Canada is a fucking joke
That's pretty much it. Place is a shithole. I made the mistake of getting talked into moving up north to work at my bank's HQ, after having secured a US Work Visa to crank deals from the NYC office (I'm from Australia originally but went to school in the US on scholarship for sports). And man does this place SUCK. I should have never left the States. Everyone is soft as hell, there are no good jobs, grad schools are a joke and the cities are more like glorified towns compared to NYC.
Canada is literally the amateur leagues of life. I have very little respect for grown men who end up 40 years old and living in Canada. Once this market flushes itself out I'm going straight back to NYC or potentially even Chicago or Miami.
Based asf
Yea Canada is gay, coming from a Canadian. If you’re in finance and had the opportunity to work in the US you should have not come here and should head directly back south at your soonest convenience.
Canada is not the place to be if you want a good and long career in finance.
Canada is basically Australia but with shit weather
Australia has better salaries compared to Canada (talking about overall salaries idk the difference in IB salaries)
Well yeah, Sydney is also more expensive than Toronto and Vancouver. IB and PE comp is pretty comparable in my experience
Canada is basically North Korea with shit weather
Except Canada is a leftist shithole whereas Australians are pretty chill
Most places are the amateur leagues of life vs the US my man, coming from a Europoor
Canada is a joke and its declining quickly. Get out ASAP.
Did they get you with the usual:
"Yea, Canada... it's really close to [U.S. / NYC], eh? You're only about an hour away. It's not? Oh, so sorry..." lol
Which province?
Don't want to dox myself but I'm not in Toronto and was given basically this exact rationale. "It's just like the US but people are friendlier, it's basically the same as NY!"
Spoiler alert, it is not the same as NY.
LOL ...exactly what I figured. It tends to be a standard pitch I've heard a few times.
On the bright side, Canadian women tend to be attractive and fun (I dated a few, a while back); but that can be difficult to notice while freezing, and while frustrated with everything else.
I always find it interesting how they tend to look at "the States" almost like having a cool neighbor, who they hope will invite them over... lol
If possible, look into NYC options for your next step. Good luck.
Toronto is the only city worth being in if you're in Canada and even then its equivalent to a Tier 2 American city.
Anything smaller than Toronto or maybe Montreal is horrible
Absolute shithole of a country - stay the fuck away
As a Canadian, I whole heartedly agree. Every Canadian I know in finance is trying to move to the US, same for my engineering buddies.
We are like the worst of both Europe and the US- Europe has shit pay but amazing work life balance, way better cities, food etc.
The US has shit work life balance but fantastic salaries.
Canada has the shit pay of Europe combined with the poor work life balance of the US.
You also get a shittier job market in Canada even during good years
I'm American but all my colleagues in Toronto are desperate to leave. Super high income tax, high sales tax, crazy 20%+ tipping culture, dental/physio/Ortho not covered by the money you guys pay through taxes, 2mm for a shit little place, bad grey weather. A lot to not like.
You think that's a joke wait till you try to view a foreign news article not approved by their censorship police. It's incredible to see how far the country has fallen in just over 10 years.
Trudeau has won 3 general elections. That should tell you all.
Apart from that, Toronto is like being in Dehli, if the rest of big cities are the same... lol
Doesn’t sound like you have any hope for peoplekind in this country
-
Just came back from igloo fest. Was fun. 13 dollar apres ski ticket into Dombresky show. That’s all I can provide.
The best continent is definitely north america. You got canada, the US and even mexico
No one is debating this
You swallowed the bait and didn't even move to Toronto? Dude you deserve to get suckered lol.
I agree with your comment apart from the bit about you having no respect for men who are 40 and live in Canada. You realize that some people just can't get out, right? A lot of my colleagues in Toronto are desperately trying to leave and move to the U.S. but it isn't easy to get down here and have an actual path to a green card.
At the same time, you moved up to a country that notoriously is terrible yet you aren't even in the main city...
Yeah that was shitty, I was just having a rough day. I understand quite well how hard it is to find sponsorship and I'm trapped here for the same reason. The bank that sponsors me wanted me to move, while in the midst of laying off other of my colleagues, and I didn't have much a choice. Just frustrating to have made it to NYC only for this to happen.
I will say, the people are good people, it's just not where I want to be.
.
I wasn't given much of a choice, people were getting laid off and because I was and am on VISA sponsorship it's not easy for me to simply lateral elsewhere on short notice. They did sell it up to me like it would be some awesome experience in a global hub-city so I wasn't that bummed about it at first but this winter has been fucking me up.
In all likelihood if I would have been unwilling to go to the HQ they'd have probably just cut me. I honestly think they were doing me a favor because I am on VISA and they are nice people so I'd have been fucked if I got RIF'd.
I see, I rescind my original comment. I initially understood you to have 'opted' into the new location as opposed to having very little choice. Given the context you provided, Im sorry about your situation OP, and wish you luck in re-recruiting back in the states.
My mans not even in Toronto either lol yeah you got sent straight to the gulag
Best to worst outside of Toronto (purely subjective)
1. Vancouver
2. Montreal (doubt he's there, I can't picture an Australian speaking the language of New France)
3. Calgary
Van IB is not that big that they'll bring in people from other countries to work there lol
Vancouver is nice if you’re outdoorsy but the downtown scene is super sleepy and finance culture is basically the opposite of Vancouver lifestyle
Montreal is fun but wouldn’t want to live there with the French barrier
Would not even entertain living anywhere else in Canada
.
Canada is the Back Office of North America.
Joking, I've had some great times in Montreal/Mont Tremblant. Look at the positives - you don't have to worry about gun violence and being spit on by homeless dudes.
what if that's his kink tho?
Homeless problem is not any better in Canada now, they will try to chase/harm you unprovoked
Agreed, there's some homeless dude on the street I used to live on who'd always be screaming at people for no reason, he'd just stand there all day yelling and yelling, sometimes even to himself lol
Toronto has a massive homeless issue, people get spat on all the time
X
Don't worry guys, Olivia Chow is on it
Can't imagine how triggered canadians must be on the regular when they live in a shithole country, arctic wasteland and prob super lonely given people could be a mile apart from the next house on the street
Outside of major cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal etc, probably just patches of grass and ice, like imagine being a resident of Saskatchewan
For 20 years all they could do was boast about their health care system and criticize the U.S.
You need to wait 6 months+ to get a doctor's appointment, more when needing a specialist. Recently heard a private clinic taking appointment for 1.5 months later.
Healthcare is useless, doesn't matter if it is affordable. You die before you get the opportunity to afford it.
US, they'll bankrupt you, but at least they treat you on time and make sure you live.
The taxes and high cost of living in Canada are untenable. I actually earn a lot less on a gross basis than a colleague in Canada and yet after tax I earn a lot more. This is also after me taking into account saving US2k/month as a disaster case for healthcare to top up my private plan. I really feel for people in Canada as I think the country is devolving into a socialist mess where you're either very rich (and probably don't spend much of your time in Canada) or you're dirt poor and live off of government handouts.
As a Queenslander I reckon the NYC winters are hard enough, thoughts and prayers m8
Don't be a bogar mate
Perhaps you might need that Canada Gooose. Unfortunately still a long way away from a hoodie and shorts back at home.
Generally speaking, if you look at details of the Canadian economy, on a national and provincial level; as much as many (e.g. ESG) don't want to admit it, a significant portion of their overall economy is tied to oil and gas (I think Canada is the 4th largest oil producer), with Alberta effectively carrying the load.
https://www.capp.ca/economy/canadian-economic-contribution/
Overall, Canada loves to present a woke perspective, meanwhile trying to ignore that their economy is (at least to a large degree) dependent upon a number of factors that don't mesh with that woke perspective. Thus, Canada it's a form of woke hypocrisy; where they 'appear' woke, meanwhile, ignoring the inconvenient truth of many factors. We (in the U.S.) see through it as laughable and problematic, yet they are so caught up in their own rhetoric to even fully grasp that reality (although, some do notice, but I'm addressing government-level focus).
Between oil, and taxes, much of the economy is still dependent upon oil (or government). For example, even the strippers in Canada travel a circuit around the oil fields, and other industries likewise exist to support the oil and gas workers (i.e. to make money from those workers).
Keep in mind that the entire Canadian population (~38.25 million people) is almost equivalent to the NYC metro area (~23.6 million people), so they aren't heavily populated with taxpayers, but they tax heavily, and benefit from industries that they love to insult -- similar to how the U.S. government loves to criticize banking, billionaires, oil, and everything else, until it's time to suck up for political donations. lol
To explain the Canadian (government) approach to industry and taxes:
It's as if the IRS (U.S.) was robbing you, with a happy and goofy smile; and then tomorrow, proceeds to insult you, and deny your existence, meanwhile spending that money, which they just stole from you.
That's why a lot of us tend to see their approach as overly woke and hypocritical.
(Then again, the U.S. 'wealth tax' discussion, and government attitude towards billionaires in America, is largely applying the same approach).
Not trying to change the topic or anything, but the Canadian government is beyond eye-rolling at times, with their approach to industry and taxation.
Would say the CoL there is quite high compared to incomes
Another issue is how there are so few jobs available in high finance compared to places like the US - I think its far more competitive to get a job in Toronto for example for a graduate of any school compared to people in NYC
Also unis themselves seem to be quite difficult with tough grading systems in many classes
Yup, way fewer jobs in Canada even after adjusting for population (per capita) compared to the US. Couple this with all the immigrants Canada brings in and it’s a recipe for disaster. I think there’s like 4-5 IB analyst openings rn across the whole country lol.
You can have a great record and go to the best schools in Canada and still not break in- generally that’s not the case in the US.
The post and the big majority of the comments are based (I am in IB in Toronto).
Great username
Only the real ones notice ;)
I fully agree. I came here for PR and citizenship. And decided to do that through the Rotman MBA. And oh my god, everyone shop cares about the GPA. It’s completely an undergrad culture and robs you of all the experiences you want in the MBA program. As you constantly have to study and care about the GPA. IB shops prefer Canadians even if they do not have relevant experience. Entry to IB is only through the GPA. You’re barely upskilling through b schools and only studying.
The only upside is it gives an immigrant guaranteed security as opposed to US!
You're right, GPA matters way more for IB here, even during experienced analyst hire recruiting RBC was asking everyone to send their transcripts during the application process. I don't see that being common in the US, especially during lateral hiring, plus many top MBA programs don't allow employers to ask for grades.
Can't agree more. Literally the only reason I am here. On the plus side, I am getting opportunities which I know I wouldn't have got in my country so that's great!
I just looked into this today--the Canadian economy in terms of GDP per capita has hardly grown at all in the last decade, about 8% compared to 37% in the U.S. That stat is astonishing. A decade ago, the U.S. was barely ahead per capita but the U.S. is now lightyears ahead. Also, Canadian unemployment is materially higher than the USA's, averaging something like 5.4% in 2023 compared to 3.6%. That's a gigantic gap.
Yup. And it's been even worse since the pandemic. I don't recall the exact figures, but the Canadian economy has barely recovered just above pre-pandemic levels whereas the US has bounced back in a major way.
same with Norway and Australia. Guessing because all 3 economies are heavily tied to commodities (commodity supercycle, ups and downs, and so on and so forth); massive growth from 2000 to 2014, then gg
American born and raised, but reading threads like this really helps me be grateful. Sometimes I wish I made more money or had a nicer boss, etc. But in the grand scheme of things, life is good. If I lost my US citizenship, I’d probably do the same job for half the pay just so i could stay here.
(deleted) I cannot read.
dr. jordan peterson agrees with you
Realest statement 🦅🦅🇺🇸RAHHHH
The brain drain has always been an issue, but I think even 10 years ago Canadians would generally accept the higher taxes / lower pay because housing was relatively affordable, healthcare was actually available, good schools etc...but the social contract is definitely breaking. If you have a kid in Canada, what future do they have even as a doctor or in finance or whatever without a huge inheritance? I say that as someone who moved back to Canada and loves Toronto, but I also have the benefit of working remotely for a US company.
Good point and timely as today the City of Toronto is announcing an increase in property taxes of ONLY 9.5%, down from the originally proposed 10.5%.
You are criticizing the whole country but is your experience coming from living every place in the country or just local area?
Places where you need to live in order to work in IB or other finance roles are shithole (Toronto, Van, Calgary), other places are fine but not ideal for young people who want a good career.
Yeah, job market in Canada just isn't great. What a shame too. Toronto and Montreal are cities I love visiting but all my relatives in Toronto who are around my age complain about the income ceiling they feel in Canada.
So glad someone finally said it. I searched for finance roles for months to no avail (with BS & MS from two very well-known universities in the U.S.). One of my friends told me that BMO Capital Markets hired a whopping 1 analyst that year in our city. I packed up and left for Hong Kong pretty much immediately where I am now happily working and living. I am actively networking and preparing for my return to the U.S. in the next few years.
It's quite flattering that anyone would compare Toronto to a New York or other Tier 1. You guys are delusional. On its best day (and we are wayy past that), AT BEST, it's a LONG SHOT comparison to maybe an Austin?
Why would you even live downtown? Around the financial district feels dystopian and City Place is full of dogshit. With banking comp, you're very comfortable in like nice areas of midtown or High Park and the like.
The Canadian economy is mid and decades of bad policy are exacerbating structural issues, but I don't understand how ANYONE on banking comp is not insulated. Like none of that shit affects me at all, I own a home, live it up and def don't feel a pinch. I actually love it here. Great sports scene, awesome social life and food if you step out of the King / Queen West bubble (even as close as the Ossington strip) and my WLB is wayyy better than my NY / other Tier 1 banking days.
No shit the US has way better upside, just compare sizes and sophistication. Y'all are either terrible with money or just froth at shitty headlines. MS me all you want but if you're raging because "you're stuck here", you don't have the bones to make an exit somewhere better.
"City Place is full of dogshit"
Hahaha
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