Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I actually came to this site looking for information about living in Spain or Italy.

I am a Canadian citizen living in Toronto, and I am trying to get out of here. But, I see a lot of people wanting to come here.

I spent the last winter around the Costa del Sol. And the lifestyle is so much better. People are more relaxed, they enjoy their leisure. Spend time with family and friends.

Here people live a commuter lifestyle, not much different from the UK. In fact, people have less vacation time here. And even then, a lot of people don't take all their vacation because of work commitments. They spend hours a week commuting. Everybody I know here doesn't have a life.

So, I am amazed that so many people are going through so much trouble to move here.

Why? What am I missing? Why Canada? :confused:

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Dude, you should move out to BC. It's totally freakin' awesome out here.

FACT: There is more to Canada than Toronto. Also, it's a lot easier to move somewhere where they speak roughly the same language as you.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

You've opened a can of worms here! I shall sit back and read with interest;)

I moved here (actually Montreal to start with) 8 years ago with my Canadian OH that I met in Belfast (he lived there for 12 years). It seemed like a good idea after a few too many beers. We just got on a plane with no jobs to go to no immigratrion documents, we did zero reasearch and the only thing we organized was my OH mums couch to sleep on.:eek:

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Hello there

I lived in T.O. for a year and lived in London, UK for a number of years. I hear what you are saying about T.O., but these things you highlight are much worse in the UK. Reasons that we want to leave here are manifold: people are unhappy and unfriendly/rude, the weather is bad (constant rain), housing is not affordable, food is bad, the binge drinking/pub culture in the UK, public transport, prices in general, crime rates, clone towns (too many Tescos), boring place, everyone is chasing the money. Oh, and London is simply too overcrowded!

Whilst some of these issues will certainly not be resolved by moving to T.O., I personally think they are much less serious over there. In addition, the people are nicer, the culture is more to my liking, standard of living is better, Canada is much more modern, Canada is cleaner, the food is better, house prices are lower and of higher standard, I miss my friends over there, it's a better place to raise kids. Canada is also very international. I lived in many places around the world and I found Toronto offered all my favourite things from different countries in one place.

I am sure everyone has there own reasons for wanting to move... and I don't think any country is the promised land, every country has its pros and cons. But I was happy in T.O. and I am certainly not happy here.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Oh, and yes, as bazz says - there is more to Canada than Toronto... you have a beautiful country full of breathtaking nature and scenery. And a whole other country below you with lots of diverse holiday destinations on offer (when you do get to go on holiday). :-))

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Toronto.....where is that....?

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Like Elaine, pulls up a chair sits back and waits.

Actually I am kinda with you here lived in TO for 10 years went back to UK for 5 and just returned 1 year ago, I dunno but I still don't feel settled.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Well considering your on the Canada Forum, can we assume Jamaica. :sneaky:

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I think you are looking at Toronto through rose tinted glasses. I would have to disagree with you that these things are much worse in the UK. I lived in London for 5 years in the early Nineties and have lived in Toronto for over 10 years, so I think I can make a good comparision.

Unless you live in a small town, you are going to find the EXACT same thing here.

The weather in Toronto is horrendous from November to at least April or May. It gets cold in London, but it is never as cold as it gets here.

Toronto is getting more an more expensive. A 2 bedroom condo, close to where I live is around $300K and it is not even on the subway line.

You must be joking. London is considered one of the culinary capitals of the world. London has more Michelin starred restaurants than Toronto could ever hope to have.

Toronto crime is getting worse every day. Vancouver and B.C isn't much better. Why? We are right across from the US and guns, drugs and gangs are flowing across the border.

Here a downtown consists of Canadian Tire, Walmart, Tim Hortons, McDonalds. Ugly, depressing, deserted downtowns with punk kids hanging around.

It is exactly the same here. They work all day and go to their little houses in the suburbs at night. They have NO LIFE.

Whilst some of these issues will certainly not be resolved by moving to T.O., I personally think they are much less serious over there.

Again there is no way that this is true.

The houses are nothing better than drywall boxes. The quality of construction is CRAP. Trust me. Hollow walls, cheap fittings. In a couple of years, your house is falling apart. I have owned a house here for years. And the quality of construction is very poor.

I really don't think you can compare London to Toronto. They are not even in the same league. London has been the center of the finance and culture for centuries. The amount of cultural pursuits in London are absolutely staggering. And London is going to grow and become even more important as time goes on. With India and China rising, those companies are looking to London as their financial center, not New York.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I bet people in Spain and Italy are leaving those countries for the same reasons.

Except for the wood frame, drywall houses (I guess - what are houses in Spain and Italy built out of?)

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Although I don't live in Canada anymore, I was born in Oakville and lived in Burlington for 11 years before moving to Australia. My husband worked at Yonge/Sheppard for those 11 years, so we know about the commuter lifestyle.

I think it's difficult for someone to see their own country through the eyes of another. I didn't fully appreciate Canada until I left. Since being in Australia I have found so many little things I miss, such as the smell of the leaves in cottage country in October or an iced cap from Horton's. Stupid things that I'm sure you take for granted. I know I did.

If you want crap construction, you should try over here! When we were talking to our builder they were trying to impress us with the amount of insulation they use. A whopping R2.5 in the roof space and R1.5 in the walls. Wow! 2 sheets of newspaper in the attic instead of the 1 they use in the walls. The windows are single pane and so ill-fitting that even with them all closed up tight the blinds blow in the breeze from the spaces around the edges. It's not just this house, but all 3 of the houses we've lived in here.

Yes, Toronto is a hole but Canada is the second largest country in the world. Toronto is not the be all and end all in the country. If you want a more relaxed lifestyle why not try the east coast? Or one of the smaller cities such as Winnipeg or Edmonton? As much as you think Spain is going to be paradise, you will still have to work, pay your bills, and all the other crap you do in TO. We have found our little corner of paradise in Western Australia, but day to day life still goes on.

I think you should take another look at what you have before you go slagging it off. The immigrants I see who make it are the ones who leave their country not because they hate it but because they are looking for something different.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Sun dried animal droppings made into bricks.

May as well be given that in Spain they allow the repossession of your property at the drop of a hat leaving you with little of the land you may have purchased or in the worst case take the lot.

Oh yeah...nice place....not....

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Thanks for the steer...but to be sure I googled it...turns out toronto is in the USA. Who would have thunk it...

http://kids.swaminarayan.org/news/us...nto/photo1.htm

You live and learn...:D

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I don't necessarily want a more "relaxed lifestyle". I want a "richer lifestyle". The ability to do things I can't do here.

The one big problem with all your suggestions is that is TOO DAMN COLD! I am tired of freezing my butt off for 6 months a year.

I don't necessarily think it is going to be paradise. Luckily I work from home. So, even in Toronto, I don't have the commuter lifestyle. But, my idea is that, if I can work from anywhere, why confine myself to Toronto?

But, you are right ,that sometimes you don't see things other do. That is why my post. I want to see why so many people want to move here. Maybe I am missing something.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

There is a lot more to Canada than Toronto. It is a shame that 90% of new imigrants settle within 50 miles of Toronto or Vancouver. This means you have to compete with gazilions of other imigrants including our Asian cousins who will work 18 hrs a day for peanuts so the pay is depressed. Look at Alberta....Jobs galore, good pay even for entry levsls or menial jobs, great scenery & people who are much more friendly than those in Toronto where they would rather shoot you!

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Yes you do. :p

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Alberta is 1) too cold. and 2) too hick. There are some things I DO like about Toronto and the fact that it is cosmopolitan and at least "tries" to be a sophisticated, world class city are a couple of those things.

I am not interested in a job as I run my own business from home.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Its official...Toronto is the USA....to be specific...its in Kansas (have heard of that thanks to a lass called Dorothy and something about a yellow brick road)...

http://www.hometownusa.com/ks/Toronto.html

I'm learning so much....

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

And me, but I keep following it to no avail. :lol:

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Damn those elephants. Put good honest, hard-working, hard-drinking lumberjacks out of business with their muscular trunks and big flappy ears. It makes you sick.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

It seems that your contributions to this thread are limited to snide remarks and sarcastic comments. Your feeble attempts to sidetrack the discussion are noted.

If you don't have any constructive comments to add to the discussion, I suggest you step out of this thread and take your sarcasm elsewhere.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

So about 15 years ago? It's changed quite a lot since then. A lot more expensive and probably quite a lot more aggressive and unpleasant.

In London this would buy you a small studio-sized flat in a shitty area. I should know, I still own one.

Maybe, but how often do you eat in Michelin-starred restaurants? Eating out is generally pretty pricey. I don't feel that our choice is much more restricted in Vancouver (what we've lost in curry houses we've gained in Sushi restaurants).

Much like most British city centres.

Like a lot of people in London.


True enough, but the daily grind of living in London nowadays unless you've got a lot of money behind you is pretty depressing.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I can see you're new around here. Telling everyone how to behave on a forum the day you signed up is tantamount to walking into a pub and telling everyone they're a bunch of cnuts.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

get a life....

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

If you think the sarcasm is bad here for god sake don't ever think of moving to Northern Ireland.:eek:

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Well that's you told. :lol:

Welcome to the world of BE, if you don't like it then I would suggest you leave, no matter what the thread may be about it always has it's way of being diverted, accept it. ;)

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Bazzz we finally agree on something. :p

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

so how about those Leafs then?:rofl:

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I don't know don't watch it sat in chat room with no one to talk to. Sad git. :lol:

Watch out your going to get in trouble for for hihacking this thread. ;)

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I was questioning my sanity for a moment...thank goodness there is life out there...

This is the closest I will get to a pub tonight....best make the most if it...

Have a good one...

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Not everyone, just one disruptive member. He doesn't seem to have been around here for too long himself. His comments added nothing to the discussion, in fact it appeared as though he was making an active effort to disrupt it.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Lest we upset Adrian anymore, I am in the chat room if anyone wants some idle chit chat.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I'm such a wee Sh*t stirrer!:thumbup:

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

I know, you're gonna get in ta trouble for that. ;)

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

You are killing me....

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Yes, but then that brings me back to my original question. If it is all the same, why move to Canada?

A lot of people are suggesting B.C etc is better, Toronto is not Canada etc. ok, accepted.

But, then why not apply the same thing to the UK. Why not move out somewhere to the coast? Cornwall? Kent? There are some stunning areas and beautiful historic towns. The likes of which you will never find here. I am sure you can find less crowded towns, lower crime, etc. in many of the smaller towns and cities in the UK. Or for that matter the Continent.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Personally, I was just glad to get away from English people as a lot of them seem to be small-minded bigots. Read something like this:

http://ifyoulikeitsomuchwhydontyougolivethere.com/

it's a collection of vents from people from the "Have Your Say" section of the BBC web site. It's depressing. While I'm sure there are similar people in Canada, in general, in my experience, people are a lot more open minded and civilised here.

Cornwall - widespread poverty, no jobs, and largely populated by white, backward hicks. The only non-white person you'll see runs the local Indian/Chinese restaurant and they'll be subjected to plenty of racist abuse. I lived there for nine years.

Kent - just part of greater London really. House prices are out of the league of anyone who didn't buy in the past 15 years.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

And no jobs that will pay for a huge mortgage on a house that would have cost 20% of the price a few years ago.

As someone pointed out, London has vastly deteriorated since you lived there, and the rot has spread out across the rest of the country; both through the spread of crime, and the spread of rich Londoners buying up 'second homes' in the country and pricing out the local people. Fifteen years ago my sister and her husband could buy a three-bed house on one retail salary in their rural town, today you'd need a couple both working in very good jobs for that area to do the same, because so many houses are being bought up by 'investors' from outside the area. Similarly, at that time I'd walk almost anywhere in the town at any time of night; now I wouldn't go near the center late after dark.

I can't vouch for Canada in general, but right now I have a better standard of living with my girlfriend on one salary than we'd have had with two where I lived in Britain.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Well, if that is your intent, then sure I guess you don't have a choice but to leave! I lived in London, so I didn't necessarily see the level of bigotry you mention.

How mainstream are these views?

Well, to be honest, if you are coming over from the UK with your pounds, then the housing in Canada seems like a bargain. But, for many, many people here they feel the same way about housing prices in the big cities.

You are in Vancouver, the most expensive housing market in Canada. Even if I wanted to move to Vancouver, I probably wouldn't be able to afford to get on the property market there with anything half decent.

Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
 

Oh, it's there alright. Depressingly even second generation immigrants jump on the "bloody Poles, coming over here stealing our jobs" bandwagon.

This is a prime motivation for a lot of people. You can sell your small house in England and elevate yourself to an entirely different social class in Canada.

You don't have to buy a property to enjoy living somewhere. We're renting a condo in an infinitely nicer part of town then we could ever have hoped to in London - and that's despite earning 30-40% less (depending on the exchange rate you choose to use).