Canada over OZ
#31
Re: Canada over OZ
Did I tell you the story about the polar bears coming into our backyard in the spring in manitoba looking for food. They became so tame, we had them eating out of our hands, and one of them became our pet......
#32
Re: Canada over OZ
More people die from bee and wasp stings in the UK each year then people die in OZ from snake bites every year. Only around 2 people a year die from snake bites in OZ and mostly because they picked up or tried to kill the snake,.Regarding spiders no one had died from a spider bite in OZ in 30 years.
Yes OZ has animals that can kill people but so Canada. The USA has rattle snakes, venomous spiders, mountain lions, bears and sharks that kill people all the time.
Yes OZ has animals that can kill people but so Canada. The USA has rattle snakes, venomous spiders, mountain lions, bears and sharks that kill people all the time.
#33
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 801
Re: Canada over OZ
Oz was never in the running for me, I like more temperate climes and the mountain scenery - New Zealand was seriously considered but accessibility (distance and cost) and a much smaller employment market were not in it's favor at the time.
'Better': undoubtedly Australia is the better choice for a lot of people; Canada is the better choice for another, different, lot of people. There are lots of factors that influence numbers headed to different countries.
In Australia's case I'd venture that those factors include a) the higher visibility of Australian culture in the UK and the representation of Australian lifestyle in the media, b) better marketing and c) the relative merits /costs of that country's emigration process compared to other destinations.
Many more Brits choose to immigrate to OZ over Canada, if Canada was a better country to live in then would'nt more Brits immigrate there then OZ?
In Australia's case I'd venture that those factors include a) the higher visibility of Australian culture in the UK and the representation of Australian lifestyle in the media, b) better marketing and c) the relative merits /costs of that country's emigration process compared to other destinations.
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 118
Re: Canada over OZ
So you can go for years (and I did) without encountering a single (large) spider. Might not be the case in NSW or QLD though. I saw quite a few big ones there.
Last edited by cdnexpat; Feb 22nd 2009 at 10:32 pm.
#35
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Canada over OZ
Oz was never in the running for me, I like more temperate climes and the mountain scenery - New Zealand was seriously considered but accessibility (distance and cost) and a much smaller employment market were not in it's favor at the time.
'Better': undoubtedly Australia is the better choice for a lot of people; Canada is the better choice for another, different, lot of people. There are lots of factors that influence numbers headed to different countries.
In Australia's case I'd venture that those factors include a) the higher visibility of Australian culture in the UK and the representation of Australian lifestyle in the media, b) better marketing and c) the relative merits /costs of that country's emigration process compared to other destinations.
'Better': undoubtedly Australia is the better choice for a lot of people; Canada is the better choice for another, different, lot of people. There are lots of factors that influence numbers headed to different countries.
In Australia's case I'd venture that those factors include a) the higher visibility of Australian culture in the UK and the representation of Australian lifestyle in the media, b) better marketing and c) the relative merits /costs of that country's emigration process compared to other destinations.
#36
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 118
Re: Canada over OZ
True. You should n't feel the need to defend oz. Each to his own. I imagine oz is a great place to call home. My brother lived there for a year and loved it. A little too far removed from the rest of the world for me. I had an idea that i might try it some time back, but i would have been losing too much. Had i been younger and not as established I may have given it a go. Vancouver has been a great fit for me.
This thread was never intended to put down OZ but more to demonstrate that making a decision to move somewhere is more involved than how sunny a place is. But each to his own. Canada is not perfect either.
I've found as you get older being closer to the UK becomes more of an issue as your folks get older etc. I left 20 years ago and did n;t care until the last few years really. I've had so many relatives die in the last couple of years and nieces/nephews born it makes you realize what's important. Life stages play into your decision as well.
This thread was never intended to put down OZ but more to demonstrate that making a decision to move somewhere is more involved than how sunny a place is. But each to his own. Canada is not perfect either.
I've found as you get older being closer to the UK becomes more of an issue as your folks get older etc. I left 20 years ago and did n;t care until the last few years really. I've had so many relatives die in the last couple of years and nieces/nephews born it makes you realize what's important. Life stages play into your decision as well.
To say it's far from everything isn't true (unless you define North America/Europe as everything), there are some really cheap flights to Hawaii and Asia. But distance to UK/North America is pretty big.
#37
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Posts: 118
Re: Canada over OZ
A lot of paperwork/hoops is involved especially in some professions to get recognised in Canada.
#38
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Canada over OZ
In Australia's case I'd venture that those factors include a) the higher visibility of Australian culture in the UK and the representation of Australian lifestyle in the media, b) better marketing and c) the relative merits /costs of that country's emigration process compared to other destinations.
Lots of Kiwis emigrate to Oz too, but that's largely to do with how accessible it is imo. If they could be automatic PR's the moment they arrived in Canada, a lot would move here too. And it's not too far from 'ome. It's quite a process to get here so I'm sure that puts a lot of people off. Which is fair enough.
Anyway. I still have a soft spot for Oz. I didn't HATE it, it just really wasn't for me. Knowing what I know now I'd say there are definitely places that are right for you and places that aren't and it's not always 'you' not getting it or whatever, sometimes a place is just wrong.
Inspite of the culture shock of Canada I knew very quickly that I loved it.
#39
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Canada over OZ
Yep, i meant Europe/North America. Been to Asia and Indonesia - not likely to go again - been there done that.
#40
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Canada over OZ
Living here, I def. feel NZ & OZ are more isolated and there is less choice in terms of close (5 hours flight) destinations. I mean, it's around 9 hours flight to Hong Kong from melbourne. That's not a short flight. Where can you get in 5 hours? Oh...parts of Australia. Fiji, maybe. NZ. Your options are pretty limited.
#41
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 118
Re: Canada over OZ
Living here, I def. feel NZ & OZ are more isolated and there is less choice in terms of close (5 hours flight) destinations. I mean, it's around 9 hours flight to Hong Kong from melbourne. That's not a short flight. Where can you get in 5 hours? Oh...parts of Australia. Fiji, maybe. NZ. Your options are pretty limited.
#42
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 268
Re: Canada over OZ
Although we never been to both countries (apart from Toronto airport) before and had also tried to applied to OZ beginning of last year but need to abandon as we thought it was way too far, we don't want too humid and hot that is why we choose Vancouver BC as more temperate I guess and pay in Canada is better as compared to have been offered in OZ.
Hopefully not long from now BC bound.
Hopefully not long from now BC bound.
#43
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Canada over OZ
I have to admit that the limited hols in Canada was a shock at first. Its taken me 10 years to get to 5 weeks. Although overtime is paid at double time and can be taken as time off in lieu of pay. Not sure about other employers though. Also i work a four day week (10 hours shifts) so if I take 4 days hols i end up with 11 days off in total. So its certainly manageable.
#44
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 118
Re: Canada over OZ
Although we never been to both countries (apart from Toronto airport) before and had also tried to applied to OZ beginning of last year but need to abandon as we thought it was way too far, we don't want too humid and hot that is why we choose Vancouver BC as more temperate I guess and pay in Canada is better as compared to have been offered in OZ.
Hopefully not long from now BC bound.
Hopefully not long from now BC bound.
In general though having worked the ladder in both countries, Oz's pay is usually higher.
Also the work required in Oz for an equivalent amount of pay is usually less. I tend to find that North American's work much harder. But again this is variable depending on your profession.
Last edited by cdnexpat; Feb 22nd 2009 at 11:15 pm.
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 118
Re: Canada over OZ
I have to admit that the limited hols in Canada was a shock at first. Its taken me 10 years to get to 5 weeks. Although overtime is paid at double time and can be taken as time off in lieu of pay. Not sure about other employers though. Also i work a four day week (10 hours shifts) so if I take 4 days hols i end up with 11 days off in total. So its certainly manageable.
I literally had to book an appointment with them just to get time on a weekend to spend with them. North American's definitely work pretty hard.