Originally Posted by Lemonfish (Post 7240676)

Am sure those living 'on the Quebec side' will weigh in on this, but my understanding from work colleagues who live across the river is that income tax is significantly higher but childcare is cheaper as is property.

Also seems to be difficult to get a GP over there, given the numbers of people from Quebec I see showing up at the drop-in doctors in Ottawa whenever I'm there, who have to pay and then get reimbursed. Local media also did a report on this on the radio the other day. Quality of the roads also seems to be much worse once you cross the bridge - although that isn't a good reason for not moving there.

Consensus seems to be that Gatineau and surrounding areas are good for families financially but bad for other people.

On the flip side, the hills are really pretty - if you want an affordable outdoor lifestyle in good countryside (i.e. not flat) near a city that has jobs and pays generally decent wages, I think it would tick those boxes. We're thinking of moving out to Wakefield or Chelsea one day if the circumstances are right.

Originally Posted by kiton6 (Post 7241414)

If/When we move to Ontario from BC, how does the system work in terms of medical coverage?

Do we have to wait 3 months to be covered in Ontario, or do you receive immediate coverage once you register with OHIP, as you lived previously in another province?

Originally Posted by Lemonfish (Post 7240676)

Am sure those living 'on the Quebec side' will weigh in on this, but my understanding from work colleagues who live across the river is that income tax is significantly higher but childcare is cheaper as is property.

Income tax is rather higher. The higher-rate tax brackets are the, er, highest in the country and they kick in early. My accountant calculated that, between us, Souvette and I pay $10-15k more income tax here than we would in ON.

Childcare is cheap but of no relevance if you don't have young kids. Private schooling is heavily subsidised (but only for kids born in Quebec).

Property is cheap. My house is of a style that was common in the mid- to late 1980s. There is an identical one up for sale in Orleans at the moment. The price is at least $25k more than I would expect to fetch.

Beer is cheaper here.

Also seems to be difficult to get a GP over there, given the numbers of people from Quebec I see showing up at the drop-in doctors in Ottawa whenever I'm there, who have to pay and then get reimbursed. Local media also did a report on this on the radio the other day. Quality of the roads also seems to be much worse once you cross the bridge - although that isn't a good reason for not moving there.

It's nigh on impossible to get a GP here unless you have a serious medical condition. I couldn't even get into a walk-in. I have to go to Ottawa. I use the Appletree on Slater. That's a hassle and if you're not there when it opens, you'll be there for hours. The two hospitals in Gatineau are reckoned to be the worst in Quebec.

Consensus seems to be that Gatineau and surrounding areas are good for families financially but bad for other people.

I read somewhere a year or so ago that a middle-class couple (both working) with young kids are financially better off in Gatineau than on the Ottawa side.

On the flip side, the hills are really pretty - if you want an affordable outdoor lifestyle in good countryside (i.e. not flat) near a city that has jobs and pays generally decent wages, I think it would tick those boxes. We're thinking of moving out to Wakefield or Chelsea one day if the circumstances are right.

Easy access to pretty stuff is a plus. Wakefield and Chelsea are both lovely but you're screwed if, like me, you don't drive.

Despite being next to each other, Gatineau and Ottawa have rather different weather (different topography). Gatineau is six degrees colder than Ottawa this morning and I've seen differences of over ten degrees.

It's worth noting that downtown Ottawa is more easily accessible from much of Gatineau than it is from the Ottawa burbs. Souvette, like many of our neighbours, started commuting by bus when the gas prices went up. She's still doing it. It's cheaper than driving and usually quicker (express bus; dedicated lanes).

Originally Posted by kiton6 (Post 7218583)

I'm currently thinking (note thinking) of leaving Victoria and moving my family to Ottawa. With my wife being French there would be a lot more opportunity for her there rather than here in Victoria. So, apart from the ongoing transit strike and the cold/snow, I'd be happy to get some info about Ottawa from others who either live or have lived there.

I'm looking for things like:

1. Nice areas vs Places to avoid
2. Cost of initialling renting a 3 bedroom place for our first year
3. Any other advice you could possibly think of that would be helpful

I've spoke to a couple of people here about Ottawa and they've seemed overall positive about it.

Many thanks in advance.