I landed in Toronto, lived there for 2 years. Then moved to Ottawa to study, bought our first house in Gatineau (QC, cheaper), moved back to Ottawa - destination. Compare 3 cities, I prefer to live in Ottawa.
1. The house is cheapter in Ottawa than in Toronto.
2. Ottawa has more high income job oppotunities than in Toronto.
3. Ottawa is a quiet, polite, clean, beautiful, slow path, and lazy city, good for kids.
4. There is no much big different to get a daycare space for the government emplyee. There are several government buildings have the priority for the internal employees. But you pay the same amount as everyone unless you are in a lower income category. Centrallized waiting list for everyone.
5. The food in Toronto is cheaper and has more options. Lousy city.
6. Quebec is French. You pay lots of tax, but you cannot enjoy their good services. It is good for single parent, low income family, and child care. A real social regime community. My daugther stayed in a daycare there for one year, one day only costs for $7. No matter what's your income. In Ontario, each month costs $800- $1500.
We are all foreigners, where there is a job for us, where we are going to live. Anything else would be in a low priority.
That's all my feeling by now.