Just to add to that, it's 730 days out of every 5 year period, not just the first 5 years.

So you've got until May 2011 at the latest - although I really wouldn't recommend you leave it that late just in case you have to leave the country for any reason (i.e. family emergency, holiday, or even a shopping trip across the border to the US!). Any time outside Canada for even a day would be counted, so it's best to give yourself a bit of leeway and allow at least an extra couple of months just in case the worst happens.

Any half decent employer provides benefits here and its the norm rather than the exception to have some sort of coverage. I've always had coverage through blue cross. And have to say the coverage, for the most part is very good. I've never spent a single dollar going to the dentist for instance or paying for perscriptions. I just hand over the blue cross card and that's that. Coverage also extends to Dependants, although with some limitations.

The weather wont be as good as what your used to though. Imagine vancouver as being like england but with better summers. Victoria get way less rain.