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Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Old May 6th 2016, 11:57 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Originally Posted by Steve_
Did you listen to the interview with Neal Gabler on NPR?
No, I'll search for it later.

You missed third and fourth choices in Toronto. Live in an inner-burb; Riverdale, Leaside, High Park, somewhere like that, or in a central location, such as Cabbagetown or Rosedale. Take the tram/subway to work or bicycle/walk in the summer. I found that worked well when we lived in Leaside and, later, in the Beach. Toronto's not a bad place when you're there, it's just nightmarish to get into or out of (on the weekends as well as during the weekday rush hour).
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Old May 8th 2016, 2:27 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Thank you
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Old May 8th 2016, 2:28 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UKy

Thanks, Engineer_Abroad
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Old May 8th 2016, 2:29 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Very useful article, DBD33. thank you!
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Old May 8th 2016, 2:30 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Thanks, Steve. We shall pay a visit to Ottawa too next year.
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Old May 10th 2016, 5:10 pm
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Originally Posted by dbd33
No, I'll search for it later.

You missed third and fourth choices in Toronto. Live in an inner-burb; Riverdale, Leaside, High Park, somewhere like that, or in a central location, such as Cabbagetown or Rosedale. Take the tram/subway to work or bicycle/walk in the summer. I found that worked well when we lived in Leaside and, later, in the Beach. Toronto's not a bad place when you're there, it's just nightmarish to get into or out of (on the weekends as well as during the weekday rush hour).
Agreed, I came to Toronto from London back in 2001 (work in the Financial Technology sector) and I have no intention of ever moving back to the UK.

- commutes are much more palatable in Toronto, GO trains are efficient, clean and you can generally get a seat
- it's possible to drive into work, even in downtown Toronto .. that would just a be ridiculous notion in London
- I live to the west of Toronto (nr High Park) and bike along the lake on trails into my downtown workplace .. takes 25 mins
- i would say like-for-like housing costs are probably 50% the cost of London .. in fact the kind of housing options in Toronto don't even exist in London

On the housing front consider a place like this:

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/S...gate-Queensway

That's about 8 miles from downtown Toronto, all for around 350k GBP .. that kind of option just doesn't exist in London.

I agree there are some downsides:

- high income tax
- culturally its a little dead (I miss country pubs)
- school system seems very liberal
- higher paying jobs are harder to find (they are out there though), basic wages seem generally higher (less obvious poverty)

I have a lifestyle I could never afford in London, it's less of a rat race here which I like.
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Old May 11th 2016, 12:26 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Thank you so much, Matt. That is exactly what I was looking for. A balanced view on the pros and cons.
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Old May 11th 2016, 12:40 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Originally Posted by matt_toronto
Agreed, I came to Toronto from London back in 2001 (work in the Financial Technology sector) and I have no intention of ever moving back to the UK.

- commutes are much more palatable in Toronto, GO trains are efficient, clean and you can generally get a seat
- it's possible to drive into work, even in downtown Toronto .. that would just a be ridiculous notion in London
- I live to the west of Toronto (nr High Park) and bike along the lake on trails into my downtown workplace .. takes 25 mins
- i would say like-for-like housing costs are probably 50% the cost of London .. in fact the kind of housing options in Toronto don't even exist in London

On the housing front consider a place like this:

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/S...gate-Queensway

That's about 8 miles from downtown Toronto, all for around 350k GBP .. that kind of option just doesn't exist in London.

I agree there are some downsides:

- high income tax
- culturally its a little dead (I miss country pubs)
- school system seems very liberal
- higher paying jobs are harder to find (they are out there though), basic wages seem generally higher (less obvious poverty)

I have a lifestyle I could never afford in London, it's less of a rat race here which I like.
We're in a similar position. We used to live in Richmond in London and had as big a house as we were ever likely to be able to afford without moving to the country and jobs restricted this option to some extent. We also wanted a lifestyle change for ourselves and the kids. I feel we've achieved both - and largely for the better.
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Old May 11th 2016, 12:50 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Thanks also, Rivingtonpike. It's just good to understand from a Briton's perspective on why the move to Canada. This gives me some great points to help with our evaluation.
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Old May 11th 2016, 2:35 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Originally Posted by Sandsmehra
Thanks also, Rivingtonpike. It's just good to understand from a Briton's perspective on why the move to Canada. This gives me some great points to help with our evaluation.
The pro for moving is simple, property is cheaper, salaries are lower but not relative to the cost of housing, so people who emigrate have more money to spend on other things. The con is that there are things money can't buy.

If consumer durables float your boat then moving makes sense. If proximity to family is more important then it does not. There's no abstract merit to Canada, no cultural or political draw for someone from the UK, it's just about money. Even "a better life for the kids" comes down to being able to buy more for them; not just durables but participation in expensive entertainments and better schools.

Are you a spiritual, cultured person active in politics and intellectual pursuits such as a debating society and a chess club or do you want huge tyres on your truck?
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Old May 11th 2016, 2:53 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Thanks, DBD33! Another good perspective. Money isn't the big draw nor material wealth/comfort (otherwise we'd remain in Singapore which has a high standard of living with very low taxation).

I think my wife and I both prefer a life in Europe or North America and the big draw for UK specifically are being closer to family and friends (more so now given my wife's pregnancy). We also prefer the "West" given our interest in arts and cultural activities, history etc.

However what attracted me about the prospect Canada was

1. High standard of living but lower cost than UK (London as much as I love it doesn't offer a good standard of life for the money that most professional families earn)

2. Diversity and embracing of multiculturalism (though that is changing for the better in parts of Britain). Canadians appear very open and accepting of immigrants. Also they appear to have a stronger affinity to Britons than Anericans (again a gross generalisation).

3. A forward thinking Government (on the face of it anyway but perhaps Mr Trudeau just had a great PR team)

4. Space. The great outdoors.

5. Work/Life balance. Canadians appear to "work to live" (gross generalisation but could be wrong)

6. Socialised system (similar to UK) and similar levels of education and healthcare

7. Having the possibility of dual citizenship which shall offer strong opportunities for our new arrival in both Europe and North America.

8. Violent crime levels in the major metropolises appear lower than UK cities. Less so than UK and its drunken/loutish behaviour.

9. Canada is underpopulated and hopefully offers strong professional career growth opportunities as it evolves. Europe is relatively flat line growth.

Now those are just perceptions so I may have got all this wrong and hence my connecting with all of you so that you can help "set me straight"

Thanks again to all of you for the excellent insights. I've really appreciated it.
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Old May 11th 2016, 4:28 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Originally Posted by Sandsmehra
Thanks, DBD33! Another good perspective. Money isn't the big draw nor material wealth/comfort (otherwise we'd remain in Singapore which has a high standard of living with very low taxation).

I think my wife and I both prefer a life in Europe or North America and the big draw for UK specifically are being closer to family and friends (more so now given my wife's pregnancy). We also prefer the "West" given our interest in arts and cultural activities, history etc.

However what attracted me about the prospect Canada was

1. High standard of living but lower cost than UK (London as much as I love it doesn't offer a good standard of life for the money that most professional families earn)
London maybe but there are cheaper and beautiful places to live in the UK and cities in Canada can be just as expensive

2. Diversity and embracing of multiculturalism (though that is changing for the better in parts of Britain). Canadians appear very open and accepting of immigrants. Also they appear to have a stronger affinity to Britons than Anericans (again a gross generalisation).
I disagree with your comment about Canadians being open and accepting of immigrants- I would go so far as often the opposite is true, especially those with anything but white skins. Certain areas are racially compartmentalized, similar I suppose to the UK, certainly not better in my opinion

3. A forward thinking Government (on the face of it anyway but perhaps Mr Trudeau just had a great PR team)


4. Space. The great outdoors.
It certainly has that in abundance, sadly a lot is uninhabitable

5. Work/Life balance. Canadians appear to "work to live" (gross generalisation but could be wrong)
A lot less paid leave, people often can't afford to take time off


6. Socialised system (similar to UK) and similar levels of education and healthcare
Both very different to the UK. Education I feel is better in the UK. Health- access to GPs can be tricky. If you have no health benefits via work then medications can be very expensive

7. Having the possibility of dual citizenship which shall offer strong opportunities for our new arrival in both Europe and North America.
I'm not sure how useful, we don't have freedom of movement between us and the U.S.

8. Violent crime levels in the major metropolises appear lower than UK cities. Less so than UK and its drunken/loutish behaviour.
I'm not sure on the stats on this one- drugs aplenty, car crime etc, both rural and urban

9. Canada is underpopulated and hopefully offers strong professional career growth opportunities as it evolves. Europe is relatively flat line growth.
Most live near the border, yes underpopulated North but no one would want to llive there. Given good skills I disagree with opportunities/growth- it partly depends on what happens in the referendum

Now those are just perceptions so I may have got all this wrong and hence my connecting with all of you so that you can help "set me straight"

Thanks again to all of you for the excellent insights. I've really appreciated it.
Just my thoughts -we love living here but it isn't all sweetness and roses. Do we regret moving here? Absolutely not

Last edited by Stinkypup; May 11th 2016 at 5:12 am.
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Old May 11th 2016, 4:31 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Hi Stinkypup,

Thank you for your candid thoughts. Extremely helpful.

So why would you not return to UK?

Thanks again!
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Old May 11th 2016, 4:42 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Originally Posted by Sandsmehra
Hi Stinkypup,

Thank you for your candid thoughts. Extremely helpful.

So why would you not return to UK?

Thanks again!
Good question
Because we love living here, our jobs are much better here, thankfully our children I believe would thrive in most countries- not a reflection of the education system here. We are immigrants but white skinned and so don't face prejudice ( well to our faces anyhow) we love where we live. It worked for us, we miss family, certain things about UK, return to the UK? Not unless I was compelled which hopefully is unlikely
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Old May 11th 2016, 4:50 am
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Default Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK

Thanks again, Stinkypup. My wife and I are both British born of Indian descent so I do value your view on multiculturalism in Canada (or lack of thereof in some regions).

I think that Toronto and Vancouver both seemed pretty racially well integrated and accepting for people from all races, colors and creeds.
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