sinurt

Hi,
I posted this in the Canada forum too but wanted to get both view points.

Ok story so for is, we started the visa process for Oz in March this year, went to Brisbane for 3 weeks and loved it although wasn't sure about moving there (dearer houses, worried about the extreme heat), thought Adelaide would be better for us (although never been!!!) So we continued with the waiting for skills assessment, which we got in August and have since proceeded with the next step.

But Canada was also in the back of my mind so to try and settle things we went for a week's reccie to Halifax NS in Sept, looking at houses and jobs etc and well we absolutely loved it. Of course now the dilema is, do we wait the remaining 6-9 months (all being well -skill on MODL) for the Oz visa or do we continue with the job hunting in Canada, and possibly another reccie in the hope we get a job offer and then apply for PR - applying for PR for Canada will take 5+ years but a job offer will speed things up?

Argh its all soooooo confusing but if anyone has any experience of living in both Canda and Australia any info would be most appreciated, positives AND negatives

Cheers,
Sinead

northernbird

Having lived in both I would choose Australia every day of the week purely on the weather alone. Canada does have the benefit of being much closer to the UK for trips home, Australia is a long way and you feel the distance even those of us that are settled feel it. Big decision, we have just had to make the same one and chose Australia.

Bobcat

I had to choose between Australia, Canada, or South Africa. South Africa won because they took the least time to get everything processed. Had several very pleasant years in Namibia, the Republic, Botswana, and Rhodesia.

Canada is fantastic; I worked for Canadian construction outfit Ryco BCM. Vancouver has to be one of the most picturesque places ever; Canadian people are nice, Canadian musicians are tops........ but the weather It gets cold enough to make grown people cry over there.

Downunder................ been here 18 years and love it. No intentions of ever leaving.

wardy2

This was our dilemma to. I wanted to take the canada route I love the snow and have family in Halifax NS. Hubby doesnt like the cold though so I agreed to Aus and now i'm really excited about going we are in the final stages of applying and hope to be in Cairns by feb.

If it all goes wrong in Australia though am heading for the snow

kaye

Lenmil

Been to Canada loads of times and lived in NZ, going to Oz now. When it's cold in Canada you will be amazed how cold it is. But it does not stop the Canadians from living their lives. Go for what you feel is best for you.

comet555

I'm a Canadian and now live in Australia. I would say the biggest factor is the weather and the job opportunites. I love both countries and in many ways they are pretty similar.

If you can handle the temperature being below zero (about 0 to -30 or so) for 5-6 months of the year then go for it. But if that doesn't appeal to you then go to Australia. I love Canada but I'm not the type to do outdoor activities in the winter so I tend to stay inside as much as possible in the winter.

simongb

I live in the US in Baltimore, quite a distance from Canada. However, the winters here are terrible. I can only imagine (not that I want to LOL) how cold it is in Canada. It must be beyond freezing. The winters in the UK are mild in comparison. As I get older, I really feel the cold and can understand people who say weather is a big deciding factor in where they live. I have friends in Australia who wish for the snow. They have a romantic idea of what it is like. However, they have NO idea of the reality of living in thick snow and freezing temperatures for months on end. Easy answer, if you don't like the cold, don't move to Canada.

Bobcat

We got snow in Australia too you know......... heaps of it when in season?

JAJ

In the time it's taking Canada to look at an application for immigration, you could have migrated to Australia and become an Australian citizen.

comet555

My thoughts exactly

Dorothy

For the cold thing in Canada, I lived in Southern Ontario where it does not regularly get all that cold. My last winter in Canada (2006-06) we only had about 3 or 4 weeks of snow and it rarely went below about -10. It's not like as soon as you cross the border from the US it suddenly becomes the high Arctic or something. Were Comet lived was the far north of Alberta, which yes, can get very cold. The lower areas, such as Toronto or Niagra regions are much more temperate and in fact farther south than Seattle.

Although I hate to disagree with Bobcat, Vancouver may look nice to a tourist, but it is a festering armpit if you ask me. Junkies, homelss and hookers as far as the eye can see. Living there was the worst 3 years of my life. It's filthy and the downtown east side, west end and Stanley Park are all unsafe at night for anyone.

renth

I've never been to Canada, I'm sure it's very nice but...

Australia

Canada is too cold.

Plus all the Canadians I've met/worked with have no sense of humour whatsoever.

themerlin

-10, the wife starts to moan if it get below 15

Nu-Shooz

I know what she means though. I'm cold at 23c.

themerlin

It's funny, if it gets below 25 in the house she starts putting jumpers on the kids. 25 in the UK and they would be running round the garden naked