Hi All

We have been on the old list for just over 2 years and the letter should be arriving in the next month or so (we could apply under the new list of 38 but are waiting for the housing and currency markets to be in our favour so waiting a bit seems prudent). Whilst we have been on the list our party of me and the wife has expanded to me the wife and our new totally unexpected son.

The plan was for me to get work and the wife to have the option to stay at home if she wanted. Now we have Sam this decision has been easier for her to make as she wants to be a stay at home mum and not just a pick up from nursery mom. It has also made the decision to go to Canada easier as we now have to think about our sons future. However she has told me that she still needs her support network at the moment to help out.

So the question is what is it like in the GTA with very young children and what is available for help, childcare, support, healthcare etc.

We are currently looking at somewhere between Ajax and Port Hope if that helps.

Cheers in advance

Pete

Hi Pete
haven't much advice to give but I'm sure someone else here will help. If you end up in Ajax I'll be about an hour and a half away in Barrie. You can email me anytime for a natter or for advice on Master pebrown. Great to see you're still heading to Ontario

I live in the direction of Ajax/Port Hope. There's a high possibility your wife, even if she stays at home, will need her own vehicle. The whole area has limited public transport.
I have a niece living in the area with a one year old daughter. She is out and about all the time with her chiild to swimming, mummy and child groups etc, etc. Healthcare is not an issue except finding a dedicated GP might take some time. To offset this there are many walk-in clinics staffed by competent physicians and nursing staff. Childcare is readily available but can be expensive. There are tax credits for this to help offset some costs.
Port Hope is a pleasant little town but not a hive of employment opportunities.

We are looking at the same area, but would prefer something a little further out (Cobourg etc.).

When is you AOR?

7 days before yours the 22nd so we should get something soon. Though we are going to try to "drag out" the process as we need the housing market and exchange rate to bounce back to make it a good option. At the moment we are in "we have paid for the processing so might as well go through with it" mode and can make a more definite decision later.

Cheers

Pete