November felt like one of those months when everyone had something to get off their chest. Many of them took to social media to do so. Canadians shared a lot of their everyday problems online about crowds & delays, even immigration.
Here are twelve things many Canadians complained about on social media in November. Which ones did you notice online?
Immigration and changing culture
Many Canadians posted about issues around housing pressure. Some of the most frequently shared clips were of Mark Carney talking about how temporary residents had grown past what Canada’s services could handle.
The slowdown of population growth was another commonly shared idea. Quite a few Canadians talked about how it was still squeezing housing & infrastructure, speaking about how these numbers didn’t reflect the reality of how their cities felt packed.
Changing public behaviour
Lots of Canadians shared their thoughts on the state of the nation in neighbourhood groups. Many of them shared photos of garbage around parks & trails because they were unhappy with how impolite fellow Canadians had become.
It’s a common belief in Canada that small manners are slipping among different generations. Canadians are annoyed that there’s less courtesy & more litter. One of the biggest points of confusion is over who’s responsible for keeping certain places clean.
Slow or incorrect coffee orders at big chains
Complaints about mixed-up drinks were quite common. Canadians are unhappy with how, apparently, places like Tim Hortons keep getting orders wrong.
One of the most popular posts was an experiment of 32 visits to Timmy’s in two hours. The store got nine orders wrong.
People jumped on the post to share their own experiences of baristas mishearing orders or even missing ingredients in their drinks. Incorrect coffee orders seem to be a rather common issue across Canada.
Overpriced groceries
Several shoppers shared screenshots of their bills because they wanted to show how expensive life has gotten in Canada. It makes sense. Survey data shows that food costs top the list for Canadians’ financial concerns, and they’re vocal about their worries.
People often reposted how beef cuts & apples have increased by double digits. Others shared photos of leeks that were priced around $6.50 to $7, and they expressed their unhappiness with them. Let’s not forget $300 grocery hauls.
Crowded public transit and disrupted service
Complaints about transit never stop, and November was no different. Many people in Montreal spread the “no metro, no bus” update & shared their frustration with crammed platforms. They were also confused about possible alternatives.
It was a similar issue in Toronto. Riders complained about TTC & GO not having late-night extension services for the World Series Game 7 in early November. Canadians saw it as an issue of poor planning.
Road construction tying up city streets
One or two Canadians joked that orange cones were going to outnumber residents in their cities. London, Ontario, faced numerous construction projects during November.
It wasn’t much better in Toronto. Many Canadians were frustrated with how the work on the Ontario Line had narrowed major roads and slowed traffic down massively. There were even posts that Toronto had become the “construction capital of North America.”
Slow online order deliveries during Canada Post disruption
Having to wait for packages & dealing with tracking pages gets rather frustrating. It’s no wonder so many Canadians vented about these issues on social media. The issues began with Canada Post warning about how the national strike, starting on September 25th, had paused regular service.
The CRA later confirmed that mail didn’t resume proper service until November 24th. Many Canadians complained about how their mail had arrived late or not at all, even after they’d had to pay higher fees.
Slow customer service from telecoms
Social media was flooded with screenshots from Canadians who were frustrated by long wait times on the phone. One report found that Rogers’ complaints had increased by 68% after their merger with Shaw. Many Canadians shared these statistics while they vented.
One customer spoke about how they had to deal with a 1.5-hour hold time while on the phone with Rogers tech support. It’s no surprise that the story made the rounds across Canadian social media. Bell and Telus were also widely represented.
Parking ticket confusion and unclear signage
You’re not the only one who thinks that figuring out where to park feels like trying to solve a riddle. Quite a few Canadians shared their complaints about parking tickets. One of the most popular stories was about a “No Stopping” sign in Toronto.
The driver thought they were allowed to park as per one sign, but the nearby ‘no stopping’ sign apparently overruled everything. It led to the driver receiving a $75 ticket. Those in Fredericton brought up their frustration with officials after a $125 crackdown near the Scotiabank South Turf.
Price differences with U.S. products
It shouldn’t be a surprise that several Canadians were annoyed about price differences with America. They shared screenshots of lower-priced electronics & clothes across the border. But a poll from the National Post found most Canadians would prefer to pick local groceries.
The Buy Canadian campaign seems to have worked quite well since many Canadians don’t want to buy the U.S. versions. Data shows that Canadian shoppers have eased off American brands. They were still willing to share their frustrations all across social media.
Speed cameras removed in Ontario
People across Ontario kept noticing that some speed cameras were still up in places across the province. They took to social media to ask why they hadn’t been taken down.
Waterloo Region actually said they’d stopped issuing speed camera tickets after Ontario’s Bill 56 passed. It was a similar issue in Mississauga & Newmarket.
Canadians kept venting, either in support of cameras or against them. Most people were just annoyed about how it was all apparently a big waste of time and money.
Overcrowded everything
The posts about packed spaces in November never really slowed down. One post that kept getting shared was a review from Newmarket Anytime Fitness that mentioned how the place was constantly overcrowded. There were similar complaints in Ottawa.
People were frustrated about how the 5-7 PM rush makes it hard to grab any equipment in most gyms. Café reviews in Toronto took issue with the shoulder-to-shoulder weekends and made suggestions about ordering ahead. It’s supposedly the only way to avoid long waits.
Not only that, people were especially disappointed in trying to book restaurant reservations. Many people mentioned how there were no tables available at semi-popular restaurants in major cities, even up to 2 months in advance.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.