Sandsmehra

Hi,

I'm sure that this topic has been done to death so please forgive my obvious questions.

My wife and I (and soon to be baby) are in the process of applying for our PR to Canada via the Skilled Workers program (likely move shall be Toronto given the IT and Finance opportunities given our respective careers).

Basically it'll be good to have a view of the pros and cons of emigrating from fellow Britons since that'll provide us with a great frame of reference.

It'll be good have a view on gross earnings too that shall allow a comfortable lifestyle in Toronto. We are both in our early forties.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Just to add we shall be moving from London to Toronto so it'll also be good to have a view from folks who have also emigrated from UK and who have lived in London.

evets

Hello, I too am in the process of moving from Melbourne to Mississauga, but lived in London prior to my move here. So I have spent countless hours on this site and other sites wondering the exact same thing. The guys here are very helpful.

What are your respective roles already or a short summary of your key skills, as that would help people understand more what roles you could apply for and the relative salaries.

Have you read many of the posts on the site, as they are pretty useful and don't worry about posting similar questions(my own opinion) as the move is very big for you and will be more than likely be feeling stressed. New born or to be baby, will probably add to this.

Have you been to Canada or Toronto before? What are your reasons for wanting to emigrate, as this may help other people offer other opinions?

I have not myself, so it is a bit of a leap of faith for me, I have spent a month in Ottawa though. I am in a lucky(fortunate) position my company is sponsoring me so I have a job to go to. I hear the job market is very competitive(for IT) in Toronto at the moment, a bit like Melbourne. If you have not worked in Canada before, you both may struggle as it appears to be that catch 22, about not having local work experience, people reluctant to hire you and more than likely offer you a lower salary than a local(just what I have read, no experience if true or not). I can be corrected here from other people that know better. Also from what I understand networking is a big part of finding work, unlike the UK.

If you have both have a linkedin profile, suggest to get them updated before you move.

This post in the Australia forum, makes for a good read and sad read(the husband also worked in IT).

http://britishexpats.com/forum/updat...canada-872818/

Do you have any idea if you would like to live in Toronto itself or in the GTA?

Will you be wanting to buy a car? If so, be prepared to be shocked at the insurance. Not sure what you pay in the UK and if you have a full NCB, but it is barely recognised in Ontario. Some companies, from posts I have read do make some adjustments, but you are basically treated as someone who has just passed there driving test.

I cannot give you a view on gross earnings, as still trying to work that out myself, but Toronto like Vancouver has the lowest median earnings in Canada with the most expensive housing Go figure. I was chatting to a colleague of mine this morning, based in Vancouver and he doesn't understand this himself.

How many months pregnant is your wife, would the baby be born in the UK or Canada? Would you want to put the child into day care and she can also work?

Do you an instagram account, if so do a search for Toronto, Mississauga, etc, some really good pictures so you can get an idea about different places, restaurants etc.
Also reddit, has some good subreddit forums, which provide a good insight of Toronto, GTA in general, things you would not think to ask and kind of day to day life.

Sorry just realised my post has gotten quite long and not really a pros and cons more of a small Q/A that will hopefully generate more questions and answers from you to help others provide some assistance.

Sandsmehra

Hi Evets,

Many thanks for the helpful post.

We are pretty open to other locations than Toronto (I have visited Toronto before but my wife hasn't though we have been been to Vancouver on holiday).

I'm in corporate IT Sales for a MNC and my wife is a Financial Controller for a MNC too. Both with around 20+ years international experience.

In fact we are both currently located in Singapore (I have spent most of my career outside UK) but returning to UK next month but with a view to emigrating over the next 12-24 months.

I think we are both keen on the "North American Lifestyle" I.e. The space and quality of life. I used to live in Chicago and I am a big fan of the West Coast US but I believe that Canada maybe a good balance in culture between US and UK and the fact it is gas a much more socialised education and healthcare system like UK appeals.

I also have a good network of extended family in Canada/Toronto so that's the other attraction.

It'll be good to hear how the education system measures up to the UK one in addition to healthcare.

Thanks again.

Sandsmehra

P.s. Best wishes for your move Evets!

evets

Thanks, and I know it dragged on, got on a roll Now I know you are based in Singapore, makes more sense about the times you posted. I thought you where crazy if posting in the UK.

Since you work in Sales, may open up a lot more opportunities for you and much higher Salaries and the same for your wife. The international experience I think would benefit you both, well I hope, I am using that card also Have you looked at any jobs sites for Vancouver, Toronto, etc to get a feel of the number of vacancies posted.

Toronto is the financial centre of Canada(had to look up MNC as never run into it before duh!!). I suspect she might fare better in Toronto over Vancouver, but only a guess. Your position may be different though, but I understand salaries are lower Vancouver than Toronto. But you do have a much, well, better climate in Vancouver. Depends if you prefer rain over snow.

Education - From what I understand, from this forum, the UK is higher standard but also the way the UK education system is focused. There are a number of posts and comments already about this. Others will/should be able to comment on more specifics. Both countries are centred around different end goals.

Healthcare - Again this is a tough one, both countries have free healthcare but I think the NHS is probably the best in the work. You can get private healthcare in Canada, and believe a lot of professional firms provide this as part of the package(my company does, some things work out much better than what I get in Oz, others not as good but hey it is free so cannot complain) but there is no such thing as private hospitals. So if you need something major done, you could wait months and months before getting it done in the public system even though you have private healthcare. This part I do not really understand, if you sell private healthcare why not have private hospitals. In Australia, over 30 you pretty much have to take over private health cover or be penalised in your tax return. Then again if you have it, you do get access fast to treatment at private health care hospitals and establishments.

Also while I remember I believe Toronto and the GTA(Mississauga and Markham) have the greatest number of tech companies and also Waterloo, just outside(well a bit further than I thought after checking out google maps) of Mississauga is classed as the Silicon Valley of Canada. Ottawa also a hot spot for tech companies apparently. Not sure how this would affect your wife's chances of securing something decent though.
Do a google search on the Silicon Valley of Canada, as some good reads.

evets

Thank you, already feeling the stress from it, tough looking at all the things you have accumulated and try to sell them quickly.

Good luck with your move and becoming a father. Congrats.

Sandsmehra

Thanks again for the really detailed and very helpful advice all round. Thanks also for the wishes.

Perhaps at this juncture I should really be on a forum on how we're going to adjust to life back in UK after being away so long � ���� lol!

Take care and thanks again! Greatly appreciated.

Former Lancastrian

Pros = Very few cockney accents to be heard in Toronto.

Cons = Its Toronto and its Canada. Expensive cheese, cell phone plans, car insurance, hydro bills and not near the ocean but close to a big lake.
Expensive air fares (no Ryanair or Easyjet prices). A Province that has a huge debt and a Premier who seems to be hated but they voted for her anyway.

Sandsmehra

Many thanks, Former Lancastrian. It doesn't sound like that you're too enamoured with Canada.

Moses2013

People will always try and compare, but just because it works for them doesn't mean it will work for you. It won't be a huge difference if you move from a big city to another big city and I suppose it's really down to the individual and what you think you can get for your money. One person might not be bothered about housing and loves the job, but the other person would hate to live in a small apartment and the job is unimportant. Others might find public transport better in one location, but what's the point if you can cycle, or live next to work?




Of course it's a different country, but you basically have the same challenges in a city.

Former Lancastrian

I actually like Canada though its great not living in the GTA area where I can still afford to live. You get used to the high prices of certain things which if you hang around long enough on here you will come across.
Unless I won the lottery I would not go back to the UK to live. If you start comparing everything you will drive yourself crazy. It is what it is. I rarely buy cheese anyway.

Sandsmehra

Thanks all for your respective helpful input. I guess we are really trying to decide whether to emigrate to Canada from UK as opposed to focussing on Toronto.

Toronto is likely where the best job opportunities lie but the biggest decision shall be whether Canada may be a good country to move to.

Moses2013

You just have to think if it's really worth moving to Toronto for a better job, but then might end up poorer due to high costs. Of course it would be the same in London. You say you fancy the space and quality of life, but are you really getting that in a city like Toronto? Of course you have access to the outdoors, but how often will you experience it during the week compared to other locations in Canada?






You could probably do loads of activities in a cheaper unpopulated part of the UK too, but might not have the better job on paper.
It's really just your personal view and what the stats say are irrelevant

christmasoompa

Do you need a job offer to score enough points to get PR? Just that if you don't you might find it worth waiting to see where you can find an employer prepared to sponsor you before focussing too much on one location.

My personal opinion of Toronto isn't great, but then I'm a country girl and really wouldn't like to live in any city now!

You will find loads of threads on schooling, healthcare etc if you do a search, hopefully it will be useful and help you figure out if you think Canada is for you or not.

Best of luck with it.

teejaydee

As you have decided to apply for the PR, you have presumably already considered the pros and cons and decided to make the move?