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Toronto is simply a canadian city. There is zero reason to compare it to any usa, city. Canadian cultural difference are far more obvious in its big cities. Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto, all share themes. Multi cultural, contain ethnic minorities that are very rare in the usa, we simply lack black people(carribs and africans, are not in any way comparable to african americans). We have a much smaller hispanic demographic. The list goes on and on, simply grouping it with american cities, because it randomly has the same feel is nuts.
If anything a direct comparison could be made between canadian cities and austrailian, both have simliar densities, settlement histories, and anglophone cultural traditions. But again it's still a bizarre comparison. It's like a really big dog trying to compare itself to a really small bear.
contain ethnic minorities that are very rare in the usa.
Just out of curiosity, what ethnic groups are you referring to? Because I cant think of an ethnic group prominent in Canada that is not well represented in the US.
Just out of curiosity, what ethnic groups are you referring to? Because I cant think of an ethnic group prominent in Canada that is not well represented in the US.
^ There's more to life than having big multi-national corporations. It's funny because everyone I talk to (and I agree), say that the US seems very behind compared to Canada. The infrastructure is old and crumbling, the business laws are very bizarre, the way they do business seems old school. Things just seem so much nicer in Canada, the atmosphere is more lively. The civil rights in the US are lacking majorly, the political parties are basically platforms for religious leaders, and the population is extremely conservative and socially backwards. In some senses, the opinions of Americans on social issues is about 40-50 years behind Canada.
Whenever anyone boasts the US, they talk about big business and how they have all these big companies and GDP, etc. But that model is failing... nobody can deny that. Time magazine said it best: While the US has been trying to chase the American dream, Canada is achieving it. No matter what scale you use... happiness, health care, life span, STD's, having sex, advancement on social issues, murder rate, education, or overall quality of life... Canada wins hands down on each issue. No matter what organization does the research, Canada continually beats the US on living a quality life. We get more time off, take more holidays, have more sex, get less diseases, live longer, etc.
I agree with you, the US kicks ass economically. They have been the powerhouse for the past 80+ years. Canada has ten times less people, we can't compete on that level. If you've had better luck getting a job in the US... all the power to you. I am happy for you! But don't try to put down Canada by comparing the lack of multi-national corporations.
Well it kind of does matter – entrepreneurship, innovation, and building enterprise is essential to our long-term health and wealth as a nation of people. You originally asserted that Toronto is on the verge of becoming a big, global city but you need to excel economically to make that happen. I told why I don’t think that’s true and it sounds like you agree and have shifted the argument to a quality of life discussion. Listen, I just want to be fair and acknowledge the good and the bad in things regarding Toronto or Toronto vs. living in the US. I have to deal with Americans making ignorant comments about Canada and and you exhibit the same level of ignorance so you are no better. Some US co-workers have gone up for a business meeting and they it’s a nice, and “clean” city, which is what it is but it’s not terribly beautiful or more modern than any other big US city, in fact, it may lag in many areas and is quite bland architecturally. I don’t know what infrastructure or what US cities you speak of that are falling apart vs. Canadian cities. Walk around Chicago, NYC, Boston, SF, Seattle, LA, Atlanta etc. and tell me they are old, crumbling places. Detroit, sure, but that’s not the whole country. You need to get out more dude…seriously. Toronto doesn’t start trends and new creative ideas, it adopts them. It’s a good city but why must pretend it is something it is not. I’m not sure what field you work in or what region but your comments about out-of-date business laws and backwardness are odd to me and probably most. As for wealth. US is richer than Canada – not just in absolute size but even on a “per head basis” – it’s fact, and not meant to put down anyone whether you enjoy hearing that or not. Some smaller European and Asian countries are richer than the US on a per head basis, that’s fact too. As for areas/neighborhoods in the US not being nice, are you kidding me. Come walk around the nice neighbourhoods in Boston and compare them to Rosedale & Forest Hill enclaves, it’s a joke and a half. And if you agree that the US has kicked ass economically, surely it is because this is a business-friendly country with laws and institutions and a culture that embraces it so that statement is absurd. The world is changing, yes, and the future growth of the world is not in the USA OR in Canada – it is in other emerging countries, although this will take many, many, many decades to happen and anything can happen to trip this up along the way and is far from a forgone conclusion. As for the people being backwards, are you dealing with people from Alabama (no offence to those places but you know what I mean) or are you dealing with people from the business centres. Where is this coming from or are you making it up? Trust me, we have plenty of non-progressive, close-minded folks in Canada too. Comparing a socially progressive, urban Torontonian to some rural dude from South Dakota is not fair. Compare him with someone with from Lethbridge, ALB and in that case, head-to-head, they won’t be much different. In fact, the guy from Lethbridge will probably like the guy from South Dakota better than Toronto folks. I’m talking about Big city vs. Big city here. The East and West Coasts of the US (with some selected cities/regions in between) likely have the largest collection of intelligent, ambitious, innovative, and productive people and organizations that you will come across anywhere in plant earth today. As well some of the most beautiful neighborhoods, scenery and cultural amenities. Sounds like we are just working in different levels/sectors and have different life experiences, hence our perspectives are different. But I have gone out of my way to share my opinion with you with the hope it opens your mind up a little.
Now you have shifted the focus to a quality of life discussion and this much more subjective. I can tell you, I get paid more but I work longer hours here and have less vacation. I would agree that Canadians in general work fewer hours. Can you find a laid back lifestyle in the US – of course, go to Seattle, Portland, down South and some West Coast cities – but overall, Americans statistically work more hours than any other industrialized country (maybe Japan too but not sure). It’s definitely more of a work hard & play hard culture here and it's not for everyone. You will work your ass off but probably have a more luxurious vacation vs. working less and having a longer vacation with less fancy amenities is one way to think about it. The trade off is lower productivity and incomes and if Canadians are ok with that, then fine. If we are ok getting taxed higher to make education accessible to everyone, even if it means we can’t create Harvards and Stanfords, then fine. If it means we get taxed more and pay more for goods but be able to provide health and social services to a greater portion of our population, then fine. We a quasi-socialist country and there’s nothing wrong with it and if that’s what one prefers, then great! I don’t have anything against a way a country or people want to govern themselves if that’s what the majority want. Innovation and productivity is somehow a trade off in our system as well, however, and that is something to acknowledge and not get defensive about or dismiss it as unimportant. The US system produces higher income classes than Canada but also produces more lower income classes, which translates to more crime, although you won’t feel it on a daily basis if you are of a higher income group in the US because you won’t live or work around it (more people live in bubbles here but it happens in Toronto too). There is a scale issue in terms of size but on a per capita basis, I believe we have underperformed and can do better. Because it is so monopolistic, the same people keep getting richer and you get screwed in terms of pricing and service that impacts your quality of life in ways you don’t realize. I will agree Canada is more socially progressive but not worlds ahead compared to the coasts (or some other major urban centres), however. The US is not 40-50 years behind and is overall split 50/50 when it comes to these things but you lump everyone into one bucket which isn’t right. You can find states to legally get married if you are gay, hook up with a prostitute if you want, and get an abortion. Dude, what really can you do in Canada that you can't do in US? Seriously? There is a universal healthcare bill is in there so there is change that is happening and having a Democrat in charge helps in this regard. Social change does move quicker in Canada no doubt due to its size and easy going attitudes of the populace but to say the whole US is not progressive isn’t true by pointing at one region of the country and extrapolating it to everyone. Imagine, people reading the news about Quebec students protesting over $300 and saying ALL Canadians have the same feelings and attitudes – it’s not right. The US doesn’t know much about us either, unfortunately. Ignorance on both sides is what I see. The truth is, for maybe the majority (say 60%) of population, your life won’t be radically different in either country. The top 15% of Canadians (educated with professions) could do better economically if they are ambitious in the US but the bottom 25% of Canadians who earn low incomes would have less social services and opportunities to survive well than in Canada. I’m using broad numbers here, I haven’t studied this like an academic (I would like to) but that’s my point. Overall, I’d say quality and way of life is more subjective than economics and depend entirely on who you are and what you want out of life. There are trade-offs to everything but let’s be factual about what they are not make up nonsense or stereotypes. I do think, however, we are lucky to live in North America in general on so many levels (both economically and socially) compared to the rest of the world.
Walk around Chicago, NYC, Boston, SF, Seattle, LA, Atlanta etc. and tell me they are old, crumbling places. Detroit, sure, but that’s not the whole country.
johnathanc, great insightful summary of difference between US and Canada!
"The top 15% of Canadians (educated with professions) could do better economically if they are ambitious in the US but the bottom 25% of Canadians who earn low incomes would have less social services and opportunities to survive well than in Canada." -- I think you hit the nail right on the head!
I don't believe "Canada offers a superior quality of life than the US". It only does to certain people - those who need wealth transfer from high income makers. In the end, it is a zero-sum game, some lose and some win.
johnathanc, great insightful summary of difference between US and Canada!
"The top 15% of Canadians (educated with professions) could do better economically if they are ambitious in the US but the bottom 25% of Canadians who earn low incomes would have less social services and opportunities to survive well than in Canada." -- I think you hit the nail right on the head!
I don't believe "Canada offers a superior quality of life than the US". It only does to certain people - those who need wealth transfer from high income makers. In the end, it is a zero-sum game, some lose and some win.
Jonathanc's post makes for an interesting read but it is too pessimistic when it comes to Canada's prospects.
If you look at the top 20-25 richest countries in the world, all of them offer good qualities of life. Which one is best for an individual person is really a question of personal preference, and this is no slam-dunk "best" place.
there are American cities with busy streets on weekends and at night too. Let's not overstretch it to the extent that all American city centers are ghost towns - it is simply not true.
You might want to re read my post and show me where i said all American cities turn into ghost towns at night.
You might want to re read my post and show me where i said all American cities turn into ghost towns at night.
sorry, you didn't say "all", but why were you specifically talking about many "American cities" as if there are not many Canadian ones which are essentially the same? Stereotype originates from somewhere.
The truth is American cities on average are no more ghost town-ish than Canadian ones, which you implied otherwise.
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