Where there are no lights, pedestrians have right of way in Canada. Even though forcing a stop on the gasoline powered vehicle with much more momentum is strictly less efficient than making the pedestrian wait, it stuck as an arrangement, that made for a more enjoyable and relaxing city experience.

Which Canadian province is this? Here in Manitoba cars have right of way away from intersections. Pedestrians are responsible for avoiding a collision.

Canada has a very intense car culture. What you are describing has to be some sort of local exception.

Interesting! My experience was based around Nova Scotia.

However, I actually meant at intersections (which is, I guess, where I mostly crossed streets). This arrangement was new and refreshing to me.

However, it is of course reasonable that pedestrians can not assume to just walk on a street everywhere, at any time.

Trains and trams are exempt from those rules, and not just pedestrians, but everyone.

That’s not a fair comparison. Hundreds of tons of train of 100kmh take several km to stop.