Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Oh you can get some last minute deals in the Caribbean or Mexico. But they're just not cheap.

It was the time of year that reminded me of the late deal thing, though. Europe on the doorstep, whether 'late' or done in advance is a big advantage of the UK. There's not really an equivalent on Canada's doorstep.

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Our experience, as a not completely white family, is that racism as a factor in daily life is just about non-existent. Almost everybody is from somewhere else and those that are not have learned to live with it.

I do appreciate that Canada changes once you head east from Metro Vancouver.

I also suspect I would have a different view if I was a Native American.

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

The common complaint I've heard is that there's no process for experienced doctors from other countries to get qualified. Doctors starting out are given internships, but getting an internship when you're 40 is hard and it doesn't pay the bills.

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Imx that is about the only real racism I've encountered in Canada and even then it's very mild compared to the US. There are tons of First Nations people living in Calgary, the whole economy would have imploded without them.

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

I've been in Calgary, Alberta for 2 years now. Moved here to be close to my parents and siblings (left UK 10 years ago). I came over on my own having sold my house and pocessions, got on a plane with my dogs and then began the painful process of finding ways to remain. Ive been all over Western Canada but must confess I have been to to Toronto, Ottawa and London in ON and not much else in East Canada. I've met a truly wonderful other half and have a great job but,.....id go back to the UK tomorrow given a chance.

For me Canada is just decades behind, expensive and the winters are not fun at all.

Pros:
Generally the people are all very nice and helpful but recently fewer and fewer people even acknowledge each other
You can get a fair bit of house for your money here - especially if you live rurally on an acreage.
As a 6ft 8 guy, I can have cars/SUVs that I actually fit in
Summers are amazing weather-wise - doesn't rain much all year (unless your in Vancouver)
The Rocky Mountains are nearby
GST (equiv to VAT) is only 5% in Alberta (varies in each province)
Ice hockey
Cars have to stop for pedestrians regardless. They have right of way at all times.
Lots of space (2nd biggest country in the world with half the number of people compared to the UK population - most is uninhabitable though due to extreme winters)
Bottle depot (pronounced Dee-po) for recycling your drinks containers and getting a fraction of your deposit back (when you buy a bottled or canned drink, there is an additional charge to the price tag and taxes called a bottle deposit which you get part back when you recycle)

Cons:
Snow, ice storms, damaging hail, very dry and tornadoes on the prairies!
Immigrants are not as welcome as you may be brought to believe. The whole "they're taking our jobs" thing is pretty rife here too and communities tend to build around origins.
Houses are made out of wood, chipboard, plastic and felt and lack character
Culture - there isn't a lot since Canada is only officially 149 years old - unless you love the pioneering spirit and bull/rodeo riding, country music (no more Blake please!), line dancing. The east has more (QC, ON, NS etc)
Lack of seasons. Winter is 6 months long and usually between -15 and -45, Spring lasts about 2 weeks and then it's blazing hot all summer (25-30 degrees) with Autumn (fall) all done in about 2 weeks. For over half the year, the prairies look like a brown and yellow dead wasteland or covered in feet of snow. Last 2 winters have been better though apparently (global warming)
Eating out almost always one franchised chain or another and variety is limited but there are a few decent private restaurants around
Pay is fair but income tax is much higher.
Food is astronomically priced in the supermarkets (grocery stores) and due to pasteurisation laws, good flavoursome cheese and things like clotted cream are not legal.
Petrol (gas) is cheap (currently 96 cents a litre here) however bigger engines and having to travel much longer distances just about level this out to the uk
Cars are cheaper but depreciate faster and insurance is very expensive. Not a lot of online stuff to do with cars - it's all done at a registry office which is a pain!
The education system has similarities to the uk but is under par. No one fails high school so every kid graduates with a pass and is qualified. Grades are basically passed or passed. Common sense, logic and well thought out plans are non-existent.
Canada is obsessed with its identity - not wanting to be American but also not too European. Consequently it appears very confused
Television is crap - poor choice of shows, very American, very repetitive and adverts every 10 minutes (even on BBC Canada) - get a reliable Vpn or Netflix
Following any sport that isn't North American (such as rugby, cricket, F1 etc) is very difficult as TSN doesn't buy much and the time difference doesn't help.
I presume due to irresponsible dog owners, dogs have to be leashed at all times unless in a designated off leash area and aren't allowed to bark without a $100 fine being offered
There is no quiet hours/time.....trains honk all night, cars honk all night, sirens can be heard even at 4am when the roads are quiet (and I am a fair way outside the city)
RULES - so many of them! By-laws for everything and one can only assume the population is not clever enough to determine its own fate.
Crazy road layouts that most (particularly people of the Far East origin) don't seem to be able to understand, middle lane drivers, low speed limits, police (cops) with targets to achieve in tickets (particularly speeding and there is no leniency)
Food is particularly high in salt, sugar and fat and very processed.
The country is huge! Flights expensive! The Prime Minister seems to be more of a side shows as each province makes up its own policy much of the time. The West, Central and East seem very disconnected (news on tv and radio is very local unless you sit up to the 11pm news)

Make sure to check out Timmies (Tim Hortons - a Canadian Coffee Institution!), Canadian Tire (as in tyre to us Brits - it's like Halfords on Steroids and dirt cheap though quality isn't always very good)

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Mcevo welcome to British Expats:thumbup: I'm so glad you found us, do stick around, we are a general friendly bunch....

What a great first post! Please keep 'em coming.

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Yeah great first post Mcevo. Always interesting when someone takes the time to put a comprehensive assessment together. So your parents moved to Canada 10 years ago, and you followed 2 years later? The only quibble I have with your analysis is car depreciation, I think it's more accelerated in the UK owing to the MOT regime.

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

I've seen some very nice houses in Montreal and around here I think they have tons of character - albeit cutesy sometimes - and how could you not like 'Heritage' homes?

Nailed...although the length of spring is over estimated by about two weeks here. We jump from winter to summer. Fall is nice...the calm before the storm.

Don't forget the mosquitoes. :(

http://img10.deviantart.net/7cf1/i/2..._nod_emote.gif
We live near the city hospital with a busy ER. I'm constantly amazed at how little we hear sirens. :confused:

Cats on a leash and needing licences :ohmy:
There's even one for kids under whatever age not being out too late unless with an adult. :eek:

:rofl:

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Thanks for the warm welcome and yes Montreal has some beautiful buildings (it has history) however it also has a lot of French Canadians and my experience of them hasn't been very positive.

Parents left the Uk for Canada 10 years ago - I came over 8 years later (2 years ago)

Ahhh yes the mosquitoes - they have a taste for "exotic" blood (European) and horseflies the size of bumble bees!

Maybe but ignoring VAT/GST, as a percentage, they fall faster and seem to rust so much faster

I am sure many will agree and many will disagree - it's an opinion after all.

I also want to add a bit about healthcare.....
Although it is modelled on the NHS, it is like the NHS of the 1980s with long waiting lists, no choices and generally even seeing a GP is not easy. They charge for the most bizarre things (hip replacement - everything covered but not the crutches??)

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Are your parents still enjoying Canada?

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

Are the photos NB?

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

On the whole, I think so. They have their frustrations but are gearing up for retirement and live in the middle of nowhere

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

So will you stay? Sounds like you're a bit undecided.

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

For now we are staying but will return to the UK in the next 12 months or so

I travel a lot ffor work and so I get to quench some of the missing of the U.K. That seems to build up every 6 months or so

Re: Pros and Cons of Emigrating to Canada from UK
 

I do find in Britain there's a more mature/tolerant attitude to many things. For example, police not being obsessed with speed traps (as you mentioned) or more flexibility on being able to think whatever you want. Spring and fall are better in UK, but so miserable when it's a washed out summer (2016 so far); fine Canadian summers almost make up for all the other seasons.