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Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Hi there,
new to blogging so please be kind. We are in the process of applying for PR after receiving the ITA. have seen previous posts about this but is now closed so can't even PM some of the good posts. GermanytoCanada was interesting! we started out thinking of Ontario, then NB but have our hearts set on NS. We have 2 young's children (4 and 22 mths), I speak French and lived in Quebec for a year many, many years ago. we are reading concerning things about the poo healthcare and high tax costs. Is this true? Also, we are dual heritage and trying to escape the right wing cesspit our country has become so are there any areas/pockets to avoid in NS? honesty is welcome ðŸ™ðŸ½ |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
I wouldn't worry about the higher tax thing.
Sure, you can look at a table that shows how much of a gross income you keep after tax for different provinces and you think 'blimey, what a difference' and sometimes the salary in other provinces might even be higher. But by the time you take account of the lower housing costs it often won't make much difference. |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Thank you!
do you live in NS? Do you like it? :) |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by Sairabe
(Post 13277018)
Thank you!
do you live in NS? Do you like it? :) The same negatives said about Nova Scotia are also said about New Brunswick - basically all of Atlantic Canada - but usually by people with no experience of living here. There are certainly differences to the rest of Canada but the cities are just smaller versions of bigger cities in other provinces. I've always felt there are things you might miss compared to Toronto or Montreal but the basics are often that much cheaper that the savings enable visits to those places where, maybe most of the people who live there have less money to play. Housing costs have increased over the years in these parts so that may be less true than it was. |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Hey!
so I lived in gaspe, Quebec for a year as part of my year abroad at uni and fell in love with Canada. Have been about 6 times since to visit friends there and in Montreal. couldn't quite seeing myself living there though. we actually narrowed it down between NS and New Brunswick and my husband would like to give NS a try. Wasn't sure where in NB we would go. Love that it is the only bilingual province. Have only ever been to campbelton. where would you recommend in New Brunswick?thanks so much. i am learning to read these posts with a grain of salt... |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
I live in Halifax so I can give you some observations.
Firstly, Nova Scotia is beautiful. If you like beaches and hiking etc it is pretty good. Not so much if you are into skiing etc. Halifax in particular is an ongoing construction zone as the city is expading and growing in population. I like Halifax a lot - fairly decent range of pubs, beer place, live music and events. Diversity of cuisine has much improved, partcularly if you like Indian food. The public transit is crap, and they deliberately made it worse than it was when I arrived in 2016. They have a large harbour and have been debating, for at least 20 years that I am aware of, whether to put on some new pedestrian ferries (in this instance I am thinking of Bedford to Halifax). The people in charge could not run water. As for healthcare, I am sorry to tell you it is truly appalling. I think the CBC said that there are something like 160,000 people waiting for a family doctor. It took us 3 years to get one. They have walk in clinics but people queue for these things from stupid o'clock in the morning. The main hospital in Halifax looks like something you might expect in a third world country and there are frequent issues with the potability of water in it. Taxation is high in NS and I have no clue where it goes. Wages are lower and rentals, for example, are heading up towards what you would be paying in Ontario. I am happy to answer your questions but I ould encourage you to do some googling about the health system etc. in Nova Scotia. No shortage of info there. Good luck what ever you decide. |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by Sairabe
(Post 13277021)
where would you recommend in New Brunswick?thanks so much.
i am learning to read these posts with a grain of salt... I came here to NB as it was affordable (because of dirt cheap housing - the equity from my terraced home in Bristol UK would have bought two detached houses here, with change) with a modest, non working income. I've only had a day trip to Fredericton. Nicer looking than Moncton but I concluded I'd rather live in Moncton and visit Fredericton than the other way around. I think with the population increase in my 19 years here, others are agreeing.
Originally Posted by Tumbling_Dice
(Post 13277025)
I live in Halifax so I can give you some observations...I like Halifax a lot - fairly decent range of pubs, beer place, live music and events. Diversity of cuisine has much improved, partcularly if you like Indian food. The public transit is crap...
As for healthcare, I am sorry to tell you it is truly appalling. I think the CBC said that there are something like 160,000 people waiting for a family doctor. It took us 3 years to get one. They have walk in clinics but people queue for these things from stupid o'clock in the morning. Not so now. We too have a long waiting list. Some people are happy with walk ins. When the Canada section of the forum was busier there were a few who preferred walk-ins. The waiting lists are long, face to face appointments when you do have a family doctor are a long wait. But from people based in the UK it sounds similar and it might well be the case all across Canada. It would be useful if there was a "How is your healthcare" for all of Canada for people to post experiences but this section has become very quiet over the last year or so. As with employment issues, when Brits have posted about who you know, inefficiencies and all the other stuff, it really sounds the same throughout the country. So I wonder if when "we" think things are bad with healthcare, so does everyone else. :unsure: The main hospital in Halifax looks like something you might expect in a third world country and there are frequent issues with the potability of water in it. Once you're "in the system" - with a family doctor and you're needing something for ongoing health issues (as am I) - I think it's pretty good. |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 13277030)
Very wise.
I came here to NB as it was affordable (because of dirt cheap housing - the equity from my terraced home in Bristol UK would have bought two detached houses here, with change) with a modest, non working income. I've only had a day trip to Fredericton. Nicer looking than Moncton but I concluded I'd rather live in Moncton and visit Fredericton than the other way around. I think with the population increase in my 19 years here, others are agreeing. All that here but our bus service is pretty good. It's the advantage of a smaller city; you can get anywhere in the city easily. The size of the city also means that taxis are cheap. One side to the other is about $15 but most journeys are obviously within and only around $10. There was a time where our doctors number for population was among the best in Canada. Not so now. We too have a long waiting list. Some people are happy with walk ins. When the Canada section of the forum was busier there were a few who preferred walk-ins. The waiting lists are long, face to face appointments when you do have a family doctor are a long wait. But from people based in the UK it sounds similar and it might well be the case all across Canada. It would be useful if there was a "How is your healthcare" for all of Canada for people to post experiences but this section has become very quiet over the last year or so. As with employment issues, when Brits have posted about who you know, inefficiencies and all the other stuff, it really sounds the same throughout the country. So I wonder if when "we" think things are bad with healthcare, so does everyone else. :unsure: Our city hospital is great but I'm aware wait times in ER can be long. Very long. Once you're "in the system" - with a family doctor and you're needing something for ongoing health issues (as am I) - I think it's pretty good. |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by Sairabe
(Post 13276810)
Hi there,
new to blogging so please be kind. We are in the process of applying for PR after receiving the ITA. have seen previous posts about this but is now closed so can't even PM some of the good posts. GermanytoCanada was interesting! we started out thinking of Ontario, then NB but have our hearts set on NS. We have 2 young's children (4 and 22 mths), I speak French and lived in Quebec for a year many, many years ago. we are reading concerning things about the poo healthcare and high tax costs. Is this true? Also, we are dual heritage and trying to escape the right wing cesspit our country has become so are there any areas/pockets to avoid in NS? honesty is welcome ðŸ™ðŸ½ |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by SeanHolmes
(Post 13277802)
I'm English, and my wife is Canadian from Calgary. We have recently moved to the South shore of NS (Lunenburg) and we absolutely love it. It is absolutely beautiful and the people are very friendly. The pace of life seems relaxed and compared to other place we have lived real estate is very affordable, we are currently in the process of buying our first home and NS ticks every box for us. I recently got my PR, she sponsored my inland spousal and it took around 8 months from start to finish but I was able to get a work permit during the process after about 3 months of applying. Good luck!
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Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Thank you so much Sean. Sounds like a wonderful and positive experience for you.
we were thinking of Head of Chezzetcook to be close to a French speaking community. What made you decide on the area you have settled in? kind regards |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by Tumbling_Dice
(Post 13277025)
I live in Halifax so I can give you some observations.
Firstly, Nova Scotia is beautiful. If you like beaches and hiking etc it is pretty good. Not so much if you are into skiing etc. Halifax in particular is an ongoing construction zone as the city is expading and growing in population. I like Halifax a lot - fairly decent range of pubs, beer place, live music and events. Diversity of cuisine has much improved, partcularly if you like Indian food. The public transit is crap, and they deliberately made it worse than it was when I arrived in 2016. They have a large harbour and have been debating, for at least 20 years that I am aware of, whether to put on some new pedestrian ferries (in this instance I am thinking of Bedford to Halifax). The people in charge could not run water. As for healthcare, I am sorry to tell you it is truly appalling. I think the CBC said that there are something like 160,000 people waiting for a family doctor. It took us 3 years to get one. They have walk in clinics but people queue for these things from stupid o'clock in the morning. The main hospital in Halifax looks like something you might expect in a third world country and there are frequent issues with the potability of water in it. Taxation is high in NS and I have no clue where it goes. Wages are lower and rentals, for example, are heading up towards what you would be paying in Ontario. I am happy to answer your questions but I ould encourage you to do some googling about the health system etc. in Nova Scotia. No shortage of info there. Good luck what ever you decide. |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by Sairabe
(Post 13277815)
Thank you so much Sean. Sounds like a wonderful and positive experience for you.
we were thinking of Head of Chezzetcook to be close to a French speaking community. What made you decide on the area you have settled in? kind regards |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Sounds perfect to us. We are from the midlands (but originally from london) and we moved to southampton 2 years ago for a quieter pace of life. Really don't like it here but won't list the reasons why!
that's how Canada came on the cards. We knew we wanted the east coast and somewhere more rural - big cities aren't our cup of tea. But we are spoilt for choice it seems! Thanks so much. please can I ask something unrelated? Can they throw out your PR application if something is missing? Are you assigned an officer? we are going to submit outs shortly. thank you again for your posts. |
Re: Choosing NS to settle down - any advice would be appreciated!
Originally Posted by Sairabe
(Post 13277869)
please can I ask something unrelated? Can they throw out your PR application if something is missing? Are you assigned an officer?
we are going to submit outs shortly. |
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