Paradisefound

Not locals around my way. We have a great selection at roadsides and farmers markets. Plus freebies from those that do grow their own.

Paradisefound

Local winery around the corner starting at $8 a bottle.

dbd33

Well yes, there's also "bottle your own".

SAW 04

Hi

House built in 2006, 2450 sq ft over two levels with an additional 1200 sq ft in finished basement. Have in floor heat (this appears to be the problem!)under all porcelain area's and hot water base board else where. Temperature set at a maximum of 21 C and 16C over night. Water is on demand with very little hot water storage. 2 people plus sprog.

SAW 04

Paradisefound

Paradisefound

Our house is around the same size, but built around 1860. We have oil/wood furnace and now only use wood. We like it hot and are here full time in winter. We burn around 5 cords from winter through to spring. Using the most in Jan/Feb. We pay around $145 up a cord. So around $750 for heat.
Our log home being eco friendly and warm in winter uses less than 3 cords in a large wood stove. We have only had to use the back up electic heat ocasionally over the winter. It originally had under floor heating with wood furnace, but the previous owner unfortunately removed it.

Paul Wildy

I think you misunderstood me. I'm not saying the RDAs or the Provincial Government dont assess people who apply thoroughly or that they ask people how many properties they have seen on MLS as one of the selection criteria.

My point is that to come through this stream you dont need to have a job offer and that makes it (at the moment) one of the very few ways into Canada without having to have a job lined up or make a substantial business investment. And therin lies the danger. Because if someone has high likelyhood of getting a job offer then why not simply wait for them to get the job offer and have them apply as a PNP Skilled Worker?

So it tends to attract people instead who dont necessarily plan to work straight away when they get here and therefore havent really fully tested the market for their chances of employability or getting a decent wage. So there are potentially some suprises for them down the road.

Many applicants who apply through NS PNP CI stream plan to start some sort of business and of course they have to produce a business plan and of course the RDA assesses them rigorously but the trouble is they are assessing the business plan based on the benefit to the region as much as they are the viability of the business. Unfortunately their prime concern isnt that you, as a would-be business owner, are going to make huge profits and live very comfortably here; they are more interested in how many people you are going to employ or how much money you are going to invest in developing a new building or some other facility. All great for the region but not necessarily great for you.

So that is what I meant when I talked about the "cute little gallery in a remote rural area". Its an example of a business that is romantic in nature rather than profitable. Someone who sets up that type of business invests a lot of their own money in the local economy but then discover they can only make $15k a year from it and it isnt enough to live on.

Am I making any sense? I dont mean that people shouldnt set-up cute little galleries in rural areas or any other kind of business that is enjoyable to operate but doesnt really bring in much money - of course they should - but it cant be your primary income; the cost of living here simply doesnt allow for that.

nikki dreaming

I appreciate the points you are making here NS Paul, but I feel this could be said for anywhere.

One thing re the CI stream, whilst there may be a high proportion of people that arrive in NS and do not seek employment or start their own business shortly after, there are others who will be looking to gain employment fairly quickly.

The CI stream provides some flexibility re time scale wise in as far as perhaps trying to sell a house and not being in a position to actually accept a job offer from an employer, as you have no idea when your personal circumstances may allow you to make the move. Therefore the CI stream I feel is something that is available if you can meet the criteria laid out which enables you to perhaps have a little more control over what is going to happen when.

It also means hopefully in the long term that when you find employment the paperwork has been sorted and you are free to work, which means you may find better opportunities available to you.

Just my thoughts anyhow fwiw

Paul Wildy

You're right - it could be said of not quite anywhere but certainly a lot of places. The minute you create very little barrier to immigration then you get lots of people that move to that place, buy a cheap house and then struggle with becoming "economically established" (to use the CIC terminology). Brits have been doing it in France, Greece and Spain for years. The trouble with Nova Scotia though is that the general cost of living is not on a par with Spain and that makes it just that bit less viable for many people.

BristolUK

Jackson Triggs white Merlot is around $9 or $10 a bottle here. It's a perfectly decent Rose if you're not one of those who looks down their noses at Roses.

Other than that there are good Aussie wines; Chardonnay for around $12-$15 & various Shiraz/Cabernet/Merlot for $17.

The Hardys wines are always decent value too. Stamp label whites for $10 or $11, reds for $2 or $3 more.

I find I pay the same as I paid in Sainsbury's, for pretty much the same wines.

dazzlerdaz

I want value ! ps dbd33 the 20 bees was not bad

dbd33

If you say so. How about next time we barbecue you bring some?

bazzz

We probably pay slightly more out here than in the UK; certainly if we want to drink European wines. But then we're earning 40% less, so in relative terms it's a lot more expensive. But what can you do?

bodgerx

Jackson Triggs do some good stuff - I've done their Winery tour in Ontario and I even liked their iced wine, which usually I don't like.

snowboardboy

Gordon R wouldnt let you get away with "Well Done" in the UK tut tut ;o) In all seriousness though I think the beef in North America is far better to that in the UK.