Disadvantages of being in GTA
Jump to Page:
< Previous [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Next >
Location: GTA, ONTATIO, CANADA
Posted on: 10-06-10 08:55:08
In a Delhi, where India is still considered a third world country, they went and build so many bridges and put a plan and build the Subway which will cover almost all parts of existing Delhi.
In Toronto where the Highways is a living HELL do you guys see any plan, not now but in next 20 Years of how the Govt will solve the problem. NOOOOOO.
Yes this is what they did, identified the problem, robbed all the Tax Payers build the 407 and made it private. No people have no choice and keep paying the toll. There is not going to be any new highway or major transportation expansion in atleast 10 years.
Now the another scan the HST Tax. They are giving everyone making less than $160K/Family couple of hundred dollars and we will keep paying the HST in Ontario for rest of our life.
Take more and more from the common man and fill the pockets of the govt employees.
The (idiotic) people of Ontario deserve what they get - for re-electing Dalton Mc"Guilty" 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft - Which end of the stick do you want today?
My family has lived in the GTA, both Toronto proper and the suburbs for about a decade now, so I thought I could give a more balanced reply.
Positives:
1) Ethnic food options: I don't understand the poster who ridiculed food in the GTA. The options are amazing, and if you do enough searching, can get them for decent prices too! Anything you want is available, authentic Korean food near Christie station, Buddhist Vegetarian near Toronto Western hospital, Indian food all over (Albion/Islington, Coxwell/Gerrard, Brampton/Mississauga), Chinatown, you get the idea.
2) Affordable real estate: In Vancouver, SF bay area, NYC area, real estate is much more expensive than here. To some extent, this is because geography in GTA is more conducive to urban development/sprawl. Average house prices in city of Toronto proper are still 350-400k, and you can get better deals if you move further away. The real estate market has also not gone through dramatic bubble-type increases recently, unlike Calgary or most US cities, so you can trust your investment more.
3) Public transit within Toronto: While the TTC has its problems, it is still one of the largest such systems in the world. The bus network is excellent and can get you anywhere within Toronto. The subways are not as spread out as they should be, mostly because of the lack of political will.
4) Quality of life: This is obviously subjective, but there are several studies that have rated quality of life very highly in Toronto (see Toronto wikipedia article for references). My family has personally had an excellent time here and we have no plans to move.
5) Religious institutions: Basically any religion you can think of is well-represented here. If you are Hindu, I can point you directly to several large beautiful temples I know of in the GTA that conduct authentic services and worship sincerely.
6) Proximity to North-east US: This has been a big plus for my family. We have many friends that live in the Northeastern US states, and living within a few hour driving distance of them has been great for us.
7) Air connectivity: Definitely the best in Canada, unless you only want direct-East Asia flights, in which case Vancouver is better.
8) Security: Toronto is one of the safest cities in the world for its size, especially comparing it to similar US cities like Boston, San Francisco, etc. Homicide and robbery rates are much much lower. The suburbs are even safer. Of course, there exist more unsafe areas of the city, but the level of poverty in these places is much less extreme than the disparities seen in US cities, Winnipeg, Vancouver, etc.
9) Biomedical and high-tech: Most high-tech and biomed companies have large campuses here. Biomed research is huge in Toronto, with University of Toronto having 7 affiliated research hospitals that together make Toronto the 3rd largest biomedical research center in the world after Boston and San Francisco. There is lots of research money here, and it only seems to be growing.
Negatives:
1) Urban sprawl and commute times: If you live in the suburbs and work in downtown Toronto, prepare to spend a lot of time commuting. As other posters have already said, the major freeway arteries are not nearly enough to address growth. The only thing I can say in its defense is that commute times in the GTA are not as bad as they could be (LA area, NYC-NJ area, Washington DC area or SF bay area, for example).
2) Ethnic "ghettoization": There are many areas in the GTA you can go to where you can forget you are in Canada. Many people like to live with their own "kind." Depending on your perspective, this could be a plus too I guess. On the other hand, second-generation immigrants tend to not have such preferences and are okay with living in a more diverse neighbourhood.
3) Pollution: Toronto certainly has a bad reputation for smog. If you are used to Indian city pollution levels, pollution here is nothing, and factories/car emission levels are very strictly controlled here.
4) Flat geography: Some people want alpine relief in their cities. Toronto is not Vancouver or Calgary in this respect. The GTA is pretty flat, although we are a few hours drive from the Canadian Shield if you like your geology, from Algonquin Park for awesome fall foliage, and from some tame skiing places in the Blue Mountains.
Desi Tiger as per your point of view, ontario resident are idiot then you are part of them too as your location is in Mississauga
Quote:
Originally posted by new york
Desi Tiger as per your point of view, ontario resident are idiot then you are part of them too as your location is in Mississauga
Read my post again - I said the "idiotic" residents of Ontario get what they deserve by voting for MCGuinty. I didn't vote for MCGuilty
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft - Which end of the stick do you want today?
Boy o boy, too much Toronto bashing here and due to what - four O one? Have you ever lived anywhere else in Canada and then compare what you got in Toronto that other Canadian cities don't? I sersiouly doubt. I lived in Toronto and Vancouver, both. Travelled a bit in States, so here (again) my verdict. And, by the way Delhi with it's flyovers and massive metro-isation still hold the dubious title of world's most dangerous place to drive. It has got the priviledge of most traffic related deaths per capita than anywhere else in the world. So, figure. Despite of all the money showering on it's train network, highways, and flyovers it still has traffic issues. Mind it, you can see the traffic is stacked bumper to bumper even on those flyovers. So, don't be in illusion that Delhi traffic is better than Toronto (oh boy! did I just laugh my brains out?). To set the record straight, I am from Delhi and know it inside out.
Advantages of being in GTA:
1. Affordable real estate: I can't stress this enough, espcially if you compare with Vancouver(including it's burbs). If you (an average joe) could buy an affordable detached home with ease and free it in say 15 years then I would call that market affordable. Unlike Vancouver or Calgary where it takes forever to pay off your mortgage and at the end of it you finally end up saving nothing. So, all's well in Toronto when it comes to the affordable real estate. Now, don't tell me it's not true. I can show you MLS listings to prove my point.
2. Maximum no. of Public universites/colleges for your offsprings: Do you know Vancouver(or BC) has only two major Public universities and about 4-5 colleges (I hate comparing Toronto with Vanc, but what to do as I have lived in these cities to end up doing this over and over again). Ontario has a vast network of universities in proximity - Ryreson, Waterloo, Toronto, Western Ontario, McMaster, Humber, George Brown, Ottawa, Sudbury, etc. Your sons/daughters have more choices there.
3. Headoffices/Headquarters of almost each and every company: This surely provides you more career choices and opportunities to earn/learn more. More opportunities of advancements/growth than anywhere else in Canada. The end result - more disposable income.
4. Airport and connectivity: Better connectivity to Europe and India. There are more flights that go to India than from anywhere else in Canada. Any Indian airlines that set up shop in Canada first start from Toronto and that's a plus. It gives you more choices to fly and with cheaper fare.
5. Better immigrant services and co-op programs: Self-explanatory.
6. Lower gas prices
7. Better Public transport: Those who say it's not, how can you forget GO trains/buses that connect you to the far flung municipalities such as Oakville, Burlington? You can't beat Toronto's public transport with that of anywhere else in Canada. I doubt.
Disadvantages:
1. Four O one: I never drove there but I base my opinion on all the comments pertain to it.
2. Ghettoization: Not that I have any issue with it as long as the community/neighborhood/municipality stays crime free. But, we as Indians need to mingle with other communities as well.
3. Lack of scenic places: I might haven't been to most but what I saw it even lacks a good parks.
4. Too much competition and Indian work culture (at it's worst): Competition due to the fact that it attract more no. of immigrants. Indian managers and bosses work the Indian way, thus spoil the work environment. I would rather have a caucasian manager than an Indian one (yes! I am generalizing, but it's true - ask yourselves).
I might be biased regarding the above, but that's my opinion based on my experience while I was in Toronto. Decide yourself by taking into account your priorities.
Quote:
Originally posted by homer729
My family has lived in the GTA, both Toronto proper and the suburbs for about a decade now, so I thought I could give a more balanced reply.
Positives:
1) Ethnic food options: I don't understand the poster who ridiculed food in the GTA. The options are amazing, and if you do enough searching, can get them for decent prices too! Anything you want is available, authentic Korean food near Christie station, Buddhist Vegetarian near Toronto Western hospital, Indian food all over (Albion/Islington, Coxwell/Gerrard, Brampton/Mississauga), Chinatown, you get the idea.
I get the idea and will revise my statement as such - "with the exception of ethnic food, eating out at places serving North American food is expensive and the food is usually worse than what I will want to feed my dog"
That is my balanced opinion as I usually eat out 3 times a day and in the process have tried many different restaurants all over GTA
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft - Which end of the stick do you want today?
