Michael Moore's "Sicko" is hot internet news

[Chaerophon]

First off: I haven't seen the film, but it sounds like Moore clearly did exaggerate when discussing Toronto in his movie. Of course there are some areas that are worse than others. But isn't it a rather unique feature of city that the worst of the neighbourhoods you mention isn't even part of the City of Toronto, but located somewhere in the realm of 10-15 miles north of downtown? I must admit that I don't know much about the Jamestown neighbourhood, but I have walked through the Kensington Market area many times at night and I can honestly say that I really don't find it all that threatening. I wouldn't send my wife off for a stroll in the area on her own, but it's far from being a true "problem area". In fact, there's not a single place in the entire GTA where "people don't go" (including Jane and Finch), and the downtown area is remarkably inviting. The "bad areas" of Toronto don't even really compare with the further reaches and sidestreets of the East Hastings area in Vancouver, which are relatively safe in their own right (the Hastings "main drag" - where all the action is - isn't really problematic at all for the average passerby thanks to all the traffic, though the scenery is quite interesting).

I take your point, but still think that Toronto is probably "safer" than virtually any other major city in North America, with but a few possible (Canadian) exceptions.