"Been here now getting on a #year not a sunny day in sight. I think I've seen 4 days of nice weather," the 46-year-old wrote alongside a snap of him looking pretty unhappy with his surroundings.
"People say we had 3 days of #sunshine like #santa just arrived.
"Well congratulations. I grew up in Australia Yo and have lived in the beautiful sunny #california for twenty years where I #surf and play in the ocean. Oh did I tell you I'm Australian/American.
"Anyway Stop telling me to go on hikes get on a bike and ride around a Lake or swim in its frigid waters oh and #whistler enough!!! I'm here to work."
Purcell then turned discussion to the city's "homeless population problem", describing rough sleepers who "roam the streets in desperate need for help".
"It appears the Vancouver government and its #politicians to my eyes at least are much more inclined to turn a blind eye too (sic) the mentally ill and homeless and rather focus on the enormous amount of construction serving foreign investment groups," the actor wrote.
"Why am I saying this ? Because I've been around the world many times and have not seen so many displaced mentally ill people take up entire blocks and turn it into a place of disturbing sadness and horror.
"It's the same everywhere I guess not just Vancouver."
Purcell admitted he was "preaching, which I hate to do" and said he was "flawed (and) just as selfish as the next #idiot".
But he said it wasn't his job, but the job of politicians, to serve the people.
He continued: "So when you visit Vancouver and enjoy the beautiful lakes, mountains it's pretty little parks cute little trails. Be sure to check out Hastings street not as pretty it's where you get to see a very very real part of Vancouver.
"Ps. Can wait to read the hate comments I get. Haha."
Comments on Purcell's Instagram post have so far been generally supportive, with people either agreeing with his assessment of Vancouver's homelessness or praising him for raising awareness.
Homelessness has genuinely been regarded as a major social crisis in Vancouver, with the number of homeless people in the city having skyrocketed over the past decade.
The city has played host to Purcell and his Prison Break co-stars, including Wentworth Miller, as they film the show's upcoming revival miniseries.
- news.com.au
