Info about relocating to Toronto

[MM]

Hi!

I may relocate from Europe to Canada, in particular from Milan to
Toronto. I'd like to discuss a bit about things related to Toronto,
ranging from tax calculation to cost of life, from neighbours to avoid
to the 10 great things that make Toronto one of the best place to live
in the world (right or wrong? hopefully right). Consider that I don't
really like Milan, infact I live 30 Km far from the city, in a quite
house in front of the mountains.

Really, I have never been in Toronto and from what I can see from here,
basically surfin' the net around, Toronto seems beautiful. There should
be some problems of course, and if you can be so kind to name and
discuss them I'd appreciate it.

It may be worth to mention that I will relocate together with my family
(my wife and my 2 little kids, of age 1 and 3), therefore any
suggestion concerning in particular my family would be really useful.

TIA
MM

[nobody]

Post by MM
Hi!
I may relocate from Europe to Canada, in particular from Milan to
Toronto. I'd like to discuss a bit about things related to Toronto,
ranging from tax calculation

As Ontarian resident, you will pay about 49% (as of last year)
of your income in taxes in one form or another. Federal, provincial
and municipal socialist governments are eager to keep increasing
taxes, although more often than not they are not calling them that.

Post by MM
to cost of life, from neighbours to avoid

Understandably, cost of life is cheaper in the areas you would
want to avoid.

Post by MM
to the 10 great things that make Toronto one of the best place to live
in the world (right or wrong? hopefully right).

I don't know where you found this info, but if it ever was true,
it must have been 20-30 years ago. Today, it's just a pile of garbage
with congested traffic and "managed" by socialist lords. Oh, and
nurders are on almost daily basis.

Post by MM
Consider that I don't
really like Milan, infact I live 30 Km far from the city, in a quite
house in front of the mountains.

Do you want to trade? Solid brick house in front of the mountains
for a wooden one in front of social housing highrise? And it still can be
30 km from downtown.

Post by MM
Really, I have never been in Toronto and from what I can see from here,
basically surfin' the net around, Toronto seems beautiful.

You can "see" a lot on the net. It just doesn't make everything true.

Post by MM
There should
be some problems of course, and if you can be so kind to name and
discuss them I'd appreciate it.

If you insist on Canada, go west - BC, Alberta.

Post by MM
It may be worth to mention that I will relocate together with my family
(my wife and my 2 little kids, of age 1 and 3), therefore any
suggestion concerning in particular my family would be really useful.

First go yourself, leave family home and don't sell the house. Try
to find a decent job, see how it goes, then decide if you want to stay
and bring your family. Living alone is much cheaper, which will allow
you to stretch your capital, in case the reality will be distinct from
your surfing experience. Unless you are filthy rich, but then you
probably wouldn't want to move to Canada, eh?

[MM]

I am trying to distill away the cynicism from what you have written (no
offense intended, it is clear that you are a lot critical about the
idea of relocating to Toronto). 49% taxes seems a lot, but I may be
wrong. Your last suggestion is a lot reasonable, anyway. If you can be
so kind to mention a few places of Toronto that you like and that you
may suggest for living I'd really appreciate it.

MM

[Upscale]

Post by MM
I am trying to distill away the cynicism from what you have written (no
offense intended, it is clear that you are a lot critical about the
idea of relocating to Toronto). 49% taxes seems a lot, but I may be
wrong. Your last suggestion is a lot reasonable, anyway. If you can be
so kind to mention a few places of Toronto that you like and that you
may suggest for living I'd really appreciate it.

He's not the only one. As for living, I'd suggest almost anyplace outside of
Toronto. Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Barrie, Waterloo, London Ontario,
anyplace except Toronto. Toronto is very much turning into one big concrete
jungle. Condominiums everywhere, no grass, fewer small businesses, traffic
everywhere, just concrete, roads and street people with their hand out
asking for your money. I live and contract in Toronto, but I have my eye out
for the first suitable full time job outside Toronto.

Am I cynical? Damned right I am, but it's from practical experience and has
nothing to do with what anybody else has to say.

[MM]

I have done some research on mapquest, here are my findings. I'd like
to have your opinion about:
*) how much mapquest estimates are optimistic
*) how long does it take to use public transportation for commuting

Post by Upscale
He's not the only one. As for living, I'd suggest almost anyplace outside of
Toronto. Newmarket,

Total Est. Time: 44 minutes Total Est. Distance: 32.85 miles

Post by Upscale
Richmond Hill,

Total Est. Time: 33 minutes Total Est. Distance: 21.70 miles

Post by Upscale
Barrie,

Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes Total Est. Distance: 57.27 miles

Post by Upscale
Waterloo,

Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes Total Est. Distance: 69.87
miles

Post by Upscale
London Ontario,

Total Est. Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes Total Est. Distance: 120.88
miles

I mean: more than 1 hour is really too much.

Post by Upscale
anyplace except Toronto. Toronto is very much turning into one big concrete
jungle. Condominiums everywhere, no grass, fewer small businesses, traffic
everywhere, just concrete, roads and street people with their hand out
asking for your money.

I need to understand how to mediate your position with people saying
that Toronto is full of green, parks, calm, a nice place to live with a
family, etc.
There must be some truth in both positions, but it makes me only more
confused.

Post by Upscale
Am I cynical? Damned right I am, but it's from practical experience and has
nothing to do with what anybody else has to say.

I'd rather say that you are pragmatic, which is a lot better. But if
your cynical you may be biased. Anyway, this is starting to sound
philosophycal...

THanks a lot
MM

[nn]

I live in Unionville, ON which is about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto.

Here is a link to a website with some pictures and other info.

http://www.guidingstar.ca/Virtual_Tour_of_Main_Street_Unionville.htm

I really love it here and would highly recommend it.

Post by MM
Hi!
I may relocate from Europe to Canada, in particular from Milan to
Toronto. I'd like to discuss a bit about things related to Toronto,
ranging from tax calculation to cost of life, from neighbours to avoid
to the 10 great things that make Toronto one of the best place to live
in the world (right or wrong? hopefully right). Consider that I don't
really like Milan, infact I live 30 Km far from the city, in a quite
house in front of the mountains.
Really, I have never been in Toronto and from what I can see from here,
basically surfin' the net around, Toronto seems beautiful. There should
be some problems of course, and if you can be so kind to name and
discuss them I'd appreciate it.
It may be worth to mention that I will relocate together with my family
(my wife and my 2 little kids, of age 1 and 3), therefore any
suggestion concerning in particular my family would be really useful.
TIA
MM

[andrei]

Post by MM
in the world (right or wrong? hopefully right). Consider that I don't
really like Milan, infact I live 30 Km far from the city, in a quite
house in front of the mountains.

If you like living in "a quite house in front of the mountains", you
should definitely go west: AB, or BC..
I lived in Toronto for 4 years. Yes, I loved it; I still love it.
Still, I must say GTA (Greater Toronto Area) is huge. Should I mention
that "30% of canadian population lives in Southern Ontario"?
You drive for 2 hours north, and there is no "quite" place. What you
see is houses, cottages, houses, cottages...
I went to Toronto because this was the place where the job was... It
seems no longer true...
And, I left Toronto, because I could not find a job there. So, I found
a job - and moved.

As for high taxes, it depends... You pay more in one place, and then
less - in another. The bottom line probably does not change that much.

[Karin]

If you like big city living, Toronto is for you. Toronto is a miniature
NewYork city. You get the expensive shops, cultural emenities such as art
galleries, museums, concert halls, theatres and lots of dining,
International, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Caribbean, Greek,
every kind of food imaginable is available. I like to visit those
frequently and find travelling from the suburbs too much of a hassle. We
have lots of bedroom communities outside Toronto. That';s exactly what they
are. You sleep. Nothing to do. No culture. Service stations and coffee
shops, Macdonalds at every intersection. Bayview and Sheppard is close to
the subway, takes 30 minutes to travel downtown. Same if you find a place
along the Spadina subway. Those are the areas I would recommend since you
have small children.
Everyone here has brought up good points about living in or near Toronto.
Something else I'd like to add, Toronto air quality is toxic. We had over
40 smoggy high polluted days this summer.

Post by MM
Hi!
I may relocate from Europe to Canada, in particular from Milan to
Toronto. I'd like to discuss a bit about things related to Toronto,
ranging from tax calculation to cost of life, from neighbours to avoid
to the 10 great things that make Toronto one of the best place to live
in the world (right or wrong? hopefully right). Consider that I don't
really like Milan, infact I live 30 Km far from the city, in a quite
house in front of the mountains.
Really, I have never been in Toronto and from what I can see from here,
basically surfin' the net around, Toronto seems beautiful. There should
be some problems of course, and if you can be so kind to name and
discuss them I'd appreciate it.
It may be worth to mention that I will relocate together with my family
(my wife and my 2 little kids, of age 1 and 3), therefore any
suggestion concerning in particular my family would be really useful.
TIA
MM

[test]

if u live on the subway route, and like taking subways you will be 'OK'

if however, u decide to live in the burbs, and commute to the city.
you can expect a 30min drive to take upwards of 4 hours on some days
because of traffic and highway insufficiency.

I have lived in a few places in Canada, Toronto is easily the worst.
if you like efficiency, and elegant design, stay the hell away
its the armpit of the country.
go for BC.

...I am from the east coast, where its nice
but no jobs at _all_

Post by Karin
If you like big city living, Toronto is for you. Toronto is a miniature
NewYork city. You get the expensive shops, cultural emenities such as art
galleries, museums, concert halls, theatres and lots of dining,
International, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Caribbean, Greek,
every kind of food imaginable is available. I like to visit those
frequently and find travelling from the suburbs too much of a hassle. We
have lots of bedroom communities outside Toronto. That';s exactly what they
are. You sleep. Nothing to do. No culture. Service stations and coffee
shops, Macdonalds at every intersection. Bayview and Sheppard is close to
the subway, takes 30 minutes to travel downtown. Same if you find a place
along the Spadina subway. Those are the areas I would recommend since you
have small children.
Everyone here has brought up good points about living in or near Toronto.
Something else I'd like to add, Toronto air quality is toxic. We had over
40 smoggy high polluted days this summer.

Post by MM
Hi!
I may relocate from Europe to Canada, in particular from Milan to
Toronto. I'd like to discuss a bit about things related to Toronto,
ranging from tax calculation to cost of life, from neighbours to avoid
to the 10 great things that make Toronto one of the best place to live
in the world (right or wrong? hopefully right). Consider that I don't
really like Milan, infact I live 30 Km far from the city, in a quite
house in front of the mountains.
Really, I have never been in Toronto and from what I can see from here,
basically surfin' the net around, Toronto seems beautiful. There should
be some problems of course, and if you can be so kind to name and
discuss them I'd appreciate it.
It may be worth to mention that I will relocate together with my family
(my wife and my 2 little kids, of age 1 and 3), therefore any
suggestion concerning in particular my family would be really useful.
TIA
MM

[Chris]

shut da fuck up

Post by test
if u live on the subway route, and like taking subways you will be 'OK'
if however, u decide to live in the burbs, and commute to the city.
you can expect a 30min drive to take upwards of 4 hours on some days
because of traffic and highway insufficiency.
I have lived in a few places in Canada, Toronto is easily the worst.
if you like efficiency, and elegant design, stay the hell away
its the armpit of the country.
go for BC.
...I am from the east coast, where its nice
but no jobs at _all_

Post by Karin
If you like big city living, Toronto is for you. Toronto is a miniature
NewYork city. You get the expensive shops, cultural emenities such as art
galleries, museums, concert halls, theatres and lots of dining,
International, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Caribbean, Greek,
every kind of food imaginable is available. I like to visit those
frequently and find travelling from the suburbs too much of a hassle. We
have lots of bedroom communities outside Toronto. That';s exactly what they
are. You sleep. Nothing to do. No culture. Service stations and coffee
shops, Macdonalds at every intersection. Bayview and Sheppard is close to
the subway, takes 30 minutes to travel downtown. Same if you find a place
along the Spadina subway. Those are the areas I would recommend since you
have small children.
Everyone here has brought up good points about living in or near Toronto.
Something else I'd like to add, Toronto air quality is toxic. We had over
40 smoggy high polluted days this summer.

Post by MM
Hi!
I may relocate from Europe to Canada, in particular from Milan to
Toronto. I'd like to discuss a bit about things related to Toronto,
ranging from tax calculation to cost of life, from neighbours to avoid
to the 10 great things that make Toronto one of the best place to live
in the world (right or wrong? hopefully right). Consider that I don't
really like Milan, infact I live 30 Km far from the city, in a quite
house in front of the mountains.
Really, I have never been in Toronto and from what I can see from here,
basically surfin' the net around, Toronto seems beautiful. There should
be some problems of course, and if you can be so kind to name and
discuss them I'd appreciate it.
It may be worth to mention that I will relocate together with my family
(my wife and my 2 little kids, of age 1 and 3), therefore any
suggestion concerning in particular my family would be really useful.
TIA
MM