6 Things Nobody Tells You About Canada vs the USA

I've lived in both countries. Here’s what nobody tells you. 🇺🇸🇨🇦

I've spent 22 years in Canada and 3 years in the USA. In Part 2 of this series on the USA and Canada, we’re diving into the 6 biggest differences I've noticed between the USA and Canada—exploring the vibes, values, and norms that shape everyday life.

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▬▬ WHAT TO EXPECT ▬▬
We’ll cover:

- Why Canada emphasizes stability (Peace, Order, Good Government) while America valorizes individualism (Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness)
- How work-life balance and hustle culture differ across the two countries
- Why Canadian and American media feel so different in tone and approach
- How diversity shapes cultural identity in unique ways
- And of course, we’ll tackle the age-old question: Are Canadians really more polite than Americans?

But let’s also set clear expectations: This video focuses on big English-speaking cities like Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and LA. It doesn’t dive into places like Québec, Calgary, Halifax, or rural regions—not because they aren’t important, but because every comparison needs a clear lens.

So if you’re wondering:

- Why do Americans work so much more than Canadians?
- Why does Canadian media feel less polarized than U.S. media?
- Is Canada really 'friendlier' than America?

You’re in the right place.

▬▬ Video Chapters ▬▬
0:00 Introduction & Frames
1:47 Difference 1
4:07 Difference 2
7:09 Difference 3
14:58 Difference 4
22:15 Difference 5
24:31 Difference 6

▬▬ Socials ▬▬
@ameercorro

If you read this far, comment "POGG 🐸"

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[AmeerCorro]

👉 Before jumping in, here’s what you need to know:

This video focuses on big, English-speaking cities like Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and LA.

But let’s be real: Canada and the U.S. are so much more than just those places. Québec, Calgary, Halifax, the Midwest, rural towns, and smaller cities all have their own rich cultures, values, and dynamics that deserve attention. There’s as much diversity within each country as there is between them.

I had to pick a lens for this video, and this was it—but it’s not the full story.

If your experience wasn’t reflected here, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Your perspective helps us all learn more, and who knows? It might even spark ideas for a future video!

Thanks for watching, and let’s have a thoughtful, respectful conversation.

[johnandrews]

In small town Canada there is a vast difference in talking to strangers than in the big cities. Small town people are way more engaging and more willing to share views or a laugh than in say Toronto. Generally speaking.

[existentialpoet]

The significant difference is that Canadians have a "collective" view of the "commonwealth, " while Americans have an individualistic view. We are not socialists, as Americans may rant or have you think; instead, we think of the community's well-being. This is a significant difference in government policies. Our motto is "peace, order, and good government, " while the motto for Americans is 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Canadians love people; Americans are our dear friends and allies, even with our differences.

[thebowandbullet]

Re. Politeness: As a Canadian, I think it's at least in part because we're more reserved than our boisterous Southern neighbours. It takes longer to get to know us, for us to share our opinions and trust people. Until then, we remain polite and 'nice' as a way to keep the peace and social distance. From what I understand, this is pretty common culturally among northern countries (e.g. Scandinavia) though I'm not sure why.

[AlexReims]

I am sorry to announce that after 71 years of witnessing Canadian and American behaviors, Canadian are way more polite of everybody I had the chance to meet and discuss different matters that people get involved in. I think you will only find people older than his counterpart being polite and courteous as he would be the youngest between the two.

I always open doors to youngsters (I am 71) and their interest will be for you to get in first and let the second ones handle the door by himself. I give my chair in public transportation when I see a young mother with three kids she needs to watch and they always refuse until I insist. I always turn it as a joke saying "I want to grow up", which always get smiles all around.

[mmrgratitudes]

I love Canada 🇨🇦 it’s geopolitically lonely as a hegemon. I always feel like Canada is our larger, nicer, dependable, and calm little brother. I would be so sad if Canada was not our neighbor.

[scottcameron]

Another context about social interactions between the countries (Canadians being polite and Americans being more boisterous and freely giving their opinion) is the applicable laws. Americans who point to Canada and say "you don't have freedom of speech" are generally correct as we have freedom of expression instead, which not only protects the speaker's right to say something but also the listeners rights as well. In the US, by having a general declaration of being legally able to say what you want has given Americans the "confidence" to say whatever they want, even if they know it may be taken as offensive. In Canada, based on the principle of POGG, we acknowledge our rights only extend as far as hurting someone else (either physically or non-physically). As such, we learn to socially self-restrict our comments based on the applicable audience, so we don't purposely or offhandedly offend someone. All which turns out to be another tenet of politeness which is "if you don't have something nice to say (or at least neutral) don't say anything at all"

[bringyourownaliengarden]

Canadian here; celebrating my 62nd year. Landed Immigrant in 1964 from West Germany [during the period] and decided to become a Canadian citizen in 1984. This YouTube Content Creator offers a great presentation that ignores the advent of the invention we all take for granted nowadays, marketed and known as "The World Wide Web" or "The Internet." Algorithms, government legislation, and more influence this amazing "socializing with media" tool. Another point I want to rubber stamp here, please World, stop calling Canadians "polite", "kind, " and "nice." Could you stop this habit? Please refer to Canadians as understanding. To illustrate my point with words: you arrive at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and disembark from a plane full of an aggressive attitude, self-importance, bent on destruction: plainly we will kick your ass. If however, you arrive in our country with the desire to better yourself by supporting others in our community goals to improve life in this country [there is lots of room for improvement] then we have your back. Thanks for reading this long post. Best wishes for every success.

[billn]

The niceness is gone ever since the 51st state comment. It is not being taken as a joke !

[mts]

I am a Canadian and love this country. I never want to be anything else.

[KaediPlays]

I am planning for immigration to Canada (yes actively working through the very tough steps... not just a passing thought), and this video was extremely insightful. While there was a lot of the technical details you shared that I was already familiar with, your insight to the cultures between the U.S. and Canada is incredibly helpful.

[joshmcritchie]

My daughter turns 3 today, when I was working I gave them updates and when she was going to be born my company said "take the week off!" I'm a person not a number!

[blanchemoyaert]

You over looked Canadian diversity in terms of French culture and indigenous influence. These differences are due to a very different history. US has a Latin and African element historically. Whereas Canada has French as a founding nation. I know you mentioned in the beginning you were comparing only English cities, but this overlooks a very important cultural difference.

[MichelleIkoma]

Politeness is about public behaviour as being respectful of others in interactions, but it does not have anything to do with kindness which is more about. Intention to look after others. Canadians tend to be more hands off unless you ask for assistance. We respect the other person and let them lead the interaction.

[joe.ramsay]

One of the reasons Canadian know so much about US politics is that Canadian elections are short lived and far less dramatic than US elections, eg. there is less media coverage. The U.S. presidential election process spans nearly two years, beginning with candidate registration and announcements in the spring of the year before the election. Canadian federal elections are much shorter. The campaign period lasts a minimum of 36 days and a maximum of 50 days, as mandated by the Canada Elections Act.

[ItsMeSlip]

Dude the quality >>> I’m from Boston so your experiences hit home!! Well done.

[americanexpat]

Born in Chicago, but spent many years outside the US in Middle East, Ireland, and many countries on business. It's easiest to understand the world if you rank countries across a spectrum. Think of pure Individualism at one extreme and pure Collectivism at the other extreme. Countries can then be ranked between the two. The US would be closest to the Individualism extreme, with China and other Asian countries at the other extremes. Canada and Western Europe would be more in the middle, but leaning to the Individualism side. Much of the rest of the world is more towards the Collectist side of the spectrum, since they are older societies and learned that they had to stick together if they wanted to survive.

[stevedavenport]

I didnt know Canada that well until I traveled to areas outside of tourist zones and started to talk to actual Canadians. Thankfully, most conversations weren't through the filter of "I'm Canadian and You're American" So, I was able to get a real sense of what Canadians are like day to day.

[davidbarts]

Fun fact: Last November, CBC (Canada’s public radio and TV broadcaster) ran election-night live special coverage as the results came in, much like the US networks did. (And no wonder, given how much the outcome affects Canada.) I could not imagine any major US network doing the same for a Canadian election (again, not surprisingly, given how much less the outcomes of Canadian elections affect the USA).

[lisbetsoda]

In Canada, no company or individual is allowed to donate more than $1, 500.00 each. That makes politics and politicians less powerful and makes lobbying not really a thing like it is in the U.S. Every person can actually sit in parliament and end up running out country. We also score much better on crimes such as corruption. That is at ALL levels from city, to government, to police and the judicial system.