Toronto-Detroit: How Toronto is in danger of becoming like Detroit..
Detroit and what are the measures required to be taken to stop that.To start with we will discuss
Shortly about both these cities and their respective economies and social conditions.
First talking about Detroit, it is a city in the U.S state of Michigan.It is also the largest city across
America-Canada border with a population close to 5.2 million people, known as World’s
Traditional automotive center.The biggest reason for the setback for its economy was gradual
Movement from manufacturing to services.To be clear concentrating to one industry that is
Automobile and neglecting the others.At one time due to good position in economic system,
Detroit became a kind of role model for the other smaller counterparts like, Toledo, Ohio which
Followed the same trajectory of dipping downwards like Detroit itself. The Country’s sixty
Percent population decreased in 1950 and it stood at 700000 as of 2012.Proportionally the
Manufacturing jobs also reduced and presently is not even one tenth what it was used to be
Earlier.Not to a surprise the existing population who have remained in the city they are enduring
According to sources Detroit records 350 to 400 murders every year, which makes it one of the
Dangerous cities around U.S. Facts will tell us that sixty percent of the children are living below
Poverty line and literacy. Policies from Government like mortgage tax deduction and subsidized
Investment in highway planning also impacted this city hugely.In the early 1950 s the city was
Prospering like anything and that was the reason behind the increase of prices of real estates and
Plots.To include cost cutting measures manufacturing units like Ford,General Motors started
Relocating their units out of the city urban area.Moreover, manufacturing units also began
Relocating to overseas to reduce labor and production costs.The loss of jobs certainly resulted in
People moving out of the city in search of job and money.This ever declining citizen base
Resulted in decrease of tax collection base and lack of civil leadership.As a consequence the
Powers from Union have crippled and tied growth and fabric of Detroit and similar
Cities. Michigan was one of the states which provided maximum legal protection to the Unions
And lost jobs, population and overall income.The states which followed Right to Work (RTW)
Had seen more growth in private sector jobs than the former.People started moving their work
And business to the suburb areas, leaving behind only few private sector people to bear large
Government taxes.
Now talking about Toronto, is the most populous city of Canada and capital of Ontario
Province.In contrast to Detroit, the population of Toronto doubled it to 2.6 million since
1950.The economic and social freedom that people coming from outside to work was like no
Other place.Now if we count forty nine percent of the population of Toronto comprises of real
Immigrants from countries like India,China, Pakistan, etc. The main reason of development of
Toronto lies in the fact of fresh addition of people in the city. Only outside immigration does not
Make any sense.It has to be supported with adequate job which Toronto was able to provide
Unlike Detroit, which suffered for decades due to non availability of fresh and able
Resources.The key is to provide enough business permits,loan facilities,cultural openness and
Good police force to allow people from outside to carry on with their job on a day to day basis.
These are the reasons due to which Toronto became a multinational city with ample scope of
Growth and opportunities.
The current picture will tell us about something else as half of the country is suffering from
Recession,that is there for five years.Toronto being a multinational city was not away from the
Effect of global recession and slowdown.It’s not only a problem with Toronto itself,but adjacent
Neighbor cities like East York, North York, Vaughan, Thornhill,Markham, Richmond
Hill, Newtonbrook, Woodbridge, Nobleton, Rexdale, New Toronto, Mississauga and York.Just
Like any other multinational cities, there were lots of Immigrants from other countries which are
Now eating of the job opportunities of the Localities.This scenario is somewhat different as
Compared to Detroit, but if not stopped or Managed Toronto can also turn into that with less job
Opportunities and poverty.
The main issue is like after prospering for a decade long buying power of people increased a lot
And in result increased the debt counts that are loaned from banks.Now at this time less
Jobs are evident people are not able to service the loans properly.It can at some point of time
Lead to Bankruptcy. The mostly hit sector in Toronto due to this recession is the
Infrastructure.New apartments, houses selling have reduced a great bit.
Now the solution which will stop Toronto becoming another Detriot is simple and straight
Forward.Immigration from outside countries has to be reduced to a greater extent to provide job
Opportunities to the localities but not at the stake of development.Companies have a tendency to
Outsource local jobs to other countries like Eastern nations to save themselves from high labor
Costs.Government should lay down proper policies to direct these companies about stopping or
At least restricting them to a certain extent.Government should implement something like Right
Infrastructure sector should be provided with adequate help from banks by providing easy loans
Be given the opportunity and the correct level of education so that they become applicable for
The job positions currently served by the outsiders.This is not easy to follow or maintain
But If takeing the example of China as a nation where outside immigrants are not
Entertained that much but still they are at par with all other developed nations.The only reason
Behind is the self Dependency and self’s ability.Thus creating new job opportunities and
Stopping localities from Going out,Toronto along with its other neighbor cities can gain back its
original texture and flavor.
Works Cited
Madhavi Acharya-Tom Yew “Most Canadians believe the country is still in recession, Pollara survey finds” 14 January 2014. <http://www.thestar.com/business/economy/2014/01/14/most_canadians_believe_the_country_is_still_in_recession_pollara_survey_finds.html>
“Is Canada Heading for a Recession in 2013?” 25 April 2013. <http://www.torontocondobubble.com/2013/04/is-canada-heading-for-recession-in-2013.html>
Palash Ghosh. "A Tale Of Three Cities: Detroit, Toronto, And Pittsburgh In A Post-Industrialized World” 9 October 2013. <http://www.ibtimes.com/tale-three-cities-detroit-toronto-pittsburgh-post-industrialized-world-1417742>
Pete Saunders. “The reason behind Detroit’s decline” 21 February 2012. <http://www.urbanophile.com/2012/02/21/the-reasons-behind-detroits-decline-by-pete-saunders/>
Jerry Agar. “How Toronto can avoid becoming Detroit”. 24 May 2011. <http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/20/agar-how-toronto-can-avoid-becoming-detroit>
“13 Priority Neighbourhoods map”. 12 March 2014. <http://www.unitedwaytoronto.com/whatWeDo/neighbourhoodsMap.php>
