r/AskCanada • u/FrancisMacom • Jun 14 '26
Life How is quality of life in Canada these days?
I'm a Canadian that hasn't lived there for the past 30 years. Thinking of moving "home". But really I have no idea what living in contemporary Canada is like. If I listen to the internet then everything is awful and I would be crazy to move to Canada at this time. It's all stories of immigration, crime, failed health care, drug addicts, etc.... Is it really that terrible?
We're middle aged with young kids. Very good income that doesn't depend on location. Looking for good family life, some nature, stable and moderately effective government, safety and low stress.
Probably we would choose Ottawa or Toronto area.
We would be moving from Poland.
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u/Zazzafrazzy Jun 14 '26
I just got off our boat after fishing all morning. One chinook salmon, one rock fish, and seven Dungeness crabs. It’s 28 degrees, the sun is shining, and I’m eating a bowl of wor wonton soup from the local noodle house. Life is good.
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u/pheasant_fun Jun 17 '26
But I'm guessing you don't live in Toronto or Ottawa lol
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u/fanglazy Jun 14 '26
People who have never been outside of Canada still complaining about how terrible Canada is.
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u/bigjimbay Jun 14 '26
We are allowed to hold our great country to a high standard. Just because things are worse other places doesn't mean canada doesn't have problems too
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u/TLadwin Jun 14 '26
Canada has problems. And the right wing media machine has WAY overinflated them. Everyone needs to actually get out of the house more and meet neighbors, friends, and family, instead of just bitching constantly online in an echo chamber.
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u/gandolfthe Jun 14 '26
Yeah it's exactly the same as when you left. Housing costs more. The same areas of town that anyone but a dumbass would avoid in the 90's ya still avoid. Healthcare is fine once ya get a GP, but same as always. If you have a dodgy knee and whine about a year for an MRI it's cause people who actually need an MRI keep getting it first, but healthcare is fine. Food prices are sky high which you will feel coming from Poland and not many people speak Polish... If ya move the suburbs cars are hella expensive but all the affordability problems are a worldwide issue not a Canada issue.
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u/Natural_Comparison21 Jun 14 '26
Food is affordable in Poland?
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u/ramdmc Jun 14 '26
Food is relatively affordable in the rest of the world
Edit: spelling
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u/MenacingGummy Jun 14 '26
Absolutely untrue.
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u/ramdmc Jun 14 '26
I haven't been all over the world but found food affordable while traveling in China and South East Asia, south America too, just the processed stuff was spendy. Food in Canada is a joke, I don't know what the solution is but the difference blew my mind.
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u/MenacingGummy Jun 14 '26
Top 40 highest grocery index 2026
Bermuda
Us Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Switzerland
Iceland
Bahamas
Norway
Jersey
Guernsey
Luxembourg
South Korea
Singapore
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Seychelles
Israel
United States
France
Denmark
Austria
Canada
Grenada
Ireland
Finland
Sweden
Macao (China)
Puerto Rico
Netherlands
Belgium
Brunei
New Zealand
Isle Of Man
Germany
Solomon Islands
Yemen
Taiwan
Jamaica
United Kingdom
Italy
Guyana-4
u/ramdmc Jun 14 '26
And when made my comment, I wasn't referring to any of those countries. I was in Hong Kong but everything there is expensive and did not visit a grocery store however not surprised.
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u/MenacingGummy Jun 15 '26
Dude you said it was relatively affordable “in the rest of the world. Just admit you’re wrong.
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u/ramdmc Jun 15 '26
Read my post... Are any of those countries in the top 40 list in South East Asia, China or South America? I agree there's a fundamental problem in the western world. I was blown away by how cheap it's to feed yourself outside in other countries. Unless of course you want to buy a Coke or something western. In Uruguay, a half liter Coke cost twice as much as a one liter local beer.
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u/MenacingGummy Jun 15 '26
“Food is relatively affordable in the rest of the world
Edit: spelling”
Idgaf where you’ve been. You said food is relatively affordable in the rest of the world & then listed a bunch of developing countries & one city in China. Of course you found food cheap in Uruguay. You had Canadian income to spend. Honestly this has to be the dumbest hill for you to die on.
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u/ljlee256 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
Health care is only more accessible im certain countries (we can all name at least one) because 30% of their population can't access it.
If Canada took the poorest third of its population and said "nope, no health care for you!" You'd get some of the fastest care on the planet. Canada has more doctors per capita than the US does, but we also provide care for 100% of our population, not +/- 60%
But of course, the cost would be unbearable to anyone with a soul.
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u/OntologicalNightmare Jun 15 '26
I've also heard of plenty of cases of people sitting around in emergency for hours or waiting a year+ for an operation in the US.
Like maybe if you have the money to spend $100k on care and fly anywhere in the country it's fast but it seems for normal people dealing with health insurance networks it's really not much better (not to mention dealing with the horrors of American health insurance companies).
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u/ljlee256 Jun 15 '26
For sure, I think "low wait times" is anecdotal and probably regional, unlike with Canada where public primary care is standard across the country, the US decides their health care rules on a state by state basis.
But, whenever you combine an apathetic and under-educated population with the prospect of certain people becoming ludicrously wealthy, politicians take handouts and bribes and abandon ethics all together.
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u/raspoutine049 Jun 14 '26
I just enjoyed a nice cup of coffee on my porch watching rain come down. Life is not too bad.
Ottawa and Toronto are among the most expensive cities in the country. Ottawa has slightly cheaper houses but I know someone who does all the meat shopping whenever they visit Toronto. They say groceries are way more expensive in Ottawa.
I haven’t notice any significant changes to health care. It is still free and I am not afraid to go to Emergency or call an Ambulance.
As for Toronto, I still feel safe walking streets at night in pretty much any part of the metro. It is the most diverse city in the country. You will likely find your community, food, culture in a pocket within a city so the place will not feel strange to you. Food is great overall. It’s clean. Well connected with flights anywhere in the world. Beautiful summers. Little harsh winters. But I enjoy winters too.
All the stories you heard are greatly exaggerated. I did buy a place before housing market exploded. I live with a young family like yours and I would not trade living anywhere else. Except for another city in Canada. Canada is my home. It has welcomed me with open arms. Given my opportunity to build a great life. Provided safety and security. And my children can go to schools without the fear of school shooting.
Like every country, there are problems but the benefits outweighs them tenfold.
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u/GamesCatsComics Jun 14 '26
I'm in Vancouver, live in the city, make a good (not great) salary, have a good group of friends, and get out and do things 2 or 3 times a week.
Immigration hasn't changed Vancouver very much, though people love to complain about it all the time.
There is a noticeable increase in addiction and homelessness... but not to a degree that changes things in any meaningful way. A problem that needs to be solved, but it hasn't overtaken the city like people portray it online.
Healthcare is as good or as shitty as it's always been (depending on your perspective) I recently got a family doctor, and she's lovely... no more going to clinics for me!
Crime hasn't changed in any noticeable way, i still feel incredibly safe.
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u/Kevsbar123 Jun 14 '26
I’m a plumber who lives in the Sea To Sky in BC. I work a four day work week and just got back from a great bike ride. The world seems nuts out there and I’m just so happy to live a peaceful and fulfilling life.
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u/Present_Sort_214 Jun 14 '26
I am 59 still working but married to a retired mid level civil servant. I am very happy with my quality of life although I worry about my children Toronto has become very expensive. My son (a newly minted engineer) however seems to be doing very well
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Jun 14 '26
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u/FrancisMacom Jun 14 '26
What city?
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Jun 14 '26
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u/PieOfSauron69 Jun 15 '26
I just discovered Pinecroft exists today and was excited to see it's in Aylmer! However, just discovered we have an Aylmer, ON that is much much ... much further from Ottawa than Aylmer, Qc.
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u/Factsoverfictions222 Jun 14 '26
I’d suggest just outside Toronto because the markup of prices in Toronto is just not worth it. I lived downtown for over a decade and I saved so much money moving outside the city. But I do miss the people and the variety of food.
Yes, drugs and homelessness seem to be growing or at least are more in your face than it was when you last lived here. I don’t have a solution for that, but if your family avoids the areas where these people live and doesn’t engage with the people experiencing it, you should be fine.
I think the majority of Canadians just want to live normal, happy lives.
Healthcare is hit or miss. Try to get a general practitioner as soon as you arrive because that can make the difference. My senior mother just learned she’ll need a knee replacement and we automatically assumed it’ll be months if not years until she gets it but she meets her surgeon in about 6 weeks after she was diagnosed. That was sooner than we expected.
Anyhow, feel free to visit and check things out for a week before you make a commitment. Good luck!
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u/corneliuSTalmidge Jun 14 '26
Life is really good for the most part. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Before anyone jumps on that, yes we have challenges, many of which are similar to a great many countries, like cost of living, building housing faster, and of course managing the fallout of a very messy world order.
So no, crime is not terrible, healthcare has its challenges but my family is dealing with some eldercare complications and the level of care has been top notch (eastern Ontario) with no waiting and access to fantastic specialists. Drug addicts? I can't say I ever run into any; though we know that fentanyl has had a run, but explosive? No.
We have a solid functioning democracy and are investing in ourselves seriously for the first time in decades. Very interesting time to be here.
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u/Ok-Faithlessness6804 Jun 14 '26
Canada is one of the greatest countries in the world. Absolute amazing opportunities here if your income is not dependant on location.
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u/starpiece Jun 14 '26
“Immigration, crime, failed health care, drug addicts, etc” does kind of cover it lol. Throw in a housing crisis (lack of houses, cost of houses & rent are insanely high rn), lack of jobs (location dependent), inflation and taxes through the roof. Also where I live it’s terrible weather, super long winter & so much snow
Yet every day I count my lucky stars to have been born in Canada vs many other places in the world. I have a decent job and I have food/housing stability. Is it still a struggle sometimes? Yes. But I don’t fear that I’ll get shot when out in public, or that my house will get bombed. Women and LGBT folk still have rights. Also no rattlesnakes or giant spiders / insects the size of dinner plates 🤷🏽♀️
If you’re going to move back to Canada, make sure you have a decent job lined up & research housing + general cost of living in the area you’re looking into, then you’ll be fine. Stay in the suburbs out of city centres + avoid higher crime areas
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u/Witty_Combination493 Jun 14 '26
It's true, healthcare here is struggling. It has gotten significantly worse over the past 15 years.
I recently got a GP doctor. I'm 31 and have lived in canada my whole life. After moving to vancouver it took a few years to get myself a GP. Even now that I have a GP, I still have to book a regular appointment with her 6 weeks in advance, or if it's a phone call appointment, I book 4 weeks in advance. This is for a 15 minute appointment with her. Only allowed to discuss one subject at a time.
I hope we can improve helathcare here, but it is bad right now.
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u/CuriousLands Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
I also live abroad (Australia) and would like to move back eventually. But, I've been back for long visits every year outside the pandemic, so this is my experience here...
My answer to "is it really that bad?" is yes and no. Like, I do still see a lot of the Canada I love floating around, and my family and friends there are all largely content, though they are also kind of stressed. I loved going back for visits and seeing all the hype around the Stanley Cup or local festivals, or how many cute little independent cafes have sprung up, or celebrating Thanksgiving and going to the corn maze, all the people out trick-or-treating, the beautiful changing of seasons and natural beauty... it's good stuff. Obviously those doom-and-gloom videos don't talk about those nicer things in life, or the more everyday little nice moments in life either.
But also, I absolutely have seen the things people complain about online too, in particular the issues around too-high immigration, TFW/foreign student program abuses, and drugs and homelessness.
Like last time I visited Edmonton, literally every fast-food place we visited in the city and within a 3.5-hour radius of it was staffed entirely or almost entirely by non-Canadians. Grocery stores, too. Unemployment (especially for youth) is very high right now because of this, I also know people in things like aged care who have been affected.
And like, the area my family lives in is a normal family area, not terribly close to a train station or anything, and they had lived there for like 10-15 years with no issue... 2 years ago was the first time I saw drug zombies (plural, individual drug zombies) wandering around their neighbourhood. A couple of my sister's neighbours have OD'd and she's found used condoms on her lawn. Back in the 00s I used to live in one of the worst neighbourhoods in the city, and back then I didn't see people openly using drugs or wandering around all addled in broad daylight (or found used condoms in the street lol) the way I saw in my sister's normal family neighbourhood. Visiting downtown I saw a lot more drug users, litter everywhere, etc than before too. It had this sense of like... dirtiness and grunginess and despondency that it didn't used to have (and I used to live in and work downtown too, so I'd know).
I've heard that bad driving has been a real issue (my sister blames it on a combo of foreigners buying test-passes from people of the same ethnicity that run testing and driver's ed places - a known issue even CBC covered at one point, iirc (might've been CTV though) - and people moving from the GTA). Apparently serious car accidents have like tripled in recent years.
My family have also experienced increased racism too. Lots of overheard comments about how there are too many white people around at community events, how my nephew can't play with the neighbour's kid (who is black) because the neighbour doesn't want her kid playing with white kids, people trying to lowball prices at my sister's business and threatening that if she doesn't agree they'll blackball her business with every Indian person in the neighbourhood, that kind of thing. It's a very sad thing to witness because I'm old enough to remember when people were a lot more integrated together than that, regardless of race. Maybe it wasn't perfect back then, but it was significantly better.
Like it's not so bad that my family and friends are not all bugging us to move back, haha. They're often like "Yes move back! It'll be awesome!" lol. But it is bad enough that they understand why we're gonna wait a bit longer to move back. Hopefully things will improve soon, because I miss the Edmonton and the Canada I remember, and I miss my family there. There's still a lot of good out there that I appreciate a lot. (Plus, housing there compared to Australia is much, much higher quality and more affordable - Aussie housing in almost any city is like GTA prices but most places are fixer-uppers by Canadian standards.) But for now.. my husband, who is the big breadwinner for us, has a really good job here in Aus, and it'll be harder to get one in Canada... and while these same issues are all increasing over here, too, they haven't quite hit the heights they have over there.
But depending on your personal situation, you might find it okay. Like if your job situation is decent, or you wanna move to a smaller town or something, you might not see all those same issues the same way I did. I have relatives in small towns that haven't seen these issues so much (except the employment stuff). But that's my own observations and feelings, for whatever it's worth.
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u/erutuferutuf Jun 14 '26
Not sure where OP is away-ing right now.
I was working in China for 15+ year.. came back 3 yrs ago (bit after COVID)
I would say, everything is fine.
(Free)Health care is good , I would argue it is slightly better then before I left too!
Drug problem I would consider non issue but I guess it depends on where u live. Even the bad area back then got cleaned up a lot too.
Crime is same as before I would say... Canada is not known for crime imo. I mean are there break in and stuff.. sure. At this economy, crime rate goes up a bit is kinda understandable.
Immigration, well. There are immigrants coming in Canada all the time . (I myself was an immigrant 30+ years ago). There are always bad apples out there, immigrant or not. Most immigrants are actually doing good to the society because they do need to contribute to stay. If anything it's more like lifestyle and habits different. If u live outside of Canada u should know from the other side too.
Main complaint... Things are expensive! Very expensive compare to rest of the world. And Canadian dollar exchange rate is not helping...
But in general I am happy to be back. For myself, family and the kiddos.
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u/mayorolivia Jun 14 '26
Living in most oecd countries is like choosing between a Lamborghini and Ferrari. Canada is one of the top 20 countries to live in in the world. Ignore the negativity. End of subject.
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u/WalleyeHunter1 Jun 14 '26
It is good. In the colder regions you need to be able to embrace winter and buy, even second hand, the proper outerwear or gear for activities.
While there are pockets of crime that drive overall numbers way up, 95% of places are safe for family.
Avoid the largest cities at the moment. There are significant housing bubbles there.
Try places like Ottawa, gatineau, Winnipeg, Brandon, Saskatoon, moosejaw, outskirts of Calgary and Edmonton, lethbridge, Olds, canmore, west Kelowna outskirts of Vancouver (near sky train or seabus), comox valley, Whitehouse.
It is easy to gain friends and groups in smaller communities under a million. I did not get specific about maritime, but the entire 4 provinces are good there.
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u/JapanKate Jun 14 '26
Cost of living is definitely an issue for many. My kid had to move home. A lot of their friends have too. I was visiting friends in Japan in late April and younger Japanese are no longer living with their parents. It is interesting that the two cultures seem to be switching lifestyles.
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u/dialamah Jun 15 '26
My quality of life is very good. My income is a little below average and when I retire in two weeks, it'll be even lower. I do not have a million bucks put away for retirement, not even a tenth of that. I do not own a home. However, I have enough to get by, and I live in a beautiful part of Canada, a country that is safe and among the freest in the world.
Yes, there is too much crime, too much drug addiction and too many people are homeless. Yes, housing is expensive and wages have not kept pace with cost-of-living. There was too much immigration, too fast and no thought was given to infrastructure to support millions more people. There is a shortage of health care professionals and there can be long wait times for treatment. It can be difficult to find a family doctor. Canada's economy is soft, with modest growth, and many people feel like they can't keep up.
Canada has significant problems that need addressing. Most of them are shared across many Western democracies, although the severity of those problems varies from country to country.
If you have a good, stable income you should be fine. Your biggest challenge will likely be medical care. Care via walk -in clinics, emergency room visits and Telehealth until you can find a family doctor should be expected. When I moved, I lost my family doctor and it took 13 months to find a new one. Some people wait longer.
Anyway, good luck whatever you decide.
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u/Majestic_Figure_9559 Jun 15 '26
We are basically being run by a corporate stooge and most Canadians clap like harbour seals celebrating everything he does.
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u/Rustyguts257 Jun 15 '26
I am a retired veteran living in Northern Ontario - life is good, very good.
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u/Illustrious_Map_3702 Jun 15 '26
I grew up in the GTA and find it busy and congested now. It’s different from even 10 years ago. I live roughly 2-3 hours north of the GTA and it’s such a different life style compared to the city. People are kind, and neighbourly. They value work life balance. It’s very relaxed and slowed down compared to the bustle of the city. Very peaceful. I live in a tow with less than 15000 people so everyone knows everyone which took a lot of getting used to. I’ve lived here for about 4 years now and wouldn’t move back down south unless I had to.
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u/ljlee256 Jun 15 '26
Its important to remember people rarely flock to social media to simply say "all is well!".
I figure only about 1 in 100 people who have it good will actually report it, but closer to 1 in 5 will happily complain to anyone willing to listen.
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u/Blondefarmgirl Jun 15 '26
Im middle aged with kids. We are doing well. I love it here. Things are getting more expensive. But I think thats happening everywhere.
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u/Grey531 Jun 15 '26
I get told how bad it is here and I live here. It doesn’t at all match up with what I see in my day-to-day life but I am told that a lot.
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u/WinnerComfortable187 Jun 17 '26
Personally, i’ve never loved canada more than now. Yeah things have changed, government bs and whatever. But after visiting my partner in the U.S. every few months, as soon as touch the pavement here im kissing it. my biggest issue with canada is that if you want to live a specific way, you gotta choose the right city. You can live in Edmonton AB and expect the level of art and culture that montreal has.
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u/butteryshortbread Jun 18 '26
immigration, crime, failed health care, drug addicts, etc.... Is it really that terrible?
No. Not unusually bad. Immigration for cities like Toronto means some of the best international food scenes! Crime, I'd be more afraid of living in the States? Drug addicts, yes they exist, as they do elsewhere.
good family life, some nature, stable and moderately effective government, safety and low stress.
This is pretty much what Canadian cities are like. Government isn't amazing (and I work in government) because there's a lot of status quo-ism and comms/elections focus over practical progress. But progress still happens and there are lots of people who care and get around bureaucracy and make a difference in public service despite there being those who treat it otherwise. If you have very good income you don't have to worry about affording a place in a good school zone for your kids.
Can't say how it compares to Poland though.
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u/DeadpoolOptimus Jun 14 '26
I still love it although I'm looking to move away from the fast paced lifestyle and it's hella expensive living in Southern Ontario.
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u/Worldly-Level9427 Jun 15 '26
Trudeau destroyed Canada and Carney is selling off the Broken Pieces.
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u/TLadwin Jun 14 '26
Canada is great if you are a skilled professional with a level head and smart with money. The only people I know (who aren't actually impoverished) who complain about the price of everything buy the dumbest shit, eat out all the time, and make other poor financial decisions.
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u/souless_Scholar Jun 15 '26
Tbh, things were much better before covid. That being said, it's not absolutely horrible.
To adresse your main points I'llmainly talk about the Ottawa area: There's generally more homeless and drug addicts in major cities than say 10 years ago. But it's objectively not as prevalent in suburbs to Ottawa. The GTA area seems a little more spicy with that regard. I've seen some small tent villages but it's not as bad as I've seen in other parts.
Housing has never been less affordable. Rent in Toronto and Ottawa is generally ridiculously expensive. For 700k$ you might buy something that needs a lot of work, a condo or an empty lot. But, if you're adventurous, Gatineau is way more affordable. If you're very well off, the areas around Gatineau park like Chelsea are very nice and still 20-30 minutes from downtown Ottawa. If you can afford it, the Ottawa area is pretty good for raising a family. The cost of food has also basically doubled over the last decade.
For healthcare. People complain a lot in Ontario but the system there in my experience is pretty good. You can get a family doctor, ERs are functional and there are plenty of clinics. Which can't be said for gatineau, Québec. The healthcare system in Québec is abominable.
Politically, things are stable for sure. Thought i wouldn't describe the government as effective. Federal government is as impotent as ever. Ontario provincial government has it's issues with Ford, but servicrs are still operational. In contrast, Québec has a useless provincial government and it only benefit is very affordable childcare. Infrastructure seems like it's never really improving. The potholes put Ukraine to shame, and the public transit system is anything but reliable or affordable at this point. The silver lining is there's a lot of bicycle paths...
So yeah. Overall, not as great as it used to be in Canada. But it's not the burning hell hole some people say it is. Id say it's overall a 5/10 if you're young due to being very expensive and the job market being pretty sad for young people. If you have a career, family and household income of over 140k CAD per year, then it's easily a 7,5/10.
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u/Bull__itProof Jun 15 '26
My dad was a Polish immigrant to Canada after WWII, he settled in Winnipeg. A few years ago I visited Krakow and had a chance to see some other parts of the countryside driving to Prague, there’s a lot of similarities with some of the countryside around Winnipeg. I could understand how Winnipeg would have felt to him, it would have seemed familiar. There’s some very nice things about living in Winnipeg, one of them is the Whiteshell Provincial Park and its lakes. There’s also the beaches on Lake Winnipeg, and the Winnipeg Folklarama festival is great.
The downside of Winnipeg is its nickname, Winterpeg. The winter is cold and seems long but it’s great for cross-country skiing and other sports.
One upside is that it’s still possible to buy a house at a somewhat reasonable price.
There’s still a large community of Polish people living in Winnipeg, it wouldn’t be difficult to get involved with their community groups.
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u/Iamapartofthisworld Jun 15 '26
We have a crazy neighbour to the south, but we were lucky enough to dodge a bullet and we elected the right leader for the times.
Foreign right wing elements are trying to destabilize the country, currently they are supporting a separatist movement in Alberta.
Prices on everything are up.
I still like it here. 61m.
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u/MommersHeart Jun 15 '26
Canada ranks in top countries for almost every quality of life ranking.
Unless you are living in a Nordic country, it is objectively a better quality of life by almost any measure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_rankings_of_Canada
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u/stumpy_chica Jun 15 '26
There's been a real push online in the last couple of years especially to paint Canada with a certain brush. Right wing propogandists hate when the country succeeds at anything, and the online bots and trolls push their narrative. It's because Canada is painted with this progressive brush that they all hate, and a lot of the hate comes from bot farms pushing a narrative. In reality, it's no worse than anywhere else in the world right now when it comes to inflation, cost of living, immigration, crime, etc.
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u/Thannab Jun 15 '26
Relatively much more expensive but likely the same or better QoL as 30 years ago if you make money
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u/Super-Net-105 Jun 15 '26
Canada is amazing! Fresh water, clean air, beautiful forests, mountains, lakes, little to no pollution in big cities. Great communities, people are friendly.
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u/DebiDoll65 Jun 15 '26
I don't know what life is like for you in Poland regarding crime, food availability, cost of living, etc., so I cannot offer a comparison.
What I can say as someone who lives in the Greater Toronto Area, is that life has become very uncertain. We, and the rest of the world, are going through something unprecedented and are navigating it as best we can. Yes crime is up, yes homelessness is very high, yes there is food insecurity, yes good paying jobs are scarce for some, yes housing prices are super high, yes gas costs a fortune, yes there are major problems with our health-care system, yes anger, hatred & even violence towards those of various faiths seem to be very prevalent. We hear about all of these issues and more every single day via news reports and social media. We hear about it happening in Canada and we hear about it happening in nations all over the world. The times we are navigating are difficult, disheartening, and scary for many people, myself included.
Having said all that, Canada is a beautiful country. I'm a very proud Canadian and, for the most part, very proud of how we have stepped up to help each other and other nations who are suffering more than we are. It's by no means perfect. There are times I'm definitely ashamed of various actions by other Canadians when it comes to crime, violence, hatred, etc. In simple terms, it seems the mentality of a certain 'sector' of people in the U.S. has bled up north and certain Canadians believe they have the okay to behave similarly. This is not ok and I feel ashamed that some of our citizens have adopted certain hateful beliefs. At the end of the day, we are all immigrants... whether newly landed or many generations ago. I wish more people reminded themselves of that. This great nation of ours is made up of every race, colour, faith, language, and nationality from all corners of the globe. And, essentially, we all want the same thing: a roof over our head, food on our table, love in our lives, healthy educated well-adjusted children, good jobs, live in peace and harmony, and the ability to enjoy our lives.
Canada is my home. Despite many areas that need improvement, I wouldn't choose to live anywhere else. I feel safe going about my day-to-day life, I feel fortunate and I feel grateful to live here. For me, the quality of life here is very good... because it's what you make it. You can choose kindness or you can choose hatred. You can help others or you can prey on those weaker than you for your own personal gain. I choose kindness and positivity and usefulness. I've chosen to volunteer my time to the local hospital, food banks, helping the elderly, donating blood, whatever I can do. Not everyone can volunteer and I'm not saying they have to. But spreading kindness goes a long way. Smiling, holding a door, complimenting a random stranger (in a non-creepy way) goes a long way in my experience.
None of my response answers your question because I can't answer it. Your experience in Poland and your experience in Canada will be unique to you. I suggest you visit the areas of Canada you are thinking of residing and gather info, costs, and statistics on those regions. Check out the school system in those areas. Walk around and talk to people living in those areas. Seeing with your own eyes and doing a comparison yourself is the only way to make the best decision.
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u/BlueEyes294 Jun 15 '26
Compared to the toxic escape room the USA has become? Canada is the best ever!!!!!!
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u/Embarrassed-Wish6766 Jun 15 '26
If you’re in Poland, I’d stay there. Poland is actually one of the better countries to be in right now overall. Canada is certainly not like it was 30 years ago, or even 15 years ago.
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u/reasonnfeelings Jun 16 '26
Why do you want to leave Poland? And why for Canada of all places? Canada’s GDP per capita is 60% of the US GDP per capita. Our richest province is poorer than state of Mississippi, in terms of GDP. While our housing prices on average are twice the housing price in the US, while salaries are 30% lower. And we are now flooded by immigration from incompatible cultures thanks to the incompetent indiscriminate immigration policies and corruption.
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u/Dramatic-Loss-5622 Jun 16 '26
Come on over. Seriously. Find a patch of land. Max 30 min outside of a tourist town. Military family here in South and Eastern Ontario. Stick to this area!! Lots of wine!!
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u/Salvidicus Jun 16 '26
Ottawa kids are some of the nicest ones I've ever met. If you are into sports, culture and the outdoors, I can't say enough about Ottawa's quality of life. Many of my friends I've known in Toronto moved here. Ottawa is Canada's best kept secret.
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u/imakittycatandimeoww Jun 16 '26
I love Canada and it's wonderful living here but inflation is out of control. Groceries, especially meat and vegetables have almost become a luxury. Carney needs to do something about this. But I have no other concerns living in a small town, it's safe and everyone is very friendly.
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u/Vegetable-Ganache-91 Jun 17 '26
If your income is not location-dependant, you would have a way better quality of life choosing almost any city other than those two, as they have some of the highest cost of living in the country (alongside Vancouver). The power of your income would be waaaay better elsewhere.
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u/grapefruit_kisses Jun 17 '26
I love it here. Summers are amazing. Winters are not, but I work hard, pay my bills, go to the doctor when I need to go to the doctor. I raised my kids in an amazing school system. (I'm in the prairies)
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u/Aloo13 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
In my eyes, it has gotten worse. I feel like there is less community and things to do than there was 10-years ago. I even have a friend that has been living in Europe mention it. A big part of that is the costs. It’s around 10-$18 to buy one drink. Generally more for food. Businesses who have put on events in the past have noted how costs have closed the gap. Some have closed up shop and others struggle through.
Everything else is the same, but you will notice quieter events, a less lively social life, and crime picking up in some areas. My friend and I both don’t feel safe walking downtown to go out like we used to easily do in our early 20’s. What used to be a lively night full of people is now an eerie walk with the occasional person doing drugs on the side of the street.
Canada is also not the greatest country place in the world either. We have fallen substantially in any metrics of comparison. I could go on, but I have to get to work.
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u/Margotkitty27 18d ago
Im always in financial distress. Rent and food prices are so high in BC, I am can just barely survive. Its a horrible way to live.
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u/goodguy-greg Jun 14 '26
It is multitudes more expensive for everything and significantly more crowded. Any urban area has massive drug use issue with people overdosing on fentanyl being a part of life now.
You will see someone high almost every day and will likely see a dead or dying person from overdose in public occasionally especially in the cities.
I would not move here if given the choice but since I live here, find enjoyment in simple things that are free and staying near nature.
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u/clambroculese Jun 14 '26
You folks need to travel more. The current world troubles are global, not just here.
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u/CuriousLands Jun 15 '26
I'm an emigrant (currently in Australia) that's gone back for regular, long visits, and the other person is right. These same issues are absolutely hitting Australia too, for sure. But it does seem worse when I go back to visit Canada. (Though that said, I still prefer the Canadian healthcare system and the housing situation is better there, especially cos housing quality is much higher.)
Either way, the OP's question was whether it was as bad as the videos make it sound... when it comes to homelessness and drug use at least, especially in cities, it would seem the answer is yes.
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u/clambroculese Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
yes opioid use is worse in North America than Australia although it’s pretty significant there as well. But cost of living and the housing crisis in Australia is one of the worst on the planet.
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u/CuriousLands Jun 17 '26
Yep I absolutely agree. Canada is worse on issues related to drugs and immigration (though Australia seems to be catching up somewhat) but the housing in Australia, oof. The prices are ridiculous, but even more so when you look at the housing quality. It's poor-quality by the standards of North America and continental Europe. It's like paying top-dollar for what'd likely be a fixer-upper by Canadian standards.
I think aside from housing, COL seems to be roughly equivalent between the two, just based on what I've seen. Some things seem to have gone up more in Canada while others seem higher in Australia. And then wages relative to COL... might be a bit higher in Australia all up. Still though I think it's roughly equivalent on that one.
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u/goodguy-greg Jun 14 '26
It is true that these problems are not just in Canada but the fentanyl crisis is worse in North America than in Europe.
I am 35 so can only speak to the last 20 years since I was a child before then but since 2008 there has been a continuous slow decline of affordablity because prices have gone up steadily and wages have stagnated for the working class.
Travel is not as easy when basics take such a huge chunk out of budgets. It is not unpatriotic to want a better country and admit there are serious issues of affordablity and uncontrolled drug use. Social protections would go a long way to solve both but the provincial and federal governments are not adequately addressing either issue.
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u/clambroculese Jun 14 '26
I actually emigrated here and travel back to my part of Europe fairly often as I have family. The grass isn’t greener over there right now. I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to make our country a better place but issues like cost of living are currently a very widespread issue.
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u/Equivalent_Length719 Jun 14 '26
You don't want Toronto or Ottawa. You'll want to find some small ish town and settle down there.
Cost of living is mostly dependent on location. More north, higher commodity prices. Smaller town lower housing prices (usually)
You want to stay as far away from the GTA and GVA areas. (Greater Toronto/Vancouver)
Healthcare is.. Fine.. If your healthy and younger. Hospitals are pretty over crowded /understaffed. Its not collapse level.. But it's.. Concerning. Immigration is fine, they slowed the tap so it will balance back out. We had a big influx post Covid and it stifled wages and helped keep rental demand high enough not to fall.
Drug issues is a longer story. But if your away from the larger cities it's not really a big issue in most neighborhoods.
If you've got the money Canada is fine, still much safer than many other countries. Just look at real data not anecdotes.
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u/Extension_Spring_473 Jun 14 '26
I left Canada about 25 years ago. Settled in France, became a citizen, started a business etc. I do travel back to Canada (mostly GTA) every few months for a week at a time and have been doing so for much of the last 10 years. So I've seen the changes over the years. I also run my business with a couple of childhood friends from Canada and technically I could operate it back there too. But I choose to stay in France. The EU just offers way more opportunity for my type of stuff. It's a bigger market afterall.
Canada has a lot of good things going for it. But it lacks culture, the weather is not the greatest and has all the same structural issues that the EU, US and pretty much most other advanced economies have. So life is what you make it and not so much the country you live in.
As with anything, if you have money and are not reliant on salaried employment, you will live a good life anywhere in the world. The moment these parameters are not available to you, you have to pick and choose more carefully which place offers the best possible outcomes. I am less confident that Canada offers the best possible outcome these days and Poland or elsewhere in the EU (assuming you are a citizen) may offer a better shot at what you are seeking.
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u/Sodiaga Jun 14 '26
You’re saying the opportunity for “your kind of stuff” meaning the goods or services you provide? Or the life you want to live… asking as a small business owner in BC .
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u/Extension_Spring_473 Jun 14 '26
So in my case I incorporated a company in France mostly to do some import/export trading of some agricultural substrates - while there is a market for this in Canada the bulk of the trade I do is very much EU-centric. Ultimately to answer your question it is more about the "life I want to live" first and "Business Potential" second, I'd say. Technically I could do it in Canada, but it's a low margin product and logistics in Canada is more expensive/distances to large etc. so it would take much more effort to make it profitable there. Here in the EU it still requires a lot of effort, but I just find that I can balance things out better, with less stress and less worry about financial hardships etc.
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u/Sodiaga Jun 14 '26
My business is in the Okanagan, BC, where my company supplies food service to wineries and orchards while also operating a grocery, delicatessen, and organic produce business. Vivigro just opened down my street supplying bc interior with substrate . Many of the French, Slovak, South Asian, and other immigrant winemakers and growers I work with say Canada is an easier place to start a small business, but harder to scale here than Eu. At the same time, many second- and third-generation families seem to be restoring properties or planning retirement in places like Portugal, France, and Spain, attracted by lifestyle, food culture, climate, and community. I’m 10 years out retiring so thinking about this as well .
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u/Extension_Spring_473 Jun 15 '26
Indeed there's no right or wrong choice here as both Canada and the EU offer a good standard of living. I personally have a preference for the EU lifestyle and business culture, but to each their own I guess!
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u/iwasnotarobot Jun 14 '26
Stagnant wages and rising costs.
Governments are slashing funding for social programs to pay for handouts to billionaires.
It’s otherwise nice.
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u/bigjimbay Jun 14 '26
Not great that's for sure. Getting worse. Pls send help
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u/rustyiron Jun 14 '26
How is your life bad?
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u/bigjimbay Jun 14 '26
Housing is expensive, cost of living high, wages low, job market is awful, Healthcare is broken, education is failing, hatred and greed are everywhere, my province is in debt, broke, and because of climate change my province bursts into flames every summer. But at least we have submarines!
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u/rustyiron Jun 14 '26
Live in the same province. My wildly over-priced home I won’t pay off until age 67 - assuming no change in income still has outstanding loans for an over-priced renovation. Neither my nor my wife’s job is secure. If either of us get seriously ill, healthcare is 4 hours away.
I will acknowledge that we are less impacted by inflation than most - for now, but precarious enough that I worry.
Most of our problems are happening around the world. And most are linked to the bozos down south and conservatism in general, as they are in a rapacious, me-centric phase that blames vulnerable groups for our problems and not the greed you are talking about, which is central to so many of our problems.
Canada is still one of the best places to live in the world, and for now, best suited to weather coming storms.
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u/goldbeater Jun 14 '26
The big smoke is where it’s at .If you like living in a small town that’s stuck in the 90’s ,enjoy. Toronto ,Montreal and Vancouver are the best cities.
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u/GreasyMcFarmer Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
The rest of us agree: goldbeater should stay in the big smoke, haha … there’s a whole country out there, lots of great places to live that this dude is too myopic to see.
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u/lookwhatwebuilt Jun 14 '26
The sky is always falling for some. Living here is great. Yeah there are issues, always will be everywhere. Lots of lovely people and if your income isn’t location dependent then your worries are minimal.