Myself and my wife are looking at emigrating to Canada, not to make money, but just to live life in the slow lane. I have heard it is lovely with lots of open spaces and a great place to live...I was wondering if all the good things are true.

Also, I have been reading a lot about people not being able to find work once they get there. I am a Construction Site Manager, but I would be more than happy to cut grass for a living! My wife is a secretary, and all we really want to do is make enough money to live comfortably on - we would have paid for a house outright so no problems there. What is the current situation for work at the moment, and what jobs are abundant?

We have so got our hearts set on moving to Canada, but you always feel that it just cannot be that perfect!

Please write back to me with your experiences.

Your wife will get a job fairly easily if she can prove her experience - but she will be bottom rung for a little while - much the same level as a copy typist. Good secretaries are still in demand (I could never find one) but she will have to have to take a pay cut compared to what I suspect she is used to. Your experience and knowledge will count for nought I am afraid, the Unions won't let you within ten miles of a good job on a site. You'll have to do your time - literally - on a construction site and get their daft "certificates" for this that and the other before you can start progressing. My neighbour (who is a Brit) worked for one of the big firms in the UK as a Project Manager - he's drywalling (plasterboard) because that is all he find work wise to do. He is not very good being told what to do by people who have less experience and knowledge than him and so he works for himself. He makes good money (for here) though! If you are willing to do anything you will be fine., particularly if you can buy outright as that is the major expense. If it's your dream, go for it, but it won't be easy! You'll have to qualify under one of the categories for admission though - and living life in the slow lane is very stressful....it grinds you down after a while!

Hi there, my wife and I moved to Nova Scotia in November. Whilst we believe that the lifestyle is much friendlier and laid back compared to the UK, professionally it does get frustrating. I am an Environmental Consultant with a bachelors degree and masters degree and was fortunate to land a job prior to leaving the UK but mainly as my skills were in demand. Even so, I feel that my career progression may be stunted by the demand for certified professionals, despite the training and degrees and experience. My wife is an accountant and cannot get a job yet (even below her level in the UK) because they can't "translate her skills". It seems that the employment market is very biased to Canadian citizens despite the fact that they need skilled immigrants.

Other than that, Nova Scotia is the only province not to allow shopping on a Sunday and if you get snowed in on Saturday then you are a bit stuffed, apart from Pete's Frootique in Bedford.

However, living is cheap and we are told the summers are fantastic. I even still enjoy the deep snow despite having to clear my drive about three times a day.

So lots of people are nowadays worried on immigrating to Canada. You may find more info on replies of my earlier post titled "Is Canada heaven or hell? Why immigrants return?

Canada is no longer a heaven now - and think twice if you are leaving from developed countries like USA or Western Europe etc.

Good Luck!

after living in a few different places in canada i can recommend it as one of the best all round destinations, someone keeps suggesting usa/western euro is better - yeah right...i don't think so but that depends on what is important to you.
canada differs in that it is civilised, safe and has a particularly diverse productive economy. 10+ years ago, usa was a cheap place to live but now that & the american dream are pretty well a thing of the past - no different from anywhere else, things are tough everywhere these days.
politically canada also doesn't keep interferring in other countries affairs but contributes considerably globally which unfortunately costs the tax payer.
like anywhere, pay is generally relative to cost of living outside of the big cities(toronto,vancouver,montreal)

also like anywhere, a company can't offer you employment if there is a local (ie canadian) qualified & capable of filling the vacancy, basically you have to be either the last resort or be very specifically qualified
i got residency, then a job offer before going into canada. this is ideal. residency isn't cheap at $1500+ but is preferable to a temp visa.
i think there is a little bit of truth in having a disadvantage as a 'foreigner' when competing for a job - probably goes for uk too

Any tips or advise?

generally seems very far-fetched, whether specialized or non-specialized (and I am not talking of IT)
sometimes it appears, potential employers think ur trying to get too far. like having the cake (the pr status) and eating it too (the job!) and hence seem reluctant though mildly interested, for all the efforts you have put into the application process.

Or would u suggest, getting a job when you have a visa BUT in the time gap prior to landing.

thanks,
becan