Posted on: 06-11-05 03:03:32
Many times it is simply a case of not being able to afford a car. When one is surviving on $8 an hour jobs, you can hardly afford a car with the expenses of gas, insurance, maintenance, etc. Not to speak of the cost of buying a car even though it might be a used car. In my case, my wife was also not working.
I have walked in -35 degrees every day last winter simply because I could not afford a car. It used to take around 2 & half hours of commuting every day whereas if I had a car it would take about 30 minutes. In my case, my wife was also not working.
Also, some families might have just one car whereas if husband & wife are both working then one of them might be using public transit. Cost of undergoing training & getting license is also high. We used to use public transit for shopping sometimes. Most of the times though, we were lucky to have friends who would buy the grocery for us when they would go in their car.
Regards.
Rajan.
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1. Buses are mostly filled with visible minorities who can't afford to buy a car. I find most of the immigrants on the streets with dull faces and depressed state of mind.
Most people take buses not because they can't afford cars, but because of rush-hour gridlock and parking pains.
Most immigrants with dull faces and depressed state of mind? Not true where I live. I live in a condo where the majority of residents are desis. I've never seen anything like what you describe, rather most people look "normal" or as happy as they can be going to work.
Of course, everybody whines about work and I don't know too many people who're excited about going to work every morning, whether here or in India. That does not say anything about immigrant "quality of lifestyle".
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I met a desi couple, both working in odd jobs (labour), but bought a home, renting out the basement and paying the mortgage with a lot of struggle.
I know couples who are struggling to make ends meet, both desi and Canadian. Most of my colleagues are non-desi and MOST of them have stories about phases in life where their parents or they had a tough time putting food on the table. I used to work with a white IT guy who used to be homeless and sleep on street corners. These struggles you describe are hardly exclusive to immigrants.
Besides, there are a LOT of immigrant families that are doing quite well for themselves.
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When approximately 65% of new immigrants to canada are landing in one city, Toronto GTA, What is going to be the QUALITY OF LIFE, IMMIGRANTS WILL HAVE ,10 YEARS FROM NOW in Toronto? Will the new immigrants in this city enjoy the higher quality of life, a developed western country in G-7 is supposed to offer?
In regards to the future, you're right. GTA is getting overcrowded. I should think that the basic laws of economics with some planning from the govt. should hopefully redirect people elsewhere.
Who knows what's going to happen 10 years from now? One thing for a fact though, whatever state we live in at that time, WE will be the ones responsible for it. (We as in all canadians/immigrants/refugees etc etc)
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