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Hey there, you fine American... Just to let you understand, our system is FAR from perfect, but it's still easy access and quick service IF you don't need a rare specialist or a not so rare one). The thing is, it's ALL priority based, so if you wait, it's because someone needs your resources even MORE than you do. Sometimes, it ends up in a tragedy, but MOST times, it allows for the neediest to get it first. \nAs far as having children here, we have a NEGATIVE birthrate, so our government PAYS us to have children. My son grew up in Quebec, and they have a double everything. Double taxes (not that bad after the tax deductions and credits), but they also Double the safety net and services, compared to the rest of Canada. Not only was childbirth free, so were the pre-natal courses and everything else, AND we got around 1000$/mo in childcare benefits, until he turned 18, with full of tax credits per kid. Plus, daycare was 5$/day back then, it's 7$/day almost 20 years later.. Pretty citizen friendly. \nThings MIGHT be changing though. Our conservatives are taking their talking points from the US GOP since COVID, and they are all-in to please their Oil lobby overlords and donators out in our prairies region. The Alberta Premier is a far-right conspiracy nutcase and her new pet-project is Capitalist healthcare (among her trolley of lunacies). SAME place the far-right rednecks always come at us from. It's like they binge-watch FUX nonnews and get their ideas from the dumbest idiots there. Disgraceful Canadian MAGAt wannabes are the result of Trump polluting everything since 2016. He made shameless individuals get some traction in this new, crazy world we live in. And it infected the whole Western world. Canada is not immune to idiocies, Q , conspiracy nuggets, and belly-button Anarchists everywhere.\nSorry a bout this little rant, but things are getting steadily worst as the year goes on. \nAnyways, YOU give me a sense that what we SEE about Americans isn't all there is to see. Some of you are decent, so keep it up and don't let the ranting morons give your whole country a bad rep.

I’m currently living in Canada and have lived in the USA. I can safety say the health care system sucks. I had to take my wife to the hospital because of an eye infection, we had to wait for 8 hours to be seen, the doctor was arrogant and sent us out in 2 mins. We had to travel to USA to get treated. Some can say you don’t have health care completely in Canada, the housing is completely expensive here, govt artificially limits supply of housing and drives up housing cost, the pay is less in Canada compared to USA. The Canadian PM is bigger joker compared to other world leaders.

I am a 79 year old Canadian lived here all my life broke my femer in 2020 just when covid started they put a steel rod in it then my next act i fractured it again in march of 2023 back on my feet now thank god for our healthcare only had to pay 26 dollars for a cane over both surgeries knock it all you want but it still the best ?

@14:30. There are treatments or procedures that Canadian Provincial health systems do not cover, then you have to pay full price. Example is growth lumps growing on your head under the hair. In Ontario it is not a life saving issue, so it is out of pocket. In British Columbia it is covered by their plan, just have to see how long the waiting list is. My wife went threw this.

@10:55. Canadian system shows a better way?\nYou have not tired our system.\nA friend in Montreal Quebec almost lost his thumb in a workplace accident. He was in pain and the nurses would not give him any pain medication in the emergency waiting area, wait for the doctor. He called me at work and I took pain killers to him in the emergency room. He was in the emergency room for 14 hours before he saw a doctor, had to sleep upright overnight.\nIf any American favor's our universal medical system as it is so called free (comes from taxes we pay) come try it and see if you like it. Sit and wait for your service.

@9:00. There are Canadians that have the money, have private health care plans from the U,S.\nIf they have an issue and there is a backlog in their local availability, they go use their U.S. health coverage.\nThere was a lady in British Columbia who was confined to her home due to waiting for a hip operation.\nDue to the number of hours required for the operation, she was on a 2 year waiting list.\nIn Canada you can not pay for your own operation if it is covered by the state, no matter how much money you have, I guess you can go to the sates if you can afford it.\nIn Toronto I have not had a family doctor in 7 years, there are no openings. Is it like that in the USA?

Im Canadian and would prefer to be in America only if the political climate wasnt so crazy. Id miss our free health care but alot of our doctors are poor quality. The gun violence in the States sxares me too. Im sick of Canadian weather and the price of everything here, abd the low selection. I love our beautiful landscape...but the rain ruins it fir me. I prefer sunny skies, blue seas and palm trees. Ultimately theres stuff I like and dislike in both countries..but America seems better when it comes to getting ahead if you can get a good paying job...and...THE SUNSHINE ? It would be great to have dual citizenship..Im not sure if thats a thing anymore.

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 Canadian. I was born here, raised here, and have lived here all my life. However, my parents are American (they came during the Vietnam war), and I have full dual citizenship. I could cross the border into the U.S., get a job, start working and live there for the rest of my life if I ever chose to do so.\n\nHowever, I will never live in the U.S. Why? The cost of healthcare insurance and healthcare in general is definitely a part of that, but another huge factor is the socio-political atmosphere down there that is very unappealing to me. Everything from politics, the gun issue, much higher violence than we have in Canada, more racism issues, the media, and from what I have observed from decades of visits to the U.S.: there just seems to be a lot more people that are on edge and hostile than I am used to compared to Canada as well. For me, the general culture and mindset is just not something I want to live amongst.\n\nThere are some things I enjoy in the U.S., and there ARE wonderful people there too. I have several friends in the U.S. (born and raised), not to mention my entire extended family is American. But for me, the U.S. is a nice enough place to visit, but it's not somewhere I'd ever want to live.\n\nNo matter what kind of trip I take to the U.S., whenever I get back home to Canada it's always like a deep sigh of relief. I feel safer. I feel more relaxed. I feel at home. No matter how good my trip was, when I set foot back on Canadian soil again I always get a feeling of humble gratitude that I live here. For me, other than the warmer weather and some of the sights the U.S. has to offer, I'm much, much happier in Canada. I feel very fortunate to live here.\n\nAs a side note, I have never found our public healthcare system here in Canada to be lacking whatsoever. Any healthcare I, or anyone else I know that has received any, has always been prompt, of excellent quality, and reassuringly delivered in a professional manner.\n\nAs an example, in 1994, my father had a seizure and it was discovered that he had a benign brain tumour that had to be removed. Not even a week later, he was booked for his surgery and he had his procedure. He was operated on by one of the top two neurosurgeons in North America at the time, he spent three weeks in recovery at the hospital, and he had months of rehab afterward. About 2 weeks later, he had another seizure (the last one he ever had), he stayed in another hospital for an additional two weeks.\n\nHowever, all of what I just mentioned, and I mean ALL of it, was paid for by our public healthcare system. All he had to do was show his healthcare card and sign a release form for his surgery, and that was it. Nothing more. There were literally ZERO bills, no insurance companies, no paperwork, no phone calls, and ZERO hassle. Nothing.\n\nAnd no, our family was NOT rich or privileged either. Just an average middle class family. However, my dad's neurosurgeon told us his surgery and all the months of care he received afterward would have cost $180,000 (in 1994!), and our family would have been out on the street if it wasn't for our healthcare system. My dad also had a very minor heart attack in 2007 which didn't require surgery, and he didn't have to pay a dime or do anything else other than show his healthcare card for that either. Since those two events, my father has lived a healthy, normal life thanks to our public healthcare.\n\nIn Canada, EVERYONE receives that kind of care, regardless of if they are a billionaire or they are homeless. Because that's the moral and ethical thing to do, and is just one of the many reasons why I plan on staying here.

We pay for health care via 'Luxury Taxes'. If you don't need it, that's a luxury so it will be taxed high......like BOOZE and cigarettes. Doctors often send people for lab work, X-rays, or other tests. Patients would pay BIG for those services. I hear Canadians complain about waiting. They sound like Americans cursing cause they have to wait 5 minutes for a Big Mac. I got seen in 30 minutes. I got direct service from a SPECIALIST the day after. Surgery days later. ALL in a week! Where was my wait? When I was younger I lived in Fort Lauderdale, then 25 yrs ago I lived in north-west Dallas..... both times I moved back to Canada in less than 6 months.

there isnt free health care Its pre paid via the high taxes, The wait times for procedures can be 5 yrs. MRI prob 2 yr wait. US is this week, You dont get hearing vision teeth or cosmetic(warts etc) or medicine and you need a plan to cover them and most times a lot of medications are refused. People need to know LA is the 5th largest city of Canadians BTW, There are plenty private You pay Dr;s in Canada, or want a DR? you have to join a Co-op and that allows you access. Prescriptions are cheaper 700% cheaper for diabetic stuff, Antibiotics are 1000% cheaper.

Prior to the mid-1960s, health care in Canada was private, as in the USA. Couples could easily be bankrupted by the cost of the hospital birth of a child. Dental care was (and remains) very expensive; it isn't totally covered by the socialized medicine. Audio, optical, physiotherapy prescription medicine:all pretty much not covered by socialised medicine. Canada does not have a comprehensive medical system. However, it is possible to get medical attention from a General Practitioner without paying a co-pay. Consider, though, that a large number of Canadians cannot get medical attention at all because they have no family doctor simply because there aren't enough GPs to fulfill the country's needs. Have they all gone to practice private medicine in Florida?

they're all lying. i'd gladly pay my last 200$ of grocery money to go to the ER and avoid Canadian ER wait times ='D

The person who paid out of pocket in Toronto is likely because they are no longer a Canadian resident and doesn't pay taxes...therefore must pay for his own healthcare. It would be reinstated after a certain amount of time back LIVING in Canada, not visiting

Canadian government PAYS you to have children. So do most educated countried. Also, we pay you a monthly aloownence per child until they;re 18.

The United States is somewhat confusing to Canadians, as we are aware of the United States through interrogation of American media in Canada, with access to US TV channels and news networks. Yet we don't fully appreciate the differences until we live fulltime in the US and yup the it is significantly different in some distinct ways.\nWith that said we pay co-pay for doctor visits in Norway for the first 2000 kroner, which helps reduce abuse of the Norwegian healthcare system. After you pass the 2000 kroner, you get a free card for the rest of the year.

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.

Great, Canadians pay about 11% in taxes when the US pay 43%. No brainer !

I am very proud Canadian. I have never been able to visit the United States. I can never see myself moving to United States for many reasons. One reason. Your political system is a disaster currently. Plus for some reason. One of United States political parties are refusing to do something about daily mass shooting. Then you adding health care system that clearly favor the rich and middle class and poor will get second rate health care and paying out pocket. \nMaybe I go visit(with bulletproof vest of course) the United States. But to live there. No.

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.

I live on the border of Ontario and Michigan. Never lived there but visited on countless times for up to a month. I can't imagine living there with my health issues. I have multiple sclerosis, had 2 brain surgeries, shoulder and hip replacement and diabetic. No cost at all for my surgeries but as a Canadian I complain about paying for my insulin needles since they aren't covered

Our emergency rooms are always packed and a normal wait time is 6 to 12 hours. Often longer than that. Millions without a family doctor too. These things make it horrible. Ppl RANT about a possible co pay for your family doctor when in fact if you paid only $10 to $20 per visit to your doctor he or she could afford to employ a nurse practitioner for less severe cases, another person to fill out the many forms your doctor spends hours on, etc. I don't know why Canadians won't bend on SMALL changes. It would improve our top notch health care system even more.

?? Canadian here…. I had 4 children….never had to pay a cent for their births…. I love Canada ??

I think greed is the main reason for the problems in the USA. Canadian doctors don’t make the,only American doctors do. But the are very comfortable and happy. Big pharma gouges the America people. Not fair. You shouldn’t have to make a choice of paying groceries or brining your child to a doctor. Can that be the reason for their state of mind. They see the upper class living in huge beautiful homes and drive big luxury cars and they are stuck in their poor area. Not fair. Maybe things need to change at the top.

If you move out of Canada and become another country's resident, you lose your Canadian healthcare and would have to pay a fee when visiting a doctor or hospital.

Canadian birth charge $0. ... still have to pay for hospital parking.

well well .. i came to canada to study as a foreign student.. had to pay 3 times more tuition fee than Residential Canadian status people..and citizens.. ? \nfinancially .. poor but .. i could get into working which related \n\n\ninto what i studid.. 2 years later, could be a landed canadian residence.. \n\nthis documentary.. no more necessary to me.. cause .. not really for serious real foreign future citizen of smart younghoods… \n\ntheir choices..not that rational then\nbrain and harder worker?!? \nno wasting parents estates \n\nspoiled rotten bratts.. no dreaming in other world wasting parents

Couldn't pay me to live in Toronto.\n\nDon't come to Halifax either. Its face has changed drastically in the last 5 years.\n\nI've paid taxes my entire working life yet if I frequent a walk-in clinic, there may be 50 people ahead of me and 95% will be immigrants. Thanks, Turdeau, glad to see born-and-bred Canadians matter.\n\nI got on a bus one day a few months back. Out of a dozen people, I was the only white. Unheard of even two years ago. East Indians make up about 25% of our population in Halifax and outlying areas. Why are they here?\n\nHalifax has changed and it depresses me.\n\nCanada has been sold out by Turdeau and the like.

It's not just the immigrants, Canadians are really struggling. Their struggles are real too. They also have no doctor. My friend who had cancer now has no family doctor in her town, they have all left, so she has to drive almost an hour to a family doctor. \nMy son is paying 900 a month for a 1bedroom basement apartment. He's applied for 43 jobs, many NO REPLIES!! HE'S CANADIAN.

I am a South Sudanese Canadian who pretty much grew up in Kenya before travelling abroad. Life in Canada is not easy.. especially after Trudeau came to power.\nI make pretty good income in IT, but i pay like 30% in taxes...30% of my money is gone. I dont see it. I know others who pay more than me in taxes. The grocery is also high, as are the other bills. Rent is really high. In my city, an average house costs 800k. Even my cousins in the US are shocked at the prices of homes in Canada. My rent is much higher than the mortgages being paid by my cousins in the US. In places like Toronto or Vancouver, it is worse.\n\nI went back to Africa last time and saw so many opportunities, that i made my decision yo transition slowly back home. \n\nThe problem i find with most Africans is thinking of finding jobs in the government or private sector. If you are a Kenyan, or Ethiopian or South Sudanese, etc, think of creating jobs instead.\n\nThe opportunities for entrepreneurship in Africa are endless because alot of the problems in society have not yet been resolved. You dont have to have alot of capital to start farming for example. So many Africans have access to free ancestral lands that they can farm and make money from. But many want to spend time in the cities instead. A change of mindset is needed.

I have been in Canada for more than 20 years. The cost of living is very high. Housing in Toronto is very expensive, it is better in small towns.\n\nThe most important thing is to come here as a skilled worker. The Canadian immigration website has all the information. \n\nLife overall in Canada is not bad. The government really takes care of the people. Schools are free, and so is health care. The unemployment rate is very low. If you want to work, you will get a job.\n\nMy advice especially for those who are doing fairly well in their countries to stay. I think it is more suitable for young skilled people and those with young children. \n\nWe should also start paying taxes in our countries to develop infrastructure and start holding our governments accountable.\n\nThe young lady in the video is a bid overdramatic. She is earning more than the average worker. She should be managing fine except if she lives in expensive cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

He will just sit there do nothing..as tax payers,we pay for him to sit do nothing as Canadians have no place to live..why do we have a speaker anyway..?

Sister, most people run to Canada, no vocat skills, no money to pay the high rent,no Canadian work experience. You have to be prepared and have funds to keep you. Without a good vocational skill, things look dim.Use wisdom.

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

Trudeau is harboring drug peddlers and gangsters like Jagmeet NDP. Canadians have been conned with the separatists theory so criminals can get visas and residency in Canada. Canadians are paying a heavy price with drugs and gang wars in Canada.

When I came here in Canada 33 years ago, I went do in legal process,My first employer offered me a job offer to come here in Canada,I went to whole legal process here,but I obeyCanadian law to have legal working visa ,and since day one paying taxes ,i earn my hard work after 30 years and receive early pension and still work in a full time job, My advice to illegal migrants follow what Canadian laws and go through legal process and crossing the right border to pass Not to way try find asylum to be free in every thing, in tax payers money.

I live in Canada and the truth is ,working minimum wage jobs won’t make you rich unless you work 2 or 3 full time minimum wage jobs. Without the necessary skills and education you will struggle to get professional jobs that pay better. Canadian employers value Canadian education and Canadian work experience. It’s hard to get professional jobs . without that. A visitor visa does not allow you to work in Canada. Agents will give you visitors visa and leave you to hang dry without work permit.

I immigrated from Africa to the US then I made my way to Canada 20 years ago. Life has changed from the time we first moved here. Before with 5k Canadian dollars you would put down for a mortgage and get into the housing market. From 2015 when the Liberals came in power housing market has gone downhill for most even those earning middle class income. \n\nIf you desire to come make sure you have the right paper work. If you are coming as a foreign trained professional. You are okay. Otherwise, make sure you have immediate family willing to help you untill you get on your feet. DON'T COME as a visitor without family to ask for refugee status. You will suffer. Most of those stranded in Toronto are those seeking asylum and shelters are full with those who came from newyork when the borders where shut.\n\nOtherwise if you can pay your bills in Africa just stay there, atleast you have morals. Our elementary schools ? are terrible here with those LGB****%$# stuff pushed on children.

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.

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

Am a kenyan Canadian and living in canada is the best decision I have ever taken. Lot of kenyan are paying agencies to come to canada through visit permit. People should blame agencies who promise them jobs not canada government . When you come to canada through visit permit you need to change to work permit or study permit. Actually there are thousands of kenyan who have come through visit permit and they are claiming refugee status. Canadian Government is doing its part by giving all claimed refugees shelter and give the money for upkeep. When you have visit permit you can't work in canada but you can convert it to work permit which is not easy but an expensive process. You need to get a company that can process you lMIA that labour market Impact assessment . You need skills to get a company to apply you Lmia or uende China ya maji you pay Indians who have companies in kenya $30-$40 to apply for you lmia. Or you can convert your visit permit to study permit and universities here are damn expensive. Getting a Canadian to marry you for status is very hard. In short am trying to say if you do not come through work permit or landed immigrants life wil be tough use the money you are paying agencies to start something in your country. They are so many opportunities in canada if you have the right papers or status. As for me am a happy single mom who as accomplished alot here and I love canada .

Came to Canada from Israel 25 years ago. That time, in 1998 Canada GDP per capits was 33% higher than that in Israel. Two years ago Israel left Canada behind. It is shame for Canada to be poorer than the very small country without mineral resources and without a single day of peace since 1948. \n\nI blame Canadians for that. Canadians love Socialism, which means nothing more than re-distribution of incomes by the Socialist governments. Socialism brings no equity but equal misery. \n\nAlso, Canadians love to pay taxes and have expensive real estate which they plan to use as a source of income during retirement.\n\nCanadians most of the time vote for socialists like Trudeau. \n\nThis is why I do not recommend to settle in Canada. This country has no hope in my view.

Southern Ontario is ugly as F**k, I was born here and have seen all the woodlands marshes and especially small streams and creeks disappear over the past 50 years. You have to drive a fair distance north to find an appealing landscape even driving to Niagra falls is a big disappointment now that it has become a giant shi*hole of overcrowded tikky takky shops and motels.Everyone thinks Canada is this huge country with tons of beautiful spaces to live while in reality 75% of the country is uninhabitable for farming or houseing which is shown in the rates of low inhabitants living farther north. 90% of Canadians live within a 1 to 2 hour drive of the U.S border for a reason because there is very little livable places to live in Canada if you don't want to live like an Eskimo. There are vast amounts of places to visit in the north in the summer time but to visit not to live. That leads to the question of why is Canada incentivizing peoples from more tropical climates to immigrate to a nation that is frozen 6 or 7 months a year which i think can lead to a lot of immigrants dealing with depression, its hard enough for the people born here but thats never discussed for fear of imprisonment by the government The government had 2 choices to which way to go in this country, the first was to find a way to pay for all the older citizens through CPP and OAS payments in the next 25 years which ment higher taxes and less money for the elderly citizens and the 2nd was mass very mass immigration to pay for these programs and in doing so turned the country into a place where no one can find a doctor no one can find or afford a place to live,cities have become overcrowed because they were not given the time to adjust thier infrastrutures to deal with all the new people and voila you have a giant shithole of a country.

Canada is ripping people off by making them apply and pay for work visa, only to get there and say 'YOU DON'T HAVE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE'. That's a scam!

We love terrorists illegals and refugees come one come all and the hard working real Canadians will pay for all your needs cuz we’re so polite and a country of passivity.

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

I'm not Canadian, but giving government money to refugees is a horrible idea. Canada cant afford an increase in housing prices. They already pay more in taxes than what Americans pay. They shouldn't be burdened by these people.

It’s simple: if the institution has the word college in it- you are being screwed. Your degree is worth toilet paper in Canada’s working world. The only institutions worth going to that give you a real recognized degree have the word UNIVERSITY in it - and unless you come from a richer country than Canada you can’t afford those institutions. We Canadians pay off our student loans for a decade for our UNIVERSITY degrees not college degrees.

There was a subway owner near my school that was not paying their workers. Guess who the workers were. Now Im hearing the same thing is happeneing all over the country??\n\nIs the Canadian government (liberals) trying to build some sort of slave class??

Like you, I recently returned to Canada from living in Asia for years. I moved back to Vancouver, and the changes here were immense as well. Basically, the exact same issues Toronto is facing; unbelievably high prices, frayed social fabric, homelessness, crime. I had some pretty severe reverse culture shock coming from Seoul where you'd see none of this (Korea has its own unique issues though).\nI've decided to stick it out as my wife and I can make it work for now, but wouldn't recommend young Canadians, international students, TFWs or anyone who's trying to get a start on their professional life to come here. It's about as uninviting a place for your career as its ever been. Expect to live with two or three strangers in a one bedroom working at a job with low pay.\n\nIt sucks to see how far Canada has fallen. I never thought I'd see it in this state, but here we are.