British Expats

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Canada (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/)
-   -   Good Points, Bad Points (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/good-points-bad-points-768944/)

el_richo Aug 22nd 2012 4:02 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by Dozzpot (Post 10240548)
In ON, after originally considering Vancouver... Depends where you are in any place; just happened to have ended up in a nice bit of ON as far as those things are concerned (where there is less, not "none" by the way). Maybe the UK is not as bad as we think; it's just the Daily Mail. Maybe...

It's the daily mail. Where my mum and sister live the litter, rabble, and unemployment is not really different to vancouver.

So unfortunately your list is flawed if your Canada cons are based on reality, and your UK cons are based on media perception ;)

So with that in mind, move to Vancouver. It's ace here. I took the dog out for a shit this morning and we ran back inside pretty shaprish after we bumped into a black bear. Last night it was deer. Just bring a nice pair of wellies. :thumbup:

Oink Aug 22nd 2012 5:03 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 
Hopefully repeating the points covered by other posts in the thread.


Pros
Salmon fishing
Girls here have looser moral constraints.
Boris Johnson is not here.
They dress like tramps so you can save money on fashionable clothes and still look good.
Weather in July and August.
Great sushi

Cons
Pies are crap
All takeaway food except sushi, is rubbish here.
Too many fat people
Ice hockey – Sports in general is crap
Media in all forms is boring
Stiflingly bureaucracy
Rampant nepotism
Unions
Its boring
They can’t take a joke
Booze is too expensive and you can't get it at the supermarket when you do your big shop and so have to make an extra trip to a off-license type place. :thumbdown:

paul0 Aug 22nd 2012 5:39 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 
I'm getting completely confused here.
Myself and my wife are planning to move to Canada next year but by the looks of it, it seems to be a higher percentage of bad points rather then good points.
I do realise that Canada have taxes on most things which can work out expensive and car insurance is expensive etc etc, but I was under the impression that housing was cheaper but then they're people saying it's the same cost as the UK which means it's bloody expensive.
So my question is whats the point of going through all the hassle of trying to get a job offer then sorting your visa out if people are saying "yeah it's sort of ok here in Canada"
We were getting so excited about starting a nice life in Canada but now were just thinking why do so many English move there if it's only kind of ok?
I'm not having ago it's just frustrating when your so looking forward to starting a new life in such a beautiful country and you see something like this thread and it can completely put you off the idea.
Please someone prove me wrong.

Howefamily Aug 22nd 2012 5:45 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by paul0 (Post 10240778)
I'm getting completely confused here.
Myself and my wife are planning to move to Canada next year but by the looks of it, it seems to be a higher percentage of bad points rather then good points.
I do realise that Canada have taxes on most things which can work out expensive and car insurance is expensive etc etc, but I was under the impression that housing was cheaper but then they're people saying it's the same cost as the UK which means it's bloody expensive.
So my question is whats the point of going through all the hassle of trying to get a job offer then sorting your visa out if people are saying "yeah it's sort of ok here in Canada"
We were getting so excited about starting a nice life in Canada but now were just thinking why do so many English move there if it's only kind of ok?
I'm not having ago it's just frustrating when your so looking forward to starting a new life in such a beautiful country and you see something like this thread and it can completely put you off the idea.
Please someone prove me wrong.

I really do understand where you are coming from, some of these answers are tongue in cheek but the point is that it isnt perfect here. Its a big place too so house prices vary. We have more space and bang for our buck than we did in the UK but we came from the south of England and moved to Nova Scotia. There IS more space in Canada than the UK too which is great but that brings its own set of problems too - driving distance etc etc

You need to ascertain what you want from this move and why you want to be here. I love it here, its exactly the life I wanted. I am lucky. That said, its not without it frustrations.

Howefamily Aug 22nd 2012 5:46 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 
oh and dont look at the length of pros and cons list but rather whats in them, each list can differ too depending on where that person is and whats in their life.
The cost of things will probably remain the same, its not cheap here

iaink Aug 22nd 2012 5:52 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by paul0 (Post 10240778)
I'm getting completely confused here.
Myself and my wife are planning to move to Canada next year but by the looks of it, it seems to be a higher percentage of bad points rather then good points.
I do realise that Canada have taxes on most things which can work out expensive and car insurance is expensive etc etc, but I was under the impression that housing was cheaper but then they're people saying it's the same cost as the UK which means it's bloody expensive.
So my question is whats the point of going through all the hassle of trying to get a job offer then sorting your visa out if people are saying "yeah it's sort of ok here in Canada"
We were getting so excited about starting a nice life in Canada but now were just thinking why do so many English move there if it's only kind of ok?
I'm not having ago it's just frustrating when your so looking forward to starting a new life in such a beautiful country and you see something like this thread and it can completely put you off the idea.
Please someone prove me wrong.


Most of the happy expats are off living their lives. Its just the habitual moaners who take time to post lists in threads like these.


Truth is canada is awfully big, and there is a broad range of experiences on offer.

Where were you thinking of heading?

Oink Aug 22nd 2012 6:22 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by paul0 (Post 10240778)
I'm getting completely confused here.
Myself and my wife are planning to move to Canada next year but by the looks of it, it seems to be a higher percentage of bad points rather then good points.
I do realise that Canada have taxes on most things which can work out expensive and car insurance is expensive etc etc, but I was under the impression that housing was cheaper but then they're people saying it's the same cost as the UK which means it's bloody expensive.
So my question is whats the point of going through all the hassle of trying to get a job offer then sorting your visa out if people are saying "yeah it's sort of ok here in Canada"
We were getting so excited about starting a nice life in Canada but now were just thinking why do so many English move there if it's only kind of ok?
I'm not having ago it's just frustrating when your so looking forward to starting a new life in such a beautiful country and you see something like this thread and it can completely put you off the idea.
Please someone prove me wrong.

Housing is cheaper in a lot of areas of Canada for a reason. Housing in Vancouver, which is a nice city and extremely scenic is very expensive. Housing in Toronto, which is not a terribly pleasant city and quite ugly in many parts is very expensive because there are a lot of employment opportunities. Bottom line, money and a good job will be the key to success. But realize it is a different country and you'll have less cultural capital here than in the UK.

paul0 Aug 22nd 2012 6:29 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 
We were thinking about either BC or Alberta but I'm not sure what kind of choice we'll have as I'm a Carpenter so initially I'll probably try and head where the work is.
Sorry about the rant. We do understand that Canada isn't perfect it just got us worrying abit, but as you say Canada is so big and everyone's circumstances are different.
Thanks for the more encouraging replies guys.
Paul.

Oink Aug 22nd 2012 6:37 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by paul0 (Post 10240905)
We were thinking about either BC or Alberta but I'm not sure what kind of choice we'll have as I'm a Carpenter so initially I'll probably try and head where the work is.
Sorry about the rant. We do understand that Canada isn't perfect it just got us worrying abit, but as you say Canada is so big and everyone's circumstances are different.
Thanks for the more encouraging replies guys.
Paul.

There are pros and cons everywhere. I suspect many of the choices listed were a bit tongue-in cheek or borne out of frustration from the minutia of everyday life.

Tangram Aug 22nd 2012 7:27 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by paul0 (Post 10240778)
I'm getting completely confused here.
Myself and my wife are planning to move to Canada next year but by the looks of it, it seems to be a higher percentage of bad points rather then good points.
I do realise that Canada have taxes on most things which can work out expensive and car insurance is expensive etc etc, but I was under the impression that housing was cheaper but then they're people saying it's the same cost as the UK which means it's bloody expensive.
So my question is whats the point of going through all the hassle of trying to get a job offer then sorting your visa out if people are saying "yeah it's sort of ok here in Canada"
We were getting so excited about starting a nice life in Canada but now were just thinking why do so many English move there if it's only kind of ok?
I'm not having ago it's just frustrating when your so looking forward to starting a new life in such a beautiful country and you see something like this thread and it can completely put you off the idea.
Please someone prove me wrong.

Same shit different bucket

Greenhill Aug 22nd 2012 7:39 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 
The bucket is a lot bigger here, though. So the same amount of the same shit in the bigger bucket can appear to look like it's less same shit than in the smaller bucket that has the same amount of the same shit in it.


Originally Posted by Tangram (Post 10241024)
Same shit different bucket


iaink Aug 22nd 2012 7:42 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by Greenhill (Post 10241038)
The bucket is a lot bigger here, though. So the same amount of the same shit in the bigger bucket can appear to look like it's less same shit than in the smaller bucket that has the same amount of the same shit in it.

You are Sir Humphrey Appleby, and a I claim my 5 pounds:lol:

Tangram Aug 22nd 2012 7:42 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by Greenhill (Post 10241038)
The bucket is a lot bigger here, though. So the same amount of the same shit in the bigger bucket can appear to look like it's less same shit than in the smaller bucket that has the same amount of the same shit in it.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Novocastrian Aug 22nd 2012 7:56 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by Greenhill (Post 10241038)
The bucket is a lot bigger here, though. So the same amount of the same shit in the bigger bucket can appear to look like it's less same shit than in the smaller bucket that has the same amount of the same shit in it.

That's a load of shit. A load being a variable term dependent on the size of local buckets. And of course turds.

JonboyE Aug 22nd 2012 8:38 am

Re: Good Points, Bad Points
 

Originally Posted by paul0 (Post 10240778)
I'm getting completely confused here.

Don't take it all too seriously. Especially until you have worked out who is being serious and who is taking the p*ss.


...I was under the impression that housing was cheaper but then they're people saying it's the same cost as the UK which means it's bloody expensive...
a) Canada is a bloody big country. You can buy half of Nova Scotia for the price of a 500 sf condo in Vancouver.

b) Some posters are guilty of hyperbole.


All times are GMT -12. The time now is 6:50 am.

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.