability and inflation hurting my family in Ontario we are contemplating either leaving the Province or the Country altogether to either the States or Australia etc. where fortunately we have offers to work. We immigrated from the Philippines over 40 Years ago. Some of our relatives back in the the Philippines really don't understand how hard it is to live in Canada. Our cousins who in the last 10 years have Immigrated here have been working 2 jobs 7 days a week just to get by ?. I am sooo very proud to be Canadian, but Canada, specifically Ontario/ GTA, is truly becoming unaffordable to stay. It is heartbreaking to think about leaving but just to scrape by is a heavier burden ??

Over the past 3 years, and especially in 2023, I saw that immigrants from India literally flocked in high numbers to the small norther town where I've lived for decades. They're now the majority of workers in most retail positions. This influx has caused severe housing shortages. These newcomers aren't working in the construction industry. Some of them are buying and renting houses, driving up the housing prices dramatically. EVERYBODY is now suffering from the hyperinflation on housing prices and everything else. Our quality of life has plummeted. It isn't rocket science: allow huge influx of immigrants, and inevitably the result will be inflation, lower wages for competing workers, increased housing prices and dire housing shortages. Whoever planned this must have been aiming at destroying Canada.

I have lived in Spain for years and now live in the UK, I can tel you Spain was ever better in teams of infrastructure and recently visited ontario Toronto and Brampton areas in Canada, my goodness I was blown away with the difference and the life styles in Canada it was amazing still can't get over it, am already working on getting a truck license and finish my it course. I want to come prepared. Canada for me is my last bus stop

I always wondered why I had to be here when the snow tilted between 45 and 60 degrees in winter and hit my face at 30-40 km/h.\nquality of food, transportation, service from employees, speed of processing time, etc there were many things that made me really unsatisfied being living in Toronto.\nsame, at the first time I came Toronto, everything looks great. but not anymore \nI'm korean and I feel really unsafe when I go and live abroad. Korea, Japan, Singapore mainly all Asian countries are top 5 in safety all over the world I think. \nAsia especially Korean and Japan have great service, quality of food with reasonable price. I think I don't need to move foreign country. \nmy background is in South Korea but I can say living in Toronto Canada was horrible and harsh for Korean. Because of multiple reasons but the harsh weather is the biggest for me. Feels like winter in Toronto is 7~8 months long if I compare it to winter in Korea. Fall and Spring?? No, they don't have fall and spring and it's all winter. they have snow in early September late April or May. It was horribly hard because the cold air from the arctic and really powerful wind came all together. even though the weather and temperature look a little bit off from Korea, Canada has a much more harsh location with weather. not only harsh weather but they do provide really embarrassing experience such as expensive payment for everything, a lot of factors disturb me from leaking money. I don't think Canada is a good country. my view of this country totally has been changed 3 years ago.

I was born in NYC but moved to Canada over 20 years ago, I now have dual citizenship. In the space of 1 year my retired father had a major stroke and my wife, pregnant with our first child had a full hemorrhage, was rushed to the hospital and gave birth to our premature son who required open heart surgery at 3 months of age. The quality of the health care was top notch, it didn't matter who I was or what I earned, we promptly received the best health care I can imagine. I was maxed out emotionally; I can't imagine worrying if I could afford the monies involved, was it covered under my current health care plan everything was 'just there'. There was no waiting for our legitimate emergencies. I don't know what the math would be on costs but I'm guessing I'd be broke for the rest of my life if this occurred in the States. \nOf course, what countries could afford universal health care except, maybe: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland. Italy, Israel, Greece and 22 other countries. Why is almost every other country paying less for drugs developed by American companies?\nYou pay slightly lower taxes... but what would your income look like if your employer paid you what they are paying for your insurance premiums?\nI'd say the richest country on earth has a little catching up to do...

i first saw u, watching one of your travel vlogs a few years ago, and i have to say... i still love u! :) i came across this video doing my personal research on why a close friend of mine who emigrated to canada in 2009, is now trying desperately to turn back. Actualy all my friends who emigrated to canada in early 2000's are already back. I see we exeprience all over the planet the same cost of living problem, but what hapenes in canada is quite hard to endure

I wasn't born here but I've lived here now for 45 years and my god! This place is sadly going into a nose dive. Our Politicians don't realize how good this city and country is and they have ruined it over the years by having an obtuse outlook on the future of Toronto and this country. Crime rate is so high, cost of living is insane. No housing.Housing is suppose to be a fundamental human right and our politicians have made it into a pure luxury now. The other thing is wages have not reflected the cost of living in this country since 2000. Most do not earn a living wage here and its so disappointing to see. The Federal Gov wants to bring about a 1million more immigrants into Canada within a few years...Where would they live? Most are already living in tents in the streets. Its fine now but what happens when winter makes its entrance? From the Provincial Gov to Federal Gov this country is sadly run by idiots!

Nice candid video Tyler. I have a good friend (a Jusey Gurl) who moved to Canada like 20ish years ago I think mainly because of an ex. I think she appreciates the health care as well with my talks with her over the years. She and I've been thinking this lately that Canadians have either changed or that Canadians are more friendly stereotype is going down .I think with more immigration, the cost of living and frozen pay and higher and higher taxes Canadians are increasing discouraged with politics and Canada in general. You noticed many of the woman mentioning health care and social programs as well? Police... We have a lot here as well maybe more so because of pay. The police are well looked after and paid well here. I think politics are getting more polar and more divisive here as well. The liberals have really really done a stellar job with two terms of sheer WEF CCP hogwash to destroy the country. Another general stereotype is that Americans are obnoxious and unpleasant isn't true as well. I'm in tourism and find most of the Yanks to be friendly and polite and GREAT TIPPERS. Ha many US servers don't like it when Canucks go over there because they're stingy. I think if everything works out without saying more, your country, like it or not , will ultimately start the big liberation finally of humanity hopefully for the better. You folks generally have a bigger love of freedom and you're ARMED. You have the mindset and the LEVERAGE to change the system. And we as Canadians are always looking and following the US why to the extent because things are a little different here I don't know... I await with hopeful yet bated breath with the big changes coming in the following years. Love, freedom and the pursuit of happiness good neighbors eh!

I've had about 8 friends and 2 relatives who have tried life in the USA.\nOne cousin is still in Colorado after moving there with her 2nd husband, an American, over 10 years ago. The rest have come back to Canada and the biggest general impression I get is that it is simply a huge relief to get out of there. That is a huge contrast to the people I know who had tried life in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Europe, Thailand, Japan, VietNam, Australia, and New Zealand: far fewer of them have come back to Canada because they are happy with life there. And the ones who have come back all have things they miss about the countries and most want to go back someday.\n\nMost of the people I know who have come back from the USA are highly critical of the utter lack of a decent health care system in the USA, but for them it was a solvable problem because they had decent jobs and insurance while they were in the USA. What gave them so much relief when they came back to Canada was that during their time in the USA they never felt safe. There is something fundamentally and brutally fucked up about a country where every bank has armed guards, the mall cops are armed, half of the people in your neighbourhood are armed, you're scared to send your children to school, and every time you turn around you see a cop with his hand on his gun.

I've been to 30 states in my many decades of travel. The US has become a scarier place over the past 20 years. The politics is very partisan, Evangelicals have expanded their influence resulting in less tolerance of others, gun violence is insane, the poor are very, very poor with no way out, the very, very rich don't want to share at all (contrary to Christian teachings), the US version of capitalism verges on slavery (certainly not what Adam Smith envisioned anyway), the race issues are becoming simply stupid, the MAGA supporters and the socialist far left and wokeness are simply beyond comprehension . . . overall, tolerance for differences is becoming lost. People on the left and the right are equally are to blame. \n\nOne of Canadians' favourite activities is to crap on America(ns). This is unfair. There are wonderful places in the US and wonderful people. Collectively though, I think the US is coming apart at the seams. Canada certainly has its warts and our politics and society is becoming polarized too. But overall I'd say, Canada is friendlier, less violent, not as bigoted, more open minded, fairer, much less hierarchical, and more educated with regard to what's happening in the world. I do like the entrepreneurial bent to the US but its version often comes at a huge cost to people.

It's a misconception to assume that the US medical care is always better, or that the wait times in Canada are a lot longer.\nWhile there's no question the quality of care depends on where you live, rural areas in both countries don't typically have specialists or all the latest equipment. Major urban areas are much better served.\nAlso, the measured outcomes for many types of surgical procedures are often statistically better in Canada, with higher success rates and better recoveries for many types of procedures. The big difference is because more Canadians have regular check-ups, problems are typically caught sooner, before they become serious. That's a big reason why our life-span is several years higher, and our infant mortality is much lower than the US. Because of the extra co-pay costs or because they don't have insurance and cannot afford basic medical care, many Americans put off doctors visits until they're really sick. \nDuring a routine check-up I was diagnosed with a minor heart condition last September. Was able to see a specialist within 5 weeks. That specialist sent me to a heart surgeon a few weeks later who scheduled an Arterial Ablation day surgery in December. (I walked out 6 hours later...) Lots of pre-surgical and post surgical testing and follow-up. As it turned out, the other side of my heart also required the same surgery, and by March that was completed successfully too. Again, multiple follow-ups and tests, and I've got a totally symptom-free outcome.\nI had a hip replacement a few years ago that went well and resulted in a totally pain free hip that allowed me to return to normal activities I could no longer enjoy before surgery.\nTotal cost in the US for both these types of surgeries would have likely been well over $100,000. The most I paid was for the hospital parking...\nIs it better in Canada? - Absolutely...!!!

I'm a Canadian who moved to Florida 30 years ago. I never regreted it, in fact I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to live here. I've had the best healthcare, great job, own my house and climate most Canadians would dream about. Sure there are crazy people everywhere but I never felt unsafe or needed to own a gun, I have very few complaints, especially when I'm sitting on a beach in winter time watching the sunset over the gulf.

I am Canadian, my husband is American. I moved to the USA 11 years ago. I live in a liberal state (by American standards) with little violence (by American standards). I like where we live and enjoy most of the people that I interact with. I would move back to Canada in a heartbeat. I must confess that I felt like I stepped back in time 20 years when I moved here - labor standards in the US are so behind the rest of the world (maternity leave, paid time off, job protections, etc). To a Canadian, US culture feels accepting of racism, violence, us vs them mentalities, gun culture, religious and political fanaticism. I still can’t get over how “normal” Americans think their healthcare system is…. most other countries think it is absolutely nuts! I have good insurance, but if I ever develop a serious illness….I will move back to Canada where I can attempt to keep my health AND still have a house to live in. On the surface, Americans and Canadians look alike - but I still feel the cultural differences every day. I’m sure that America feels safe and wonderful to Americans who grew up here - but it can be difficult for people who grew up with different values to agree that these things make America “great”.

11 years ago a trip to the ER in Texas cost close to or more than the cost with insurance than a the cost for an ER visit in NS (for those out of country who are not covered by our provincial program). \n\nWe would pay $50 copay at the ER, then over. The next few days we would receive a bill for the physician, then from pharmacy, then from the facility, then from X-ray, etc, every separate department would have its own portion. \n\nAnd then there was the unpleasant surprise when the doctor who saw you in the ER was not an “in network” doctor even though the hospital was “in network”. Our insurance paid 70% of (approved) in network costs, but only 50% of out of network costs. Keep in mind that “in network” hospitals and providers had lower negotiated rates with the insurance companies. Which meant you would have coverage of 70% of a negotiated lower rate for in network but out of network was 50% of a higher rate.\n\nMy neighbours were lovely people. The culture was much different than I expected. The gun culture really hits you in face. For the first while it seemed to be so obvious - signs on pharmacies, hospitals, and schools that state that guns were not allowed, even with a conceal and carry permit. Very quickly, that became “normal”….\n\nFood was amazing. Gas was cheap. Politics was everywhere. Christian mega churches were everywhere - along with some very vocal overbearing people who force their beliefs and opinions on anyone who is near them. \n\nI was surprised with the number of people who felt it was appropriate to discuss religion, politics, and money with virtual strangers. A lot of very personal questions as well. I am guessing it is the difference between what is considered extremely rude in Canada, vs what is just a regular question in the US (or that area of Texas). \n\nAnd another very different thing was how hardly anyone swore. I had the bottom drop out of a bad carrying glasses when I was in San Antonio, the glasses broke, and I said “Shit.” I have never seen so many heads turn towards me. Most of the females looked at me with complete disgust and a lot of the males laughed. I expect that the American who heard me swear, were thinking I was the rudest person. One of my children’s friends was from Australia and when their mom came over one day, she said something to the effect of “so glad you are Canadian” because she sis not have to worry about offending me if she said fuck. That was a relaxing afternoon.

My Canadian brother and his wife left Canada and moved to the U.S. when they were in their early 40's. They prospered and grew their careers for 15 years before deciding to return to Canada. In Canada they would have been considered politically Conservative and religiously as far-right Evangelical Christians, but they found their American neighbors to be off the charts in both categories. They remained in Canada for only 3 years before packing; up and moving back to the U.S. Their main reason was monetary. My brother's wife, who is a doctor, paid $27 thousand dollars less, per year in income tax in the U.S.A. Their 6,000 square foot luxury home in the U.S. cost them about $700K dollars and the equivalent in Canada was $2.4 Million dollars. Since his wife is a doctor, the U.S. healthcare system was not an issue for them, because as a doctor, she had the ultimate American healthcare insurance paid by her employer. They admitted that they had healthcare that was superior to that held by 98% of other Americans. I suspect they will remain in the U.S. for the future. Over the years they have adopted the unique American language and accent, so they now live unnoticed and unrecognizable as Canadians. lol

I have travelled to the US a lot for over 50 years. I do not feel nearly as safe there now except for post 9/11 NYC. I am terrified to discuss politics there now. It is a country that has some spectacular natural attributes like Yosemite, Big Sur, Adirondacks etc. I used to think Florida was great but am really hesitant to go there now. Culturally it has a tremendous amount to offer, I was shocked at how incredibly sleazy Hollywood Blvd was. Overall I am really concerned about the deterioration of moral values that seems to be happening.

Please read this ?\nThe Isra*li occupation, a fact even acknowledged by Israel*s, traces back to 1948 when the Balfour Declaration of 1917 pledged support for a Jewish national home in Palest*ne. This historical context is essential to understanding the plight of Palest*n*ans. For over 70 years, Palest*n*ans have endured displacement, restricted movement, and lived under harsh conditions. The term “apartheid” aptly describes the segregation and discrimination they face in their own land, marked by numerous Isra*li checkpoints. Despite countless peaceful attempts, oppression persists, leading to further land loss and human suffering. It’s important to note that Ham*as, often a focus of international attention, emerged as a response to active resistance against this enduring injustice. If you trying to feel sorry for Israel*s today I hope you felt sorry for Palest*n*ans for the past 70 years ?. Give the people their homes and country back.?

Canada is one of the best to live. However it’s on the map because a lot of visas have been issued. USA is worse. I have been here for over 20 years and don’t regret it

Born and raised in Toronto. I have lived here my whole life for over 50 years. The city has changed drastically and very rapidly. As my retirement approaches and my kids finish University, I am out of here. The crime, the cost of everything, terrible transit and roads that look like they have gone through a war. I live by the lake and we have homeless tent encampments and people living along the train tracks ( and this is the suburban part of Toronto, by the Rouge valley) These are only a few of the reasons why Toronto has changed for the negative ( and I do not see it getting any better)

I moved to Canada over 20 years ago from Kenya, and it's safe to say that this has been the best decision I ever made for myself and my family. Today, I want to share some insights with those who are considering making Canada their new home. \n \nCanada boasts one of the world's most robust social systems, but let me be clear: it won't be a stroll down a red carpet from the airport to your dream life. You will need to put in the effort and work for it. \n \nIf you're a nurse from your home country, don't expect to land in Canada and start working as a nurse the next day. You'll need to go through the process of becoming registered in this country, just as you would in any other part of the world. \n \nWhen you arrive in Canada, give yourself time. Follow the established systems, and trust that these systems are designed to work for you. Fortunately, there are no shortcuts or backdoors in this well-structured country. \n \nWhether you're coming to Canada as a Landed Immigrant or a refugee, understand that there are distinct pathways to follow. Canada has a well-defined system for both. \n \nNow, you might have heard stories of people sleeping on the streets of Toronto for a brief moment. But let me clarify that these instances were temporary and not reflective of the broader reality. The media may not always provide the full context of such stories. \n \nIn major companies and hospitals across Canada, you'll find a significant number of employees who are immigrants, just like us. This illustrates the opportunities that exist in this diverse and inclusive nation. \n \nFor those planning to come to Canada, it's crucial to have access to the right information and cultivate the right mindset. With patience, perseverance, and a willingness to follow the system, your journey to a brighter future in Canada is well within reach.

I can't talk from a point of experience in Canada but from a point of experience in Kenya. Yes things are tough everywhere but I believe things are tuffer here in Kenya, well unless you have a good job, good business or money to invest. I have done of research about Canada, Germany, UK and even Finland. What I have learnt is that opportunities are there as opposed to Kenya. Here in Kenya it's doesn't matter if you have a skill, or papers getting a job is not easy and even harder is getting a good paying job. Most people makes less 10 CAdollars per day which today 1000 or 30 per month minimum wage in Canada is i guess 14.5 in the less expensive provinces. If you work 14 hours per \nDay which I believe possible you have about uko na 20k in ksh, pay tax of maybe 30% combined you have about 130 cad per day work for 25 days in a month you will have about 3250 net stay in most affordable place(hujaenda raha) you can get 1250 in low cost province (not Ontario or BC though here minimum wage iko juu), groceries and expenses budget 1000 per month you can save about 100k ksh pm, save in Cad for few years stay like a student on the budget but work like a donkey. Come back home in few years lets say 5 with save coins probably CAD will trading at 150 coz the hit shilling is taking mind-blowing. You will have 6m to invest any interest or forex gain use them to cover your vacation here in Kenya yes land in Diani you will have missed such weather, enda masai Mara (you deserve it), go visit your parents and most importantly find an investment opportunity you can do real estate but find ideal location but only if you have enough capital ya kujenga and then find someone professional to manage the construction not sending money to your relatives wanapiga sherehe nazo unatumiwa picha za mjengo za nyumba za wenyewe. Pia farming is underated buy a farm land in cheap area ukambani, laikipia, kajiado, taita etc at max 200k per acre 10 acres ni 2m borehole 1.5m with solar and pump. Development such as fenching and service quarters driplines 1m. 1.5 m is working capital ,use it for labour fertilizer, seeds and seedlings. Divide the farm into 5 parts along the fence panda miti ya eucalyptus, other parts do high value perennial cash crops with less management cost like 2 acres of avocado, 2 acres of pixes oranges, lime, the other 2 plant seasonal rotational plants you can even maize, cabbages io ingine do livestock of your choice. If you want low risk investment buy government bond less stress and you are sure government can never fail to repay their local currency bonds ata ikiwa bankrupt coz they can always print more money. Now rates are very high assuming you can get 10% rates with your 6m your will earn 600k risk free income. Your vacation is over, now go back to Canada and work like a donkey because you went there to work, not a vacation. Sorry for the long post ni kukosa job uku Kenya bana, I am looking for legal way to migrate to Canada/US and I've high hopes in those countries. Hopefully next year I will be lucky.

Struggle is there without maid and house help initially but if have the willpower it will work out ,you at-least got job within a few months if u had did some courses it would work out . I got job only after an almost a year. I never wanted to stay in basement and it’s very cold and u will get sick We need both husband and wife to get things done and manage things .Thats where u missed out on. U at-least had relatives there we don’t have anyone here . I had my kid also here alone in hospital no help. I am not saying it’s easy nothing will be delivered on a platter here but it’s better than India freedom, lifestyle,groups community and more over value for life.Try again if u want and get a condo or apartment at-least next time.I always loved winters and once u know how to dress and what precautions to take winter is very beautiful. So if anyone is coming to Canada please be open minded and keep in my mind it will take at least 3-5 years to settle in a different country and you can lead a happy life here.

When I moved to Canada as a naive young man, I has a few hundred dollars in my pocket. I set up my first factory in Montreal, soon moved it to Hamilton (a suburb of Toronto) and in four years had fifty people on the payroll, exporting millions of dollars of production around the globe. With this success bureaucrats inside Revenue Canada started a war with me over $147.53. That's right: for less than $150 they collapsed my two plants and put 50 people onto the pogey. I moved the machinery out of the two plants, at this point worth serveral millions, over the border to the USA and have never looked back. The bureaucrats in Canada are wrecking the place. I predict the Cdn. dollar will sink to fifty cents soon enough.

Condos have taken over downtown Toronto, the small shoes and stores are no longer there. The city charm … and history now gone forever. I was at Dundas square recently, now so crowded and dirty. People hanging out on the streets with no purpose. It’s sad. Years ago it was a vibrant clean and safe city.

I lived in Toronto for over 30 years. Prices on everything are soaring and really getting out of control. Rent, mortgage, food, insurance, and constant high-interest rates would force people onto the streets. Canada needs to do something now! Many restaurants have prices increased by over 20-30% on their menus in the past 3 years. It's just madness and ridiculous. What is minimum wage going to do? Most people I know just work work work, and do not have time to enjoy life. Very sad.

@LynnNgugi I am a Kenyan-Canadian-American, and my family and I lived in Canada for over 6 years. It is a wonderful country if you have the right documentation and career. Life is more expensive in some provinces, so you have to do your homework. But we loved living there and even owned a home. We moved back to the US so that our kids (American born) could grow up closer to their grandparents and cousins. But I am proud to be both a Canadian and American citizen ❤

Moving blind ... I went to canada over 20 times in a course of several years. The key to make it in canada is to have the correct paper work. When i was ready to move to canada i got an immigration lawyer. I had funds and was willing to move. Lets say i didnt and ended up in europe. Canada is amazing country full of opportunities but with you the papers it will be a nighmare. There js more to this story about being stranded

Life has become very expensive worldwide. Whether in Kenya or in Canada, the cost of living hits you hard. I have lived in the US for the last more than twenty years. When I first came here $50 would be enough to buy food for a whole month. Today $50 cannot buy you food for even a week. A gallon of petrol today is over $5. The same thing is happening in Kenya, I believe. There are a number of problems when you land in Canada as a visitor. One: To covert a visitor's visor to a work permit is a process. Two; where do you want to land in Canada? If you land in Toronto, Ontario, you get stranded because everybody is landing there. People dont want to go to the north. All those pictures you are seeing are in Toronto. Because of the influx of people arriving there, the government has spent the budget for visitors and refugees. Three; the choice of jobs. When somebody promises you a job in Canada and helps to get a visitor's visa, think twice before you leave home. If somebody promises you a job in Canada, let him help you to get a work permit before you leave home. That way you are surered of a job. There are so many things to consider before you leave home.

Lived my whole life in Toronto noticed a steady decline over the last 20 years. Moved to Calgary 1 year ago, best move I have ever made.

Here in US average house mortgage is sh210,000 a month. Average income sh400,000 a month. Then you have bills and taxes. My niece who just came from Kenya last year on work visa is making sh13 million a year as an RN. That’s sh 1.1 million a month. I think she’ll be just fine! My advice, get a bachelors degree in Kenya , apply for masters program over here, graduate and apply for a work permit. Or get a two year nursing program (can even do online internationally), work in Kenya for 2-3 years, then come here through work visa. Or apply for green card and come with a work permit. People who suffer the most are undergraduates and visitor visa holders with no work permit. They work for minimum wage under the table.

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.

Hi Lynn. First of, I would like to say that I'm such a huge fan of yours. Since you started at Tuko and still following to date. You are an inspiration to me and so many people out there. I love and respect what you stand for and your work. I completely resonate with everything you are about. Second, I've lived in Canada for over 30 years now. I am Eritrean and was born in Kenya. Moved to Canada when I was about 9 and have lived here since with my family. I have to say that for us, Canada has been a God Send. It has helped us in so many ways, and we are so grateful for the opportunities and life it has given my family. From health care to schooling and job opportunities. We also cane here in 1989. So times and cost of living was very different than it is now. Of course, times have changed now, and the economy and standard of living have too. There are pros and cons to everywhere we live in the world. Everyone is different and has different experiences. There are various factors that may affect everyone's perspectives and experiences when they come to Canada, whether it was a long time ago or recently. Some factors could be, weather, economy, feeling lonely ( no family), language barriers, support...etc. Change is not easy at all and can affect t your whole emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Social life here is also not like it us back home...just alot of factors. People here work and work to make it. My mom brought us here as a single widowed mom. My sister and I were very young. But she was determined to give us a better life and worked her whole life, and it has paid off. It depends on how you look at everything and what your goal is. My mother was determined and made it happen and has raised us on her own very successfully. She loves Canada and appreciates it for everything it has done for us. Everyone's experiences are different. You have to do your research before coming and come with an open mind. Overall... Canada for us has been a blessing. \n\nI hope that helps somehow. But again, everyone's perspective and experiences are just as valid and rightfully so. \n\nI hope to meet you someday. Love you, Lynn, From Canada ?? ❤️

Most people have sold their souls to the devil in the name of living abroad esp canada, us, uk, austraila, germany etc. Let me tell you what they do, they go with visitors visa then go and surrender to government seeking asylum. They are told by their lawyers to say they are members of lgbtq and they are not accepted in africa. That way, cos wazungu wanapenda lgbtq people, they are given assylum. Isnt that selling ones soul?. My 24 years daughter had chance to go to canada and i would have afforded the agent and ticket but when we heard about the plans once she landed there, nilisema shidwe, i can NEVER SACRIFICE MY CHILD IN DEVILS ALTER FOR MONEY HOWEVER MUCH SHE WILL MAKE WHILE THERE. God made us born in Africa Kenya with a reason. He will prosper us here. Mimi siwezi omba God watoto and then i hand them over to devil for money, wacha ikae. Infact God honoured our faith and gave us a very good opportunity to make money here and shes doing better than some of those abroad. Heri kwa Mungu, hakuna hasara.

Same here in Montreal used to love this city still do but post C19 everything changed like everywhere housing crisis, politics, the cultural center it user to be changed maybe its just looking at it now at the start of my 30s compared to when i moved here from Europe and Central Africa at the start of my 20s. Met friends i have for life, got great professional opportunities lived in nice places great food in the city. Now everything is just super expensive now and i know toronto is must be ever crazier. Im considering moving back to France or Switzerland to be closer to my family and friends and also be close to Gabon easier to visit than here constantly taking 4 plains round trip everytime i go back home. After losing my father last year getting divorced 3 years ago i think my time here is done. 14yrs here i became an adult here had amazing experiences, became a canadian citizen but its just not the same anymore. Time for a new adventure somewhere else. We used to live well even back as a student on minimum wage, now with a better career good salary we’re struggling. Breaks my heart seeing this all over canada.

Most of the issues mentioned in the video are common in cities the size of Toronto elsewhere in the western world; I have family/friends all over and they have similar gripes about cities like London, Berlin and NYC. The precipitous decline in the last few years is indeed due to the fall out from COVID, both economy-wise and mental health-wise, and most countries in the world are still recovering from it. It's tough everywhere you look, but I do hope it's a temporary situation that will blow over sooner rather than later. Having said that, one thing that's probably worse in Toronto (and Vancouver) than most cities their size (I know that Toronto is much bigger, but Vancouver is a big city in its own right) is the housing situation, which had already been a problem before COVID in those two cities and it has only gotten worse since so it's now a real crisis that needs the municipal, provincial and federal governments to work together to address ASAP.

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.