Originally Posted by montreal mike (Post 7102481)

Rexdale is a shocker

This 23 minute ctv report says it all.

Is there a spot in the UK that is on the same level?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xng89MI8Txc

Originally Posted by tinytears (Post 7102282)

I've been thinking and thinking about this and you know, this isn't about *us* per se, it is about giving our kids a chance at a brighter future.

There are lots of things that concern me about living in the UK as it stands now, not just the yob culture that exists, although that is impacting most on us personally.

The move is about giving our kids a better chance for the future which I believe whole heartedly the move to canada will give them.

I can't see a future in the UK for us at all in any way shape or form, yet when we were in Canada we could all see ourselves there.

There are dozens of reasons why we want to make the move, very few have been covered in these two threads and I certainly don't want to "justify myself" to anyone. Yes there is a push factor in place but there is also a huge pull factor too, not least I have two siblings out there but I also have extended family and Canada has been a major part of my life as every single year we went there as a kid, I only stopped going in my teens when I started to go to summer schools and holiday camps instead, although the rest of my family continued to go.

Yes of course it will be a wrench moving away from famiy but the perceived benefits for our children far far outweight the initial hurdles of moving away. My inlaws will see the kids growing up, with thanks to the internet, I am sure it won't be too long before we come over for holidays and somehow we hope they will come out to us too (although as they are none flyers that is going to prove challenging).

I don't think Canada is going to be "perfect" but "better" is a start, "much better" would be a huge bonus but we won't know until we give it a try, don't get me wrong I know we take ourselves with us and the grass isn't greener and all that, but, I can still see a future for our children there and hopefully our children's children, but that is for them to sort out.

As I say there are many, many, many more reasons for us to make the move, the point on anti social behaviour is the only thing I have commented on because I have been so upset by it all recently.

If that one point has opened up such long threads, if I were to list the other reasons I reckon we could fill hundreds of pages :rofl:

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 7102690)

It is important to want to move because you like the place and not just to get away from what you have. I can see reasons for and against moving here, my general advice would be if you have a decent life in the UK then there's little reason to move. It's a tricky time to move right now, jobs will be hard to find especially ones that pay decent wages with benefits so you can afford prescription drugs and dental and life insurance etc etc.

I really do understand and sympathise with you on the antisocial behaviour bit, I remember being scared out of my wits when stuff was thrown at our house, grateful that I could take my hearing aids out and not hear the little beggars shouting. I've also seen people come here and be miserable, wretched even with their new lives. Some have gone back home.

I dont think that the statistics show that either country is better or worse, you need to chose your new area carefully though.

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 7102712)

Tuition here is much more expensive than in the UK, if you're not going to be well off then the opportunity for your children to graduate without a crushing debt load is better there.

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 7102591)

Broadwater Farm? Chalk Hill? Grahame Park?

(Places I know, I'm sure there's worse in, er, other regions of the country).

Originally Posted by G77 (Post 7102740)

That probably should be "was" - there's no free university education for all anymore in the UK, I was one of the last few who was fortunate enough to get a free one.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 7102803)

UK, average student dept £4500 a year, so thats £13,500 for a degree.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ed...ar-892852.html

Canada average debt for a degree $25,500

http://www.cfs-fcee.ca/html/english/...ombined-En.pdf

UK average starting salary offered to 2008 graduates is £24,048
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowP...ary_/p!eaLXbeX

Canada The average Alberta university graduate with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn more than $46,000 a year
http://www.advancededucation.gov.ab....ostSecPays.asp

So it looks about equal. I think UK student loans are interest free, and you can defer payment until you are earning enough to pay them back. Canadian ones aren't interest free and you have to start paing back 6 months after graduating.

Originally Posted by Yogi-Bear (Post 7102833)

$25,500.00 over 3 years is not to bad, given the lifetimes earnings due to the education!

Y

Originally Posted by Yogi-Bear (Post 7102798)

Glad you mentioned areas db, as I now know where you're coming from.

I can therefore tell you, that even the roughest parts of inner city districts of Birmingham, wouldn't be as bad as the districts you quote!

Glad we cleared that one up ;)

Y

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 7102845)

I'm reassured by your acknowledgement that I come from hell. I could have been the monster at tinytear's fence.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 7102690)

... you need to chose your new area carefully though.

Originally Posted by montreal mike (Post 7102861)

Yes but that isn't always possible.

New immigrants might settle somewhere only to find out later it is not to their liking so they move on.

Having lived here for some 40 plus years I know the city well and there are some places where I would never live. The bright side is that this city doesn't have a Rexdale or anything remotely close to it.

Areas change: In the sixties some working class neighbourhoods were safe and clean. Alas, that has changed to some extent.

And some areas of this city, the plateau for instance, was once cheap and affordable. Now it has become trendy and pricey.

An important consideration is affordability. If one has the means to live in a decent neighbourhood then violence is likely to be sporadic.

Originally Posted by G77 (Post 7102848)

I can't see you drinking bottles of White Star Cider somehow- a yob with a can of Pride just isn't the same...

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 7102712)

I'm a little suspicious of the "better for the children" line of thought. Yes, it worked out better for my children than their cousins in England, they even finished university, nevermind high school, without getting pregnant, but I threw bucketloads of money at their education. Tuition here is much more expensive than in the UK, if you're not going to be well off then the opportunity for your children to graduate without a crushing debt load is better there.