Detroit vs. Toronto

[davewindsor]

Toronto has just so many positive influences that all work together that make it so much better than Detroit. Not only was there amalgamation of metro Toronto [[which plays a big role in controlling costs), flight of the financial sector and corporate offices from Montreal because of Quebec seperatism and no city income taxes [[which kept a lot of the old money in the city) as stated by the posters above, but it's also the capital of the province, which means a lot of spending on infrastructure in the city because that's where the Queen's Park representatives and bureaucrats spend most of their time. The CN Tower was completely funded with federal tax dollars under Trudeau to win over local support and improve local tourism. A lot of government money is floating around to improve the city.

You also have the the third largest film industry in North America in Toronto because of the ongoing generous tax credits offered by Queen's Park. The film industry promotes the city to tourists around the globe. You have easy access to capital because of the bank HQs and the Toronto Stock Exchange [[the Detroit Stock Exchange was bought out by NYSE and left Detroit in the 70s). And lastly, it's a lot easier to get a work visa and immigrate to Canada than the US. And where do most immigrants flock to? The largest cities that see on tv like Toronto. Toronto is a Marshall plan that builds the city onto itself. I wish they did that to other cities in Ontario like WIndsor, but that's where most of the tax dollars are focused.

[canuck]

Toronto has just so many positive influences that all work together that make it so much better than Detroit. Not only was there amalgamation of metro Toronto [[which plays a big role in controlling costs), flight of the financial sector and corporate offices from Montreal because of Quebec seperatism and no city income taxes [[which kept a lot of the old money in the city) as stated by the posters above, but it's also the capital of the province, which means a lot of spending on infrastructure in the city because that's where the Queen's Park representatives and bureaucrats spend most of their time. The CN Tower was completely funded with federal tax dollars under Trudeau to win over local support and improve local tourism. A lot of government money is floating around to improve the city.

You also have the the third largest film industry in North America in Toronto because of the ongoing generous tax credits offered by Queen's Park. The film industry promotes the city to tourists around the globe. You have easy access to capital because of the bank HQs and the Toronto Stock Exchange [[the Detroit Stock Exchange was bought out by NYSE and left Detroit in the 70s). And lastly, it's a lot easier to get a work visa and immigrate to Canada than the US. And where do most immigrants flock to? The largest cities that see on tv like Toronto. Toronto is a Marshall plan that builds the city onto itself. I wish they did that to other cities in Ontario like WIndsor, but that's where most of the tax dollars are focused.

neilr / Absolutely spot on! Montreal had been the economic and business hub of Canada while Toronto was just a step up from being a second tier mid-sized city. Then 50 years or so ago the French Separatist movement gained force in Quebec. Business leaders in Montreal, for the most part English speaking, became very nervous and looked around for safer ground. They found it in Toronto. Massive amounts of corporate money and educated workers left Montreal and moved to Toronto. Thus began the tremendous building boom and growth of Toronto.

Couldnt have put it better davewindsor. But in spite of Montreal's grit and potholes, the foundation is good to start fighting back on Toronto's homefront. There is a building boom in Montreal that puts it behind Houston [[1) and Toronto [[2) in the number of building permits issued in North America. 2 major hospitals; CUSM and CHUM are under construction for a total of 4 billion dollars. Two major hotels, A new Marriott [[40 stories) and a Waldorf Astoria 2x 35 stories. Cadillac Fairview wants to build a 62 story condo tower next to the Bell Center, and there are a lot of condo highrises slated for downtown and Griffintown. A number of companies are looking for new HQ's to move into and the city is looking to revise its building height limitations to allow for towers that would go higher than Mount Royal; the mountain in the middle of town. The political tensions have died down, and there is a new spirit in the city that is more oecumenical than the old fractious one. On the one hand, french business leaders have gained the status they lacked 50 years ago vis à vis their anglo counterparts, on the other, the anglos dont feel threatened as much.