Yeah that's straight-up false. I've spent a lot of time in the eastern provinces and in the United States over the last few years. I think rather than opinion, this would be a good opportunity to dig up some data.

I've actually lived there, and it's so bad I couldn't believe it.

People quite literally stoking up their houses in bad winters because they don't have money for wood for their woodstove. I've never seen anything like that anywhere in the world and I've spent some time in pretty poor places.

Of course you don't have to believe me, I couldn't care less. But it's depressing how down and out people are there. It's a combination of a weak economy and a rather fragile social security safety net. In theory it's all there, in practice it is quite easy to fall through the cracks, especially when you are older, unable to work or of native descent.