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My sister grew up in Toronto with her Mom while I was with our dad about an hour outside of the GTA. Even back in 2003 when I would come to visit my sister, or just go on class trips you could smell the city before you ever saw it... Torontonians had a bad reputation of thinking they were in the center of the universe, and it always just put me off of the city. It's not that I would ever want someone to not come to Canada... but there are just so many better places to live in Ontario, let alone the rest of the country... that why would you ever want to subject yourself to what T.O. has become?

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.

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

I guess because Toronto is so huge and because I stayed in the main touristy areas I only noticed a few homeless people during my trip. They were more noticeable to me in Calgary in the spring. But the worst I've seen is Portland, Oregon and Seattle, WA and in 2021 Washington DC was pretty bad off...though the encampments I saw then had been cleared out by DC when I returned in 2023.\n\nI really really enjoyed my stay in Toronto over Labor Day weekend, my first time ever to visit. But just looking around me I got the same sense I did in NYC...it's a beautiful place to visit but living here would be ungodly expensive. The luxury apartments across the street from my hotel seemed to have rather low occupancy, from what I could see from my hotel room window at night. A lot of rental real-estate are speculative investments and any thought of addressing housing needs, keeping occupancy rates high, etc. are purely secondary concerns...zombie buildings with unaffordable rents that remain sparsely occupied while the need(s) are so dire is morally offensive and government should step in with rent controls and occupancy requirements and tax those owners more heavily who have occupancy below a minimum threshold. The increase in crime is a completely expected outcome of economic desperation. The US answer is usually more police & harsher penalties but I hope Canada is more rational and humane in addressing these societal ills.

RAW is on a coast to coast Canadian trip…

So you are saying there is still a chance...LOL As a Torontonian, the truth hurts and I wasn't planning on watching this particular video. However, I did view it right to the end. Hopefully, one day Toronto the Good returns or at the very least things start getting better. It is our city and we all want the situation to improve. Hopefully, one day you will be able to make a new YouTube video on Toronto changing for the better and wanting to stay. I am originally from a small town and moved to Toronto for school and then work. BTW Thanks for filming and profiling my area the Harbourfront and Toronto Island ...I live just around the corner on Bay and Queen's Quay steps from where you were filming this video! I wish you continued good health and safe journeys on all of your upcoming trips! Looking forward to seeing your future videos and what comes next!

I recently visited Toronto on a business trip for the first time living in Montreal. I loved Toronto it is a great potential city. However, I saw drug addicts on the streets, homeless people at every corner I walked in, it is very expensive and on top of that I was harassed by a group of homeless drug addicts in one of its streets. I am lucky I had friends that told me where to go and not to go later. But as a new visiter you want to explore the city and enjoy your time and see what the city can offer you. I totally agree with what you said. It would only get worse as more and more flux into the city without any managing criteria regarding housing, jobs and life in general.

Is it even legal for Egypt air to be doing this without being in consonance with Canadian government. In all my trips around the world, I've never been interrogated at the airport of connection.....

Hate to disrupt the narrative, but in the mid-2000s on my series of trips, there was an armed robbery in a small business on Yonge street. And I vaguely remember an attack in the Eaton Centre. I somehow learned of such things after returning home. I think that was Harper time, and his attitude about personal firearms may not have been helpful. I just think these overgrown cities are sold by the excitement, but not only good people are attracted.

Not only in Canada dear brothers and sisters, here in the Netherlands housing prices and living costs are at least to say expensive. My luck is that I bought my house 10 years ago for a very good price ( 160.000 Euro's with a current mortgage of 519,00 Euro per month as the interest rate is 1,3% almost hilarious for Dutch standards today ) for a normal house with 3 bedrooms, attic, normal sized bathroom, garden, driveway for 1 car and on one side separated from my neighbor because there is a shed in between. Nothing special but now people will fight each other to get a house like mine. So conclusion: I can save some money to plan a trip to Canada next year or 2025, no delay anymore! Targeting BC and Alberta ( mountains!!!) is the plan for this trip as your country is huge at least to say. I like your vids Alina, really useful information and your relaxed style of presenting. Keep safe and strong, grz from the Netherlands.

Honestly the only thing i see needing to change is the weird country divide thing. We dont want to overflow our nation with immigrants as that would directly relate to higher housing costs (more people dividing the same number of houses makes costs go up) and it may not be 100% directly related but Canada's unemployment rate is about 150% higher than that of the US which could be due to the immigration, more research would need to be done. Lastly we have a big issue of illegal immigration and we need to get that under tighter control before we become top focused on fixing the other end. If you have a boat with a leak in it you should be more concerned with fixing the leak than if you have enough supplies for your trip.

Perhaps he should GO BACK to Nigeria if Canada is so horrible. I do medical mission trips in Africa annually. I am perfectly happy in Canada.....despite the leadership.

Hi Malaika enjoy your Canada trip

This is the fault of the Biden Administration. If they had done their Constitutional job of defending our southern boarder, all these Venezuelians wouldn't be rushing to get in. They waisted the trip to come all this way. \n But considering what happened to them 4 years ago, I say they have more of a right to apply for asylum than those from Mexico.

These folks look very clean and fairly well dressed considering their long trip from Venezuela ?

While returning from a trip to Europe in the late '90s, I came across an article praising the city of Houston, Texas, destined for a promising future, the choice of many immigrants who settled there. As my father was an American citizen, I thought it would be easy for me to settle there, to earn my living there as a career French teacher, given that the article in question mentioning openings in this domain. I went there to assess the situation. I had a few fruitless interviews with schools looking for a French teacher, because in Texas, the education system is denominational, and I am a non-practicing Christian.\n\nMoreover, the reception of the hotel where I was staying forbade me to go out at night if I wanted to return home safe and alive. Indeed, the article did not mention the high crime rate in Houston and that many people were armed. In fact, posters on public transport warned passengers to hide their weapons in plain sight. This was enough to convince me that I had to stay in Canada, even if the country is not perfect.

Old Joe Biden is loving this as he's tripping and falling down

The Canadian immigration system is fair and easy to understand. Unfortunately Canadian employers always ask for Canadian experience. In no other country was I ever asked this. After immigrating to Canada and failing for many years I finally moved to the US where I have been far more successful and happier. Just returned from a trip to Toronto where I have many good friends. The traffic is a nightmare and the housing is unaffordable. Canada is wasting all these highly skilled immigrants. They need to provide housing and effective labor force integration. They need to recognize foreign qualification and cut the insufferable red tape. It was an issue when I was part of an IEP (Internationally Educated Professionals) conference over 18 years ago and I see it has not changed. Given a free choice most immigrants would chose the United States. Why? Because despite all the craziness, Americans only care if you can do the job. And they are very welcoming. There is a positive energy that anything is possible. And I am now a very proud American. I will do anything for this country. Canada is a great country but it is wasting their new immigrants.

I’m a bit late to this discussion but I agree with the 99.9% of other responses. Although, I have enjoyed trips to beautiful areas of the US, & live close to the border where a day trip was a common occurrence. I now hesitate to even travel there as I do worry about gun violence, racism & honestly cannot understand the cult of followers who would even consider voting for an incompetent, narcissistic criminal to lead their country…. it’s mind blowing! You are desensitized regarding violence/school shootings… choose where you live? What’s the guarantee that this couldn’t happen anywhere in the US, even rural areas? On the topic of living in Canada, it’s beautiful with lots of country to see/enjoy from west coast to the east coast & we have healthcare, a government (although not perfect) elected by & working for the people. I’m proud to be Canadian, wouldn’t move for anything! We’re your neighbour but as it happens sometimes we just can’t believe what’s going on next door.

I think it’s more of the possibility of getting shot by either the police or the public scares me the most (yes I don’t trust the USA police). Also the USA police seem to be way more aggressive than the Canadian police (choking people to death, and more violent arrests than in Canada). I wouldn’t never move to the USA just because of the police brutality and shootings. Also when I was in the USA for a trip I still was nervous if it was safe half the time.

Any trip outside the United States will tell you about how few people would want to move to the US if they could live in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, or Europe instead. Probably a whole lot of other places, too. The United States has too many of its citizens living in fear. That’s a culture whose very admirable democratic and social goals are subverted by worshipping aggression and religious extremism, the very things they say they were fighting against in the Middle East and Afghanistan. I know that many Americans feel that way about their country and their fellow citizens but feel powerless to change it and that the plutocracy (which is largely in day-to-day control) seems to block any progress towards a better way of living.

Next time Camel ? trip ?

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.

I want to see Tyler do a cross country trip visiting Canada. Doing certain activities like Calgary Stampede, Saskatchewan Craven Jamboree, and other festivals and events. Maybe some activities like Ice Fishing, Camping, Hiking, dog sledding and such. I think that be fun to watch his first time out in Canada

When I left the Philippines for Europe in the eighties, I first went to the US to again visit relatives. They asked me if I considered staying. Much as I love my relatives I said NO. When I was working for an US airline in the 90s here in Europe would fly from Europe so very often for business and pleasure (sometimes just the weekend) and those trips really just cemented my decision not to move there despite relatives prodding. My single Aunt even offered me to be the sole heir to her entire fortune (over a million dollars) if I stayed there. I declined. My tolerance for ignorance, materialism and hypocrisy is very low.

No, not anymore. The place has gone crazy.\nReason number one, way ahead of any other: Violence. Gun culture is out of control, with any Tom, Dick and Harry able to buy assault rifles. Then there is the political violence encouraged and stoked by Trump and his MAGA followers.\nThere is the absolute lunacy of conspiracy theories everywhere, such as QAnon.\nThere is ultra-conservatism and the religious right and what they are doing to human rights.\nThere is the matter of health care. I have a serious chronic condition which would make me uneligible for health insurance.\nI used to love going to the US. My last trip was over 20 years ago to New York City, which I love. I did not realize it a the time, but that was my last time crossing the border.

Would I move to the US? HELL NO! I wouldn't even go there for a day trip.

I have been to few foreign countries....but it is like a business trip.....we do not get househelp...rather unaffordable....whole day we are working working office work kitchen work...look after kids...\n..weekend grocery cleaning backyard cannot visit anyone at random like in India...India is best..lot of food...festivals...relatives househelp ...phone and things are at home .....etc.

I have a thought for you. Start a go fund me and do a cross country trip of both countries and experience the difference yourself. I’m sure your regular subscribers would love to see it too. I’ve lived in both countries and I’ve settled here in Canada. Not saying it’s something for everyone but do a tour and see

Hello no... don't even feel safe to go on a trip / vacation anymore .

I used to visit the U.S. every year or two - stuck to the major cities where I felt I wasn't surrounded by Christian fascists.... haven't been there since Covid. Did make a trip to NYC once, under the orange cheeto's rule and the oppression, sadness and depression you felt crossing the border was palpable

Very interesting story great vlog.i m Very big fan your both vloggers love from Pakistan.sana main k vlogs hamesha dekhti hoon aap ki abhi ka pakistan ka trip bhaut enjoy kar rahay hai.i m Very excited to see your now dubai vlogs

Listened carefully to everything that was commented on and I too was a little surprised by what I heard. Being from southern Ontario actually near Buffalo and I am close to the USA but I am glad to be in Canada. Many of my friends go to Florida for the winter. They state that they will politely listen to the politics but never chime in with their opinion. The american political situation is very much like the religious situation with the Irish and the Northern Irish Catholics vs the Protestants. Your political separation borders on insanity. The current republicans lie through their teeth and keep repeating those lies. Listening to the Irish is equally exhausting. When I travel to the United States I am always glad to be home when the trip is over. While in America, I find most people are wonderful and we are always treated very well. If the Republicans snap out of it and the gun lobby loses their grip on the narrative that everyone needs a gun I think the attitude of Canadians might change. One thing for sure I am very happy that big brother is right next door and we will never have to deal with what the Ukrainian people are going through. In that instance I am glad that America keeps improving their weapon systems and their innovations and mass military production. \nI am sure there are many lovely places in the USA but the media focuses on the bad news of the day where violence and shootings and political insanity dominate news. Meanwhile most Americans are enjoying their lives in peace.

The US simply lacks openness. Women’s rights, the LGBTQ rights, immigration, firearms, law enforcement; so many subjects which American and Canadian citizens think very differently. And it’s true that we can find cities who shares the same values as us, but I don’t want to be part of an increasingly conservative country. ?\nAnd for the good part of the US, there are trips! ?✈️?

You don’t have Tim Hortons in every neighborhood, your food is weird - I freaked out when I saw chicken in the store, no health care, Hollywood and Disney are trash! TOO MANY GUNS!!! Last trip, to Hilton Head, was confronted by a couple at a social event announcing “we’re Republicans!” Nothing I said stopped the negative flow. Thinking of various unsettling instances I decided to vacation in Europe. Hope to never set foot in US again.

I ‘ve met so many Americans on trips and through living in San Francisco for 3 months for a course. They were very kind, thoughtful and knowledgeable people. I also love many beautiful places in the States. I find though, that the media ignores Canada to a great degree only reporting negative issues . I don’t care for the super nationalism of the government, the gun laws, the many wars they’ve been involved in, nor do I like the racism and the present divisiveness of the country given that a person like Trump could be voted in and have so much power! That is frightening! I could never have afforded my two hip and knee replacements as well as other surgeries and the birth of four children had I lived there consequently, I would make friends with Americans who move here withthe same principles, but no to moving to the United States OF America.I was happy to return to beautiful Vancouver Island, (which was voted one of the top Islands in the world by CNN, Time magazine and Conde Nast, )

One of the key issues when you ask a Canadian about moving to the USA is that they won't be thinking of a specific city, they will think of the country as a whole. The only real reason for a Canadian to move to the USA is economic opportunity. Most of the other benefits of being American we enjoy as Canadians as well, or we can take a quick trip to the USA to enjoy.

Tyler, remember that the mass media plays a big role in this as anytime there is a school shooting in the US it gets reported in Canada. The news focuses on anomalies and these are still anomalies. I remember the first time I went to NYC in 1988 when it was still much more dangerous than it is today. When I got off the train I told my girlfriend not to take her camera out - but as soon as we rounded the corner from Grand Central it was wall to wall tourists and everyone had their camera out. I ended up having a great time and rode the subway all over the place, no problem whatsoever. I have travelled across the US several times and been to every single US state. There is huge variety and the US is my fav country in the WORLD for a road trip - so convenient, easy, interesting, beautiful and with friendly people everywhere. I have a message, having travelled to 105 countries on 6 continents and living 15 years of my life abroad in various countries - almost EVERYWHERE is safe in the world and full of mostly great people. TV isn't reality folks! If you are an idiot, you could get into trouble anywhere.

As a Canadian, I've always wanted to do an easy going road trip across America and visit both some hidden gems as well as some of the more famous tourist spots. No interest in Disney World or any super crowded places. That would be too much of a culture shock for this rural maritimer

I used to spent a lot of time in the U.S. as a child with my parents because they had family there. As an adult I went on vacation to Disney World, Las Vegas, Washington DC, etc. We would go across the border for day trips to shop but not anymore. I do not recognize the U.S I used to know, it's gone crazy in the past 10 years or so and I'm afraid to go there now.

Tyler? I suggest google’n “ school shootings, small town America”…. article after article, when you do, says why most mass school shootings tend to happen in small towns….where nobody expects that they would have happened & how all the residents in those towns are always surprised that they happened in their town. \nI say this as somebody who once loved the idea of moving to the USA. \nMy mom was a single parent and as a result I spent a ton of time as a very young kid in the late 80s throughout the mid 90s in a small town in Oregon on my aunt and uncles dairy farm with my cousins and I absolutely loved it. Truthfully, I still love small-town America and I love the vast majority of the people I have met from small-town America. There is the friendliness and community that I find very similar to prairie farming towns in Canada. \n And as a kid, I loved the focus on high school sports in the small USA town I spent time in and how it brought the community together. It was very exciting to go to my cousins football games—stuff like that was super fun as a kid.\nAs an adult, with 2 young kids of my own now? \nYes, I would be terrified to send my children to any school in the United States, especially knowing that the vast majority of my school shootings do happen in small towns, which is a type of place in the states I would personally like to go to, if I did move. \n\nAdditionally, I will be completely bankrupt at this point given my own health issues as well as my two kids health issues and I’m just in my late 30s. \nAnd I’m not talking to super crazy health issues, but health issues nonetheless. I have asthma that has gone through patches where I’ve had to be hospitalized & I was diagnosed with stage 3 malignant melanoma when I was in my late 20s and pregnant with my 2nd. My first child was born with a congenital heart disorder that was missed through the pregnancy and until she was two, and that involved many many trips to the hospital & various specialists until they figured out what was going on (one of the symptoms was her randomly stopping breathing and going blue, which was terrifying, and could’ve been for many different reasons & it took many specialists & many hospital visits to figure it all out)\nMy son was born with a multiple protein intolerance and later received an autism diagnosis. There a decent number of hospital visits and specialists for his first couple of years of life too. \n\n I have no idea if I was in the United States how I would’ve paid for any of our health issues (let alone all three of ours) for that 5 or 6 year period where we all needed various types of regular-ish medical care. \n(because we got good medical care, thankfully, none of us have really had to see doctors any more than the average person in the last few years?)\n\nMy kids are now in elementary school, and, as a Canadian, the issue of school shootings happening anywhere….., including in small towns that seem perfectly safe……as well as the cost of healthcare for stuff that is covered by our taxes here in Canada….. are the two biggest reasons that I will think fondly of my time in small-town America, but would never consider moving there

I'm British, now retired and living in Spain for 20 years. Have noticed that in the last 10 years there are an awful lot of Americans who are moving here mainly because, although they still have to have private health, it's hugely cheaper here and the service is good; also the lifestyle is more laid back and they can visit a lot of different cultures. In the late 1960s my husband and I emigrated to Toronto, Canada. Visited the US a couple of times. First to NY city, second time down to Kentucky /Tennessee. My parents came on that trip with us. Met Americans at the motels we stayed in and a couple of times my father nearly lost it (don't know how he just kept quiet) as Americans his age were quite abusive and kept on about about how we'd never be able to repay America for their help in WW2 (my father fought in that for all 6 years). Anyway left Canada after 4 years and returned to England; not because we didn't like it but I was terribly homesick. None of the Canadians we're still in touch with would ever have moved to the US.

I was a teenager when my church youth group went on a trip to help repair houses for poor Americans, while I was there I had a crash on an atv and it didn’t appear life threatening so I didn’t go to the emergency room while I was in the states. I am on disability, the government gives me enough money for food and rent. I am currently working with my health care team to figure out if I have brain damage and if that brain damage is why I have problems that make it so I can’t work. My family wouldn’t be able to afford to get proper health care in the United States.

Wtf does Canada have to offer more then the states ? \nNothing. \nNot a thing.. \nLiars will will tell you otherwise.. \nI promise Canada is falling. \nWho cares about the look we have .. actually living here is not as good. \nI make good money and can afford to live in Victoria bc. The most expensive area in Canada.. I currently live here for the last few years. Nobody can say it's better. \nI'm not bias because I'm broke.. or lack of the normal things people are concerned with.. \nOur government is horrible.. the American government is bad.. absolutely.. but Canada is a dictatorship in the making.. I want the fuk out with all my money and stuff I've made before they remove everything we own\nDon't believe what you hear. \nSchool shooting stuff is an excuse to say but we have just as much stupidity here..just hidden crimes. Don't believe what bias people say.. take a trip to see for yourself. \n..

I am planning my first trip south next year. I have driven across Canada and seen our national parks.I'm hoping to drive from Vancouver to the grand canyon via Yellowstone, then back up the coast home. The redwood forrest shoyld be pretty. Cheers Tyler!

You are reading the views reflective of those in a particular forum. The last video I saw was about a person with appendicitis in Montreal who waited 15 hours at an ER and then booked a trip to Kingston for treatment. 10 days in intensive care followed.

Ok am i tripping or is that the anime man?

Thats what I don't understand. When I hear African American going on trip to EU why not africa.

I still don’t know if he moved or it’s a trip

Take a trip to Juarez..youll be ? ? ..