Canada - the reality
 

Hi all

Sorry if this has been asked before.

Just wondered what everyone would say are the downsides to moving to Canada, more specifically Nova Scotia.

We have been out on trips a few times, last one was a 4 week tour of NS, NB, Quebec and Ontario but a holiday, even a long one, is only a snapshot.

We are 14 months into a supposed :zzz: 36 month process for PR (FedSkilledWorker).

I ask as I am aware that its easy to convince yourself its the most wonderful place in the world after a few trips and we need to be aware of the challenges and potential dissapointments.

Im aware of the missing family stuff obviously. Wife says a major downer is that you 'Cant get a cup of tea anywhere without people thinking you're mad!' :) (One guy in a drive thru last year said 'Umm, Ill have to put the kettle on you know!' lol).

I know some things will apply to one person and not to others but wondered what people had to say please?

Cheers

Leg

Re: Canada - the reality
 

It gets cold in Canada.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

:D :D :D Sooooooo helpful.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

If you want to get a feel for the possible downside of NS, or indeed anywhere in Canada, visit in Winter.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

A key factor is you must WANT to come here, its a huge move.

Sounds obvious but a lot of people (myself included til arriving) still think Canada is a cheap, clean, crime free Little Britain. It isnt certainly where finance is concerned. Living costs are very different from the costs you incur on your recce's which give the impression of a very cheap country (Low cost gas at the pump, cheap eating out etc) It is very different when you are paid / taxed by the CDN$.

There are loads of issues but one major concern I would have in your shoes is waiting so long for the decision. I think I we had to wait that long (we had a 20 month process time) we would've sacked it.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

I found the posts of g_is_for_canada a most enlightening read. Interesting what you write about the wait. A couple of posters living in Canada have stated on here that there is no way they would wait 52 months for what they know now.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

Well, the question's a bit vague, innit?

Some more:

- Relatively few pubs have cask conditioned bitter.

- It's common to go through a whole day without meeting anyone who speaks English or French.

- It's becoming difficult to find indoor places to smoke.

- The radio is regulated and plays the same few government approved records over and over again.

- The TV is worse than in America.

- Nothing ever happens in Canada (this is also the best feature). There's no drama but it's hard to stay awake.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

You do surprise me - I thought you would have just recommended they change to Australia ;)

Re: Canada - the reality
 

Really, it's up to them to do the research. For us, as you know, Canada fell into second place when we started to research Australia. The scary thing is that had the Canadian waiting list not been so ridiculous we might never have looked at Australia - and eek! What a mistake that would have been for us.

Consequently I hope the poster has done as much research as us into Canada, as my general feeling from reading posts on here is that many haven't. They don't whant to move to Canada - they want to move to On Holiday in Canada.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

Quite. I suspect that a very large number of Brits emigrate to Canada based on experiences had during July/August.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

A bit more seriously, I think people leave because :

- family issues

- can't deal with the weather

- unrealistic economic expectations

- can't deal with the blandness. Canada is quite nice. It's not thrilling or exciting or dramatic it's just ploddingly pleasant. Canadians don't laugh, they smile, they're not outrageous snobs, they're just slightly superior all the time. Sometimes one wants to kick the country in the nuts.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

Heres a couple of threads to get you started. The search button is up top, in the middle:)
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394885
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388618
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388426

Lack of Holiday allowance, high cost of internal travel, no family around to help out. These would be the main ones for us.

Poor employment rights also a concern.

Cost of energy to heat and cool is becoming a concern.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

Thanks so far guys. We have had a lot of trips out there including Fall in NS for 2 weeks, 4 weeks in NS, NB, Quebec and Ontario in August and 2 weeks in NS and NB in January. Research wise we have read a LOT and I have friends in Halifax, Ottowa, Windsor and Vancouver who have answered questions. That all pales into insignificance compared to the experiences of people who have actually done it, recently.

In fact, everything seemed and still seems so positive to us (I guess it could just be that its all a good fit for our personalities and circumstance) I thought 'there must be some downsides?'

None of the things anyones mentioned above bother me really. TV is crap here too (how often do you load up sky+ and scroll down, and down, and down uttering 'crap', 'crap' etc allt he way through), not into pubs, dont drink ale (Lager, Wine, Whiskey), like Winter and nothing happening, I dreaaaam of nothing happening! ;)

Oh dont smoke either, no one smoking indoors, all for it! Sorry.

Buchan6's comment re costs is interesting. We will bring a fair wedge of cash with us, enough to buy a nice house outright, couple of cars and have a 6 figure saving but Im still not clear on how much I should expect to have to make for living etc. Ive looked into cost of living in NS (preferred province) as much as possible but its hard to be sure you arent fooling yourself. With no mortgage or loans, whats a reasonable income for a 2 adult, 2 child family (this is in NS bear in mind)?

I getthe impression that getting kids settled into school looks quite a smooth process and they are set up for integrating immigrants but thats a concern too.

Thanks, sorry, should have searched 1st, doh.

Re: Canada - the reality
 

Moving anywhere would be great with this, no?

Re: Canada - the reality
 

Yep that about sums it up for me!!!!!!!!!!! :(