2 Years and hate it!!
#46
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 20
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
Hello All,
I moved to Toronto in year 2011. Being a health professional (Occupational Therapist), I thought Canada is a good prospect. Big Mistake!!
Still no job and completely confused as to why I even came here.
Some of my views about conditions here:
Driving: People here are generally rash drivers. Everyone is speeding!! Especially on Highway 401. Car Insurance is like an Extortion by Insurance companies. I initially paid $650 / month until I got my registration and through group plan (professional Association) got it down to $300 / month. Still a lot, as compared to UK !! They do not count UK driving experience for Insurance purposes.
Health care:
Dentists want to see you and clean your teeth whenever you visit them. NOT DUE TO GOOD HEART !! But because they want to make money out of your Insurance Company and believe me, if you do not have any plan, then GOD Bless you!!
Opticians will somehow find defects in your vision or may be want you to go for complete Retina Checkup for the same reasons.
Family Physicians (compared to GP in UK) wants you to have lab tests and scans even if you have standard constipation, flue like symptoms etc. I am sure by now you can understand the reason behind this.
Job Situation: I have 10 years of Experience as a Senior Therapist in UK working both in NHS and Social Services. Guess what!!
I am no better than a new graduate here!! No UK experience counted.
I know of someone here who graduated 2 months ago and she had 3 job offers. HELLO CANADIANS!!! How is your Canadian Education better than 10 years of Experience in UK !! Just to manage my Basic Expenses I applied for Customer Service job in Walmart and I had a phone call asking me if I will be interested in doing a cleaning job because I do not have " Canadian Experience" for the job applied for.
General: People here are arrogant!! No body cares for anyone unless until money is involved.
I have decided to come back to UK.
Do your Research properly prior to coming here or do not even bother applying for Immigration.
Good Luck, if you still want to come here.
Pawan
I moved to Toronto in year 2011. Being a health professional (Occupational Therapist), I thought Canada is a good prospect. Big Mistake!!
Still no job and completely confused as to why I even came here.
Some of my views about conditions here:
Driving: People here are generally rash drivers. Everyone is speeding!! Especially on Highway 401. Car Insurance is like an Extortion by Insurance companies. I initially paid $650 / month until I got my registration and through group plan (professional Association) got it down to $300 / month. Still a lot, as compared to UK !! They do not count UK driving experience for Insurance purposes.
Health care:
Dentists want to see you and clean your teeth whenever you visit them. NOT DUE TO GOOD HEART !! But because they want to make money out of your Insurance Company and believe me, if you do not have any plan, then GOD Bless you!!
Opticians will somehow find defects in your vision or may be want you to go for complete Retina Checkup for the same reasons.
Family Physicians (compared to GP in UK) wants you to have lab tests and scans even if you have standard constipation, flue like symptoms etc. I am sure by now you can understand the reason behind this.
Job Situation: I have 10 years of Experience as a Senior Therapist in UK working both in NHS and Social Services. Guess what!!
I am no better than a new graduate here!! No UK experience counted.
I know of someone here who graduated 2 months ago and she had 3 job offers. HELLO CANADIANS!!! How is your Canadian Education better than 10 years of Experience in UK !! Just to manage my Basic Expenses I applied for Customer Service job in Walmart and I had a phone call asking me if I will be interested in doing a cleaning job because I do not have " Canadian Experience" for the job applied for.
General: People here are arrogant!! No body cares for anyone unless until money is involved.
I have decided to come back to UK.
Do your Research properly prior to coming here or do not even bother applying for Immigration.
Good Luck, if you still want to come here.
Pawan
On the plus side...
You've done your 2 years in 5 for the residency requirement, so could go home, get work, re-group and re-finance and you have another 3 years to find job back in Canada before you come back. Here's why you should...
1. With a job sorted, all the pressure is off and you heave time to enjoy the stuff that makes Canada great - inclusive society, cheery, energetic outlook, the great outdoors etc,
2. You will have time to research the location better. I recommend Vancouver - there's a reason why so many people stay here. The North Shore mountains and the Burrard Inlet will lift your spirit. Skiing at Cypress is awesome and Downtown is brilliant too. Calgary's proximity to the Rocky Mountains is also very compelling.
3. Completing enough time for citizenship is also a very good reason (3 years in 4) as it means you can also live and work in the US under the NAFTA (I think, but this needs checking).
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
John.
#47
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
Hi Pawan,
On the plus side...
You've done your 2 years in 5 for the residency requirement, so could go home, get work, re-group and re-finance and you have another 3 years to find job back in Canada before you come back. Here's why you should...
1. With a job sorted, all the pressure is off and you heave time to enjoy the stuff that makes Canada great - inclusive society, cheery, energetic outlook, the great outdoors etc,
2. You will have time to research the location better. I recommend Vancouver - there's a reason why so many people stay here. The North Shore mountains and the Burrard Inlet will lift your spirit. Skiing at Cypress is awesome and Downtown is brilliant too. Calgary's proximity to the Rocky Mountains is also very compelling.
3. Completing enough time for citizenship is also a very good reason (3 years in 4) as it means you can also live and work in the US under the NAFTA (I think, but this needs checking).
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
John.
On the plus side...
You've done your 2 years in 5 for the residency requirement, so could go home, get work, re-group and re-finance and you have another 3 years to find job back in Canada before you come back. Here's why you should...
1. With a job sorted, all the pressure is off and you heave time to enjoy the stuff that makes Canada great - inclusive society, cheery, energetic outlook, the great outdoors etc,
2. You will have time to research the location better. I recommend Vancouver - there's a reason why so many people stay here. The North Shore mountains and the Burrard Inlet will lift your spirit. Skiing at Cypress is awesome and Downtown is brilliant too. Calgary's proximity to the Rocky Mountains is also very compelling.
3. Completing enough time for citizenship is also a very good reason (3 years in 4) as it means you can also live and work in the US under the NAFTA (I think, but this needs checking).
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
John.
#50
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 280
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
The problem is Toronto....
Majority of immigrants come here, well... like me right.
EVERYONE make a beeline for here, so competition is very harsh.
and it doesnt mae a differance how much expereince you have.
An employer wants to pick up the phone and ring somone locally.
White, black, red,green, UK, US, French anywhere,,, you NEED Canadian experience dont let anyone tell you different.
and here its ALL about networking, WHO YOU KNOW, dont matter what you can do.
YOUR CV (sorry Resume) will hit the trashcan unless you have a social network... make friends goto job fairs,, go to employment agencies.
I only got a decent job after 2 years and I'M still back peddling.
Driving.... I dont particulalry care if I offend anyone here, but Canadian's SUCK at driving, they are dangerous, and every accident I see, I know its been caused because 2 re'tards cant drive... Tail gate me at 100 in the fast lane, you'll see my brake lights .. buddy.. funny ehough there is NO road rage, something that I'll be ammedning failry soon
Dentists.. check out the CBC TV programs... Dentists like ALL heath care providers her treat your healthplan NOT YOU, its a real lottery, its a buisiness dont trust anyone... saying that a clean every 3-6 months is normall
DOCTORS... my gp's in the uk, kick all these joe's into a basket,,, I eneded up putting a complaint into an ombudsmen (for all the use that did) for one pediatrician in Mississauga, a well known doctor at Trillium.
My last doctor screwed up my meds so bad that my blood control went through the roof, he also said the UK docs had got it wrong and I wasnt a type 1, gave me wrong meds. I learnt my lesson quick did some research and change doctors
2 hours waiting for a doctor,,, stroll in, I never waited more then 30 mins for mine in the UK
I have friends who are fully qualified doctors and can not get jobs because of recidency, knowing the right people, re-doing qualifications etc etc...
The UK at the present is going down hill pretty fast...
so to quote an adage, "better the devil you know"
Sorry to hear about your post, all I have expereinced too
Majority of immigrants come here, well... like me right.
EVERYONE make a beeline for here, so competition is very harsh.
and it doesnt mae a differance how much expereince you have.
An employer wants to pick up the phone and ring somone locally.
White, black, red,green, UK, US, French anywhere,,, you NEED Canadian experience dont let anyone tell you different.
and here its ALL about networking, WHO YOU KNOW, dont matter what you can do.
YOUR CV (sorry Resume) will hit the trashcan unless you have a social network... make friends goto job fairs,, go to employment agencies.
I only got a decent job after 2 years and I'M still back peddling.
Driving.... I dont particulalry care if I offend anyone here, but Canadian's SUCK at driving, they are dangerous, and every accident I see, I know its been caused because 2 re'tards cant drive... Tail gate me at 100 in the fast lane, you'll see my brake lights .. buddy.. funny ehough there is NO road rage, something that I'll be ammedning failry soon
Dentists.. check out the CBC TV programs... Dentists like ALL heath care providers her treat your healthplan NOT YOU, its a real lottery, its a buisiness dont trust anyone... saying that a clean every 3-6 months is normall
DOCTORS... my gp's in the uk, kick all these joe's into a basket,,, I eneded up putting a complaint into an ombudsmen (for all the use that did) for one pediatrician in Mississauga, a well known doctor at Trillium.
My last doctor screwed up my meds so bad that my blood control went through the roof, he also said the UK docs had got it wrong and I wasnt a type 1, gave me wrong meds. I learnt my lesson quick did some research and change doctors
2 hours waiting for a doctor,,, stroll in, I never waited more then 30 mins for mine in the UK
I have friends who are fully qualified doctors and can not get jobs because of recidency, knowing the right people, re-doing qualifications etc etc...
The UK at the present is going down hill pretty fast...
so to quote an adage, "better the devil you know"
Sorry to hear about your post, all I have expereinced too
#51
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
It's a simple case of moving to the wrong province.....business (in every industry) is booming here in Alberta and it's soooooo beautiful!!!
#53
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
Sound advice. Getting a job before arriving seems like the safest and most realistic option. 80% of dental charges are designed to be paid through the insurance you get with your job, or that you pay for yourself. If you don't have insurance then yes, it's expensive.
#54
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
Car Insurance is like an Extortion by Insurance companies. I initially paid $650 / month until I got my registration and through group plan (professional Association) got it down to $300 / month. Still a lot, as compared to UK !! They do not count UK driving experience for Insurance purposes.
The DVLA have a number you can contact, and they will post you the required details. The number is only manned in the morning, so I had to get up in the middle of the night, twice, to contact them,
Our UK insurers were Direct Line, and in this instance they were in chocolate teapot territory in terms of effectiveness. It took me 2 months of badgering to get the letter.
It was worth it though, we reduced the annual premium for our two vehicles from $6500 to $2000 in the first year.
#55
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 243
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
I have to defend the dentists here in Alberta i'm afraid. My daughter for a couple of years has had 2 tiny cavities in milk teeth (found by an NHS dentist back home) they were refilled 3 times as they fell out and everytime I was lectured about her diet (which is not in anyway bad). They never drilled the teeth just spooned them (their term not mine) and filled.
About a month ago my daughter found a lump on her gum so I booked her and my son into dentists here for a check up. They were appalled at the previous care they had received and could not believe that children do not get a full scale and polish back home. They spent over an hour cleaning my sons teeth and showing him how to floss effectively. My poor daughter turned out to have 2 abscesses, one leaking into a gum boil (the lump she found), the 2 cavities looked no different from the top of the teeth but under the fillings was a disaster, her teeth have rotted right through, on the xrays there is nothing there except the abscesses, he immediately got her onto antibiotics and got her a referral to a pediatric dentist who has taken over her care. It is true that she has never had any pain with these teeth which the dentist cannot understand and had she had pain the dentists would have known something was wrong other than an apparent bad diet. Our insurance will not cover the extra that the specialist will charge but I am so relieved that after April she will be sedated and the offending teeth removed. If her teeth show any further signs of decay in the future they will run some tests to check that her mouth is being properly protected from her stomach acid. I truly believe in this case that you only get what you pay for.
About a month ago my daughter found a lump on her gum so I booked her and my son into dentists here for a check up. They were appalled at the previous care they had received and could not believe that children do not get a full scale and polish back home. They spent over an hour cleaning my sons teeth and showing him how to floss effectively. My poor daughter turned out to have 2 abscesses, one leaking into a gum boil (the lump she found), the 2 cavities looked no different from the top of the teeth but under the fillings was a disaster, her teeth have rotted right through, on the xrays there is nothing there except the abscesses, he immediately got her onto antibiotics and got her a referral to a pediatric dentist who has taken over her care. It is true that she has never had any pain with these teeth which the dentist cannot understand and had she had pain the dentists would have known something was wrong other than an apparent bad diet. Our insurance will not cover the extra that the specialist will charge but I am so relieved that after April she will be sedated and the offending teeth removed. If her teeth show any further signs of decay in the future they will run some tests to check that her mouth is being properly protected from her stomach acid. I truly believe in this case that you only get what you pay for.
#57
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 243
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
Not maxed out, thats the first time we've used the insurance. They'll pay the 100% they pay to a normal dentist but this one charges 25% over the provincial standard, we could get the work done at the normal dentist but she has a lot of work and they wont do it in one sedation they wanted to split it into 3 appointments but I chose to get it all done with one sedation at the specialist for a couple of reasons 1) she wont want to go back after the first appointment, I know I wouldn't and 2) less time off school. The insurance company may let us allocate the extra to one of the other specialist coverages such as Podiatry, Massage etc we're looking at the options at the moment but even if we pay for that extra i'll be relieved to get it over with.
#58
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
Not maxed out, thats the first time we've used the insurance. They'll pay the 100% they pay to a normal dentist but this one charges 25% over the provincial standard, we could get the work done at the normal dentist but she has a lot of work and they wont do it in one sedation they wanted to split it into 3 appointments but I chose to get it all done with one sedation at the specialist for a couple of reasons 1) she wont want to go back after the first appointment, I know I wouldn't and 2) less time off school. The insurance company may let us allocate the extra to one of the other specialist coverages such as Podiatry, Massage etc we're looking at the options at the moment but even if we pay for that extra i'll be relieved to get it over with.
#59
Banned
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Calgary, South by Java Head
Posts: 504
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
only being able to drive (and taught to drive) automatics is a huge problem i believe here - also the nascar/dukes of hazard mindset
#60
Re: 2 Years and hate it!!
Not maxed out, thats the first time we've used the insurance. They'll pay the 100% they pay to a normal dentist but this one charges 25% over the provincial standard, we could get the work done at the normal dentist but she has a lot of work and they wont do it in one sedation they wanted to split it into 3 appointments but I chose to get it all done with one sedation at the specialist for a couple of reasons 1) she wont want to go back after the first appointment, I know I wouldn't and 2) less time off school. The insurance company may let us allocate the extra to one of the other specialist coverages such as Podiatry, Massage etc we're looking at the options at the moment but even if we pay for that extra i'll be relieved to get it over with.
Thats my 2c anyway.