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Definitely the language barrier is a large one. There are simply far fewer people who have any degree of fluency in French than there is in English. For us that can speak French (and aren’t as intimidated by the cold), Montreal is an extremely attractive city. Not necessarily for any particular romanticism, but for simply being a good, sizable urban city with the jobs, walkability, and infrastructure that are good in comparison to most North American cities and a cost of living that is quite good among such peer cities.
I don't speak any French, and never had any trouble during the brief stint I lived in Montreal a decade ago. Most French Canadians, and almost all immigrants, could speak English in Montreal from Plateau to all points west (basically most of the nice neighborhoods on the island. The only time I had an issue was trying to buy batteries at a gas station in a smaller town between Montreal and Quebec City.
It is not a nightmare I agree but if Montreal was so plug and play for English only speakers they would not continue to move away more than they move in. Often citing language reasons.
I'm really really surprised at the love Montreal and Vancouver seem to get as compared to Toronto.
Toronto is just an incredible town. Much like Chicago, but without some of the cons. It seems like it can be an afterthought on this forum.
But Toronto is basically a second rate Chicago with significantly inferior architecture and with an improving, but still significantly inferior waterfront.
People make way too big of a deal about the crime in Chicago, you are more likely to get killed in an auto accident in either of these cities than shot in Chicago.
Montreal is unique enough that it isn't a second rate anything.
I'm not saying Toronto doesn't have a high quality of life, and it probably is underrated by Americans, but I personally liked Montreal and QBC so much better it isn't even funny. I've never been to Vancouver, but I love Seattle and grew up in the NW so I would probably also like it more than Toronto.
It is not a nightmare I agree but if Montreal was so plug and play for English only speakers they would not continue to move away more than they move in. Often citing language reasons.
The only language issue I've heard of is forcing English Speaking kids in to French schools. The bigger reason English speakers leave more than they move in is that Montreal has lagged the rest of Canada in growth and economic opportunities for 50 years. If you're fluent in English, you can get a job anywhere else in Canada that you want, plus get a higher salary and pay lower taxes. If your English isn't great and you only speak French, those same opportunities aren't available, so you stay put.
The only language issue I've heard of is forcing English Speaking kids in to French schools. The bigger reason English speakers leave more than they move in is that Montreal has lagged the rest of Canada in growth and economic opportunities for 50 years. If you're fluent in English, you can get a job anywhere else in Canada that you want, plus get a higher salary and pay lower taxes. If your English isn't great and you only speak French, those same opportunities aren't available, so you stay put.
The school issue is a non sequitur for native anglo Montrealers as their rights to free English schools from k-phd are grandfathered. That is not the reason.
Sure, but that only matters if I both had kids and planned on sending them to public schools neither of which applies to me.
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Schools do matter to most people as about 85 pc of us will have some form of parental relationship with a child in our lifetimes.
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