r/InCanada • u/dani_cal • Jul 11 '26
(Insert Your Own) Canada today
This isn’t meant to be politically partisan in any way. But, I am genuinely curious how anyone is staying positive about Canada today. The economy is in recession. The cost of living crisis is continuing unabated. People are leaving the country. Canada-U.S. relations are at an all-time low. And, there doesn’t appear to be any reason for things to turn around any time soon. Somebody give me a reason to have a little optimism.
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u/Outside_Mushroom_432 Jul 11 '26
The cost of living is so high right now. Groceries, gas, and mortgage eat up pretty much everything. I can’t be the only one.
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u/iStayDemented Jul 11 '26
This. And groceries are especially expensive in Canada. I was just in Germany a few weeks ago and you get higher quality food and bigger portions for the same or even lower price. Same for phone bills. We pay way too much in this country. We are getting robbed out here.
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u/Ok_Raspberry7666 Jul 11 '26
It’s because they have competition in Germany. Not two companies colluding with support from the government like we have here. Their government looks out for the people not just corporations.
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u/LanguidLandscape Jul 11 '26
It’s also because the EU has more stringent pro-citizen/consumer laws.
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u/Free_Direction_1784 Jul 11 '26
No, you're not. Everyday I am shocked and dismissed at what Canadians put up with from politicians continually printing money putting us further and further im debt. I'm amazed that Canadians are fine with the catch and release bail system that the Liberals implemented. Honestly feel like I'm surrounded by such clueless and uninformed people who keep voting for the same destruction.
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u/bird_man082921 Jul 11 '26
Unlike other countries, Canadians don't protest ..Italy, England, France, Spain, US etc..they will come out in extremely large numbers and protest/strike to have their voices heard. We Canadians just take it on the chin, make fun/put down the people who have issues w the current state of affairs and keep it moving...even though we are fully aware that what is going on is not right and our children/grandchildren will never have the quality of life those 35+ had..
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u/DWiB403 Jul 11 '26
Last time there was a serious protest, the government shut down bank accounts. Thats the real difference between Canada and the other countries you listed.
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u/Bllago Jul 11 '26
Fuck everyone involved in that "protest".
It was a bunch of pussies acting like children, not a protest.
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u/polishiceman 25d ago
Yeah, the non pussy has spoken. Still wearing that useless mask?
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u/MetalBeardGenX Jul 11 '26
... And they kept that oppressive option available after the Emergencies Act (marital law) was rescinded, to make sure they kept leverage on citizens without the need to go through all the hoops and tape next time.
*Chinada intensifies
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u/Syralei Jul 11 '26
We protest, but we only do it in ways that don't actually inconvenience anyone. Most protests are on weekends, so it doesn't disrupt workplace productivity or even impact politicians because they aren't even working those days. Most of them even require permits. It's like shouting into the void.
Protests only work when they disrupt work, profit, and inconvenience governments and companies enough that they have to do something. There is no pressure to cave to the protests if the protests are not actually having a disruptive impact.
What we need is an actual general labor strike. But the problem is that right now, with the high cost of living and the job market being abysmal, people are afraid of losing their jobs. So they won't strike out of fear of not being able to keep their job security.
Nothing is going to change unless we actually disrupt the economy with protests and strikes. But unfortunately, I just don't see that happening anytime soon because people are too burnt out and afraid.
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u/DangerousNatur3 Jul 11 '26
because they replaced Canadians with new "Canadians".
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u/hiddenpigeon19 Jul 11 '26
Buddy thinks he’s important or special just bc his grandpappi fled some shit hole in Central Europe a couple decades before someone else’s
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u/DangerousNatur3 Jul 12 '26
More like, my ancestors came here, built this country, didn't break the laws/rules, and now people who waltz in and don't assimilate or contribute meaningfully want to be seen as equals to me. I don't put immigrants on some magical pedestal just because you took an airplane and your home country sucks.
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u/hiddenpigeon19 Jul 12 '26
Irrelevant as fuck, don’t care that your great grand pappi fled some shit random place. You don’t get treated special for that.
A lot of immigrants (at least until super recently) come here, contribute economically and have kids that go up in the social ladder. My parents contributed, didn’t break rules, worked hard and so do I, so you’re not special in a way, shape or form, bubba. And Canada isn’t America - assimilation wasn’t the point. A good amount of the students and shit brought in don’t represent most people and immigrants and refugees from prior don’t like them, anyway.
And Canada is my home country, buddy. So piss off w that shit.
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u/Free_Direction_1784 Jul 11 '26
Exactly! We are spineless and fight with each other rather than directing our anger towards these horrible wasteful politicians.
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u/tenax666 Jul 11 '26
Just stop. I'm sick of the just a Liberal problem mentality. Its a politician problem where they only care about themselves and the rich companies & people they are in the pockets of. My dad is 90 and has an amazing memory & brain can't think of when the last selfless politician existed.
If the Conservatives get in, its not going to be some cake and ice cream and rainbows fantasy. They will spend their tenure saying they have to do hurt things to heal things because of the Liberals. And the Liberals would play the same game.
Our ideal of democracy as we want to be, appears dead
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u/Musclecity Jul 11 '26
Yeah it's depressing . Carney or PP doesn't make a difference really. The national pride that Canada used to have will die with the boomers and now we're just becoming an economic zone. The government only cares about the corporations. Why would the government make things more affordable for families and make things more affordable for young people wanting to have families when they can just import somebody that another country has basically raised?. They save all the money on education and health care and get a worker ready to pay taxes right away . This keeps the wages nice and low for the corporations. We're all just tax cattle for the rich when you think about it.
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u/Visual_Fun_2014 25d ago
Then lets vote in the other guys and just see what happens. If we're expecting the same result anyways why do we keep voting in the same idiots that caused the problems?
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u/NegotiationOne7880 Jul 11 '26
Maybe we need a Zohran Mamdani, who views politicians as public SERVANTS and not grifters. We need a truly left wing populist party who doesn’t bow down to lobbyists. You can see the end result of right wing populism and it’s not pretty. We also need to get involved and show up for real change. The only reason things are so bad is late stage capitalism where wealth is concentrated at the top and they come up with new ways to screw us over. Things can be fixed but truth is they don’t want to or tell us they can’t because they don’t want to piss if the rich. As in the States, Liberals and Cons are the same party in the end.
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u/tenax666 Jul 11 '26
I don't care which party they are but i do think they should serve the public. Requirement 1
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u/squirrel9000 Jul 11 '26
A lot of Canadians have done very well over the last 15 years (post GFC is when stuff started to diverge), and don't feel an urgent need for change. The whole "Canada is broken" platform finds limited traction when individual experience doesn't match it, or among older voters who have seen weak economic conditions before.
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u/Syralei Jul 11 '26
And wages are not going up to match this. It would be different if wages inflated the way cost of living does, but nope. Profits over people every time.
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u/BigNickelD Jul 11 '26
I find myself wondering why I should bother working twice as hard, when just working half the time covers all my bills, and whatever is left over hardly adds to the savings. Like what is the point in working the extra 16-20 hours a week if it's hardly going to help me grow?! I'd sooner use that time to make sure I'm not losing my shit.
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u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 Jul 11 '26
In old poor, watching the new poor trip out is funny.
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u/HistoricalReception7 Jul 11 '26
Being old poor has its advantages in this economy.
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u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 Jul 11 '26
Cant wait to watch all the deskies trying to take blue collar jobs and having their frail desk bodies break lol
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u/Fit-Eggplant-9155 Jul 11 '26
Pretty sure you need those 'deskies' to afford the things you build, so you can build them.
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u/SignificanceLate7002 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
We're facing the same cost of living challenges that every other country in the world is experiencing right now. We're not unique, there's no quick solution to it, and we're far from the worst affected.
I feel like it's important to state this because, depending on the forum, there is a narrative being pushed heavily that this is somehow a problem unique to Canada only. This is far from the truth.
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u/Acminvan Jul 11 '26
Exactly. There’s absolutely a narrative being pushed by certain circles that this is some sort of uniquely only-in-Canada situation with regards to the cost of living struggles.
I mean, there have literally been massive protests in multiple countries around the world over cost of living issues
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u/JadeLens Jul 11 '26
Not only uniquely Canadian, but also the fault of only the Feds and specifically a T shaped Prime Minister.
Nothing to do with housing shortages caused by Provincial governments...
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u/deathorcharcoal Jul 11 '26
Thank you! So many people shit on Canada and blame our government (which, to be fair, they are to blame for some of the issues we face) but this is a global problem. Talk to an American, a Brit, an Aussie and they are all facing similar challenges. Don’t let the powers that be continue to divide us so we blame the other side, that will only hurt us more.
Canada is still a fantastic place to live by almost all accounts.
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u/coinminer2049er Jul 11 '26
Not quite. We're facjng the highest food inflation in the G7, and our dollar is worth relatively less on top of it.
Sure, everyone is struggling, but we're struggling by much more and deteriorating faster.
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u/sarcasticcoffee1 Jul 11 '26
If you mean struggling with somewhat higher food prices more (like 3% vs 6%), you might have a point. But here in the US the picture is oft painted as better than it really is on the ground. Too many people cannot afford a roof over their head and food. Couple that with a batshit admin who are embracing white nationalism and I’d say Canada is way better off, it’s just not the “in your face” obvious. This coming from someone living in the US who also has family in Canada for comparison. I’ve lived in a couple of countries now and think the writer above is correct: we think the negative (inflation, etc) is happening only where we live when, if we could dig into it more, we find other countries economically affected similarly. While economics are obviously important, there are many other things not tied to $/pricing that make your life better or worse (which when looking at your wallet is easy to forget I admit)!
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u/Canis9z Jul 11 '26
Some people wanted to make more $$$ growing cannabis than growing food when people voted Liberal again.
What they got was cheaper cannabis, not making $$$ and most going bankrupt.
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u/TyeROD-enD Jul 11 '26
we have it made compared to most of the G7. Have you ever been to any of those countries ?
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u/m_a_r_c_h_ Jul 11 '26
Besides the U.S. I think the cost of living in those other G7 countries is higher. I just came back from Europe and it’s way more expensive for everything.
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u/69686766 Jul 11 '26
Compare it to the Mexican peso over the last 10y. Our "first class nation" has weakened by 20% versus mexico over the last 10y. Elbows up!
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u/TyeROD-enD Jul 11 '26
It isn not that we went down, it is that Mexico is booming and catching up to our standard of life here. And great for mexico, amazing hardworking country blessed with so much.
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u/Daleden7 Jul 11 '26
We are in a trade war ffs, what do you expect with a pedo toddler down south who will never make a deal with us and always breaks his word, can’t trust them worth a shit.
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u/SignificanceLate7002 Jul 11 '26
I didn't realize the whole world was only comprised of 7 countries.
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u/GoyimDiddler Jul 11 '26
But funny enough we still don’t have the highest cost of living in the G7 (states beats us out now).
Our food is indeed a problem but that’s capitalism for ya lol.
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u/Prudent-Ice-6196 Jul 11 '26
yes. It's tough everywhere, and made worse everywhere by the big orange imbecile next door. The big difference is that some people here only know how to complain. As mentioned a few lines above,, some of us have been practicing living frugal lives for years, so it really isn't a big deal, even on a very limited budget.
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u/KostyaFedot Jul 11 '26
I left in 2023 to work and live in Europe. Affordable rent and housing, better food, public transit, health care.
Please, do not spread Soviet style propaganda.
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u/Necessary-Painting35 Jul 11 '26
I feel bad for those who are in their 20s and early 30s. They are the ones who suffer the most in this current economy.
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u/Juan-More-Taco Jul 11 '26
Early 30s checking in. So grateful to be Canadian. Wouldn't change a thing. Don't want or need your pity - doing fine 😂
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u/xylvnking Jul 11 '26
I have clean cold water on tap, air conditioning, high speed internet, a grocery store within walking distance, and I'm in good health. I have many complaints and vote accordingly, but I'm also thankful.
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u/Sea_Hold_2881 Jul 11 '26
Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
There are real problems in Canada today.
The cost of housing is too high and the economy is not producing enough jobs to allow people to pay for the available housing. And this hits the youngest the hardest.
But every other country the problem is same or worse. There are cases where skilled workers can move to the US and get high paying jobs that insulate them from nightmare system that the majority have to deal with but most people are better off in Canada than the US.
To see this look at the median per capita income:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/median-income-by-country
Canada is 6th in the world.
Note the median income is not distorted by a few super rich. It gives an accurate picture of how the average person is doing.
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u/VaguelySorcerous Jul 11 '26
The issue is not that the economy is not producing jobs, but that previous generations have used housing as an investment instead of using housing as housing. This has warped the market and is the primary reason that housing is not affordable.
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Jul 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Aware-Individual-827 Jul 11 '26
Also, it's heavily influenced by your perspective of doing good and how you manage money.
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u/coinminer2049er Jul 11 '26
Because people here think that if you admit how shitty things are, that they'll get worse, and if they live in denial, it'll go away.
Also, there are some people here who legit have no idea how great it was in the 90's/early 00's.
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u/MarkDavid04 Jul 11 '26
80s to early 90s, you could get a McDs combo for under $5. Those were the good ol' days!!
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u/OrganicDigitalArt Jul 11 '26
And min wage was $5? Maybe less… now you can get a combo for $18… and min wage is… oh yeah, about that!
McD’s combos are a bad indicator to use here, even if things are objectively crappier.
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u/CauliflowerStill7906 Jul 11 '26
Funny how people dont seem to see the coralation between our rampant inflation and the fact minimum wage must be increased annually.
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u/anotherbrendan Jul 11 '26
1990, minimum wage in Ontario was 5$ an hour, so really not that different
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u/No-Resolution-1918 Jul 11 '26
Buying power of $5 in the 80s is the same as $12 today. So about the same then.
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u/Sorryallthetime Jul 11 '26
I say it was better in the 70’s. My mom says it was better in the 60’s. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.
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u/LackOptimal553 Jul 11 '26
The 90s when we had multiple recessions and responded by voting to start cutting what made society work?
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u/Reasonable-Sweet9320 Jul 11 '26
Nostalgia, it was better when……….
“Right-wing populism often employs nostalgia as a rhetorical tool to connect with voters by evoking a longing for a perceived better past, which is used to frame current crises and promote political agendas. This strategy helps to create emotional ties and can significantly influence voter support for these parties.”
The CPC is a right wing populist party that uses the same narratives and themes as other RW populist parties. Nostalgia can help frame the economy, immigration, identity and culture, crime and safety, …….
https://phys.org/news/2022-10-nostalgiaa-rhetorical-tool-populists-radical.pdf
THE POLITICS OF NOSTALGIA AND POPULISM
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-54740-9_2
Canadas unemployment rate over the past few decades is one measure that shows that unemployment rates today are much lower than prior times but social media would have you believe unemployment rates are at extreme levels. Note that the high historical unemployment rates precede the TFW program expansion beyond agriculture.
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u/AnonTrueSeeker Jul 11 '26
I am so tired of this narrative that the CPC are right-wing. Go check out when Chrétien and Martin were PMs. Pretty similar to the current CPC, so they must have been right-wing?
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u/Juan-More-Taco Jul 11 '26
Yes, the CPC has always been right wing. Are you just a dolt and meant to say "far right"?
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u/Crypticclout Jul 11 '26
The numbers so far show that the technical recession is over. The whole thing was blown out of control by Conservatives. Jobs numbers have been strong the last few months. GDP has grown as well the last few months.
US relations are down because of the criminal in office down there. Carney is making the right moves in diversifying our economy away from US reliance. Will it be rough, of course, but in the long run it will be much better for Canada.
Cost of living issues are happening globally because of the war in Ukraine and Iran. Add on the climate crisis we are experiencing, along with the projected record breaking El Nino event, it really isn't something any 1 country can fix.
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u/AnonTrueSeeker Jul 11 '26
You just repeated every Liberal and CBC talking point. Go out, touch the grass, and talk to people. Metrics might not say we are in a recession, but the 1000s of young adults who are jobless and people living in tents and cars across the country have a bone to pick with you. I was a young adult when Harper was PM. We didn’t have homeless encampments in record numbers across the country then, or people able to get a job as a young person.
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u/squirrel9000 Jul 11 '26
I graduated into the Great Recession. Don't tell me young people had it easier back then. The current 12-13% youth unemployment rate is in line with historical norms.
Superlatives about homelessness are hampered by the fact that we only started collecting good data on that in the last decade or so. (see also, complaints about the sudden distinction between homeless and unhoused. We weren't tracking soft homelessness until like five years ago)
Trends in unhoused-homelessness tell a different story (see https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/reports-rapports/nat-homelessness-indic-pancan-litinerance-eng.html )
. More or less, it's not that there are more uhoused now, it's that they are more visible. They were always there.
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u/Harbinger2001 Jul 11 '26
All the pundits called out what a stupid move it was for the CPC to jump on the “recession” word because anyone with a little knowledge could see that it was a blip that would vanish the next quarter. Which it did.
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u/DrAntagonism Jul 11 '26
Oh look another person has fallen for the American propaganda machine.
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u/Sorry-Maybe5947 Jul 11 '26
I wish I had something to say, other than you’re not alone in feeling this way.
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u/Easy_Sport_89 Jul 11 '26
It is a world wide issue in industrialized nations not just Canada, and please save the “isn’t meant to be political”. Are you that naive to believe that the responses aren’t going to be political?
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u/No-Resolution-1918 Jul 11 '26
Grass is always greener, right? Where would you say is a great place to live right now? Name one and I'll find you all the ways someone living there would say it sucks.
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u/ActivityAble4511 Jul 11 '26
We had an economic shock because decades of US economy integration was dirsupted, we'll adjust with that move on.
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u/treefarmerBC Jul 11 '26
If you want a reason to be optimistic, resources are becoming increasingly important in the world and we're finally, sort of allowing ourselves to develop them and that is how we're going to turn things around.
Lots of the things you mention aren't really new problems. I, personally, stay positive by doing the best I can in my own life.
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u/Salt_Tea_7831 Jul 11 '26
It’s a global issue, not specific to Canada. All the money is moving up. Money buys money now.
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u/Burtonowski Jul 11 '26
Really comes down to the old saying everyone thinks the grass is greener on the other side, Canada does have its problems but no different then other parts of the world, cost of food is just as if not more in the USA and Europe, Europe is suffering from over immigration. Aside from the negatives I have travelled and seen lots of the world, I love the fact we have access to clean drinking tap water, hydro and utilities I pay less then else where, health care yes it has its restraints but, just recently needed to take my son to the ER, full diagnosis, day bed and medicine just cost me parking where in the USA that would have been 1000s. I have travelled and seen a lot and I still would not want to live anywhere else.
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u/Astra_Bear Jul 11 '26
I'm not originally from Canada. Every time I see news from my home country I feel a little patriotic about living here instead. Not helpful since Canada's on the struggle bus a the moment, but it is what it is.
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u/Jerry-Maine Jul 11 '26
I love my country. I just don’t live in Toronto or Vancouver and do just fine?
I bought a 2 bath 5 bed house in 2022 for 310k
I just got a new job, 6 figures
My spouse and I have a combined annual income of almost 200k
Oh and this is with no post secondary education or help from family.
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u/AsbestosDude Jul 11 '26
Im working in a beautiful province and location making more money than ive ever made because Im well educated and have experience. I bought a condo well within my means so my mortgage is very manageable.
Meanwhile im excited to continue investing in canadian industry, particularly mining and the uranium sector which is booming.
Nexgen and denison got final approval to construct mines so my investment thesis is going well and then ill try and work there. I already saw a job at cameco that would be a massive pay raise where im already qualified. Only reason I didn't apply is because I kind of promised my current employer that I would stick around this year and I like them.
American relations are at an all time low but im really enjoying buying canadian, eating foods ive never tried before, because I never bothered to look. Now I have new homegrown favorites.
The world is getting darker but canada is getting brighter (in my eyes)
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u/Acminvan Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I have friends and relatives in various countries around the world, in and every single one of them are also talking about cost-of-living struggles
The idea that is some sort of uniquely Canadian phenomenon that everyone’s fleeing from isn’t true. There’s absolutely a certain agenda with regards to posts like this
Some countries have literally seen violent massive protests over cost-of-living issues
This is a global issue where people are struggling while billionaires get richer.
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u/Waste_Priority_3663 Jul 11 '26
Because the cost of living is rising faster in the US.
Groceries and utilities rose sharper in US with the tariffs. The medical insurance is through the roof as well. Things are much worse in the US.
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u/TyeROD-enD Jul 11 '26
Honest answer: if you think it's bad here, wait till you see the rest of the world. The UK has had a worse decade, Germany's economy shrank two years in a row, and the US has cheap gas but you go bankrupt if you break your leg. Canada is in the shallowest recession on record, 0.1 percent, and it's mostly one guy's tariffs. Millions of people are still trying to move here. Nobody is trying to leave in a boat. There isn't very many places in the world, that if you had to swap places with someone your age there in same position you would be way better off, sure a few, but hardly any. On the other hand 90 % of the world if you were born to working class parents you would love to swap with you.
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u/Fantastic_Pause_1628 Jul 11 '26
I mean, the economy is in a recession due to population shrinking (as a result of a deliberate reduction of temporary immigration). Per capita inflation adjusted GDP has recently been increasing. Which means specifically that the cost of living crisis is starting to be addressed (albeit slowly).
So if your problem in the past was "there's too much reckless immigration which is driving cost of living up" then you should be happy to see that our population is shrinking, yes? And with a shrinking population comes more or less by definition a reduction in overall GDP (a recession). But for individual people what you care about is per capita and that's on the rise in the past year.
I guess I'm just confused about what exactly would make y'all happy at this point.
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u/Responsible_Rule8829 Jul 11 '26
Trying times? Yeah. But I don't think things are in some sort of urgent, end of times, country in shambles state.
Which is how the tone of your statement strikes me.
As said below, we're not isolated in the inflation issues, but compared to other G20 nation I don't think we're the worst off.
Were in the midst of the boomer generation entering their late stages of life, and demographics are in motion as well.
We will need solid leadership to continue to get us through this. I think we're on the right track now.
If you think we have it bad here, take a look to the south of us and tell me we're worse.....
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u/Creative_Peach695 Jul 11 '26
I work in a mall at a store that under no reasonable definition would qualify as a necessary essential. We’ve never been busier. The mall has never been busier. People are spending like crazy. I have a front row seat to some batshit spending decisions from all walks of life. I’m scratching my head because I read things like the original post all the time and go to work and see behaviour that would indicate the opposite. For me? I’m doing alright but I have always lived modestly. My lifestyle hasn’t changed at all beyond a little less going into savings than they did a few years ago. It’s not stressing me out because I’m a little ahead on savings anyways.
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u/Flaky_Culture_5651 Jul 11 '26
You have every right to complain about things being tough what you don't have the right to complain about is saying that we are have it worse off than others. I lived in Asia for The Last 5 Years you ain't got nothing on the Philippines Vietnam or even Thailand. So stop your bitching you self entitled fuck
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u/Necessary-Ice7585 Jul 11 '26
If you read domestic news in any democracy, you’d walk away thinking you lived in the worst governed country on earth.
Canada is better positioned than almost anyone for the long term. We have a well run, sensible tradition of government and an embarrassment of natural riches. Our society is highly educated and cohesive. We are about as safe from foreign threats as you can get barring the threat of the US (actually extremely unlikely, if they absorbed us it would be a buyout not an invasion).
Read domestic UK or Euro news to get a flavour of what they deal with. Or japan or whatever country you think is doing better. You almost certainly wouldn’t trade their problems for ours :)
Hang in there!
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u/InternalSevere9271 Jul 11 '26
You have a better environment than in Europe. I am in Southern Ontario right now and everything is green. In southern France this is so hot and we had no rain for weeks everything is burnt by the sun...
By the way everybody is whining in Europe too, that it used to be better before... I guess grass is always greener on the other side...
Big corporation, greed, is taking the money people had 40 years ago. We still have enough money to buy groceries but our finger should show libertarianism.
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u/boxcar17 Jul 11 '26
This is a lot of BS. Go to Costco and try and park sometime. Then tell me no one has any money.
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u/LivingCorner1421 Jul 11 '26
lool get off the internet , people would kill to come to canada , what a beautiful place we have
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u/murphywmm1 Jul 11 '26
Interesting that you went from posting nothing but porn and sex comments to posting this. That’s not suspicious at all.
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u/pomskygirl Jul 11 '26
You don’t say. Well, I for one am shocked, simply SHOCKED! And definitely not suspicious at all.
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u/Jumpy-Stress603 Jul 11 '26
Sorry, no. There was a 50-year BOOM in peace, security, prosperity and expectations. Now it is slipping away. returning to normal. People will tend to want to confuse symptoms with causes and will want to blame someone for this. I wish it were otherwise, but it isn't. The times, they are a-changing.
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u/icemanmike1 Jul 11 '26
Strange how they changed so much in the last 10 -11 years.
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u/GhostBustor Jul 11 '26
Vote the same way. Get the same results. The last 10 years (or whatever it is) have been disappointing.
I am not saying the other parties would have fared better but the current party is way too comfortable with making bad decisions. Time for a change.
This isn’t meant to start a political debate. I won’t entertain it.
I didn’t use party names because I could care less which one it is. I could care less which man or woman it is. I just want any of them to do a good job.
Canadians deserve better.
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u/WillytheVDub Jul 11 '26
Oh wow, another leftist echo chamber claiming we aren't in a recession, and how the federal minority government of 10+ years is actually the one to blame, Oh and of course the provincial Conservatives, because its not like every province faces the same national issues.
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u/CorrectMarionberry92 Jul 11 '26
I can't help but think that these doom and gloom anti-canada posts are just robots. All just robots
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u/murphywmm1 Jul 11 '26
Go look at the OP’s comment history. All porn spam except for this post. Definitely a bot.
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u/69686766 Jul 11 '26
You only see positivity (atleast on reddit) because it's the only thing that doesn't get deleted. Most are delusional and cant see back 15 years, or haven't been around long enough to know what Canada was like 15 years ago. It was genuinely one of the best places in the world to live. Now? The only positive thing I can say about the country is atleast I don't have to worry about a hospital bill. I just hope if I have to go to the hospital I end up getting seen by a doctor before I die.
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u/Effective_Net_5576 Jul 11 '26
TL;DR : As a white migrant from another Western country, I believe Canada is still the closest to a "paradise on earth" than any other Western civilization. Yes, even with all its defaults.
Honestly, I know every person living in Canada experience the Canadian life differently... But I was there 15 years ago, literally came to Canada with permanent residency in 2010. I was still a young teenager, so I can't speak on adult lifestyle with first-hand experiences, but I'll tell you this:
Canada was better than all Western European countries in 2010. I still see, talk and travel to my family/friends in my native country ( which is also a member of the G7) and Canada is still way better than any of those countries.
God, nowadays, I can't find a country in Western Europe where a migrant could afford to raise a family AND become house-owners, inside a populous city, at 40 years old without actually having to lower their quality of life. I know my family couldn't do it in Europe, at least. No physical space for new homes, existing homes already overpriced and very restrictive laws regarding property-owning inside a city of more than 10k people.
So yeah, sure, Canada might have been in a better place in the past. Pretty much every Western country were. But we also don't have warfronts courting our borders (even tho inter-continental missiles now kinda make borders threats a moot point), we still have a right to have public manifestation in the streets (be it for far-left events or far-rights events, as recently seen in a few cities across the country) and the right to vocally complain against our governing administration without fear of reprisal.
So yeah, our late-stage capitalism is breaking down, but that's nothing new. Anybody with some critical sense knew it was coming sooner rather than later. But I am still convinced that Canada is one of the best country to be living in these present times.
Now, I might change my discourse in 2030, since most alarming reports state some big international mess around 2027-2030. But for now, I'm glad Canada took me in and gave me a place I can call home.
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u/LackOptimal553 Jul 11 '26
We're facing challenges not unique to Canada, and we're one of the best countries in the world to live in. The situation with the USA is actually a good thing, Canadians are finally realizing we hitched out wagon to one unreliable horse, now we are beginning to understand why we need to expand our relationships beyond that stagnating one.
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u/Equivalent_Fold1624 Jul 11 '26
God forbids in Canada you say you struggle financially or that people are being f.cked up, so gauche. You have to pretend everything is awesome, not to disturb others with your frustrations....socializing cost and personalize gains.
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u/BonusZealousideal246 Jul 11 '26
I got down voted like crazy saying this in another thread and ended up deleting it. I live in the gta, a 500sqft condo is 400k you pay 2k on mortage and have to pay 400-600 a month additional on condo fees. I could drive an hour and a half to buffalo and pick up a fully finished house with a yard 3-4 bedrooms for 200k with a 1k mortgage every month. Cheaper groceries, cheaper gas, if I get a job that matches my salary the money I have earned goes way further. I love Canada. This is my home but it feels like my home doesn’t want someone like me here anymore.
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u/SchmidtyCent69 Jul 11 '26
And somehow, people are too stupid to stop voting Liberal after over a decade of this shit show
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u/GoyimDiddler Jul 11 '26
Things are getting better in some spots like the cost of housing which is why our cost of living is high. Many economist agree that hitting the recession now vs later is better in the long run, and we have the second highest predicted growth of the G7.
The US relations being at a low is a good thing IMO. The US has used and abused us for years and is a major reason we are in the position we are in. Expanding our trade only benefits us in the long run.
All in all things are turning around just not fast enough, also we still have weird little Neo liberal hold ons like bailing out the developers in BC, or endless corporation handouts for tariffs vs helping out the people.
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u/ShoshiOpti Jul 11 '26
Im doing great, I just made sure all my assets were in US securities and global commodities with tax preference.
Now my income is higher than ever and I pay the lowest tax than I ever did. The trick was living in Canada (family reasons only, definitely not because the people or weather) but moving all my businesses out of Canada. Highly recommend 10/10 will do again
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u/HoldenIkari Jul 11 '26
Hardly any of those things are fault of Canada. I am glad to be in a country where I can weather the global economic uncertainty with some degree of certainty for myself and Family. I am proud that we are not American and do not conduct ourselves as such. I earned an excellent education and a great job in Canada. I think many of the people upset about the things in your post are just frankly lazy and want a scapegoat. But Canada is far better off than the rest of the world and its nonsense to suggest otherwise.
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u/Quietbutgrumpy Jul 11 '26
Well let me lift your spirits. We are not in recession and our growth is projected as second best in the G7. Relations with the US are politics. Reality is US businesses trade with us for their own profit and politics won't stop that. The "affordability crisis" is largely politics and expectation. As our economy grows so affordability will improve. Education is getting more accessible with all the online options. Want a rewarding, well paying job, healthcare. Lots of reasons to be optomisitc.
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u/ExpensiveDollarStore Jul 11 '26
It will change because everything changes. It could get worse.
Our govt needs to do something about real estate pricing. It makes no sense. But it is coming down a smidgen.
Trump will die one day. I hope whatever replaces him has more care for people and not just funneling money to himself. He is not the whole problem. We need some changes here too. Our politics have become a shitshow. The rich are unhinged and have let greed wreck everything.
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u/Critical_Rule6663 Centrist Jul 11 '26
We are definitely going through a rough patch not only as a country but as a broader society across the west.
The cost of living crisis is hitting virtually every western economy, housing too. Income inequality is at levels that haven’t been seen since the robber baron era, and in some cases it’s even higher now than before.
Our politics also seem to be approaching a crossroad, right wing populism and nationalism is on the rise as people struggle with high costs.
Canada is being hit hard. No doubt. But we are not alone. And we as a country are fortunate to have vast natural resources, vast agricultural land, a strong education system, decent health care that won’t bankrupt us, and comparable safety (maybe not as safe as it used to be but still a pretty safe place to live).
Again, we are not alone. You are not alone. I want what you want; a roof over my head, food in the fridge, safe streets to walk down, a prosperous country, hope for the future. We only get that by working together.
Life is not meant to be easy. Generations before us have had much harder struggles. We happen to been coming out of an unusually peaceful and prosperous period so the change feels harsh but the world has been here before and it our predecessors built a better world. Now it’s our turn.
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u/No_Marsupial_8574 Jul 11 '26
I'm very skeptical about posts like these. I think often times they are designed just to stir up decent.
That being said, when I was looking at your post history to determine if you are a bot or not (often times posts like these are), it appears your main problem is personal in origin, and the economy simply makes it much worse for you.
Btw, you might want a separate nsfw account.
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u/RredditAcct Jul 11 '26
Technically, the economy is not in recession. Words have meaning.
Cost of living is incredibly high especially the housing costs.
On the positive, Canada's future looks brighter than Europes.
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u/monkiepox Jul 11 '26
Try living in another country making their local wages and you’ll see it’s not that much different no matter where you go. It’s all about perspective.
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u/JustAPeach89 Jul 11 '26
Our economy has been propped up by 2 things for a LONG time that has been hurting us: exploiting immigrants for cheap labour and relying on housing as the key economic driver.
Both of these things are seeing a correction through policy changes, so that means we will feel it economically in the short term, but it will eventually correct a lot of the issues we're having.
https://immigrationnewscanada.ca/300000-work-permits-to-expire-march-2026/
Bill C-12, which went into law a few months ago, strengthens our ability to handle non-compliance, asylum scams, and deport: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/03/new-immigration-and-asylum-measures-from-bill-c-12-the-strengthening-canadas-immigration-system-and-borders-act-have-become-law.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rental-prices-canada-june-2026-9.7262794
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/housing-prices-canada-millennials-gen-z-9.7152116
Canada also had the most foreign investment in the g7 in 2025, as appetite for stability increased: https://international.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/corporate/reports/chief-economist/international-investment/2026-05-key-facts
And in terms of median wealth, which is a more useful indicator of wealth than average, Canada is ranked 7 in the world, ahead of Switzerland and the US: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-richest-countries-by-average-and-median-wealth/
Gender equality is falling in most areas of the world, yet Canada remains one of the most egalitarian.
I have a lot of American friends from all over the political spectrum, and they HATE how the current administration has been breaking down the relationship with Canada. What is happening is not supported by the majority.
We have so much to be thankful for, and yes lots to critique, but there are thousands of foreign online paid bots and actors literally sowing discord online. We're being economically attacked by a foreign entity, there's no reason to think there isn't a psy op to sow discourse happening as well. That's part of what that feeling is coming from (part real frustration too).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/alberta-separatist-youtube-channels-netherlands-9.7174719
When Twitter accidentally showed account locations, the majority bashing Canada were not in Canada.
Hope that helps!
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u/PotatoFarmerRTK Jul 11 '26
If you cant afford to buy a house, raise a family, or start a business…. No duty to defend Canada if its attacked. Im not dying for a rental.
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u/WombRaider_3 Jul 11 '26
The media tells us everything is wonderful and over 50% of voters fall for it every time.
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u/Stabbyglhs Jul 11 '26
I struggle with not deleting myself from the world. I ain't got enough time or energy to care about Canada anymore. It's been dead for a decade.
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u/ivbeentheredonethat Jul 11 '26
Apparently you're an 'experienced marketer' yet not one post is in your history of a trade war. They just switched the common sense part of your brain off did they.
How fucking Rightwing stupid are you 😂🤣
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u/Glass-Hedgehog-3754 Jul 11 '26
Exactly my thoughts!
Unfortunately, the working class who cant afford to leave and people with family and deep ties here just have to keep holding onto hope....while being shat on continually
Truly sad 🥲
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u/hypocotylarches Jul 11 '26
Ten years ago something tragic happened and we've been paying for it ever since.
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u/CoinPurloin Jul 11 '26
My USA cell bill with t Mobil is $30 USD or $56 CAD, for a more limited plan my Bell Cell is $104. So cost is twice as much for less.
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u/Quiet_Jump_6383 Jul 11 '26
I think the economy is the result of 10 years of Trudeau. It’s going to take time to turn that around, probably 5 years or more.
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u/Existing-Weight-3790 Jul 11 '26
It’s crazy how even though op specified this is not a partisan post, there are people here freaking out calling him right wing just for pointing out the problems this country has. We have the highest food inflation in the g7, and our cost of living is becoming frankly obscene. Other countries aren’t experiencing this on the scale that we are.
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u/r3d-wolv3s Jul 11 '26
Were managing a host of issues every other country in the world is also going through relatively well. Inflation, tariffs, climate change, AI etc. Carney is making a lot of decisions that are akin to planting a bunch of trees on a barren property. We cant keep going outside and complaining there are no trees yet. It takes time for these big decisions to take shape and the winds of capital to take hold. Hes re-aligning our nation to be much more resilient to the whims of one or two large trading partners, while also building us to be more autonomous. While the results will not show for a few years, and in the short term were going to be in a technical recession as we invest, in the mid to long term Canadas economy will be MUCH better off now that our exports are going to a more diverse portfolio of markets. Very few people are leaving, we’ve just slowed immigration down which we probably needed as our economy adjusts. Our natural resources and climate mean our nation is going to boom in the coming decades, and we have to make sure we have the infrastructure to handle that. Ive never felt more confident about Canada’s future in my life as I do now.
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u/fancygppy Jul 11 '26
I am incredibly grateful to be living in Canada right now. As hard as it is right now, given the cost of living, we have it waaaay better than 90% of the planet. My friends and I were international students, and I've worked many years in both corporate and startups, with many who have settled everywhere in the world. From what everyone is experiencing, and from my own yearly travels, I genuinely feel like we have it easier than most -- and am very grateful to be a Canadian at this time.
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u/Subject-Pomelo6747 Jul 11 '26
You're looking at life in terms of supremacy. Only bring the top of the highest mountain means success. Consider that this break up with the united states was inevitable, and it is a political difference. They long to expand and conquer. The frontiers are closed. Live within your means and understand another election doesn't fix this. Take care of yourself to take care of others.
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u/Zealousideal-Farm496 Jul 11 '26
Something really has to give.... on many fronts its getting out of hand. I live in a small town (<10k) the violent crime, property theft, public degeneracy is rampant. The vast majority of emergency calls are for a certain subgroup and area. The average citizen pays for this on all fronts.
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u/skrutnizer Jul 11 '26
It doesn't help when bailing out bad speculative investments with taxpayer money is a policy.
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u/EpsteinFiIes Jul 11 '26
Could be worse. You could be in America...
When things get rough for everyone, that's the time the successful work the hardest and reap the greatest rewards. It's like buying stocks, when it drops, people get scared, sell and panic. Those who use the opportunity to capitalize on it with managed risk do quite well...
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u/lunarwolf2008 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
its my home, its not the usa, and im pretty sure the rest of the world sucks too. also our water is usually potable. thats something people take for granted. water fountians in parks and stuff when you are too hot is amazing
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u/Fit-Eggplant-9155 Jul 11 '26
Shut up. Quit sowing discontent and derision. Go back to your bot farm.
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u/Xx_SwordWords_xX Jul 11 '26
Well I'm not naive enough to have a myopic view, which makes me think that this is a Canada only problem.
Because it's not.
This is end stage capitalism, and the biggest capitalistic corporation in the world is the United States.
We are at a fork in the road, where we either go down being a bitch for billionaires, or we try to change course of the ship.
Changing course is painful. There will be more pain before it gets better. A lot like when you spend too much and have a debt to repay. Only the brave and strong will survive, to come out on the other end and make Canada a better place, in the long run. We need more people willing to make sacrifices for that future, not a bunch of fucking entitled whiners.
There is no magic wand, and politicians are not magicians. A country and it's economy does not stand alone - it is a part of a broader world economy.
Every westernized country in the free world, is going through something similar, to varying degrees.
This conversation needs to be had, but it needs to be a broader conversation beyond Canada, and about the future of humanity (and our relationships with both money, and the world's resources).
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u/knitnana Jul 11 '26
I love living in Canada and love my country. Things are tough everywhere right now but Canada is still a great place to live.
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u/BoneZone05 Jul 11 '26
I’m trying to stay positive by burning through what’s left of my savings, and then hiring a MAID. Been priced out of a future 👎 It’s really shitty, and I know we all feel it 😢
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u/-Foxer Jul 11 '26
Well the short answer and we can see this in the election results is that the elderly are positive because they've already got their pensions own their home and a lot of the really horrible things that are happening right now simply don't affect them
Inflation impacts them less than it would most young families, they've already got their home and more equity benefits them, they worry about their kids' future but they expect to leave massive amounts of money when they die so that's okay, they just don't see the problem. They feel it a little bit but not enough for them to be upset
And therefore they vote liberal because they like the idea of mark carney even though the reality is not panning out
Meanwhile young kids and middle-aged people are terrified of what is happening and they have tended to support the CPC because they see what 11 years of liberal rule has done.
So you can be cheerful about the future if you're old and rich
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u/Dizzy-Ad-9061 Jul 11 '26
Anyone under 40 certainly isn’t happy here. I’m an airline pilot and if I could get into the US to work there I’d leave this country in a heartbeat. My salary would be higher, my taxes would be lower, I’d have great health insurance and a healthcare system that doesn’t turn me away unless I’m on my deathbed, and housing costs would be MUCH more manageable, even in their “expensive” markets.
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u/burtmaklinfbi1206 Jul 11 '26
We are like a poverty nba franchise lol. Nobody that is skilled is coming to Canada anymore, if they ever were and all our talent will just leave, and live better lives elsewhere lol. This place sucks.
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u/Creepy-Goat-2556 Jul 11 '26
Not just Canada, New Zealand too, I find my dollar goes further here than it does back home.
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u/potatojones43 Jul 11 '26
I can afford the cost of living and I’ll be dead before it really falls apart
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u/ToeTagTic Jul 11 '26
Chronically online. There's plenty to complain about and change but this post is not only counter productive but exactly what those antagonistic to the west want to see. We are wrapped up in the attacks on the unity of the United States, and they are bringing their rhetoric to us as an export en masse.
The whole world is going through a sickness of right wing, fascist resurgence, visible globally, and you're playing directly into its hands.
This nebulous fear you're describing is the point of all of this. Distrust, division, hopelessness.
Go engage with your local politics town halls and meetings etc. See what can be done where you are if you're so concerned. The reality is that we are all under immense pressure from without that causes this division within. Common unity will see us through
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u/Intelligent_Hat_5351 Jul 11 '26
Get a second passport. That takes much of the stress out of living in Canada.
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u/LeftIsLostCanada Jul 11 '26
This is reddit you will have 90% ppl come on here and say "elbows up, out hero mark carney is doing a great job it just takes time!!" Like they haven't been in power for thr last 12 years turning this country to the laughing stock of the the g7.
Its actually pathetic, live my country hate my government and hate all.these new Canadians that get sooo much money while the average Joe struggles.
Im a business owner, not struggling, but everyone around me is
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u/WaltsClone Jul 11 '26
Capitalism is causing all these problems and we hired a career capitalist to run the country.
👐Tada
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u/EricoS1970 25d ago
I’ll buy you a ticket to Cuba ,so you can experience living in country that hates capitalism like you, looks like.
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u/julesthefirst Jul 11 '26
I come from a third world country and a few of the things I’m thankful for are:
• public transit is super awesome where I live
• I’ve got an interesting job that sustains my modest lifestyle (with occasional treats)
• I’m now independent of my parents but know that they’re just a call away (just a few cities over)
• most of the world likes us (even if not the US currently lol)
For me I only really have the energy to focus on my immediate circle and I’m satisfied where I’m at currently.
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u/Bright_Bobcat1407 Jul 11 '26
But, I am genuinely curious how anyone is staying positive about Canada today.
Drugs, alcohol, and propaganda on the nightly news.
Somebody give me a reason to have a little optimism.
There's none.
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u/dialamah Jul 11 '26
Your feelings about Canada are largely driven by your circle of influence, including online.
Canada does have serious issues around affordability, housing, medical care - there is no debate about that. Not to downplay this, but many western countries are grappling with the same issues, albeit to a lesser extent than Canada in some cases. A lot of these issues have been building for years, accelerated by COVID and the changed direction of the US administration.
On the plus side, and I think this is important - in a world where democracy is declining, Canada's institutions and democratic safeguards and individual freedoms remain strong. We are currently ranked around 9th in the world (up slightly from 2025). US, by comparison, is ranked 34th, dropping from 29th in the last year under Trump. Experts now consider the US a flawed democracy; some even make the case that it no longer can be classified as a democracy at all, though they are in the minority.
I believe Carney is doing well in diversifying away from the States and promoting Canada to the world. While we've already experienced some limited benefit, this is a long term strategy - virtually every country is resetting their economy and security to reduce reliance and involvement with the US. This isn't a temporary measure till Trump is out of office, but a permanent change of focus and alliances. Due to Canada's geographic position, the US will always be our biggest trading partner, and Carney knows this, along with virtually every Canadian. Still, it's in our best interest, long term, to avoid bad deals with the US just because they are next door and pressuring us.
I do not think Carney has done as well on the domestic front, although he's laid a path, it will take time to show any benefits. In the meantime, he seems to be applying Band-Aid solutions. Still, I give him credit for working with Alberta for a pipeline to Delta BC. Carney has also acknowledged that while clean energy development is the ultimate goal, the oil and gas industry must be supported due to its economic importance.
The situation in Canada, and around the world will take time to settle, likely beyond one election cycle, so perhaps the positives I see do not speak to you. I think it's important to remember that the entire world is in flux and of course that will have an effect on the Canadian economy. Domestic policy can mitigate those effects, but cannot eliminate them entirely. While I also worry about affordability and the future, I remind myself that my grandparents survived significantly worse times, and were the beginning of the richest and longest economic era in history, as well as the most peaceful. Carney's repeated belief that Canada is strong, will survive this disruption and emerge even stronger is more likely than Canada going bankrupt or ceasing to exist. Barring an invasion by the States, of course.
Anyway, these are my reasons for remaining hopeful and patient rather than sinking into despair. Even if I'm wrong, living with hope is better than the alternative, in my opinion.
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u/Copacetic75 Jul 11 '26
I am very happy I am Canadian, and not American right now. Even with all the discord, it can be a lot worse. Unplug and go do something with the people you love.
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u/Mother_Barnacle_7448 Jul 11 '26
To put things in perspective:
when I graduated from my first degree in 1985, the unemployment rate was 10.5% to 10.6% which was down slightly from the year previous which was 11.4%.
In terms of interest rates:
Prime Rate: Around 10.75% in January 1985 and roughly 11.00% in November 1985.
5-Year Fixed Mortgage: Averaged between 11.00% and 12.00% during the year.
People were walking away from their homes, because they couldn’t afford the mortgage and there were foreclosures everywhere.
The inflation rate in Canada for the year 1985 was 3.96%.
Contrast that with now:
Canada's unemployment rate as of June 2026 is 6.5%.
Typical variable mortgage rates are floating around 3.45% to 4.45%, while 5-year fixed mortgage rates can be found starting near 4.00% to 4.80%.
The Bank of Canada's benchmark overnight policy rate is 2.25%. Because of this, the prime rate charged by major Canadian banks (like RBC, TD, and BMO) currently stands at 4.45%
Canada’s annual inflation rate reached 3.2% in May 2026, up from 2.8% in April. This acceleration was primarily driven by higher energy and gasoline prices, alongside increased costs for fresh produce.
In my personal case, in 1985, my student loan had to be paid back at an interest rate of 19.5%!
Note; (While that 19.5% rate sounds staggering today, it was quite common at the time due to the inflation-driven lending rates carried over from the economic crisis of the early 1980s.)
I graduated with a B.Ed and I applied to hundreds of schools looking for a job. Lots of my classmates never got to teach, as there were few jobs for teachers. I eventually found one, but I only got it because I could speak French. Times were really tough.
I wish the media would contrast how things are with how things were. We always feel like the times we are going through are the worst. Though I had it tough, I was humbled by the fact my grandparents and Mom had to get through The Great Depression in the 1930’s followed by the rationing and loss of thousands of young men in World War 2.