Originally Posted by ClanickP

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

Originally Posted by Torontobound

I wasn't trying to wind anyone up. Who in their right mind would contemplate a potentially life-long relocation to another continent without considering the implications for their well-being from their current life-stage to the grave?

Bizarrely, I still haven't received answers to many of the questions I raised, just a load of off-topic waffle about who has or hasn't been banned in the past .

Originally Posted by Torontobound

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?
Depends which province to a point but yes they have something similar and i dare say it's just as good as the service you get in the UK (in my experience). You could be covered from day 1 although i have read it won't come into effect until 3 months down the residency road. Or research here

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?
Impossible to answer because who knows what will happen by that time. Having seen a facility offering this, it looked nice. Are you expecting to have demetia? Again, impossible to answer without a crystal ball. Or maybe research yourself here

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?
Another impossible question. State schools differ in a similar way to the UK. It all depends where you live, the wants of the mother of your child, her religious capacity, your wealth, etc etc. University wise, who knows what will happen in the next 20 or 30 years. Or maybe do some research

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)
Fast enough. Depends on you budget and requirements.

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?
Depends how much you pay into it. You should be covered by EI and once that runs low you may find you're screwed for a while. Or do some research here

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)?
Of course they won't turn a blind eye. You pay tax on global income.

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.
Who knows. Impossible to answer with accuracy but try asking here

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?
I like your confidence. It should be no different to the UK from what i understand although you could do some research here

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?
Impossible to answer with accuracy. I see it rising, falling, and rising again before falling and rising. Try asking here

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?
Not sure. Reading some threads on here it looks like a few years, end to end but i assume you knew to look here for your answer

Originally Posted by Torontobound

I wasn't trying to wind anyone up. Who in their right mind would contemplate a potentially life-long relocation to another continent without considering the implications for their well-being from their current life-stage to the grave?

Bizarrely, I still haven't received answers to many of the questions I raised, just a load of off-topic waffle about who has or hasn't been banned in the past .

Originally Posted by Torontobound

I wasn't trying to wind anyone up. Who in their right mind would contemplate a potentially life-long relocation to another continent without considering the implications for their well-being from their current life-stage to the grave?

Bizarrely, I still haven't received answers to many of the questions I raised, just a load of off-topic waffle about who has or hasn't been banned in the past .

Originally Posted by Torontobound

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?

Originally Posted by Oink

Originally Posted by Torontobound

I wasn't trying to wind anyone up. Who in their right mind would contemplate a potentially life-long relocation to another continent without considering the implications for their well-being from their current life-stage to the grave?