I'm a born and breed saint johnner and I take no issue to your opinions and criticism of Saint John...I have the same issues you have..I'm sorry you've been abused for your thoughts and opinions ..I thank you for the time you've spent giving an honest review of the city and I hope you continue to love the best parts of the city and surrounding areas.
I was born, raised, and worked in Saint John and never really liked the place, but over the years I found some things I like about it, but would never consider moving back. Brings to mind that I like one of its most predominate characteristics, which is denial. No lack of locals will deny till they are blue in the face about the problems of their city and the suffering it causes them; it used to annoy me, but now I find it endearing; and can understand why poets and comedians have told stories about this denial. I must confess though that the sycophancy and servility has always been too prominent for my liking; comes with being the heart of the Irving Empire; some bask under it while others loath it.
@@rps1689 I was born and raised here as well, and travelled and lived all over Canada, never really liked it till I lived elsewhere and came to appreciate it soo much more, I've had no issues with Healthcare and have found it accessible and also no problem finding work, with skills and ambition you can really excel here. As he mentioned in the video ones personal priorities tend to dictate where you stand in any place, myself I am on the opposite end of the spectrum of yourself, BC is a real beautiful place to visit and it will feed me all the beautiful eye candy I can handle.... but it cannot feed all my wants and needs and NB tends to tip the scale in its favor for me. :)
I feel like someone in the municipal office watched this video cause the other day I saw a bunch of younger people with high visibility vests cleaning up the garbage on the roads/sidewalks. You quite possibly made a difference!
Sitting here in the US as a dual US-Canadian citizen (Canadian citizenship by descent) with family in NS, very much considering sponsoring my husband and our son and moving to the Maritimes. Thank you for your perspective and detail. With all its flaws, it sounds so much better than what we're facing here. I spent my childhood summers in Cape Breton, and have fond memories of traveling through Saint John.
NS is now a dumpster fire because of mass immigration, and also two waves of Ontarians straining everything far worse. NB ans NFLD seem in a better state , for now, but I expect not for long
Absolutely it does. We moved from Shelburne Ontario to Dalhousie NB in 2022 and we absolutely love it. Houses here on the North Shore are so much cheaper than the rest of NB. We are only 15 minutes away from Walmart, Canadian Tire etc. Our daughter opened her own Tattoo shop ( Seabound Tattoo)here, she wouldn't have been able to afford to do that in Ontario . There's houses for sale here for under $100K, that will never be the case anywhere in Ontario now.
I must admit, the people and community have been so amazing and overall feels like a warm hug coming from Toronto. Grateful to have been embraced by the locals here.
It is called Canada’s only company province for a reason ; ) The reality is political decisions made in New Brunswick about its tax regime are made in Bermuda and on a lodge on the Restigouche River.
@@atribecalledowens So much influence that family has, that NB is the only province where the electorate is more of a spectator than participant. That family has the greatest influence on the legislature. They have in part created what is the epitome of a captured-like state situation in modern times seen nowhere else in Canada. It’s a fact that every politician knows that if you want a long career in politics in NB, you need to cozy up to the Irvings and make sure they get insane concessions at the taxpayers’ expense. To be fair, criticizing New Brunswick politicians for being too cozy with the Irvings is like criticizing fish for being wet. It's impossible to be wholly free of their influence, they still just have too much power in the province. Electorate bear some blame also, as they elect a former Irving Oil executive to be their premier; it’s folly just as it would be if British Columbians elected a former president of the BC real estate association for premier, or in Alberta, a former top executive from Enbridge. You reap what you sow.
There’s two ways to view Saint John, if you’re in a relationship with two incomes it’s a great place to live but if you work minimum wage things might be a little tough. Rent is getting up to 1400$ without utilities and if you have no transportation the busses might not be the best as you’ll probably need a transfer and the trip will take 1h or more going from the west to east side of town and busses close at 6pm on Sundays or some don’t run at all. So my opinion is if you have a good job it’s worth it but if you don’t want to do the m.v.i on your car every two years or pay high property tax it will be a struggle.
Hey Jordan! Great video and congratulations on your company taking off! 🎉 Great job with staying unbiased but really hitting on the personal experience with your review. As a fellow Ontario transfer, I love it here! I was definitely enticed by home prices but for me, the lifestyle was a hugggee factor in choosing New Brunswick (I'm in Quispamsis). I would say for my current situation, New Brunswick was exactly what I needed ❤
Thank you for the nice video. I was born and raised in Saint John but left in 2003. I just returned for my mother funeral. Being back home was wonderful, seeing cousins and friends, going for relaxing walks. My watch recorded the constant lowest heart rate in a long time. So I am asking the question, should I move back? The lack of traffic was very nice. The only frustrating thing was flying into Saint John, 3 flights and cancellations. I travel for work, so not sure if it would be feasible. But I didn’t miss the traffic of NYC, the bay area or now Austin
A lot of info packed into this video - pro tip - increase the playback speed :P Anyone reading this - can you create chapter markings? I will be forever grateful lol
Great video ❤. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at the Canadian Tire East side of Saint John last week . Was the one that assisted you in getting your order into your car.😊
After having spent two weeks vacationing in crowded and noisy Bangkok, the realtor's photos of Sand Cove Road and your anecdotes about Saint John are quite refreshing. There is something to be said for quiet streets, big back yards, affordable living (at least, compared to where I live in Ontario), etc. Funny, when you drive only a few hours to Maine or Nova Scotia, everything seems so pristine compared to Saint John. However, maybe as more people move to Saint John, it will, through more property tax revenues, become less of a broke city and it will be able to polish itself up more. In fairness, it is a much, much nicer city than when I moved out in 1997. I was so impressed with the Uptown when I visited my mom last December.
I find that the Ontario transplants that moved here to NB and complain about the costs here are the ones who made good money on the sale of their homes in Ontario and then spent the majority of their profit on a bigger more expensive home here. They didn't do their due diligence and research it properly. We paid $90K here, no mortgage, then bought a 2nd home for the same amount for our daughter to live in, also mortgage free. Our property taxes are under $1200 per year. Life here is so much more affordable
Ah that's awesome. I think a lot of people are upset that the city residence have to make up for losses in property tax that the city loses from big industry.
Well my wife and I moved back to NB from BC, and we found NB too pricey plus the access to primary heatlhcare was terrible so much so we went back to BC where we now have much more disposable income and better access to healthcare; mind you we have no mortage. We have no regrets givng NB a try for 3 years, as it made us realize how much we took BC for granted.
Exact same here except replace BC with Alberta. Been almost 3 years and have enjoyed every day of it, no regrets. But it is time to go back to Alberta and keep an extra 30% of our income in our own pockets.
If I can weigh in, I haven't lived there but I have visited SJ NB with the intention of potentially move there. I think the low population should definitely be a consideration because there are a lot of issues/things that are a result of that low population. So I think that's the main thing people moving there need to consider
We move from TO to SJ 9 months ago. So far so good. Stress level is very low. Mental and physical health is way better now. Financially way better. Missing all the great restaurants and entertainment though. Nevertheless you can’t have it all. All is well.
Thanks for the video. You weren't kidding about property tax, from a CBC news article: Saint John are limited by provincial rules to paying a municipal property tax rate to the city of $2,686 per $100,000 of assessed value. That's alot!
The petty crime thing you mention is new of the last 5 years or so. Of course there was always some; but it's really picked up - same with the cleanliness; use to be much cleaner with nicer landscaping etc; to me the city feels strained and overwhelmed and it's showing. "I haven't seen police radar in 3 years" They use to be very focused on traffic violations 5+ years ago; then what seemed like over night, no more cops at u turns on the highway, no more posting up on inner city streets with radar, etc etc. A lot of this stuff is recent changes due to population influx. You might see it resolve in years to come as the city catches up to it. Welcome fellow youtuber.
Awesome video! Irving can say to the Government I’m not paying that much in taxes, and if they want him to stay, because he has many citizens working for him they have to keep him happy.
I'll never understand why people who immigrate to Canada. Most choose the most expensive crime ridden places. The ones with common scene, discernment not to get scammed into the move to Toronto, Vancouver hype, will move to the Maritimes, Alberta, etc. and enjoy their lives and the safety of their children.
I moved away from NB 27 years ago this month due to limited economic and career opportunities and now live in Ontario. I still go back once or twice a year and will probably retire there once the time comes. One thing that I noticed is that a lot of the people who came from Ontario and other places and bought cheap homes in rural NB the last 3-4 years are trying to sell those same houses now, and the market is not as hot as it once was. The meth problem is getting worse as there are people constantly wandering around day and night looking for stuff to steal. If you're a city person from southern Ontario, it is quite a culture shock to transition to those areas (it's 'too quiet' as my spouse describes), but lesser so if you moved to one of the three major urban areas where you have a lot of services, activities and amenities. BTW, is a run for city council in the works based on a platform of 'cleaning up' Saint John? Lol!
I see you and your family walking around the neighborhood often, maybe someday I'll say hi, but I've erred on not disturbing your walk with some random guy. It's getting more and more expensive here but relatively speaking at any given income you are better off here than many other places in Canada.
It depends on what your expenses are, if you have no mortgage for example, you can be better off in other places in Canada with more disposable income.
Please tell me you guys know about Guy’s Frenchy’s on the lower west side for clothes! You want quality? I’ve found luxury goods, all for under $10 per piece. Perfect for kids too. The other day I found a gorgeous wool work shirt for my nephew in fall colours. Looked it up online and it was from a brand in Massachusetts specializing in handmade clothing made from their own wool/sheep. It was still for sale on their website and cost $300 US. I’ve also found Barbour, Ralph Lauren purple label, Chanel, Burberry, Gucci, etc. The kids clothing is so good! Anyway, the Maritimes is great for Guy’s Frenchy’s!
Ya I've heard of it. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the stores where you sift through looking to get lucky. Now and then maybe if I find myself in a store like that randomly than ok. But mostly when I need something specific I go and get it 😊
@@atribecalledowens Huh? The adult clothing is hung and sorted by size so it’s no different than shopping in a regular store. I needed a pair of black denim so went to the Moncton store yesterday, found 6 pair in my size from different brands, tried them on, and paid $7 for a pair from Universal Thread with tags still on ($24.99 US). It took less than 15 minutes from the moment I left my car in the lot until I was back in the car.
Ah that's awesome. What I meant was ie: the last thing I needed was a white long-sleeve hooded sun shirt. I went to a specific store I know has that item. That's usually how I buy clothes! I'm sure Frenchy's is great though!
A big issue people seem to neglect is the situation for those who are already in New Brunswick. Yes, houses are cheaper than most provinces but the average salary in New Brunswick is much lower as well. The pandemic + remote work skewed the whole alignment. You say yourself that since you explored the market to the latest realtor video 220K > 310K (nearly 50% increase). People on pensions, low income can no longer afford their homes or apartment (which is a whole other subject). People in New Brunswick don't have the luxury of moving to somewhere cheaper unless you want to force them out of Canada. The people have been struggling and are frustrated. I have seen the change in peoples attitude/friendliness last few years. When you have a 900K average house in Ontario, you don't think twice to overbid by 50K on a 300K house, pricing locals out.
The big issue you mention is not only a New Brunswick problem - it’s that New Brunswick is just now experiencing what has been happening across Canada for a decade. It is the reason we moved from Ontario to New Brunswick to begin with. I’ve had this conversation many times with many people in an array of different positions throughout society. Still haven’t heard a great solution. What I suggest to the people close to me is to learn skill that provides a lot of value to society. Get paid a lot of money. It’s the only thing we can do that is within our own control. A sad truth. Waiting for government to do something is wasted time. They are too far away from the struggles of the average earning Canadian.
@@atribecalledowens That may be correct, but the other provinces had a decade+ of increments for it to happen, not a decade+ worth of increase within 1 year or 2. It came hard and fast. Me? I'm fine, I was already make a decent salary and have my mortgage paid off. Its those around me, I'm worried about. I have a lot of relatives who are retired living off fixed income. Many have no option but to rely on the government. In the past, they could downsize their homes, many already have and even that's becoming less of an option. Even with your house paid off, I've know a couple who will be paying double what they were paying in prop taxes. That 10% yearly cap won't do much for them.
if you like way less people living in your city compared to ontario, looking down every other alley way and seeing people tweak out on heroine and a city that looks quite poor and industrial based around an oil refinery saint john will be perfect for you :)
"hide and seek for a grand a week" is the motto for a good portion of city maintenance workers. No kidding. I worked the city market for YEARS and was appalled every time I heard it from some of the mouths. That will give you a clue why the city looks as it does....just for starters. I am from here and I can't stand Saint John,NB. It is the poorest excuse for a port city there is in Canada. Oh ....and that "curbside recycling" thing😂don't hold your breath buddy. That's been "in the works" for as many years as I can remember 😄. It will never happen. SJ is the place where small talk and dreams go to die. Sorry about your luck. If I had known you before hand, I would have warned you. The truth is, the ONLY times SJ has ever seen prosperity is when the shipyard was rocking and maybe the odd provincial incentivized bone that gets thrown every once in a while for short term appeasement and illusion. I've met and worked with talented ppl as yourself that came here with a skill set and couldn't make it here. No work. Ended up in same dead end jobs I was working for minimum wage. You can't afford to pay back student loans etc. on what you make here on an entry level wage. It has always been this way, boom and bust, mostly bust in all my 56 years. I won't even go to the city now unless I must. It isn't safe or recognizable anymore.
Hi sir , It's me shishir one of your subscriber and i am planning to move saint john as a international student in diploma in Electronics repairing engineering. And i am in great confusion that should i get my field job in saint john . I request you to make video/reply about the technical job opportunities in saint john . Love you from Nepal Keep going, your videos helps me a lot ❤❤❤
One thing that has not been mentioned is , for the children, when comes the time from them to work. Would they find something in their field or would they have to move ?
I lean towards seeking skills/professions that are remote based - occupations that can be done online. When we don't have to anchor ourselves in life why would we? :P Having said that - there will always be work for quality humans - leaders, people with discipline, good work ethic, positive presence to be around, that show up on time, reliable, accountable to themselves and their work, etc. Instil those values in our youth and they will never worry about finding work.
I am deciding whether or not to go do my MBA in finance at UNB saint. Johns. I am about 30 and I would go with my fiancée from South America. I can’t really find much info about how is the job market for business professionals and also how suitable is for young couples. Any info would be helpful !!!
@@Salcho3090 I'm not sure. I doubt it though. It's not really even something worth mentioning tbh. Now and then you might smell something if you are driving by the refinery or other industrial area.
@@atribecalledowens okay awesome appreciate it . We are just out in Oshawa Ontario and really considering the big move so just trying to get all the info I can
Hey, just thought I would also re-iterate that the smell doesn't seem to be much of an issue. I was born and lived in SJ/Quispamsis most of my life. My wife and I are currently in Halifax, but right now as I am typing this, I am in Quispam visiting family. No smell at all. I find in SJ, no significant issue with smells.
I would suggest going to some networking events or joining a club or team as the city is community driven. People are more than happy to help their neighbour if they know them personally.
Walking the north end, yeah, there's garbage issues , there's crime and infrastructure collapse issues, the roads are cracked, the police are overworked and called for stupid and waste-of-time situations by goofs who just want to be nasty. People are tired, and just want to be comfortable...but it's hard.
In regards to the refinery, you make it sound like Irving itself is responsible for the lower taxes it pays compared to its peers. Fact is in NB the government does not tax “equipment” within these plants, resulting in significantly lower assessments. It will take political willpower to change the tax system PROVINCIALLY to make it fairer. Irving operates within the framework of our tax system, so if they are paying less that’s on the province to get it fixed and make them pay more. One could argue Irving pressures the government to keep taxes lower, but it probably lands somewhere between myth and truth, we’ll never really know as mere commoners. In regards to garbage, it’s important not to overgeneralize. Yes some areas have garbage along main thoroughfares (for which I’ll pick up and bag for city to pick up), but the region also includes Kennebecasis Valley, Grand Bay, Hampton and other SJ neighborhoods that are mostly pristine. Ironically, Irving organizes garbage cleanup in the areas around the refinery. When all the garbage is picked up along McDonald St from Mt Pleasant to Loch Lomand, that’s Irving employees, not the city.
I'm indirectly referencing the 25-year property tax deal from 2005 involving Canaport LNG. According to CBC the deal was negotiated by former mayor Norm McFarlane and was voted in favour by city councillors. The province does have final say as you mentioned but the city did have influence there it appears. I assume if the deal was not supported by the city of SJ than the province would not have allowed it. Overall - the city is losing out on $5.3M annually on the deal...so it goes. Regarding garbage, this video is talking about Saint John and not the region as a whole. The surrounding cities that make up the region are spotless in my experience. What does a clean Rothesay matter to the residence of SJ? I have to note that there was a full cat litter box abandoned on the road with the lid cracked off and litter flowing out for several weeks on McDonald Street - the exact area you described. It was quite the sight. That litter box was the inspiration behind this video lol
@@atribecalledowens that tax deal was axed in October of 2016, plus Irving sold their ownership interest in LNG in 2021 and it’s now 100% owned by Repsol of Spain. I’m not pro Irving, just pro correct facts for truth and transparency. It’s now assessed at $102,976,300 with a tax levy of 2,642,962.00
the refinery is the largest in CANADA, Irving has been one of the largest companies in New Brunswick for over 100 years, suggesting they don't shape public policy .....you're being deliberately obtuse, there's miles of records on this, including the book that he mentioned in the video....
@@atribecalledowens Someone from Alberta considering SJ - just wondering, how much tax revenue do the jobs provide? And if there was no refinery - what would the city look like? Not just the lost taxes in one area, but gained jobs and income from another side....
Hi ! I had the pleasure to see you at Costco last Thursday! I was eating lunch,looked up and there you were walking from the cashier at Costco! You looked at me at the same time,and I smiled and said Hi! I did not want to embarrass you,but I wanted to acknowledge you,and I follow you on utube! I enjoy your content! Also your voice is so calming ! Love your family also! Debbie R
Would love to hear your thoughts! Does New Brunswick offer you and your family a better way of life?
For us it didn't. Especially healthcare and found it too costly for our needs.
I think yes if you have a good job with a good income. If you are renting and can't buy a house, its a nightmare.
I'm a born and breed saint johnner and I take no issue to your opinions and criticism of Saint John...I have the same issues you have..I'm sorry you've been abused for your thoughts and opinions ..I thank you for the time you've spent giving an honest review of the city and I hope you continue to love the best parts of the city and surrounding areas.
A lot to love! No place is perfect. 🙏🏾
I was born, raised, and worked in Saint John and never really liked the place, but over the years I found some things I like about it, but would never consider moving back. Brings to mind that I like one of its most predominate characteristics, which is denial. No lack of locals will deny till they are blue in the face about the problems of their city and the suffering it causes them; it used to annoy me, but now I find it endearing; and can understand why poets and comedians have told stories about this denial. I must confess though that the sycophancy and servility has always been too prominent for my liking; comes with being the heart of the Irving Empire; some bask under it while others loath it.
@@rps1689 I was born and raised here as well, and travelled and lived all over Canada, never really liked it till I lived elsewhere and came to appreciate it soo much more, I've had no issues with Healthcare and have found it accessible and also no problem finding work, with skills and ambition you can really excel here. As he mentioned in the video ones personal priorities tend to dictate where you stand in any place, myself I am on the opposite end of the spectrum of yourself, BC is a real beautiful place to visit and it will feed me all the beautiful eye candy I can handle.... but it cannot feed all my wants and needs and NB tends to tip the scale in its favor for me. :)
@@NBRiderOne To each his/her own.
I feel like someone in the municipal office watched this video cause the other day I saw a bunch of younger people with high visibility vests cleaning up the garbage on the roads/sidewalks.
You quite possibly made a difference!
Im really glad you mentioned Irving.....good on your for your honesty about the situation that the citizens are aware of and powerless to stop.
Thanks so much for the shoutout Jordan!!! Amazing video and I always appreciate the support man. I can’t wait for our next collaboration!
Likewise my friend.
My motto is "buy nice or buy twice" when it comes to things I like + want!
That's it right there. 🙌🏾
Sitting here in the US as a dual US-Canadian citizen (Canadian citizenship by descent) with family in NS, very much considering sponsoring my husband and our son and moving to the Maritimes. Thank you for your perspective and detail. With all its flaws, it sounds so much better than what we're facing here. I spent my childhood summers in Cape Breton, and have fond memories of traveling through Saint John.
NS is now a dumpster fire because of mass immigration, and also two waves of Ontarians straining everything far worse. NB ans NFLD seem in a better state , for now, but I expect not for long
Absolutely it does. We moved from Shelburne Ontario to Dalhousie NB in 2022 and we absolutely love it. Houses here on the North Shore are so much cheaper than the rest of NB. We are only 15 minutes away from Walmart, Canadian Tire etc. Our daughter opened her own Tattoo shop ( Seabound Tattoo)here, she wouldn't have been able to afford to do that in Ontario . There's houses for sale here for under $100K, that will never be the case anywhere in Ontario now.
Oh wow! Awesome!
I must admit, the people and community have been so amazing and overall feels like a warm hug coming from Toronto. Grateful to have been embraced by the locals here.
It is called Canada’s only company province for a reason ; )
The reality is political decisions made in New Brunswick about its tax regime are made in Bermuda and on a lodge on the Restigouche River.
Influence.
@@atribecalledowens So much influence that family has, that NB is the only province where the electorate is more of a spectator than participant. That family has the greatest influence on the legislature. They have in part created what is the epitome of a captured-like state situation in modern times seen nowhere else in Canada.
It’s a fact that every politician knows that if you want a long career in politics in NB, you need to cozy up to the Irvings and make sure they get insane concessions at the taxpayers’ expense. To be fair, criticizing New Brunswick politicians for being too cozy with the Irvings is like criticizing fish for being wet. It's impossible to be wholly free of their influence, they still just have too much power in the province.
Electorate bear some blame also, as they elect a former Irving Oil executive to be their premier; it’s folly just as it would be if British Columbians elected a former president of the BC real estate association for premier, or in Alberta, a former top executive from Enbridge. You reap what you sow.
There’s two ways to view Saint John, if you’re in a relationship with two incomes it’s a great place to live but if you work minimum wage things might be a little tough. Rent is getting up to 1400$ without utilities and if you have no transportation the busses might not be the best as you’ll probably need a transfer and the trip will take 1h or more going from the west to east side of town and busses close at 6pm on Sundays or some don’t run at all. So my opinion is if you have a good job it’s worth it but if you don’t want to do the m.v.i on your car every two years or pay high property tax it will be a struggle.
We moved to this city having lived in the US & it still doesn’t feel like home. This city has so many people but its got no soul.
Hey Jordan! Great video and congratulations on your company taking off! 🎉
Great job with staying unbiased but really hitting on the personal experience with your review.
As a fellow Ontario transfer, I love it here! I was definitely enticed by home prices but for me, the lifestyle was a hugggee factor in choosing New Brunswick (I'm in Quispamsis). I would say for my current situation, New Brunswick was exactly what I needed ❤
Great to hear Julane. Hope to cross paths with you again soon!
Thank you for the nice video. I was born and raised in Saint John but left in 2003. I just returned for my mother funeral. Being back home was wonderful, seeing cousins and friends, going for relaxing walks. My watch recorded the constant lowest heart rate in a long time. So I am asking the question, should I move back? The lack of traffic was very nice. The only frustrating thing was flying into Saint John, 3 flights and cancellations. I travel for work, so not sure if it would be feasible. But I didn’t miss the traffic of NYC, the bay area or now Austin
A lot of info packed into this video - pro tip - increase the playback speed :P
Anyone reading this - can you create chapter markings? I will be forever grateful lol
Great video ❤. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at the Canadian Tire East side of Saint John last week . Was the one that assisted you in getting your order into your car.😊
Nice meeting you my friend - thanks for your help 🙏🏾😁
After having spent two weeks vacationing in crowded and noisy Bangkok, the realtor's photos of Sand Cove Road and your anecdotes about Saint John are quite refreshing. There is something to be said for quiet streets, big back yards, affordable living (at least, compared to where I live in Ontario), etc. Funny, when you drive only a few hours to Maine or Nova Scotia, everything seems so pristine compared to Saint John. However, maybe as more people move to Saint John, it will, through more property tax revenues, become less of a broke city and it will be able to polish itself up more. In fairness, it is a much, much nicer city than when I moved out in 1997. I was so impressed with the Uptown when I visited my mom last December.
Uptown is the heartbeat. Grateful for it lol
I find that the Ontario transplants that moved here to NB and complain about the costs here are the ones who made good money on the sale of their homes in Ontario and then spent the majority of their profit on a bigger more expensive home here. They didn't do their due diligence and research it properly. We paid $90K here, no mortgage, then bought a 2nd home for the same amount for our daughter to live in, also mortgage free. Our property taxes are under $1200 per year. Life here is so much more affordable
Ah that's awesome. I think a lot of people are upset that the city residence have to make up for losses in property tax that the city loses from big industry.
Well my wife and I moved back to NB from BC, and we found NB too pricey plus the access to primary heatlhcare was terrible so much so we went back to BC where we now have much more disposable income and better access to healthcare; mind you we have no mortage. We have no regrets givng NB a try for 3 years, as it made us realize how much we took BC for granted.
Hi southwestern ontario here, thinking of retiring in nb
@@karenouillette3156 Pay it a long visit first.
Exact same here except replace BC with Alberta. Been almost 3 years and have enjoyed every day of it, no regrets. But it is time to go back to Alberta and keep an extra 30% of our income in our own pockets.
If I can weigh in, I haven't lived there but I have visited SJ NB with the intention of potentially move there. I think the low population should definitely be a consideration because there are a lot of issues/things that are a result of that low population. So I think that's the main thing people moving there need to consider
SJ growing steadily! But there are many things to consider :P
@@atribecalledowens Yes for sure, just trying to generalize for people.
We move from TO to SJ 9 months ago. So far so good. Stress level is very low. Mental and physical health is way better now. Financially way better. Missing all the great restaurants and entertainment though. Nevertheless you can’t have it all. All is well.
Saint John is defitnitely not as vibrant and populous as it was in my day, but for some that is a good thing.
Thanks for the video. You weren't kidding about property tax, from a CBC news article: Saint John are limited by provincial rules to paying a municipal property tax rate to the city of $2,686 per $100,000 of assessed value. That's alot!
That is insanely high.
The petty crime thing you mention is new of the last 5 years or so. Of course there was always some; but it's really picked up - same with the cleanliness; use to be much cleaner with nicer landscaping etc; to me the city feels strained and overwhelmed and it's showing.
"I haven't seen police radar in 3 years"
They use to be very focused on traffic violations 5+ years ago; then what seemed like over night, no more cops at u turns on the highway, no more posting up on inner city streets with radar, etc etc.
A lot of this stuff is recent changes due to population influx. You might see it resolve in years to come as the city catches up to it.
Welcome fellow youtuber.
Awesome video! Irving can say to the Government I’m not paying that much in taxes, and if they want him to stay, because he has many citizens working for him they have to keep him happy.
I'll never understand why people who immigrate to Canada. Most choose the most expensive crime ridden places. The ones with common scene, discernment not to get scammed into the move to Toronto, Vancouver hype, will move to the Maritimes, Alberta, etc. and enjoy their lives and the safety of their children.
Very raw, honest video, thank you.
I moved away from NB 27 years ago this month due to limited economic and career opportunities and now live in Ontario. I still go back once or twice a year and will probably retire there once the time comes. One thing that I noticed is that a lot of the people who came from Ontario and other places and bought cheap homes in rural NB the last 3-4 years are trying to sell those same houses now, and the market is not as hot as it once was. The meth problem is getting worse as there are people constantly wandering around day and night looking for stuff to steal. If you're a city person from southern Ontario, it is quite a culture shock to transition to those areas (it's 'too quiet' as my spouse describes), but lesser so if you moved to one of the three major urban areas where you have a lot of services, activities and amenities.
BTW, is a run for city council in the works based on a platform of 'cleaning up' Saint John? Lol!
lol no chance. Our political systems are broken.
We moved to the SJ Suburbs 3 yrs ago and they're great! Even Costco and the airport are not more then 20 minutes away.
Dude I haven't finished your video but i like your stream of consciousness video. Very helpful video.
I see you and your family walking around the neighborhood often, maybe someday I'll say hi, but I've erred on not disturbing your walk with some random guy. It's getting more and more expensive here but relatively speaking at any given income you are better off here than many other places in Canada.
Say hi next time!
It depends on what your expenses are, if you have no mortgage for example, you can be better off in other places in Canada with more disposable income.
Please tell me you guys know about Guy’s Frenchy’s on the lower west side for clothes! You want quality? I’ve found luxury goods, all for under $10 per piece. Perfect for kids too. The other day I found a gorgeous wool work shirt for my nephew in fall colours. Looked it up online and it was from a brand in Massachusetts specializing in handmade clothing made from their own wool/sheep. It was still for sale on their website and cost $300 US. I’ve also found Barbour, Ralph Lauren purple label, Chanel, Burberry, Gucci, etc. The kids clothing is so good! Anyway, the Maritimes is great for Guy’s Frenchy’s!
Ya I've heard of it. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the stores where you sift through looking to get lucky. Now and then maybe if I find myself in a store like that randomly than ok. But mostly when I need something specific I go and get it 😊
@@atribecalledowens Huh? The adult clothing is hung and sorted by size so it’s no different than shopping in a regular store. I needed a pair of black denim so went to the Moncton store yesterday, found 6 pair in my size from different brands, tried them on, and paid $7 for a pair from Universal Thread with tags still on ($24.99 US). It took less than 15 minutes from the moment I left my car in the lot until I was back in the car.
Ah that's awesome. What I meant was ie: the last thing I needed was a white long-sleeve hooded sun shirt. I went to a specific store I know has that item. That's usually how I buy clothes! I'm sure Frenchy's is great though!
A big issue people seem to neglect is the situation for those who are already in New Brunswick. Yes, houses are cheaper than most provinces but the average salary in New Brunswick is much lower as well. The pandemic + remote work skewed the whole alignment. You say yourself that since you explored the market to the latest realtor video 220K > 310K (nearly 50% increase). People on pensions, low income can no longer afford their homes or apartment (which is a whole other subject). People in New Brunswick don't have the luxury of moving to somewhere cheaper unless you want to force them out of Canada. The people have been struggling and are frustrated. I have seen the change in peoples attitude/friendliness last few years. When you have a 900K average house in Ontario, you don't think twice to overbid by 50K on a 300K house, pricing locals out.
The big issue you mention is not only a New Brunswick problem - it’s that New Brunswick is just now experiencing what has been happening across Canada for a decade. It is the reason we moved from Ontario to New Brunswick to begin with.
I’ve had this conversation many times with many people in an array of different positions throughout society. Still haven’t heard a great solution.
What I suggest to the people close to me is to learn skill that provides a lot of value to society. Get paid a lot of money. It’s the only thing we can do that is within our own control. A sad truth.
Waiting for government to do something is wasted time. They are too far away from the struggles of the average earning Canadian.
@@atribecalledowens That may be correct, but the other provinces had a decade+ of increments for it to happen, not a decade+ worth of increase within 1 year or 2. It came hard and fast.
Me? I'm fine, I was already make a decent salary and have my mortgage paid off. Its those around me, I'm worried about. I have a lot of relatives who are retired living off fixed income. Many have no option but to rely on the government. In the past, they could downsize their homes, many already have and even that's becoming less of an option.
Even with your house paid off, I've know a couple who will be paying double what they were paying in prop taxes. That 10% yearly cap won't do much for them.
You said it…”rely on the government “. That is the end game here. For all.
@WW-sj7zk Working it’s way to the Beast System. Only hope is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, my blessed Hope!
I love your videos👌
You have to consider property taxes too..I think NB has higher tax rate.
if you like way less people living in your city compared to ontario, looking down every other alley way and seeing people tweak out on heroine and a city that looks quite poor and industrial based around an oil refinery saint john will be perfect for you :)
"hide and seek for a grand a week" is the motto for a good portion of city maintenance workers. No kidding. I worked the city market for YEARS and was appalled every time I heard it from some of the mouths. That will give you a clue why the city looks as it does....just for starters. I am from here and I can't stand Saint John,NB. It is the poorest excuse for a port city there is in Canada. Oh ....and that "curbside recycling" thing😂don't hold your breath buddy. That's been "in the works" for as many years as I can remember 😄. It will never happen. SJ is the place where small talk and dreams go to die. Sorry about your luck. If I had known you before hand, I would have warned you. The truth is, the ONLY times SJ has ever seen prosperity is when the shipyard was rocking and maybe the odd provincial incentivized bone that gets thrown every once in a while for short term appeasement and illusion. I've met and worked with talented ppl as yourself that came here with a skill set and couldn't make it here. No work. Ended up in same dead end jobs I was working for minimum wage. You can't afford to pay back student loans etc. on what you make here on an entry level wage.
It has always been this way, boom and bust, mostly bust in all my 56 years. I won't even go to the city now unless I must. It isn't safe or recognizable anymore.
It's one thing to ean two thousand, it's a whole other trip to save two thousand.
The correct local pronunciation is "Low-mand", as you had said second.
Your from toronto and named your kid axel - sounds right
Hi sir ,
It's me shishir one of your subscriber and i am planning to move saint john as a international student in diploma in Electronics repairing engineering. And i am in great confusion that should i get my field job in saint john . I request you to make video/reply about the technical job opportunities in saint john . Love you from Nepal
Keep going, your videos helps me a lot ❤❤❤
One thing that has not been mentioned is , for the children, when comes the time from them to work. Would they find something in their field or would they have to move ?
I lean towards seeking skills/professions that are remote based - occupations that can be done online. When we don't have to anchor ourselves in life why would we? :P
Having said that - there will always be work for quality humans - leaders, people with discipline, good work ethic, positive presence to be around, that show up on time, reliable, accountable to themselves and their work, etc.
Instil those values in our youth and they will never worry about finding work.
I am deciding whether or not to go do my MBA in finance at UNB saint. Johns.
I am about 30 and I would go with my fiancée from South America.
I can’t really find much info about how is the job market for business professionals and also how suitable is for young couples.
Any info would be helpful !!!
moncton is a great spot because your in the central of every cities in the maritime
Thanks for the video but after this information its now not on my list.
What other places are you considering?
❤ ur videos
Why saint John?
Why not Moncton ?
Nah man moved from Annapolis Valley to Saint John for a relationship.....horrible choice.....back in the Scotia now.
Does Saint John have a smell that I hear about or are people exaggerating?
Sometimes smells in certain areas.
@@atribecalledowensdoes the smell makes it way all the way to quispam or mainly just Saint John ?
@@Salcho3090 I'm not sure. I doubt it though. It's not really even something worth mentioning tbh. Now and then you might smell something if you are driving by the refinery or other industrial area.
@@atribecalledowens okay awesome appreciate it . We are just out in Oshawa Ontario and really considering the big move so just trying to get all the info I can
Hey, just thought I would also re-iterate that the smell doesn't seem to be much of an issue. I was born and lived in SJ/Quispamsis most of my life. My wife and I are currently in Halifax, but right now as I am typing this, I am in Quispam visiting family. No smell at all. I find in SJ, no significant issue with smells.
I’d love to connect and ask some questions man! Do you
I need a job in saint Jhon. But no job . Anybody help me ?
I would suggest going to some networking events or joining a club or team as the city is community driven. People are more than happy to help their neighbour if they know them personally.
Love your videos, at least your not trying to sell us a house, lol
Walking the north end, yeah, there's garbage issues , there's crime and infrastructure collapse issues, the roads are cracked, the police are overworked and called for stupid and waste-of-time situations by goofs who just want to be nasty. People are tired, and just want to be comfortable...but it's hard.
In regards to the refinery, you make it sound like Irving itself is responsible for the lower taxes it pays compared to its peers. Fact is in NB the government does not tax “equipment” within these plants, resulting in significantly lower assessments. It will take political willpower to change the tax system PROVINCIALLY to make it fairer. Irving operates within the framework of our tax system, so if they are paying less that’s on the province to get it fixed and make them pay more. One could argue Irving pressures the government to keep taxes lower, but it probably lands somewhere between myth and truth, we’ll never really know as mere commoners. In regards to garbage, it’s important not to overgeneralize. Yes some areas have garbage along main thoroughfares (for which I’ll pick up and bag for city to pick up), but the region also includes Kennebecasis Valley, Grand Bay, Hampton and other SJ neighborhoods that are mostly pristine. Ironically, Irving organizes garbage cleanup in the areas around the refinery. When all the garbage is picked up along McDonald St from Mt Pleasant to Loch Lomand, that’s Irving employees, not the city.
I'm indirectly referencing the 25-year property tax deal from 2005 involving Canaport LNG. According to CBC the deal was negotiated by former mayor Norm McFarlane and was voted in favour by city councillors. The province does have final say as you mentioned but the city did have influence there it appears. I assume if the deal was not supported by the city of SJ than the province would not have allowed it. Overall - the city is losing out on $5.3M annually on the deal...so it goes.
Regarding garbage, this video is talking about Saint John and not the region as a whole. The surrounding cities that make up the region are spotless in my experience. What does a clean Rothesay matter to the residence of SJ? I have to note that there was a full cat litter box abandoned on the road with the lid cracked off and litter flowing out for several weeks on McDonald Street - the exact area you described. It was quite the sight. That litter box was the inspiration behind this video lol
@@atribecalledowens that tax deal was axed in October of 2016, plus Irving sold their ownership interest in LNG in 2021 and it’s now 100% owned by Repsol of Spain. I’m not pro Irving, just pro correct facts for truth and transparency. It’s now assessed at $102,976,300 with a tax levy of 2,642,962.00
the refinery is the largest in CANADA, Irving has been one of the largest companies in New Brunswick for over 100 years, suggesting they don't shape public policy .....you're being deliberately obtuse, there's miles of records on this, including the book that he mentioned in the video....
@@atribecalledowens Someone from Alberta considering SJ - just wondering, how much tax revenue do the jobs provide? And if there was no refinery - what would the city look like? Not just the lost taxes in one area, but gained jobs and income from another side....
I hate saint john. I am from Fredericton however, so I believe its in my dna to say that and live up to my Fredericton Snobby stereotype haha.
Hi !
I had the pleasure to see you at Costco last Thursday! I was eating lunch,looked up and there you were walking from the cashier at Costco! You looked at me at the same time,and I smiled and said Hi! I did not want to embarrass you,but I wanted to acknowledge you,and I follow you on utube! I enjoy your content! Also your voice is so calming ! Love your family also!
Debbie R
Hi Debbie! I remember :)
Thanks for watching!
You forgot to mention Waterloo 😂
You really should visit the UK cities for dirt and rubbish on the roads. Saint John was nothing in comparison.
It's relative. Some cities in Canada make Saint John look trashy.
New Brunswickers would love if out of provincers stopped gentrifying our province to abuse our poverty as their playground.
No lack of NBers complicit in gentrifying NB.
Irving pays low taxes but has 3000 people working for him paying high taxes evin steven