Confused.. Why Canada?
#151
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
One point I do want to make, with all the complaints about how bad things are in the UK. You do realize that the reason you can sell up move here and buy a huge house here is because things are so DAMN GOOD in the UK, right?
You think Canadians could afford to do the same thing? No way. The British are buying up second homes, vacation properties, inverstments, all over the world. Do you see very many Canadian doing that? NO. Only the fortunate few. Whereas the British have the economic power to invest all over the world.
If you decide to go back to the UK, do you realize how hard it will be for you to get back into the housing market at anywhere near where you are now? There is no way that house prices in Canada, at least outside of the major centres are rising anywhere near what you get in the UK. And specially London.
It will ALWAYS be an economic powerhouse. It has been the centre of power for hundreds of years. A property investment in London is gold. London is at the point where people are saying it may very well overtake New York as the financial capital of the world.
#154
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
And even then, they don't stay in "their own area", people have been shot in front of the Eaton Centre and in front of nightclubs as a result of crossfire from gang related shootings. What are you going to do? Not go shopping downtown?
We are right across the border from the U.S, and this has become a conduit for guns and drugs. In Europe you are still somewhat removed from a lot of this. Those "thugs" in the UK get their inspiration from N American gangs.
I see "thugs" all over the place, even in the upscale mall close to where I live. And all the youth here seem to be adopting that sense of style, regardless of their backgrounds, Whites, Blacks, Indians, Tamils, Chinese, West Indians, they all walk around like wanna be thugs.
Having said all of that, Toronto is still a fairly safe city, specially for N America. Some people here have said, well "Toronto is not Canada.' This is true. But, the reality is that Toronto has less crime than some of the smaller cities in Canada such as Edmonton and Regina.
Contrary to what some here think, this is not some sort of utopia where people of all classes and races hold hands and sing "Kumbaya". You will see similar social problems here.
#156
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
One would certainly have to consider King West "the entertainment district" as being one of the more violent areas. If it's shootings that concern you then most of Scarborough is better.
#157
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
We are being naive? You are the one uping sticks and heading to spain on the grounds that the grass is greener.
My experience is that the grass is no more or less green where ever you go, happyness and contentment are states of mind dependent on your own outlook on life, and no one elses.
If you decide you can be happy in a certain place, chances are you can. Once you decide you have to leave, its very hard to stop that ball rolling because of the cliche about not looking back on your life and wondering "what if..."
Have you lived in enough of Canada to speak for the whole country? I live a pretty utopian life in my corner of Ontario, but thats just cos its a good match for what I am looking for in life at the moment. Other people here seem quite happy with their choice too.
My experience is that the grass is no more or less green where ever you go, happyness and contentment are states of mind dependent on your own outlook on life, and no one elses.
If you decide you can be happy in a certain place, chances are you can. Once you decide you have to leave, its very hard to stop that ball rolling because of the cliche about not looking back on your life and wondering "what if..."
Contrary to what some here think, this is not some sort of utopia where people of all classes and races hold hands and sing "Kumbaya". You will see similar social problems here.
#158
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Now you are expanding the scope and want to talk about social unease. From what I gather in that whole piece from the The Economist, the thrust of the article is, "with things going so well, why the doom and gloom?"
I don't recognise some of your characterisations of Toronto. Granted, I'm a suburbanite who rides the GO every day to get downtown, but out here in the wasteland of dystopian Oakville (thanks, dbd...)
#159
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
As I mentioned earlier, Toronto is one of the safer Canadian cities. Places like Edmonton and Regina are more crime ridden. And Vancouver, well, just today CBC was reporting that there appears to be a gang war developing in the city and it is going to get worse.
#160
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Actually, most of the brits seem to end up in Oakville...'cos of all that UK equity they can bring probably.
What is your point wit this argument anyway? People do their research and make a decision based on it. No one is going to change their mind because of your opinion, or anyone elses. Most Brits who come to Canada are very happy with the result. You don't like it and are moving away. So what, that's life, Time to move on.
Sometimes you cant see the wood for the trees, and that's very true of immigration, a bad experience in one area clouds your view of a whole country. Large chunks of the UK are very nice, some parts are not, same goes for Canada. But just cos you have certain experiences and views does not make for a one size fits all solution.
What is your point wit this argument anyway? People do their research and make a decision based on it. No one is going to change their mind because of your opinion, or anyone elses. Most Brits who come to Canada are very happy with the result. You don't like it and are moving away. So what, that's life, Time to move on.
Sometimes you cant see the wood for the trees, and that's very true of immigration, a bad experience in one area clouds your view of a whole country. Large chunks of the UK are very nice, some parts are not, same goes for Canada. But just cos you have certain experiences and views does not make for a one size fits all solution.
Last edited by iaink; Nov 6th 2007 at 8:22 pm.
#161
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
When you've the option and convenience of being able to work from home, why choose to live somewhere that has gang war issues?
#162
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Can you give an example? Toronto seems to me to be quite well defined in terms of violent and non-violent areas.
One would certainly have to consider King West "the entertainment district" as being one of the more violent areas. If it's shootings that concern you then most of Scarborough is better.
One would certainly have to consider King West "the entertainment district" as being one of the more violent areas. If it's shootings that concern you then most of Scarborough is better.
Toronto is by no means a crime ridden city. But, there are social problems. Many of them. And many similar to what people say they are trying to run away from.
#163
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
As I mentioned earlier, in your case, you seem to have found the type of lifestyle that you were looking for when you moved out of the UK. And I can understand your reasons. Some of the others though, I am not so sure.
#164
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
What is the point of this thread? To discourage people from coming to canada on the off chance they are caught up in a drive by shooting? Unless they plan joining a gang when they land its pretty unlikely to affect their daily life. I suggest you stop watching the news...life is much happier without the violence of a city of 5M souls being invited into your living room every night. Cheaper than moving to Spain too.
#165
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
I can't argue with that but emigrants from the UK have their equity to keep them safe. The whole merit of moving to Canada is that relatively low property values mean a step up in social class. What's lost is intangible, what's gained is a bigger house with white neighbours.