Canada: classic or dud?

It's an interesting article, but off-the-mark, in my opinion. My issue with Toronto is simply the "mean rent to mean income" quotient, which is extremely off; more of our income goes to rent than anywhere else in the world except Hong Kong. (And Vancouver, but I was told Toronto has surpassed it.) The expense of it all fucks with everything here, not just threatening the viability of living here financially, but the way people exist in the city psychologically, and the way people behave socially.

I myself did not find, in my field, that there was a substantial enough difference in the "ceiling" between Canada and the US to warrant moving South; plus, Canada is less scary politically, my health care is taken care of, and grants are more readily available for subsidy. (Also: this article seems to ignore that there is a world outside of North America, and/or urban city centres in general, but that's OK, sometimes I forget, too)

That makes sense. I'm not in the arts, so I try to read up on it just to balance out my own views

As for places outside of urban city centres, a friend just moved to Nelson, BC, and it's always amazing to find small towns where arts and culture are basically thriving in Canada. I can't speak to what it's like, because I've never been but plan to visit soon!