Man, makes it sound like Canada is becoming a worse place to visit, let alone live in, day by day.

So much this. A good part of what affects you both mentally and emotionally is the people you surround yourself with. This includes family members. I know because I have experienced living in hard times and had to live with my sister, who along with her husband, only made me feel more of a pariah in their home the longer I stay there, and it REALLY messed my head. Compared to when I lived with my brother, I had a sense of peace and able to express myself more freely.