Originally Posted by Kiwilass

See, I found the opposite. I could not hack the heat at all, or the sun which is very strong in Australia. I prefer the climate here (Vancouver).

Originally Posted by Budgie1

OK - I'm an Australian who moved to Canada as a PR two years ago so I can give you an Ozzie perspective.

Medical - Canada all public versus Aus 2 Tier - overall you will pay more for medical treatment in Australia but you also get better treatment. Not a make or break decision regardless IMHO.

Education - no kids so can't comment other then to say that University seems to be much cheaper in Australia (HECS system is very good) than over here.

Jobs - I moved from Sydney to Vancouver as an accounting professional and couldn't find any decent jobs until I moved to Calgary (more head offices, I'd assume I would have found a good job in Toronto easily enough too).

It is really pointless comparing Canada vs Australia overall on this front - you will be better off researching into the exact cities you are interested in moving to for a more relevant comparison as both countries are too diverse. Perth is of course Australia's rough equivalent to Alberta for oil work, Sydney/Melbourne versus Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver for IT??

Australian economy looks stronger than Canada give we've already started lifting interst rates.

I personally didn't find any of the 'canadian experience' issues often thrown about and have far more leave here than I did in Australia - but I think that is the exception of the rule.

Culture - not much cricket here in Canada! Australia is more 'commonwealth' oriented, Canada definately US dominated.

Weather - huge difference obviously but having survived my first Calgary winter last year, nothing you couldn't adapt to either way.

Cost of Living - overall Calgary for us blows away (in positive sense) any big Australian city in terms of wages versus basic living costs, but again it will depend on your own job and family situation.

In all honesty they are similar countries with good standards of living - I'd just go for whichever one catches your fancy more. Never underestimate the fun factor!

Originally Posted by hereandthere

Not down your local suburb no. It's as absurd as someone saying I'm not moving to Canada because of the bears. Which by the way kill loads more people every year than spiders, snakes and sharks put together in Aus.

Originally Posted by rae

what about the spiders though, i notice you don't mention the spiders eh.

Originally Posted by hereandthere

Natch, one expects such a response, and now I reply with how I saw a bear walking through a Canadian suburb on TV once.

The bottom line you are not going to come into contact with these things unless you're on their turf, or very unlucky. Bears kill more people in Canada than sharks do in Australia, yet the shark holds more fear for people because it is scary whereas bears also come made of polyster and live in the ends of beds all round the world.

None of these prejudices (death by spider, pom-bashing, savaged by bear) should be used as a reason not to move to Aus or Can - that's all I'm saying, yet people really do say it.

Originally Posted by dollface

you're killing me tonght..............

Originally Posted by rae

i'm going to make him 'av it. i saw a spider on the TV once, big as a house it was, chased this guy in a floppy hat into a blue postbox or somethink. that was in australia.

i've been on a shit course all day, there is nothing on tele, family are all ill in bed, so i'm getting pissed and taking the piss.

Originally Posted by dollface

Share..........what you drinking? Timmies?

Yeah, the spider/snake/shark thing puts me off, although my best mate lives in Oz and she's rarely seen any of the 3.............only ont telly, possibly the same show you saw!

Originally Posted by rae

bloody bud light, only thing left. wifes. lets see how generous she is in the morning when she realises its all gone.

friend lives in perth, has done for 4yrs, redbacks bane of her life apparently and none of them swim in the sea anymore.

Originally Posted by rae

bloody bud light, only thing left. wifes. lets see how generous she is in the morning when she realises its all gone.

friend lives in perth, has done for 4yrs, redbacks bane of her life apparently and none of them swim in the sea anymore.

Originally Posted by Alan2005

One day we are going to read about some copper whose been eaten by a bear, and it will be you in some cruel twist of irony.

Originally Posted by Alan2005

One day we are going to read about some copper whose been eaten by a bear, and it will be you in some cruel twist of irony.

Originally Posted by dollface

Bud light? get her on to Miller GD at least..............make her breakkie in the morning then tell her you've had her last beer.....

So when's your pal moving from Perth?

Originally Posted by rae

shes in the pool now, quite happy, thats friend not wife. wife may be in a pool of sweat as flu oncoming.
breakfast in bed is just a precursor to sex. i am not shagging sick people.

Originally Posted by G77

Those things wouldn't put me off - the main thing for me now is the Ozzies I've dealt with at work or run into here have been the most self righteous, pompous, pedantic, irritating idiots I've ever had the misfortune to deal with.

Not to say that all are like that of course, but has been enough to put me off!