Leaving the Maple Leaf: Why Canadians Are Moving Away

What is living in Canada really like? Is it a country of broken dreams? Why are so many Canadians moving away? What is happening to the land of freedom and opportunities? What is causing the great Canadian exodus?

Question after question.

Many issues are causing Canadians to move away and look for greener pastures. The cost of living is skyrocketing not only in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Small towns are suffering and are affected by a lack of housing, unaffordable high rents, high gas and heating costs, crazy high food prices, and constantly rising taxes. Savings are disappearing fast. Over two million Canadians use the foodbank every month, and the number is rising. People are hurting.

According to a survey, the most important aspect of the Canadian Dream is financial security, which many people have lost.

And there is increasing crime like never before. Gangs and organized crime are a part of the city scenes, something we used to only hear about happening in the USA.

Canada has long and harsh winters, with snow and ice covering much of the country for several months each year. Moving away from harsh winters to a warmer place with an affordable cost of living and more freedom is an attractive alternative to a large Canadian population.

This blog updates an article first published in 2017. It gives insight into what’s happening in Canada and reflects my experience and opinion. Please do your own research. Read more about me.

After a horrendous accident that could have killed him, my heavily injured son was thrown out of a British Columbia hospital after one night in the emergency room. With all his ribs broken and a broken collarbone, water pockets in the lungs, nerve damage and plenty of bruises, he was told around 7 pm by the doctor that they couldn’t do anything for him and he had to leave. We were a two-day drive away from home.

This was no surprise. According to the nurse, she had seventeen patients to care for that night. Not because of Covid cases, but because nurses, doctors and other workers were in front of the hospital demonstrating the vaccine mandates. Nothing was mentioned in the Mainstream media news. During that time, many healthcare workers lost their jobs. The rest is history.

That was in 2021

Fast forward to 2025

My article “Why moving to Canada might be a bad idea” has been the most-read article on my website over the years. The article’s content is still accurate in 2025, as nothing in Canada has improved. Instead, life in Canada has declined, and everything has become much worse. People ask themselves whether staying in Canada is worthwhile. It’s no surprise that Canadians are moving away.

Why Canadians are moving away

Several factors drive Canadians to leave Canada, often depending on personal circumstances, the high cost of living, economic opportunities, lifetime choices or dissatisfaction with Canada’s political landscape. There are many reasons why Canadians move away to seek a life elsewhere.

Harsh winters and cold climates in Canada contribute significantly to the cost of living. Ever-rising heating costs (natural gas, electricity, oil) add to financial stress. No wonder Canadians are searching for warmer climates and more affordable countries to move to.

True North Strong and Free – what happened?

Canada is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Pristine wilderness, wild animals, impressive mountains, endless forests, countless lakes and rivers and an interesting indigenous culture. Although the Canadian landscape hasn’t changed much, the political scene has changed for the worse. In many ways, Canada is unrecognizable. No wonder many Canadians are moving away.

What happened to our country? Canada used to be known as the model country of the West, a land of freedom and endless opportunities. At this point, most of this seems to be lost. Government corruption and overreach into our daily lives have become the norm. “True North Strong and Free,” has this become a myth?

Unfortunately, many Canadians are ignorant of what is happening. The nice Canadian people have been trained to be compliant, friendly and polite. Many believe what they are told and find it impossible to think that the government would lie. Like many other nations, Canada’s mainstream media is funded by the government and follows the script. People in small communities are easily brainwashed when they only have access to mainstream news.

In Canada, our voice gets censored, Government critics are shut down, and doctors and professionals have to use X (thank you, Elon Musk) and Telegram to get their voices heard.

The fact is that in Canada, we have political prisoners, a term I only used to connect with communist regimes. Canada True North Strong and Free – what happened?

Churches got shut down during the COVID era, and religious leaders got put into prison while feeding the poor. The Government invoked the Emergency Act to shut down the Freedom Convoy, a peaceful demonstration in 2022, and froze people’s bank accounts.

Since then, censorship has worsened as various government bills have been introduced and signed.

Censorship in Canada

Bill C-18 (as an example) – Meta (Facebook) is blocking all News Links on Facebook and Instagram in Canada.

• People in Canada can’t see the News content in response to Canadian government legislation. News content can’t be viewed in Canada. (I was always under the impression that this kind of censorship only happens in communist regimes.)

My research for this article proved that large search engines and social media platforms censor content and limit access to certain viewpoints and information.

The Story of Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull gave up his dream of independence and asked the Canadian Government for refuge. He and his tribe of Sioux came to the Wood Mountain and Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan area in November of 1876. Because of starvation and bribes, they returned to the US in the end, but neither the Canadian nor the US Governments kept their promise to them. On his return to the Dakota territory, Sitting Bull was held prisoner until 1883 and was later killed.

Read about Sitting Bull’s life and the escape to Canada, a heartbreaking story. Things haven’t changed since then. We still can’t trust governments.

If you’re in Saskatchewan, visit the Willow Bunch Museum and learn about Sitting Bull and his journey.

Owning a home in Canada – a broken dream

Ordinary Canadians are priced out of the housing market. Canada’s Housing prices are sky high, and you need a massive loan to pay for the rest of your life to own a simple home. Housing affordability crises in Canada, caused by mass immigration and government policies, killed the Canadian dream for most young people to ever own a home.

Even properties in the middle of nowhere have enormous price tags and are often in poor condition. The little we can save is spent on renovations and travel costs to get to services and stores.

For generations, middle-class Canadians have been sold on the promise of home ownership. This promise today is broken. Single-home properties might soon be a thing of the past, according to CBC News.

As Canada is part of the WEF Great Reset 2030 agenda, the housing situation is starting to make sense. You’ll own nothing and be happy.

And there is the Smart City Agenda, read more here. Do your research on these topics to get your own opinion.

Homelessness and Tent Cities

Are tent cities here to stay? The rise in tent cities is reflecting how broken the housing and homelessness system is from coast to coast to coast in Canada. Not only are cities affected, but also rural regions, including the north, where brutal winter conditions make it worse.

Unfortunately, many people don’t have an option to move away for a better life.

Drugs and Opioid Crises in Canada

Are things really that bad? Canada is grappling with a severe opioid crisis. The rise of fentanyl and potent synthetic opioids has dramatically increased overdose death rates. These drugs are often linked to organized crime and pose great challenges due to their impact on behaviour and mental health.

In response to the increasing overdose death rate, supervised injection sites have been implemented to reduce fatalities.

In British Columbia, the possession of up to 2.5 grams of hard drugs was legalized as a pilot project. This program hasn’t been successful in lowering overdose deaths, and the project has come under pressure from residents and political opponents who have called it a harmful experiment.

Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, and living here, you’d better get used to the smell of pot when walking Canada’s streets. Legalization was sold to the public to reduce black-market activity and criminality surrounding cannabis. However, illegal cannabis markets still exist, despite Cannabis Stores in every town.

Does Canada have a problem with organized Crime?

Yes, Canada has a problem with organized crime and gangs, including gun violence. Who would have thought that Canada has a gang violence problem?

Criminal groups and cartels are involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and illegal activities. Isn’t that just happening in places like Mexico? Unfortunately, the Canadian government seems to turn a blind eye to these gangsters. They are free to roam the cities, even after being caught by police several times. Catch and release is the term for it.

Drug-related violence, including homicides, has become more common in cities with high drug trafficking activities.

There is also a correlation between substance abuse and property crimes, such as theft and break-ins, which are often committed by individuals funding their drug habits. See the Urban violent crime rapport.

The Mental Health Crisis is devastating

Many Canadians are depressed and unhappy, and don’t know how to deal with it to survive. Growing mental health crises in Canada are caused by social isolation, economic stress, and a lack of mental health services.

Long winters with freezing temperatures, gloomy days and lack of sun also cause mental disorders and depression. Suicide is on the rise. According to Statistics Canada, every year, approximately 4,500 people in Canada die by suicide, which is equivalent to 12 people dying by suicide every day.

A large investment in mental health and addiction services is needed in Canada.

Canada’s Famous Universal Health Care System

The reality is that Canada’s healthcare system has declined to third-world standards with a shortage of doctors, surgeons and nurses, overcrowded hospitals, and overworked medical staff. Approximately 6,5 million Canadians don’t have a family doctor. Yes, Canada’s Healthcare is broken. Regarding Free healthcare in Canada, it’s not free. We pay for this broken system through high taxes.

As of December 2023, more than 3.1 million Canadians were on waitlists for health care, but the actual number is estimated to be closer to 5.1 million. People with financial means flee to the US and other countries to save their lives.

With a shortage of medical doctors and hospital beds, proper treatment is not guaranteed, and waiting times are immense.

Walk-in clinics have been shut down, and the hospital emergency department is the only place to go for medical treatment if you don’t have a family doctor. Long waiting times during an emergency could mean life or death.

What is it good for when basic healthcare is free, but you can’t get treatment? A patient also has the option to choose MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying/assisted suicide). MAID has been offered to patients in various situations.

Dental costs in Canada are some of the highest in the world. Canadians are looking for alternatives in other countries for dental work. That’s what I do.

Hunger in Canada from a storm to a hurricane

We live in Canada, where ‘no one goes hungry’ has become a myth. Hunger in Canada is real. Food Security in Canada is the worst it’s ever been, with over 2 million food bank visits per month. Over half of the Canadian population is less than a paycheque away from dire financial hardship. Read more HERE.

Woke Ideology in Canadian Schools

Canadians with school-age kids might move away because of the woke ideology taught at Canadian schools.

Parents are demonstrating to stop the indoctrination of their kids. Protests and counter-protests around gender and sexual education in schools happened across the country earlier this year. Parents made it clear: Leave our kids alone.

There’s a lot of political rhetoric about what’s happening in Canadian schools. Pronouns, children’s rights and gender – what’s happening across Canada? When it comes to academic achievement, Canada is losing ground.

Whoever wants to know more about the wokeness in Canadian schools will find plenty of proof online.

The job market in Canada sucks

In Canada, many skilled professionals are stuck in jobs that don’t match their qualifications. Overqualified workers are frustrated and overworked in underpaid jobs, and can hardly pay the monthly bills. Immigrants with doctor credentials end up working as taxi drivers. This trend has been going on for years.

What else is happening in the Canadian job market?

East Indians immigrate to Canada in record numbers. Now they manage most stores and fast food places. They employ mainly East Indian workers, replacing our high school and young adult workers. Doesn’t this prevent Canadian youth from finding a desperately needed job during their school years and university?

No, I’m not a racist, but when it suddenly feels like being in Punjab when I go shopping, I start to wonder what is happening.

Why are Immigrants and International Students leaving Canada?

The lack of housing and fake promises urge many to leave. The dream life of studying and living abroad can be a nightmare. The expectations of getting a house and a job turn into being homeless and sleeping on the streets, or in a hotel if you have the finances.

What happened to Tim Horton’s – the downfall of Canada’s brand

What happened to the beloved Canadian coffee shop? Tim Hortons was the pride of Canadians, a landmark in Canadian towns and part of Canada’s identity. The first Tim Hortons opened in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1964, and I was there at its opening. In 2014, Tim’s was sold to Burger King and changed from a quality coffee shop to a fast-food place. In 2023, Tim Horton’s stopped baking on-site and opted for frozen donuts, and the place has gone downhill ever since.

I remember when we could choose between a real mug or a paper cup for our coffee, and have our thermos filled on the road. The place was always clean and inviting, and had no disgusting washrooms.

Tim Hortons is nothing like it used to be and has lost its Canadian identity. Today, Tim Horton’s Employees are mostly from India, and I try to avoid the place when I’m on the road.

Canada’s Political Landscape

Many of us feel disconnected and no longer feel at home in our own country. Recent years have seen political debates in the House of Commons become more heated, and I enjoy watching them. Canadian politics seems like political theatre at its best. It sure keeps us entertained.

• The Liberal Government promotes the World Economic Forum 2030 agenda, ‘You will own nothing and be happy‘.
• Smart Cities are planned all over Canada, project Klaus Schwab from WEF. Ask ChatGPT about Smart cities and surveillance monitoring.
• Canada is supposed to save the world with its ever-rising carbon tax. Climate change rhetoric is pushed hard in Canada, and controversial voices are censored. Good luck in finding facts.
• There is a war on oil and gas in Canada, and the Petroleum industry
• Have you heard about Canada’s huge Cricket Farms? Bugs are promoted as a meat replacement. Cows are bad for the environment, we’re told. Who needs farms when we can get protein from bugs and eat lab-made food? Watch out for 100 % pure Cricket Protein Powder sold in Canada.
• The Canadian Dollar has been declining for a while now; it’s shocking if you want to move your money abroad.
• And, there is constant controversy about the ban on legal firearms that the government wants to impose.
• Did you know that certain food additives used in Canada are prohibited in Europe?

Canada’s Future

Which way is it heading? Is there any hope for Canada? Will an election and a change in government save us and give us back free speech and the freedom we cherish so much? I’m trying to see a beacon of hope for Canada, and I haven’t given up yet. I remember the Canada of 1999 when we came to the Okanagan, bought a big ranch and lived the Canadian dream.

Now, the Canadian dream is taking us on a rough road. People are desperate and hurting, with not much hope. High taxes are killing this country.

My last word

Canadians used to get offended when their country and policies were criticized. Since then, many Canadians have expressed dissatisfaction with the direction the country is heading.

I’m trying to see a future in this country despite the fact that the political landscape looks doomed.

Until the time comes that I’m ready to leave Canada, I will fight for our rights and freedom. Nations rise and fall, as history teaches us. I can leave the country or stick around through Canada’s dark era, hoping that the dark will end and Canada will shine again.

Camping in the remote Canadian wilderness beneath towering old trees, next to a mountain lake watching a Moose stamp into the water calms everyone’s nerves. While I sit at a sparkling campfire, I watch a chipmunk maneuvering in the woods, and high above in the sky, a flock of Canada Geese is flying in a perfect pattern across the blue sky. Life is good.

Let’s keep the conversation going! Leave your thoughts, questions, or feedback in the comments.

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Yrene Dee

Yrene lives in the Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, and is the founder of BackcountryCanadaTravel.com. She was born in Switzerland, lived and worked on different continents and has travelled the world. Yes, that's me, an Entrepreneur, wilderness nut and animal lover who prefers off-the-beaten-track places. I write about things I love. Mostely.