Close Reading

Canada is awful. Since I moved here 1,5 years ago I’m just struggling with the depression all this time. There is no joy in this country, no feeling of safety. Crime is happening all the time. I don’t feel safe walking on the streets. My salary is low bcz no employer is willing to pay good money to an immigrant. I’m not able to afford a car but the public transport is just terrible! I can barely afford to split the rent with my partner. Barely can save any money. As an immigrant I will never be able to buy a property here. I lived and worked in another country and I was able to save so much money and have a great life, travel, buy food, have fun. Here I am not able to do this.

I came as an immigrant 25 years ago. I live in Vancouver and I'd say that social isolation is big problem here. Most of my neighbours first language is something other than English and most don't speak English at all, which makes it practically impossible to ever get to know each other in any meaningful way. The way it works out is that people then get into their own ethnic groupings and eventually their children will speak fluent English and then there is some integration. But that takes a whole generation. Canada is being swamped at the moment and just how it will all work out remains to be seen.

Well I will tell you that I am an immigrant with Canadian citizenship, I have been living in Canada for almost 12 years, and I have decided to leave Canada to live permanently in my home country Peru. The reasons why I will leave Canada are mainly the extremely high cost of life (the rent mainly) I have lived in Toronto for almost 7 years and until now I am renting rooms because it's the only space I can afford with my current salary. The other reason is the health care service, as the lady in the video mentioned, I have been in the waiting list for 2 years to see an specialist and until now nothing. I got used to the weather, the people, the snow, I have my own car but it's sucking me almost CAD$1000 per month among monthly payments, gasoline and insurance. While in Lima Peru the cost of life is almost a third part of what it's here. The food is cheap and the quality is high (everything is organic in Peru). I will keep my Canadian job and work remotely from Lima and I will live like a king¡¡¡¡¡, I miss the food, the beaches, the amazing social life and with my Canadian passport I will be able to travel anywhere in the world once a year ..... now that's what I call living the life .... I am so excited¡¡¡

Nice content, loved your English. As an immigrant myself and being Asian living in Canada, I literally didn’t have any big dreams when I decided to move to Canada. But only expectation I had was people would be more friendly, educated and so on, and I didn’t noticed that much about(i won’t like to call it racism) but the way local see and behave the other different countries people but now after living here for couple of years I can so easily see how the local treat you, behave you. That’s my biggest disappointment. It might be just my prospective or the phase that im going through and so on. But just wanted to share. Again i know I’m not the first or only person who felt it. And yes I know the local very closely too and how and why they feel that. Some of the immigrants aren’t respecting the rules, tradition or so on here. Well i guess it is what it is. \nJust wanted to share my experience. \nAnd I myself been thinking about leaving Canada for good too and I totally agree with your points. \nHopefully at least housing and rent goes down.

I was born in M.J. Sask, I will be leaving canada as soon as I get my nursing certificate. This is not just an immigrant issue.

When you planned to start a small business in Canada might be difficult nowadays. Especially as an immigrant.

These are all very valid points and unfortunately, most of these are the result of the inept government. As an immigrant from Indonesia who has been in Toronto for over 30 years, it wasn't always like this. I hope Canada can return to the way it was eventually.

Don't deceive Africans to move to Canada Infact they should acquire some funds to start a business or study to go back to Africa and move back to Africa entirely. Fix your countries in Africa stay there US and Canada ain't gravy more many African Americans are moving back To Africa as a matter off fact. In Canada u will be stuck in doing cheap labour jobs with your higher education if not security to look after your children and family in Africa. U are not a full citizen in Canada just a citizen in application and benefits but still told u are an immigrant why not go back to Africa. Houses are expensive in Canada and your children ends up growing up in a social system that is systematic racist.the Aboriginal Indians are a majority on drugs, alchahol and in jails now many Africans caught up in the lie to the melting pot u talk off in the US and Canada. Africa has everything if u have a chance to leave Canada and US with some sort off education and some monies to start something in Africa u better off despite the ongoing Tribal and religious violence u need to monitor.

Stop complaining about a place where you lived only as many days as it could qualify as a holiday. Canada did not invite you, it was your choice to come to Canada. It ridicules me that you were inconvenienced with DIY chores but not pleased enough by the free education, quality of environment, quality of life, social value system and lack of corruption. It was clearly your first time living out of India. Life is hard as an immigrant in every foreign country, it is ultimately a personal decision to endure that hardship vs the hardships of living in India. It’s not a bed of roses surviving in India either.

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.

Good. Look as a product of an immigrant father myself, we simply can't afford to take care of the Canadians we have, never mind all these people who come to Canada with no jobs, no housing, no money, possibly no ability to speak English or French. Like it or not, our taxes are going up and our services are going down. The government is focused on GDP numbers as opposed to GDP per capita, which essentially means while our production numbers are artificially enhanced the quality of life per person is rapidly declining. We're talking about flooding Ontario with 500,000 new immigrants, God knows how many Indian paypigs... I mean students for colleges and universities, as our government is giving tax breaks to Atlantic Canadians and torturing everyone else for going greener with natural gas. We're living in a country where it is very possible to hold down multiple jobs and still be homeless in 2024 and we're talking about more immigrants? We can't afford the people we have now and we're talking about bringing in more? Who's building the homes for these people? The last couple million of immigrants who were supposed to build homes didn't build anything so now we're bring in more to build homes for the last couple million who were supposed to build homes plus Canadians who has been here for more than a July on a sidewalk.

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.

As an immigrant living in Canada for 22 years I regret stepping in to this country \n This country needs immigrants to use them as modern day slavery not the growing population with young people \n For example when you injured at work you get robbed by Wcb of bc \nNone of us the immigrants knows their right therefore the Wcb of bc officials cheating us just like myself \n I hated myself coming this cowards land

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 ❣️

As an immigrant myself living in Canada for 11 years, I had challenges going to school but I overcome and graduated. Some immigrants, specifically the middle age would love have easier path which is not always available. Housing is the biggest challenge to a new immigrants to Canada, because the little money ? you make goes to renting and car insurance, still I'm not moving from AB. I love the summer camping ? to Banff ?

As an immigrant, Canada is only be treated as bypass country. It doesn’t worth to settle in Canada in overpriced housing market and live house-poor. Rather, get Canadian Citizenship and move to USA on TN visa. Canada as bypass country makes more sense.

That person who says they're an ethnic minority, They clearly aren't an actual Canadian, sounds like an immigrant who just bounces around places. They probably had to pay out of pocket in Canada due to whatever program they were using to work here. As for making more in the USA, i'm unsure what the ratio is, but obviously lots of immigrants come to the USA, like Canada, where they just get free housing, a free job, free education then they leave the country after getting all the free treatment.

My father lived in California in the sixties . He was a refugee from the war , an orphan , shipped to Canada as a child . The USA sent him a draft card during the vietnam war . He said nope I'm not going , I'm a landed immigrant in Canada, he left back to Canada. Glad he had me here in the great white north. My mother's people are from here .

I live in Toronto and I am not rich. I am regular person. \nIf you are an immigrant and especially if you are considered from visible minority group aka not white, DO NOT leave Toronto at all ! Work hard and make it work for you. I am sure the majority people from your coutires in Canada are located in Toronto and its close cities. If you chose to live outside this multicultural heaven called Toronto then expect to deal with deep racism. Yes people in Canada are rasicst althogh it is not openly like USA.\nIf you are into education and you want to do your degree, move to Montreal. Tuition fees in Montreal are way more cheaper than in Toronto or other parts of Canada. I lived in Montreal before and I went to university there. Montreal is great for education, aba rent are cheaper than Toronto but not for living there if you are visible immigrant. You will never feel you belong down there. Where as in Toronto, you will feel you belong to it within 30 mins max of you arruval. Toronto's motto are : you belong here and we have been waiting for you.\n62%of people in Toronto weren't born in Canada. You will find your community from your country in Toronto and the people are well established. I have been in different cities in Canada and I always felt stranger, even cities as close as ashawa.\nIn conclusion I would say to the visible minority immigrants stay in Toronto as much as you can for work and if you want to study in university go to Montreal. There are two major English universities in Montreal :Concordia university and McGill university, where McGill is one of top 10 university in the world.\n\nFor you Alina, I understand what you are saying and you can go somewhere in Canada and try it out with no racial or inclusiveness issues. Good luck and I hope you will come back to us again one day and I am sure you will. You belong here and we will be expecting you to come. No matter what enjoy your life wherever you are, darling.

When you think about why a country would keep its doors open to immigration, you can kind of picture the life as an immigrant in that country. Though Canada is not a coutry that's been around for a year or two, population still at only around 38 million, they still need a lot of labor force and tax payers to further develop as a country and maintain the current level of welfare I assume. As everything is give and take in life, what you look for in immigration is well matched with what you can offer as an immigrant, everything works out fine. If you want leisure and take advantage of their civilization only, however, you either need to have enough wealth to cover or contributed to the society so much that you deserve a life of those that have already contributed building that country to the level that it is at. I think that only makes sense.

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!

Have you seen the ones (refugees) being bussed around New York and other US states? If you come in the right way (to any Western country, Canada or otherwise) your assimilation will be much smoother. Moving to a new country (or even city for that matter) is always riddled with challenges, not just financial, also social, technological etc. As an East African immigrant to Canada, I meet a lot of newer immigrants with over ambitious and dreamy expectations, most having entered the wrong way!

Thank you for such a great video. Living in Canada, as an immigrant I’ve seen struggles, but thinking about the generations who came with no help, suffered a lot. I love my ?? India and Happily living in ?? Canada.

As a African living in Canada, l can only say that life is hard everywhere however, there has been an influx of Africans coming here as visitors and then claiming refugee status. The system is overwhelmed and these people, if they have no money or familial support, will end on streets. Secondly, most immigrant go Toronto, they do not consider other provinces where resources are not as strained hence the homeless situation. Be smart, do your research and consider other regions, NWT, Nova Scotia, Saskachewan etc. Ontario is flooded!!

I watched a similar video some time ago but it was a lady and she made the comparison and she left Australia to Canada, after nearly more than 20 minutes, she states that she could not get the permanent residency in Australia and applied to Canada and got it, so after wasting more than 20 minutes listening to her, she decided to leave Australia to Canada, what a dumb stupid person. That lady did not decide, the decision was made for her. I will not watch this video so not to fall into this trap, people make these videos to get the views and ratings. I will not watch it at all, it is better that you left Australia. Australia wants smart people, as I was an immigrant and now a proud Australian.

That’s so sad about Canada. Somebody derailed this country. As an immigrant I feel so bad because for years I was advocating Canada as a best country on this planet. Now, still living in the moist beautiful place in Canada in The Rockies…I am very proud I am immigrant because if things go the way they go now I can always escape to my mother land… thank you Justin ?

I am an immigrant from South Africa here in Edmonton since June of 2023. What the brother is saying is true. Canadians make no room for the human element in the workplace/environment. Everything is based on productivity at the expense of your humanity. They also treat workers as very expendable and disposable. The fact that they import so many foreign workers to do certain jobs is perhaps a reason why born Canadians no longer want to put up with the exploitation (I don't know if this is the true reason though).\n\nCanada is very convenient, and public services and infrastructure are amazing compared with South Africa. But the rest of the culture is very sterile. Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and Ice Hockey are considered cultural identities. Maybe the older generations had a distinctive culture, but most Canadians of today's are only interested in consumerism and the car lifestyle. If you are looking for people with warmth and depth, you will most likely find it with fellow immigrants (and maybe the poor and marginalized communities of Canada).\n\nCanada is a very safe country, and South Africa may not be worth it for me to return to. But the strongest element I thought for coming to Canada was that people here appreciated life and each other. This is not true. Canada is 'stable and happy' because the people are intoxicated by the comfort that material wealth provides the individual (despite all their complaints and problems, most Canadians still lead very comfortable and easy lives). Take away their comfort and materialism, and they won't know who they are. They won't know how to stand together either since they have been so strongly conditioned to live for themselves as individuals.\n\nCanadians are known for their politeness and friendliness, and this is true. But there is a big difference between politeness and kindness (and being genuine). Canadians are not kind.\n\nMy opinion is obviously limited and biased. I am sure there are wonderful and pleasant exceptions. But I will still limit these as exceptions. \n\nThink hard before choosing Canada (and perhaps also the USA). Unless you have a strong community to support you here, it will be a lonely and alienating experience.

This is an interesting overview of Canada and its many issues. I would love to see a follow up video or two looking into these same issues but from a few different perspectives. 1) regionally - Canada is very diverse so our regions are quite different in culture, problems and cause of each. The major regions are: Maritimes/Ontario/Quebec/Prairies/West Coast/ Territories. 2) because of our diverse landscape different races are attracted to different areas. I have not studied this impact on our racism and political issues but would love to see someone like you do so. It appears to me that immigrants are disproportionately gathered along the US/Canada border and big cities, particularly east and west coast. First Nations are disproportionately populated in Rural and northern areas where resources overall are less available to all races. I would expect to find that this population disbursement would also reflect in our political leadership. For example more populated cities are far more likely to have immigrant own businesses and politicians, In rural and northern communities politicians are more likely to be white because First Nations politicians would be more inclined to work within the First Nations political channels where they can actually do more good for their communities. 3) The diversity that makes up 'white' as a race. It appears to me that Canada historically has been more inclined to attract 'White' races versus other 'colours'. We have large populations of British, Swedish, Irish, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Norwegian, and Polish to name a few. All of which have large diversity in their culture and history but are often classified as 'white'. 4) The massive impact the past 5 + years of politics and world affairs have had on the divisions within Canada. Personally I see and feel far, far more judgements between races, economics and regions than ever before.

If you are a farmer or construction worker... or if you have any pre-existing health issue.. you have near zero chance of being accepted as an immigrant in Canada...

As a second generation Nigerian immigrant (parents were born in Nigeria and I was born in the US). I 100% agree w/ his perspective. I’ve spent consider amount of time in Nigeria w/ my side of the family that’s doing well and the other side that aren’t. Aboard should only be for people who have no opportunity back home as in they have tried everything and nothing worked for them. If you are doing well in Nigeria, try and give birth to your kids in the US so they can retrieve citizenship. There is no reason a successful person back home should sell their things and move aboard even for kids as you can send them aboard to receive an education and help them gain citizenship and from their they can file for you. The amount of systemic racism, odd jobs you will have to work (God forbid you don’t have a degree and you move aboard for non degree purposes that’s when aboard will show you pepper), cost of surviving is expense here especially now as inflation is high. It’s just not benefiting especially if you were better off in Nigeria. However, this shouldn’t stop you from coming just know that the road isn’t easy and some places are worse than others. I’ve never been to Canada but have been to the UK and by far would advice anyone from back home to avoid UK at all cost. Not even sure how Nigerians are even making it there lol (it’s a never ending cycle of poverty plus citizenship is very difficult to gain and the discrimination in my opinion is much worse than the US. UK society has a class system and it only really empowers British people. The UK is so bad that they even discriminate against Eastern Europeans that should let you know a lot.) Also why do you think most Brits Nigerians come back to Naija hoping to secure job compared to American Nigerians and let me tell you it’s not because the UK is close to Nigeria, there is a true lack of opportunity. There are more opportunity in the US and possibly Canada compared to the Europe.

I migrated to Canada in 2000 and moved in to United States after 3 years. Employment discrimination had pushed me out big time. Its funny that all employers were asking Canadian experience during job interview for a just landed immigrant. That’s big bull shit of stupid canadian employer. I’m a civil engineer from the Philippines and can not swallow the pride of being an order picker from canadian tire distribution center in toronto. I abandoned immigrant status, moved in to Texas, USA and currently working as project manager in the oil and gas sector. Thanks America for fulfilling my american dream together with my family. Nk plan to look back to Canada.

Hmm I wonder why difficult technical jobs are relatively low paying in Canada. Oh right because you're in competition with the entire world, not just other Canadian citizens born and raised in Canada. Canada is effective subsidized the whole world and artificially lowering their own employment standards. As sad as it sounds, there will always be someone talented from a developing nation willing to do your very difficult job which you studied years to be able to do, for barely above the cost of living, because this is still better than their career and life trajectory in their own nation. How many big tech firms in the US have fired thousands of US employees in austerity moves, only then to apply for H1B visa a week later. Why educate, train, employ, and pay fairly American workers, when you can find an immigrant willing to do it for half the price. I'm pro immigration and even pro high special immigration, but the cutoff for H1B visa salaries should be 50% higher than prevailing wages in similar roles. If this position is so specialized and in demand that there simply aren't enough native populations available to do it and schools simply aren't training it, then supply and demand homie, go pay for it. Oil, gas, and petroleum engineering is a great example of this - the US barely teaches this anymore despite there being demand, so we have to hire foreign nationals. Engineering and medicine are examples of oligarchs finding ways to extract the most capital by exploiting people as much as possible. Why pay a reasonable wage for really difficult jobs, when you can find a foreigner willing to do it for barely enough to cover groceries and rent.

This Canadian lived in Orange County CA for 10 years. I took my the 12 year old with me. I had been offered my dream job and was paid enough to have a good standard of living. However, I lived in an immigrant community to save money as I found many of the high schools were horrid compared to Canada. I had not realized the school to school inequality to be so extreme and my kid changed to independent study at home. So with a Canadian elememtary education, they graduated high school a year only while skipping no courses..\n\nMy kid had medical issues and even with good HMO insurance, we could never get a decent diagnosis until it had gotten so bad that their digestive system was so wrecked. I finally sent them back to Canada for the surgery that we could not get in the USA. It seemed the insurance companies kept getting in the way. And in one case a doctor went all religious on us. After 6 years of almost continuous pain they finally got relief for a decade until the prior damage came back to haunt them However, after a year of university ib Canada my kid went to a private university in the eastern USA. They have decided to remain in the USA and now in their mid 30s, they make really good money anf have top line medical insurance which pays for the ongoing care they need because of the damage caused by delays when a teenager. \n\nI found life in the suburbs of Orange County nice but the OC is not a good place to meet people. When after 10 years there, in 2010 I returned to Vancouver to care for my elderly mother. I had been living alone for 6 years by then and was offered the first job in Vancouver anything close to me dream job there. and I returned to Canada at age 59. I had been approved for a green card in 2008 but there was a 6 year wait for it to come through. But I noticed the racism in the USA start breaking out all over the place when Obama got elected. And it has gotten worse and worse every year. Especially with 45 enabling it so much. \n\nMy circle of friends in Southern California are mainly good people and not at all like what we call MAGA-hats now. Except one who thinks 45 was the greatest. Politically, the USA is on the path that Germany was on in 1933 and I fear for the US Democracy if the Orange One gets in again. Even my kid and their spouse have bug out plans to head to Canada just in case. This is why my kid, while having a green card has never taken US citizenship. Besides, being a Canadian has not affected things the two times they got security clearances \n\nWhile most Americans are good people, it seems that about 25% have gone just plain loco and care nothing about democracy. And appear to prefer the USA to be a totalitarian theocracy \n\nI was there long enough, paying the maximum FICA taxes for 10 years to get a small pension from Social Security and I have Medicare Part A. I can afford to buy parts B and D but I see no reason. I have even better coverage in Canada for way less cost. The USA has a nice warm climate in many places and I just loved that. But otherwise y'all have too many people who want to turn the place into an intolerant police state and to return the country to 1950s levels of intolerance, So in my retirement, I will stay here in Canada. Even though I could go and move in with my kid in the USA and get onto US Medicare.

Im an immigrant here in Canada for 12 years now, but me and my family are happy and we have saved money for the future im so sad it doesn't work for you. Everyone has different experiences, I love my tropical country but I feel safer and contented in Canada anyway im living and working in Edmonton as a red seal welder and grateful for this country for paying me 65 dollars an hour which very impossible to get if im living in my country. My Two boys work as Barbers at their own shop and the youngest is a Nurse... I hope it will work for you two ladies also. Thank you and GoD Bless You ALL!!!

As an immigrant to the US, you summed up the issue very nicely. Another thing I noticed is that people who cannot get an h1b visa sometimes would go to Canada, get a Canadian passport to secure an insurance, and then come look for a job on TN visa or EB1 visa in the US. As an immigrant who comes to the US on a EB3 visa, I really hope that the US can prioritize employment based visas instead of family based or even illegals immigrants for the future of the country. One thing that makes a lotta EB immigrants scratch our heads is that why would the US government put all their efforts in taking in illegal immigrants and grant them a safe path to citizenship instead of taking care of the ones coming in legally first. Not to say the other group isn’t important, but it’s a weird way to prioritize things.

I am a Canadian immigrant myself.. was forced to voluntarily leave the country after 20+ years of living and working there.. it's a well known fact that Canada is taking in almost an un capped number people that can't make it to the US or other countries.. the numbers are high and nowhere near sustainable for the economy to support so many. It's common for us H1B workers to migrate to Canada permanently and their employers normally move their US Jobs to Canada as well, with a lower pay and pushing healthcare and retirement costs over to the Canadian system while doing so.. just make a trip to Canada to see for yourself what this has done to Canada.. unaffordable housing, salaries that don't cover the cost of living, a healthcare, retirement and education system that is on the brink of collapse, widespread homelessness and fentanyl abuse, just a destruction of society and the nation overall.

One thing I would like to note is that Canada is not welcoming in only highly skilled workers. If you can work at a Tim Horton's you qualify. This has lead to a flood of new workers who HAVE to have a job in order to stay at a time where the existing labour pool is refusing work due to pay lagging far behind inflation for two decades. Those salaries discrepancies you listed are not exclusive to the tech sector, they are economy wide. Often you'll here talk of a labour shortage in Canada, but ask for the number of applicants to jobs and you quickly find out the reason no one accepted is because the full-time job offered requires a part-time job to barely make ends meet. \n\nAnother factor is that housing happens to be the bread and butter of ~40% of our MP's. Hell our Minister of Housing himself owns properties that have appreciated massively due to the lack of supply and high demand. He then goes on national TV and says high immigration will solve the housing crisis despite Canada already having over 4% of our entire labour force already in the construction industries (America is a little over 3%) and the men and women who build our houses being unable to afford the homes they build ($22.07/hr CAD average or ~$16.66 USD. compared to $22.29/hr USD). 14% of our national GDP is housing. 14% of our entire economy is just money changing hands internally with nothing of value made. \n\nThen you have the combo of landlords benefiting from the immigration programs who try and evict the tenants on their properties to replace them with immigrant labour. They then take the cost of rent right out of their salaries. The workers can't quit their jobs because if they don't have a job they are at risk of being deported and also loosing their homes so they end up shacking 8 to an apartment to try and make ends meet. This becomes the standard the rest of the economy has to meet. \n\nIt is a rare sight to see someone who is anti-immigrant in Canada, but the majority of people here understand that immigration is a problem the way it is currently run. You have people who come here hoping for a new life being forced to sleep outside under bridges because while they may have a job they don't have a home and the shelters are already 200% capacity. Tent cities are the norm in any major urban centre now. There are crack dens in Toronto that are the same price as Castles in the UK. And this problem is only going to get worse.

Diversity and minorities acceptance is relatively better in Canada. As an immigrant, the US would have been a big yes had it been thr 1990s but sadly, the perception to US changed drastically after then and would not want to live in the US even if given a job offer in Boston ( a beautiful city i fell in love with). Just because of what is happening on the political scene. If I need to leave Canada, it would be for Europe where work/life balance, public transit and culture of enjoying life prevails. American corporate culture is depressing.

First, I want to thank you for making this video. The health of a country, or the health of an individual which are clearly linked, is dependent on our ability to see ourselves and each other, and make necessary changes to improve in the areas that we lack personally, and as communities in our beautiful country of Canada and other countries as well. Well, it’s a work in progress. I appreciate how you’ve inspired us to speak about things that aren’t necessarily spoken about. At least not where I live and have lived in Canada. Thank you so much for that opportunity. It doesn’t matter about my opinion. What matters is sharing our own thoughts, feelings, and experiences because they aren’t debatable. \n\nWe are in violation of Multiple Human Rights violations against Inuit , Indigenous and Métis people by the United Nations. Most have no water to drink—not even boiled water and bottled water is available sometimes when it’s brought to reservations . Children don’t have the same access to books. So many thousands of bodies of children taken to residential schools from their parents arms and community for over 160 years yet the deep wounds aren’t given compassion by most people anymore and systemic abuse actively impacts them and therefore all of Us . We are all one whether we see people as other’ or not. We’re humans. \n They’re not seen in media unless it’s a bad story yet we’re only now teaching one mandatory class by non indigenous people. Solution: elders teach their grandchildren languages that weren’t erased by genocide and environmental /spiritual cultural practices and lifestyles before they’re gone by paying first people elders and streaming it into all Canadian classrooms so the children can see a future where they’re valued and all Canadian kids can get a full education and learn accurate history. Making canoes, baskets, sacred ceremonies, food growing (that they taught to pilgrims so they’d survive here), etc. No, I’m not indigenous. I’m an immigrant like all but the first people. They’ve an amazing culture that’s been all but lost . When we don’t see ourselves represented in any media, any careers, and start our lives in extended poverty based on our race, and all that was taken still today, it’s no wonder the teen suicide rate for indigenous youth is more than double / triple all non - indigenous youth. The numbers are growing. \nI live in Care due to my physical disabilities . An international nursing student worked for me providing personal care like showers, meal prep etc and over that year, she said she wouldn’t have moved here specifically because of a few things I’ve mentioned. She told me Canada was sold to people in her country of origin as a ‘multicultural’ safe haven without extreme racism still prevalent today and within our history. \n\nI’m ashamed of Canadian government promises for over 100 years that aren’t fulfilled. All children deserve healthy drinking Water and an education. Period. Especially, the ambassadors of this amazing land that they see as themselves without separation. That’s accurate. We will have nothing to stand upon if we don’t protect the earth. It will go on without us. \n\nI see many things in the comments I’ve seen or experienced, unfortunately. This is a beautiful country for so many reasons. It’s important that from such abundance we listen to your video, look at ourselves honestly and i feel, be the change we want to see in the world like Gandhi said.\n\nMuch love and healing from an All inclusive advocate. All life matters.

Why dont you just put the dope dispensaries all in 1 location? Then theyll go there and not be laying around everywhere. Also where do you think you will go if you are leaving canada over systemic racism ? Especially in light of the fact 1 in 4 is an immigrant ? Couldnt they just not let imigrants in in the first place if theyre racist ? Seems to me canada suffers from the same stupid woke ideaology as America. Where every shortcoming and failure is blamed on racism . Socialized medicine in canada sucks , good to know . You keep about half of what you make because of taxes. English being not strong preventing you from getting a job may play a part in the perception of dystemic racism and the 1/4 being imigrants . Just to point out the obvious . It seems to me the best thing canada can do is make it mandatory to speak fluent english before you imigrate . Also maybe test those imigrants for illegal drugs , and relocating the homeless junkies to a centralized location. Limit dispensation of narcotics to only gov. fascilities , and create incentives for dr.s to stay in Canada.

Wow! That was wild. Here in San Ysidro everything was calm and actually civil. People waited their turn. I live nearby so I saw it with my own eyes. People at las Americas outlet would pass by food to them and the officers gave them the food. I was an immigrant 35 years ago I am now a us citizens and although I love the USA, I will always remember the struggles I had to go through. The hunger, the injustice, the reject and the cultural assimilation, learning a new language, and work work work until I couldn’t no more. All those efforts paid off and I believe EVERYONE has a right to have a better life. I have family members in Canada and Europe who are also immigrants and also go through these struggles. If they don’t make it to the USA, I hope the Mexican government takes advantage of this immigration influx, after all, the USA is great because of us. It’s time other countries take advantage and advance as well ??

As an immigrant to Canada who's built a successful business here, I do feel the urge to defend Canada when I see these sorts of videos.\n\nThings are hard right now - inflation is really crippling and I don't know how the housing prices are still holding up despite rising interest rates. I also agree the red tape is absolutely bonkers.\n\nThe country needs to develop more of a pro-business mentality. Everywhere I look, people are complaining about not having a good job but no one wants to put up their hand to start a business to create those jobs.\n\nBut, man, is it beautiful living in the Rocky Mountains. It's a peaceful, open-minded nation and the day I finally get my citizenship will be a very proud day for me.

I would add that because of the lack of investment in businesses and an open immigration policy while over-prioritizing Canadian only experience there is a huge underemployment problem especially amongst highly skilled and experienced immigrants who would mainly wait to get the Canadian passport and move down south to the US where evaluations of international experience is more objective. Lots of low to medium skilled jobs. Dear Canada, I say this as an immigrant, if you don’t have enough high skilled jobs don’t open your borders or make it clear you want low skilled immigrants. That said, Canada is great country with minimal crime and is fairly equal. Problem is, it’s hard to get out of the rat race here.

As an immigrant in Canada I would never reinvest the money I get here. I rather put it into US stocks or buy property outside the country. It’s impossible buy here and don’t be fooled it’s not because of immigration but lack of new housing and building permits.

As an Immigrant who came to Canada Roxham road was the wrong way to come to Canada, It's about time to close that border. I came here to Canada in the 80s from the US, and I drove here in my car through the border In Detroit and Windsor.

Hi there gal we don’t say guys, it’s sexist!\n\n \n\nInteresting take on your move to the great white north.\n\nI can imagine coming from Russia to Canada was a shock.\n\nYou have pointed out so many things that are so normal in the west.\n\nAs I have never lived in Russia, I have no idea what it must be like there.\n\nJudging by your reaction to your observations of Canada Russia must be so\n\nmuch easier place to live..?\n\nYour comments on homeless, work-market, tax system etc. gives me the impression that\n\nthe Russian system must be so much better…?\n\nFrom my experience from living in numerous western countries, I regard Canada as average.\n\nThe UK and the USA are awful places to live. Although this is not the case if you have money, same as anywhere else. The same can be said if you are poor life is an awful struggle.\n\nWell except in Russia…?\n\n \n\nI have stayed in Canada on numerous occasions and I have never experienced any real cultural clashes.\n\nWell some of the newer Canadians seem to think that if anything goes against them it’s discrimination. Moreover, some of the newer Canadians are very racist towards the more established immigrants i.e. who have been living there for more generations.\n\nThe fact that some companies have “white” non-immigrant boards is reflection on the competence factor. I have experienced companies that have employed new Canadians with non-western backgrounds that are totally disasters because they have no idea about the work culture, language, way of treating staff etc.\n\nI think that you YT page is like a lesson about how immigrants from non-western countries perceive and misinterpret the west’s work culture, society and culture.\nHave experienced some new immigrant bosses who are so elitist and discriminating i resigned. Wrote review about the company on LINKEDIN.\n\n\nDon’t expect that there is any discrimination in Russia…?

In North America, almost everyone was an immigrant at one time. Canada is the second biggest country in the world with a small population. we have huge amounts of resources in everything, If we had America's population, we would be the richest country in the world. As long as people come to work and not sit on welfare, the more the better.

Well honestly it’s was quebec or Alabama soooo? but i really agree as an African immigrant in canada

Well the governments of Canada have made it illegal for us to express our views. As a white English Canadian I don't think most of us hate people because they came from abroad. If people came to Canada and actually became Canadians I don't think 90% of people have an issue with that. The problem is people are coming here and are not assimilating. Especially the people from Asian and African nations. But this is not surprising to me because their culture is so different from ours. I would prefer immigrants came from northern Europe especially the British Isles and France due to having a shared history, values, and culture similar to Canada. \n\nThe other issue is mass immigration mostly only benefits wealthy people because they get cheap labour. People coming from countries with a much lower standard of living are used to earning less and living with less so they depress wages for working people here. The so called skilled immigrants that our government tells us will solve all of our nations problems are not. No one recognizes their skills here so they end up taking jobs away from other Canadians. \n\nI think Canada's solution would be to stop relying on foreigners and invest in Canadian people. I would cut immigration levels by 75%. I would limit immigrant applicants to make up only 5% from one country. Also we should only allow Canadian citizens to own property. Dual citizenship should be eliminated. You should only be loyal to Canada. \n\nThe government should also stop spending money on Black lives Matter, criminals, drug addicts, and other socialist non-sense. Government spending and taxes should be cut in half and free enterprise should be encouraged. We should be using money towards infrastructure and education. We should be training Canadians to become engineers, doctors, and skilled tradesmen. I would rather invest in our own people that try to accommodate foreigners.

I’m immigrant as well and have been living in Canada for about 3 yrs and I agree with all the things you said. The cost of living is so crazy especially in Vancouver. The weather is gloomy and you only can enjoy life during summer. The inflation has been an issue recently and the rent is ridiculously high. Hopefully it gets better in some levels like rent, work-life balance or cost of living