Originally Posted by snowgo

Hello all,

Here is a true tale of one family that took the plunge.

We moved out to alberta summer 2007. The company i was to be working for on arrival had failed to get the paperwork in place! They told me that they had done so!! The immigration officer stopped us in our tracks. At this point the penny dropped , we could be sent back to the UK on the next flight. (Which would have saved us a fortune.)

After a couple of calls by the officer to the prospective employer I was granted a Temp Work Visa 3 months accross the counter. Apparently this never happens!

Cut a looong story short. That company after six months failed to meet its own governments requirements for me to work for them. My temp visa had expired, I was on implied status which is one of the most degrading unsecure catagories i have ever had the unfortunate misfortune of being in. Still happy in your work???? I was basicall not being paid enough by the employer. And do you think he would put the hourly rate up to $25 from $20 no sir.

I actually offered to give him the cash to up the numbers for the application to continue. He refused as it was not ethical. The company name is KANAS Corp. Be warned!!

So unable to continue with my PR application with this company i removed myself from his employ.

4 months later i found another employer. Bearing in mind that i was not allowed to work at all without a permit!! I was now unemployed and not allowed to work for just anybody and i was on implied status with a family in tow.
The company I scorced had pre approved status. Great. Within another month I was back at work. Special Projects Superintendent $34 per hour plus a few perks. That lasted the rest of the period i needed for PR. The company(PCL) laid off 500 immigrant workers 2 weeks before Christmas of 2008. They lost contracts to competition and(Coram, the labour supplier) folded. They actually lost contracts fairly early on and my position was axed. I was now working as a carpenter on downtowm 40 level tower blocks in sub zero temps of around 15 - 20 below.
I was at this point writing myself positive notes confirming that this is a temp situation and that the money we have lost whilst bridging the situation will come back to us when things pick up. I was told tradesmen were in high demand. Work hard and you will earn well. What a load of crap. And i fell for it. Start a new life in a great country. I had visions of well nothing like the harsh reality of unemployment and high living costs not to mention 33% taxes. Bad timing, high property prices and restrictions at every corner.

After our PR came through I was extatic. I can hardly believe it PR at last 18 months from point of application. Its tough when the authorities will not up date or even have a conversation with you in relation to your application. Your useless Canadian employer or one of his sleepy staff who dont give a shit are the prefered people to whom they communicate. I sold my home, BIG MISTAKE and put everythig i had into this life changing move and they the government will not even SPEAK to you. My advise would be go with some cash and rent. if the job you are in is not leaving you with cash in your pocket at the end of the month GET OUT while you can. before you get sucked into to system.

The recession really had a grip i could not find decent work for love of trying.
Self employment seemed to be the only answer. Ok Reno here we come.

After 3 years of working as self employed with long no work periods during winter we decided to call it a day before we loose the house totally.

So on arrival we had enough cash to buy a home paid in full GREAT. One income was not enough to keep a family of four. My wife is a home maker that was the deal when we married. Touchey ground when the chips are down . Anyhow after settling in we had to arrange a line of credit. DEADLEY!!

From this we subsidised our living life style. We were sure that after we had PR and restrictions were lifted we would be able to get back on the gravey train. WRONG!!!

As the recession deepened and the expences continued to rise. Car,truck breakdowns , general family costs. Nothing extravagent, just the usual living costs. Our line of credit year over year was rising to our detriment.

At one stage i even decided to quit the construction industry and get into oil and gas. For over one year i sent resumes out to companies in the oil fields. Fort mac etc. I advertized in Kajiji , I offered $1000 cash to anyone that could line me up with a job on a rig as a hand. The lowest paid / labour job. I wasnt afraid to my hands dirty and start a new career at 43!! Not one reply.

Now i was feeling very isolated. In the UK i had a good income. Not fantastic but ok i could pay my way. In Canada I had become this unemployable unexperienced unwanted or needed immigrant worker.

I even placed myself at my expence yet again, in Ft Mac Alberta. This is the second largest oil reserve on the planet so im told. Sure I was determined to get a job. This is the wild west town where prospectors have been coming for years. I had a job within 3 days. None of my management skills were required though. Some carpentry and able to use a shovel $40 per hour. This was the final nail in the coffin for me. 27 years exp in construction. Trade qualified , College Diploma and some uni and i find myself working with a rasta from Toronto , a fisherman from PEI and a twat of foreman from Newfoundland who thought the way to the top was to tell on you several times a day. Needles to say this couldnt go on dispite my really desperate situation.

I returned to to UK in July and left my family behind in calgary. I was actually let down by the company that offered me work in London as they lost the contract to another. Fortunatly i picked up a good job for the summer. It was by no means easy coming back. I was sleeping on floors to start with, then into camden betsit land. Finally into a room which was clean and private. From their i organized the move back to the UK for my family.

To conclude:

I used to own a home in the UK then in Canada. Now i do not. My rent is two grand a month. I have to pay 6 months in advance. I have to raise twelve grand within 4 months to satisfy the landlord that we can pay for the year!! 25 grand a year rent plus bills etc.

Anyone thinking of moving to canada for a better life?
Speak to me first for the real low down on what its like in Alberta.

Originally Posted by Elizabeth I

omg, this is making my heart beat out of my chest. I'm so sorry this didn't work out, it's sending the fear of God into me...

Incidentally, I think you're amazing and that you did everything you could. I hope you'll be blessed and that things turn around for you and your family...

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

If it is any consolation, we came out to Calgary at a similar time. We knew nobody and did not have work lined up. We are still here and didn't experience anything like the issues the OP did. I appreciate that we didn't come out on a TWP. We didn't have the stomach for that. I know that lots do and make it work.

Originally Posted by katie97

Moved to Calgary in 2006, bought a house (note I said house, not home!!!!!) based on our 2 salaries, AND yes we could afford it, my hubby had a terrible accident at work and WCB kicked in, result dramatic decrease in his wage, over $2500 monthly, well we struggled, sold house returned to UK, hubby still not working due to injury, LOST MONEY.

We did not over commit ourselves financially, we did our calculations, only thing we did not calculate was the Canadian government screwing us because of their WCB system.

Mr ALMOST CANADIAN you seem to have many opinions, and criticise, Canada is a wonderful place but it is not without it's faults, I only come on BE as I feel people should be aware of Canada's downfalls, hubby had short/long term disability, but they were bloody useless because of WCB. I have Canadian PR but they can stick it, I will always be known as ALWAYS BRITISH

Originally Posted by katie97

Moved to Calgary in 2006, bought a house (note I said house, not home!!!!!) based on our 2 salaries, AND yes we could afford it, my hubby had a terrible accident at work and WCB kicked in, result dramatic decrease in his wage, over $2500 monthly, well we struggled, sold house returned to UK, hubby still not working due to injury, LOST MONEY.

We did not over commit ourselves financially, we did our calculations, only thing we did not calculate was the Canadian government screwing us because of their WCB system.

Mr ALMOST CANADIAN you seem to have many opinions, and criticise, Canada is a wonderful place but it is not without it's faults, I only come on BE as I feel people should be aware of Canada's downfalls, hubby had short/long term disability, but they were bloody useless because of WCB. I have Canadian PR but they can stick it, I will always be known as ALWAYS BRITISH

Originally Posted by Scotjames

interesting post
I understand from your post things were hard at times in Canada, do you think the situation will improve now your back in the UK having to find £2k a month for rent alone plus having to pay 6 months in advance. I'd say the UK economy back 2007 especially in regard to construction when you originally left the UK was in a better shape than it is now may be I could be wrong.
I hope things really do start to turn a corner for you

Originally Posted by clay

You should really read up on the UK rental market before posting no way do you pay 6 month up front, and unless your wanting to live in a good London area.. or a mansion elsewere would you pay 2k per month rent...

Originally Posted by clay

What would you say the benefits over the UK are ??