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We didn’t keep up our infrastructure expansion at the same rate as our growth through immigration over the last few years. Jobs,hospital personal and bed space, schools, housing (affordable )etc are all overwhelmed and can’t cope with the higher numbers. Because of that our children and seniors are high risk for lower education and health care provision etc.

President Trudeau-I’m an American. We live paycheck to paycheck. We didn’t vote for Trump & the GOP. The Republican Party has been doing everything it can to destroy America & the hard working people that keep it running, for years. They’ve finally succeeded. It’s an evil party, filled with vile,malicious assholes. But even though we won’t be able to afford many more things anymore, I greatly admire & appreciate you & your country standing up to Trump. If only more of our own ppl would have done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Ohhh if it was her own child I’m sure she wouldn’t be saying that’s ok.., there are many like her out there. They get those papers and they think they work for the White House. If she would’ve visited Mexico and had a kid while visiting and didn’t have the money for a green card it would have been a completely different situation. For those just because you got your papers do you not think that there are people that came here as infants or kids to immigrant parents that came to work to provide for their kids it’s not that easy to get your green card it cost thousands of dollars. Many immigrants that I know and worked with including myself, I came here as a refugee. Immigrants are the hardest working people I know. Unfortunately a lot of the ones that came here as kids grew up in some neighborhoods that are not so great and mainly are kids that were born here that are in gangs or doing drugs or violent so don’t blame immigrants saying they bring all this with them it was already here … drugs gangs violence was already here. Gangs started in the White House with their red and blues. Then they say they are taking all the jobs.. the jobs have always been here but people that are citizens are too lazy to go get jobs or keep jobs ( not all citizens) but the ones that are complaining immigrants usually come from villages without any media or drugs or gangs ect. They simply come here for better opportunities or for jobs. They come to work not to freakin take your jobs… this country everyone is a damn immigrant this country was taken from the natives taken with violence by killing them , rapi!’ Them. And people sit here and say we are here to take back our country… ohhh please stfu!!!!! \nMajority of crimes were committed by our Americans but they look for immigrants and pin their crimes on them… Donald Duck is a damn immigrant he needs to stfu and go to sleep with his pu&@@@ grabbing tiny hands… shame on anyone that supports deportation..

I’m with my fellow Canadians, I’ll visit the US (although even then, it’s beginning to look less and less ideal) but over my dead body would I live there. \nThe fact you have become desensitized and don’t discuss school shootings is baffling. 4 or 5 years ago, there was a shooting where I live in Canada. The whole city was on lock down. I believe one elderly woman died, and 3 were injured. The person was caught, arrested, and is rotting away in jail. It hasn’t happened since. People still remember it. My little sister and I were scared, so we hid in my bedrooms closet. (It was on the second floor, and there was no way anybody could break in and get up there easily.)\n\nHealthcare is a huge issue. My family has a long line of health issues, and with that in mind, the risk is just to obscene.\n\nI am a woman. The fact that laws are being stripped away from us by old white men who have no idea what it is like to be a woman in the states is horrifying. \n\nGun culture. It’s near-on impossible or at least it’s incredibly difficult to get guns here. Owning guns isn’t respected. When people die from being shot, it’s remembered and spoken about, even years later. At least to me, it seems you care more for your Guns and the rights to own and use them, then Women who want to have bodily autonomy.\n\nYour political issues. I don’t even know what to say at this point beyond. The entire senate is rich old straight white men who like to make laws about groups they aren’t part of, and strip laws away from others. You basically have two polar opposite sides of the political spectrum and that alone, divides people so deep they can’t even be in the same room for more then 10 seconds.\n\n\nI’m Part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Enough said. \n\nI’m well aware that not everyone in the US is like this. But in my eyes, that’s more then enough to deter me. I’m glad you decided to take a look at this, and see our reactions to the questions. And I’m glad you didn’t take offence to the harsh or bitter answers. Sure Canada isn’t perfect, but it’s better in enough ways to keep me much preferring staying here.

America has fought HARD for centuries to achieve freedom. We’ve shed infinite amounts of blood for the rights we have. Freedom isn’t free. It takes centuries to get to that. People think it sucks to have to spend ten years becoming a legal citizen here, well count yourself lucky that you didn’t have to shed any blood, lose any family members, fight against an oppressive enemy for your rights, or lose your house in a battle for a free country. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, look up American history. Count how many battles were fought; how many wars; how many people died; how many Americans became POW’s on our own land during the Civil War. Look how hard it’s been. Look how hard it is now. We never stop fighting for what we want. Freedom takes work. America isn’t some island paradise. It never has been. We all live on the same earth. We all experience hardship. And there’s no amount of money, illegal border crossing, or anything else that can keep us from that harsh reality. In life we’re going to suffer. That’s just how it is. Stop thinking that illegally crossing a border is somehow going to solve all problems. It won’t. The grass isn’t greener on the other side just because. Bloodshed makes that grass green: Sacrifice. Hard, laborious work; and centuries of time.

Canada is what you make of it. You can arrive rich and end up poor and you can arrive poor and end up rich. In between that, you can have a great life that balances your needs. I’ve seen immigrants succeed simply because they see the opportunity in front of them . They worked hard in their own counties to stay just above the poverty line ,but when they apply that same effort here it pays off ten times greater. I feel that compared to a lot of immigrants, natural born Canadians come across as spoiled and a little lazy…we are. We haven’t had to struggle the same way someone from a poorer country might have. I’ve talked to people who’ve worked ten to twelve hours a day just to stay afloat. If you did that here you could make plenty of money to live and have some left over. As far as owning a house goes,yes it’s expensive . I feel that homeownership in any country is relatively expensive. Here is a tip; use that soaring home prices to your advantage. Houses are expensive but you can make a lot of money buying and selling. I recommend putting together a buyers group and share the house for a few years, then sell at a profit, buy a bigger house or two smaller houses.try to buy the worst house in the best neighbourhood and fix it up slowly . That house could double in value in five or six years in the Toronto market. This is nothing new of course ,the people from India and China seem to do this a lot here ,it drives up prices and profits. On the downside to this ,you are now part of the problem. As the housing prices are driven up the non wealthy can no longer afford to own a house . They are at the mercy of high rents with no rewards of ownership. They are caught in a cycle of hard work and (relative)poverty. This could also be you if you can’t keep up the house payments and are forced to rent.\nHow well you speak English is important but your native language is also useful here because Canada is half immigrants . As a Canadian that speaks only english (Irish descent)I have to say to all newcomers that I’m very impressed that you have learned a new language and that you may even speak more than two! Don’t be embarrassed about your abilities . I find that in my experience , Canadians do not look down on people just because they don’t know English. In fact ,I’ve known people that have lived here for decades and still know very little English. They are comfortable in their communities and they function just fine. Learn as much English as suits your needs and be proud of any gains you make.\nOutside of Toronto are other cities that you might consider when looking at southern Ontario.From my experience,most are generally the same, just not as big . There are large immigrant communities in London Ontario, Hamilton and just outside of Toronto where housing is just a little bit less expensive but the commute to work is probably longer. This is just my opinion but in the small towns there are less people of colour , (which is what people of no colour call everyone else . I wonder if I’m called a person of no colour in some other culture ? LoL ). That might make it harder for you to feel integrated ,if that’s what you want. I’m not saying that people from other cultures can’t make it in a small town , I’m just saying that it’s definitely not Toronto . Here, people of any nationality can feel like they have a place where they can belong . It seems that no matter where you are from ,there is a community already here that’s set up restaurants and stores and clothing shops and newcomer support systems. And if your from Portugal or China or India or Africa or the Middle East, there are large groups of your kin here that have established roots for generations and you probably know this already.\nToronto means meeting place and that becomes evident quickly. I was born here and it’s one of the things I love the most about my city. I’m not going to say that there isn’t systemic racism here ,the people of no colour still kind of keep the top position , but as we become a minority in a decade or so ,I hope that will shift to a broader spectrum. It’s certainly happening already. One good thing is that the police department tries to hire people of colour so that racialism may play a smaller role. We’re getting used to seeing our politicians more and more reflect their constituents.\nI have to talk about the weather. Because I’m from here I’m used to the extremes of minus thirty and plus thirty . Eventually you get used to it (somewhat). Dressing in the right clothes is important. Summer is easy , but winter is different. It’s trying to kill you. Spend the most that you can afford on winter cloths . If you can afford a quality parka you should get one. The hood can be drawn around the face and stay out of the wind.\nIf not ,think of layers with a outer layer that blocks the wind. We have things called long Johns that are basically full length thick cotton or nylon pants that go on under your pants and a pair of extra thick socks. Buy your boots to fit your thick socks. Try to get the best boots you can afford ,it’s something that you might spend a little extra for but never regret.\nAll in all we are a fairly organized and peaceful society. Most people are friendly and will give you a chance . We have a good social safety net here and you don’t have to be homeless or starving if you don’t want to. There are people and organizations set up to help ,that truly try to get people back on their feet. It’s a good investment that pays off in ways that matter for the quality of life in a big city. I’m not putting my American neighbours down when I say they do things differently. They have their ways ,we have ours. This is just something that we do because we’re trying to learn how to help those that society has discarded or can’t find their place. Sure we have one or two areas where the homeless have pitched tents and we have some resources for them if they want. Unfortunately The mayor recently forced a small camp to move from a very visible place to more scattered locations. There were social workers involved as well as protesters trying to protect them. I didn’t like that happening and I want to see even more resources dedicated to them ,but on the other hand ,we are trying to avoid something like what happens on the streets when it’s just ignored. When I see YouTube videos of the streets of Philadelphia I’m extremely saddened. I thank the lucky stars that I was born in Toronto Canada.\nFor all it’s pollution and expense and crowds ,I think it’s a great place to do almost anything your heart desires . For every ugly building there is a beautiful park ,for every honked horn there is a birds call , for every cold and dark day there is beautiful sunny one around the corner.

Of course theres racism here.\nOf course police act in terrible ways.\nOf course no one wants to talk about it... \n\nAnd no, its not as bad as it is in the states... but it exists.\nWe militarize our police.. mostly from fear.. but also because its “good politics” to say “we increased policing”\n\nNo, its not right.\n\nCall it out.\nNot sometimes..every time. Not if its your race being afflicted.. for any race. Every time.\n\nIt DOES take time... it will not happen overnight. Especially if we want it to not come BACK.. which it seems to.\n\nTeach your kids. To stand up for themselves.. and for others.\nEspecially for others. Education starts at home. Dont trust schools or others to do what’s right... not until YOU do it too.\n\nSmall, steady steps will get us there faster than huge, resisted ones.\nRemember that.\nWhen a small step is taken, doesnt matter by who.. support it. Make the ones who took it feel it was WORTH TAKING... then watch how eager they are to take the next one.\n\nTrain them like a dog. One step at a time, with constant “atta boy”’s and treats.. and one day, they will just do as they should.. because its right? Because they want the pat on the head?\nDoesnt matter why, so long as they keep taking steps.\n\nWhen they take a step and everyone complains “its not enough” or “you dont really care”... why would they do it again?\n\nReward those small steps.. pat em on the head.. and they WILL do it again.\nPunish those steps, by complaining about it, because it didn’t solve everything at once?\n\nConditions them not to bother trying.