Originally Posted by babycart (Post 7042200)

..When will we all stop kidding ourselves and face up to the reality that all our governments have sold us down the river.

Originally Posted by NSpaul (Post 7041181)

most of it manufacturing - I would guess auto industry is a large chunk

Originally Posted by agr (Post 7042505)

I don't think the UK-CA exchange rate can be called dreadful, at least not yet. It's still within 10% of $2 to the £. Look at the 12-months graph of the CA$ and compare with the one for the US$ which really has gone pete tong.

Canadian property prices cannot be generalised nationally, but in most places that saw big rises they have fallen substantially in the last 6 months - and they certainly look very affordable to UK-based buyers. I've just been on a househunting trip to Edmonton and £100 per sq ft is a rough benchmark for homes in mature neighbourhoods.

There's a lot of doom and gloom on the forums just now, and that's understandable. But there have always been risks to emigration and it's always been necessary to weigh them very carefully before giving up financial security in one country to move to another. Those risks remain very specific to individual circumstances. For some people, it's the taking of the risk that brings the whole project to life - the entrepreneurial spirit. For others, there may be little security in the UK, thus few reasons to remain.

Chutley's point is that economic reasons for migrating have all but vanished - and that's fair enough. But I would be surprised if many recent UK-CA migrants were motivated by money alone, and my point is that many of the other reasons have not changed.

Bottom line: financial risks have changed, but the need for each migrant to consider them very carefully with regard to his/her own circumstances has not.

Originally Posted by Yogi-Bear (Post 7042565)

Hi,

House prices in general in Alberta have dropped over the last 12 months or so as we receive listings and you can see the difference in prices.

Emigration is a risk, there's no argument there. But having been told and offered so much by this company all in emails and writing - with LMO the lot!

I thought we'd covered all angles and made our move as secure as we possibly could in terms of several reccie's ie. Job offer, Rental place, schools, car purchase, shipping, the lot!

So in real terms, we'd miniumised the risk as much as you possibly could. especially when you consider people have posted on here from Alberta that've not even been to Canada before. Now that's what I'd call risk!

For us, it was never about the money - never! I had two job offers, and took the one with the lower pay as they seemed more professional, people were nice, honest, and secure in terms of contracts etc..

For us, it was always about giving the children a better chance - and standard of living. The money, always was, and always will be, - secondary!

Cheers

Y

Originally Posted by agr (Post 7042581)

Yogi, you have my sympathy and I hope you get an honest briefing from them when you get through. See if you can google the CEO's secretary's phone number and explain that you need a two-minute conversation with The Boss. It might be that your correspondent (in HR?) is just off sick at the moment!

Originally Posted by thebakers4 (Post 7042847)

Hi there,

I haven't read through the complete content of this thread but wanted to add to what I have seen in the 16 hours I have been in Calgary!

I arrived yesterday at 4pm local time for a 3 day recce trip before we move in January, I drove to the hotel, booked in and then went out for about 3 hours for a drive around - everywhere I went there were still help wanted signs - I have to admit that was mainly shops, hotels and eateries as I didn't go off route downtown or into the industrial areas but from what I have seen in just a few hours the help wanted signs are still in abundance!

I will be out and about abit more today so will make mental notes of help wanted signs and report in again tonight.

Jan

Originally Posted by thebakers4 (Post 7042847)

Hi there,

I haven't read through the complete content of this thread but wanted to add to what I have seen in the 16 hours I have been in Calgary!

I arrived yesterday at 4pm local time for a 3 day recce trip before we move in January, I drove to the hotel, booked in and then went out for about 3 hours for a drive around - everywhere I went there were still help wanted signs - I have to admit that was mainly shops, hotels and eateries as I didn't go off route downtown or into the industrial areas but from what I have seen in just a few hours the help wanted signs are still in abundance!

I will be out and about abit more today so will make mental notes of help wanted signs and report in again tonight.

Jan

Originally Posted by Steve_P (Post 7042863)

Calgary in particular and Alberta in general are so far not being hit anywhere near as hard as other areas of the country.

Ontario is being particularly hard hit because it is the manufacturing centre of Canada.

A couple of very recent article on unemployment figures regarding Alberta and Calgary.

Job outlook mixed for Calgary

Albertans should expect some job losses, economists say

Link to video news clip: http://watch.ctv.ca/news/clip119334#clip119334

Hope this also helps in some small way.

Originally Posted by thebakers4 (Post 7042847)

Hi there,

I haven't read through the complete content of this thread but wanted to add to what I have seen in the 16 hours I have been in Calgary!

I arrived yesterday at 4pm local time for a 3 day recce trip before we move in January, I drove to the hotel, booked in and then went out for about 3 hours for a drive around - everywhere I went there were still help wanted signs - I have to admit that was mainly shops, hotels and eateries as I didn't go off route downtown or into the industrial areas but from what I have seen in just a few hours the help wanted signs are still in abundance!

I will be out and about abit more today so will make mental notes of help wanted signs and report in again tonight.

Jan

Originally Posted by Yogi-Bear (Post 7042598)

agr,

I wish it was as you're suggesting, these were my thoughts intially - sickness etc.. Not the case. I've left two messages on voicemail, two emails, over a two week period!

It's odd to say the least. As for contacting the Boss! The person I've been dealing with is the BOSS :) Well, Director of HR in any case.

Thanks for the thought, I'll see what Monday or Tuesday brings. If I just had an answer either way? I can deal with it then and move on..

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! :)

Cheers

Y

Originally Posted by jancal (Post 7042280)

I will keep a few posts coming with updates. Brownstar has stated that Calgary has just been awarded a couple of projects. Brownstar are they in O&G? Whatever they are that is great news.

Originally Posted by agr (Post 7042505)

Bottom line: financial risks have changed, but the need for each migrant to consider them very carefully with regard to his/her own circumstances has not.

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 7043910)

So important that it should be in flashing 48 point text on the home page of the forum.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in BC is at a 40 year low, and is forecast to remain that way at least for 2009.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...f-5d9cc481d52a

I agree with other posters that if the only, or even main, motivation for emigrating is financial gain then this could be a good time to pause for thought. However, if you are considering Canada as your destination for other sound reasons I think there is still opportunity for resourceful and flexible people.

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 7044930)

That article is dated May 7, 2008