Is Canada a good country to move to?

As you read you will understand why I placed this thread in this area.

I am asking all people who are Canadian or have had a prolonged stay in Canada. My family has decided that if things get any worse here in the USA soon we will move to Canada. We will bring my moms side of the family; grandparents, uncles, aunts, and my immediate family.

So I have to ask about Canada. I already know alot about Canada, such as its political system, political parties, prime minister, its provinces, and its weather. So I am just going to ask about specific issues which I see as important.

1. Is it affordable to live in Canada(on the outskirts Calgary of Vancouver)?
2. Is the quality of life better than in the USA?
3. How heavy is the tax burden on a person making around $100,000 US Dollars in Canada?
4. How tough is the immigration process and do you have to learn French?
5. Is your economy stable and expected to remain stable?
6. Is your country mostly safe and peaceful?


and if you can, add whatever else you think is important for someone moving to Canada to know. Thank you.

P.S. How Socialized is your economy? Are your natural resources nationalized? Is your health care system very effective?

I am a Socialist myself and my family is mostly Socialist leaning so we have no problem with big government.

[edit on 5/23/10 by Misoir]

[edit on 5/23/10 by Misoir]

Alright, I LOVE Canada. Lived here my whole life, would not choose anywhere else to live..

To answer your questions..

1. Is it affordable to live in Canada(on the outskirts Calgary of Vancouver)?

Historicaly, the West has more money to offer than the East does. Higher paying jobs and somewhat better climate if you are in BC.

Although that's a cylce thing. It booms in the west for 10 years and then dies down. I live on the East Coast in the Maritimes, it's my favorite place in Canada.

2. Is the quality of life better than in the USA?

Depends, everything is a bit more expensive, although our dollar is quite strong as of late. I would say Health Care makes all the difference, also we have a more passive law enforcement system.

3. How heavy is the tax burden on a person making around $100,000 US Dollars in Canada?

Roughly 30% if you factor in GST tax and those things.

4. How tough is the immigration process and do you have to learn French?

You do not have to learn french, if you live in Western Canada, you're better off learning Mandarin. The immigration process is somewhat very easy, the quickest way is to either have somebody sponsor your family, or to get a job here and have your employer issue work visas.

Here's all the info you'll need:

www.cic.gc.ca...

5. Is your economy stable and expected to remain stable?

Yes, our economy is stabler than the US because our banking system is more socialist leaning, we do not allow crazy things to happen like Lehman Brothers etc...

Economists predict steady growth for Canada.

6. Is your country mostly safe and peaceful?

We literally invented the term Peace Keeping with the UN and we don't have acess to small arms. As in you can't buy them in a store.

Hunting rifles, sure, but we are not allowed to open cary anywhere.

IMO we are the nicest people on the planet, it's not a stereotype, it's a compliment .

Long live Canada.

~Keeper

Edit to Add: People whine and moan about Health Care because of the waiting times and to be honest they can be brutal, like 8 hours. But it's triage. The people who need the most care receive it the fastest.

[edit on 5/23/2010 by tothetenthpower]

Originally posted by Misoir
1. Is it affordable to live in Canada(on the outskirts Calgary of Vancouver)?
2. Is the quality of life better than in the USA?
3. How heavy is the tax burden on a person making around $100,000 US Dollars in Canada?
4. How tough is the immigration process and do you have to learn French?
5. Is your economy stable and expected to remain stable?
6. Is your country mostly safe and peaceful?

Vancouver, no, not unless you have a job that pays well waiting for you there. Calgary is only a little cheaper, but there are more jobs and more high paying jobs so it evens out. If you're skilled at something or have a degree, Calgary is your place to find work.

Quality if life in general is the same, higher if you don't have health care down south obviously though.

If you're in the top tax bracket you're paying in the upper-40's.

Harder than in the states, but you don't need to learn French.

Very stable, the C$ is expected to surpass the US$ in coming years.

Safe compared to the states? Yeah, but so is Somalia If you like guns, this probably isn't the place you want to be.

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Alot of national pride in that post. Thank you, you have helped alot. I was considering Nova Scotia but my grandfather said it's just too wet and cold.

The job is in Patient Advocacy with a Bachelors Degree. I'm sure getting a job would be pretty easy(I hope), it would probably be a government job(once again, I hope).

1. Is it affordable to live in Canada(on the outskirts Calgary of Vancouver)?
2. Is the quality of life better than in the USA?
3. How heavy is the tax burden on a person making around $100,000 US Dollars in Canada?
4. How tough is the immigration process and do you have to learn French?
5. Is your economy stable and expected to remain stable?
6. Is your country mostly safe and peaceful?

I live in North Eastern ontario between ottawa and toronto in the biggest city between the 2 and it is the only place i have ever lived so i can only base my awnsers on that.
1.Compared to what ive heard from US friends on the internet i speak to it is cheaper, rent is around $700-900 a month all inclusive for a 2-3 bedroom apartment(if youll be renting) in vancouver/calgary ive heard the cost of living is a bit higher but the jobs pay a bit higher

2.the quality of life? i think thats more based upon who you surround yourself with in life my friend :p if you elaborate a little more maybe i can give you a better awnser.

3.We just recently had our taxes changed, right now like 30%

4.Immigration is very very easy aslong as your not a criminal lol, no you dont have to learn french, no one outside of quebec likes the french anyway haha

5.Better then the USA atm lol, not the greatest but hell where else you gonna go?

6.in my city of 150,000 some odd people, as i said the biggest between toronto and ottawa, we have had 1 murder in the last 10 years and it was solved the next day if that makes you feel any better :p everyone has its regular crimes but in terms of gun violence and or murders its very very safe, unless you live in toronto its a little more rough

[edit on 23-5-2010 by WARhampster]

Originally posted by Misoir
reply to post by tothetenthpower

 

Alot of national pride in that post. Thank you, you have helped alot. I was considering Nova Scotia but my grandfather said it's just too wet and cold.

The job is in Patient Advocacy with a Bachelors Degree. I'm sure getting a job would be pretty easy(I hope), it would probably be a government job(once again, I hope).

Nova Scotia is beautiful.

It's not too wet or cold lol

I live in New Brunswick, one province over, and today it's 30 degress, expected to be 33 tomorrow.

We had 2 snowfalls this year that were more than 6 inches.

And yes, I'm very proud lol

~Keeper

reply to post by ZombieOctopus


Thank you.

I like Calgary, but Alberta is too much like Texas for my tastes. I just considered there because it is booming and has a stable job market with high pay.

My first place I liked was Winnipeg until I saw how cold it got. Vancouver is extremely expensive. And my grandfather told me that Nova Scotia is too cold and wet.

So I guess Calgary is probably the best choice.

i'v never been to Canada but heard good things about it!

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Yeah, but from what i heard, this year was one of the best years for snowfall for New Brunswick. It is usually WAY more higher(snowfall). I’m guessing it has to do with climate change. I remember when I lived in New Brunswick, there was A lot of snow. I wonder what next year will bring you guys.

We barley seen any snow in ontario this year

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Oh... so it does get pretty hot in eastern Canada. Isn't it a little early in the year to be at 30C?

My grandparents live in Pennsylvania, so when they said Nova Scotia is too cold I figured it was really bad. I live in Florida, but I love the cold weather. Last year when it got down to 19F I was outside in jeans, sweater and gloves and I thought it was beautiful.

reply to post by Misoir


Try Toronto, in my opinion it is one of the best cities in Canada. Some people don’t like it, but compared to all of the cities in Canada and United States, it is by far one of the safest places to live.

reply to post by Misoir


There has been weird weather all over Canada. Eastern Ontario it was like 25 in April , and in Alberta it snowed in may. Weather is changing all over Canada. (or the better in my opinion)

Originally posted by Maddogkull
reply to post by Misoir

 

Try Toronto, in my opinion it is one of the best cities in Canada. Some people don’t like it, but compared to all of the cities in Canada and United States, it is by far one of the safest places to live.

That's what my grandfather said too. He's been all across Canada on business back in the '80s. He said Vancouver and Toronto are the best.

dont be a coward and run, stay in the usa and fight for your country.

Now that I know Canada is a great place to live based upon opinion from the natives.

I have to ask your opinions upon cities in Canada that I should start researching. Just tell me which cities on this list are best for weather, economy and overall best.

Calgary, Alberta
Vancouver, British Columbia
Prince George, British Columbia
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Toronto, Ontario
Edmonton, Alberta
Whitehorse, Yukon

I was told that the area between Prince George, BC and Whitehorse, YK is beautiful and a great place to live. It looks too far north and would probably be freezing!

reply to post by Misoir


My advice, as far as weather/climate goes, is to find a city on a lake. I've been moving between Toronto and Guelph, Ontario in the past week, and the difference in climate is immediately noticable. Guelph is only an hour and a half west of Toronto by highway, but its weather is really volatile - last week there was one day that was 29 degrees C, and dropped to 9 at night! There's not a lot of breezes either, because it's on a big flat rock. Toronto is in the Great Lakes region though, so the temperature rises and falls gradually across days, staying warm and temperate at nights in the summer. My only advice would be to look at the physical geography of where you're moving, especially if your older family members are moving with you (heatstroke is a real killer!).

Well in the summer time, Whitehorse, Yukon might be very foreign to you. In places a little northern from there I know for a fact it doesn’t get dark till around 2- 3:00 AM. Winter it is the opposite. It is a great place to visit. But it is pretty weird. It is great if you love fresh air and clear crystal water, from mountain glaciers

Toronto is great, has everything a city can offer, safe multicultural, don’t like the traffic on the 401, but i bet Florida is worse. I cannot say anything but Vancouver since I never lived there. I just personally think Toronto has a lot of amazing things. Tons of bars, clubs, events, stores. It is very safe to which is what a city should be like. Call me biased but I think it is one of the best cities, I have heard Vancouver is even better, but recently supposedly the drug industry has been causing an increase of crime (not sure if this is true), so I am not sure. I do know for a fact that Vancouver is one of the greenest cities in the world.

Originally posted by Misoir
Now that I know Canada is a great place to live based upon opinion from the natives.

I have to ask your opinions upon cities in Canada that I should start researching. Just tell me which cities on this list are best for weather, economy and overall best.

Calgary, Alberta
Vancouver, British Columbia
Prince George, British Columbia
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Toronto, Ontario
Edmonton, Alberta
Whitehorse, Yukon

I was told that the area between Prince George, BC and Whitehorse, YK is beautiful and a great place to live. It looks too far north and would probably be freezing!

I'm gonna add some to your list for your consideration.

First off.

STAY OUT OF SASKATCHEWAN OR MANITOBA. Really...just do it. It's the most boring place on the planet, sorry for anybody who lives there...

Moncton New Brunswick is the fastest growing city in Canada, that's where I live, you could do very well in your position here, we are called the Hub city.

I love Vancouver, if not just for the weather.

Lived in Toronto for University, I like it, but it's a bit cold, as in the people aren't as friendly as the rest of Canada.

Halifax is not your safest city, but it's beautiful, right on the coast and also growing.

I don't really like Alberta, cause like you said it's like Texas. Just not my thing.

Anywhere in Yukon, or NWT even Nunavut is amazing, although it's gets crazy cold there.

Montreal is a great city as well, you don't need to learn English, and it has a very European feel to it.

That's about it, ohh and St Johns Newfoundland is a beautiful place as well. A little off the beaten path.

In closing, I advocate the East Coast. We Maritimers are amazing and you'd make a great addition.

~Keeper

reply to post by Maddogkull


I thought Whitehorse, YK was a little too far up there. I completely forgot about the whole long winter thing. Half of my family likes living in/near a big city and the other half(like myself) perfer really rural areas. So I think Whitehorse wouldn't work.

Isn't Toronto really big? We would prefer to live in a rural like area close to a big city, within daily commute time.

reply to post by SmedleyBurlap


I don't think old people could really handle violent swings of temperature so living near a body of water is probably best since it moderates the temperature.

I doubt we would have to worry about heat stroke coming from Florida and Pennsylvania.