I've fallen in love with Canada (Toronto especially) and out of love with the UK, so am thinking of emigrating there. Before I make the leap of starting an application, I need to decide whether it's the right thing to do (the head vs heart thing). To this end, I'd appreciate feedback from those who know the country well on the kinds of practical things people take for granted in a familiar country but miss if they don't have them. Here goes...

1. Is there an equivalent to the NHS? Is it any good, and what is and isn't covered? How long before I'm covered?

2. It'll be some years before I need this, but when I'm old and frail, will I have to pay to go into a retirement or nursing home, and are they any good? What about dementia care?

3. I don't currently have kids, but Toronto women are pretty amazing and if I'm lucky enough to find one who falls for me, I might one day have kids. What are the state schools like, how much are the fees for private ones, and how much do you have to pay (if anything) to get a child through a good university?

4. How fast is the typical broadband service in a high-spec apartment/condo building (I like the high-rises along the waterfront - Lakeshore Boulevard/Palace Pier)

5. While I intend to earn a reasonable living, and have investments and so on to fall back on, if things go badly wrong, to what extent will the state support me while I get back on my feet?

6. What are the Canadian tax authorities like? If I have income coming in from outside the country (not going into a local bank account), are they likely to hassle me to pay tax on it or is a blind eye turned (or the system unlikely to notice)?

7. The exchange rate is currently pretty dreadful, which makes me reluctant to transfer money to buy a property there at this time. Do you believe this will change, and if so, how soon and how fast? $2.20+ to the Pound would be nice, but I'd settle for $2.00 rather than $1.70 or worse.

8. What are the divorce laws and courts like in Canada? If I married a Canadian and things went wrong, to what extent would I be taken to the cleaners?

9. What's your view about the medium to long-term prospects for the Canadian economy compared to the UK's? Will it rise, or fall, in relative affluence?

10. If I choose the immigration option that involves either putting $400k into Government work-creation schemes for five years or setting up a business, how long does it take from initial application to living out there and knowing I can stay?

Probably the most eclectic questions i've ever seen on here.

Brilliant!!

indeed - but someone on the internet is always bored enough to answer them.....

You ARE head over heart aren't you.

I"ll try, but some of these really need a local (read: Ontarian) to answer.

1. No, not like the NHS. Depends on the province. They all fund it differently. In BC we pay a monthly cost - which is compulsory - to be covered by the provincial plan.

2. No idea.

3. Depends on the province and the city or town within that province.

4. No idea.

5. If you work for an employer in the right kind of job for long enough you can get EI if things go tits up. If you are self-employed etc. you can't.

6 & 7 no idea.

8. My guess is this depends on the province too.

9. I think it will be stronger than the UK's due to the demand for commodities. AND, the government is starting to wake up to other trading parties like China etc. This is likely to be better for BC than Ontario though, due to proximity/etc. On the other hand, the UK is close to Europe.

10. wut.

An Ontarian has answered them, dozens of times, over and over again in previous years.


This particular one isnt inclined to do so again ten minutes before home time on this occasion, but mostly its covered in the wiki, or a well targeted search will find answers.

Just read this site for a week or two and the answers will emerge slowly and magically from all the other waffle - probably.

Canada is not the nanny state the UK is. Employment insurance does not run forever, it is based on what you contribute and for how long. They pay about 66% of insurable earnings, after the qualifying period, this is also taxable income. Other than that you are pretty much on your own. If you feel you need more than this, the chances of getting in are slim. To find out how it workd Google EI+Canada it is the first hit.

You must report all world income, capital and foreign assets over $100,000 in value to Revenue Canada when a tax resident.

If your motivation to immigrate is falling out of love with Britain, I would be cautious about immigrating at all. Canada is pretty much same shit different bucket. Successful immigration is mostly for the sake of immigration, a change of scenery and try something different. Few successful immigrants from developed nations came here because they disliked where they came from.

Or one of the best crafted wind-ups for a good while.

Got to be a wind up, who asks about old peoples homes when they are still at child birth age?

It's got a little bit of something for everyone - this one could easily run to 30 plus pages.

But all that potential seems to be going to waste, three days and still only eleven posts including this one.

how come he never asked about the price of cheese?

Or price of wine?!

Or Bisto Gravy Granules......

or where will i be able to buy hula hoops from...blah blah blah....