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-   -   Reasons for emigrating? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/reasons-emigrating-724355/)

cheeky_monkey Jul 14th 2011 8:20 am

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by Steve_ (Post 9495857)
In residential? I worked in the construction industry in the UK for many years and I don't see that enormous of a difference. Although when my house here was being built I think dragging the site agent out of his office and quoting building regs might have made an impact. Also I had a rather bemusing day showing him how to wire a house. I know a lot of my neighbours have had complaints that I haven't.

Building regs here aren't as tight as in the UK and the building inspections are laughable, however that doesn't necessarily mean if you get someone competent to do the work it's going to be worse, which is why I said there is a greater variation in new build quality here.

Lost count of the number of British people working in construction here (e.g. you) so I think it's bit of a tough sell to say they are markedly worse here!

The one thing that is shockingly worse though is health & safety, I've seen things done routinely here that would get a site closed down in the UK. Massive pits with no fencing, building materials all over the sidewalk and even in the street, not properly covered, unattended machinery not properly locked down, etc.

I have worked in all sectors including residential..i have built houses flats holiday appartments etc mainly back in the mid - late 1990's..the last residential project i worked on was a mixed use development back in 2005.

The reason there are lots of british people in construction is they tend to be more qualified and the quality of work is better. They are used to working in shitty conditions and will put in the hours to get things done. They dont have this union mentality alot of trades have here.

Thats not to say there are not any good Canadian trades because there are..but there is a huge amount of chaff in the wheat here unfortunately.

iaink Jul 14th 2011 8:24 am

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by Steve_P (Post 9495809)
If the figures in the chart in this post from another thread are averages and I see no reason to think otherwise, then the national average is considerably more than what you state. ;)

Found this, looks like you are right, and I am right about Vancouver/ Toronto..



Canadian Cities
Average House Prices
February 2011

City Average House Price
Vancouver, BC $792,000
Toronto, Ont $454,000
Calgary, Alb $401,000
Ottawa, Ont $338,000
Montreal, Que $300,000
Regina, Sask $273,000
Halifax, NS $262,000
Fredericton, NB $153,000


Canadian Provinces
Average House Prices
February 2011

Province Average House Price
British Columbia $588,000
Ontario $360,000
Alberta $352,000
Quebec $252,000
Saskatchewan $251,000
Newfoundland / Labrador $240,000
Manitoba $222,000
Nova Scotia $207,000
New Brunswick $151,000
Prince Edward Island $134,000
Canadian Average $365,000

See how the high prices in To and Vancouver push the national average up compared to the more Rural provinces?

I dont know Vancouver, but suspect average pay is not so much higher than the rest of the nation.

BristolUK Jul 14th 2011 8:27 am

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 9495584)
The average isn't misleading.

Average isn't necessarily misleading. But it might be.

Read of an average height and virtually everybody involved in reaching that figure will be close to that height. You could design car seats, doorways, coffins :eek:, any number of things based on that height and your one size fits all approach would fit most.

Read of average earnings and you'll find some people earning well over it and many earning considerably less. If you were trying to sell a product and you priced it at a level that could be afforded by the average income, loads of your potential customers wouldn't be able to afford it. The average would mislead you.

Same with property prices. The average might be perfectly accurate but it wouldn't tell anyone how far below (or indeed above) that average they could actually get a house for.

At the time we bought our house, MLS (as it was then) was listing 40 suitable houses priced between 60% and 80% of the average house price here.

That's a hell of a range of good housing options some way short of average. And there were quite a few less than that.

Good job someone didn't say "Moncton? Ooh, you'll need $xxx,xxx to buy a home there." We wouldn't have known how misleading that would have been.:)

Alan2005 Jul 14th 2011 8:29 am

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 9495901)
I dont know Vancouver, but suspect average pay is not so much higher than the rest of the nation.

It isn't. Locals have no chance.

How can a normal middle class (in the north american sense) couple with a $100 to 120k family income buy something that's $800k? I'd say $400k would be a stretch for these people, but vancouverites are so indoctrinated that they would think otherwise.

el_richo Jul 14th 2011 9:55 am

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 9495901)
I dont know Vancouver, but suspect average pay is not so much higher than the rest of the nation.

I think this is one of the biggest issues with the area. Crazy!!

MikeUK Jul 15th 2011 1:06 am

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 9495910)
It isn't. Locals have no chance.

How can a normal middle class (in the north american sense) couple with a $100 to 120k family income buy something that's $800k? I'd say $400k would be a stretch for these people, but vancouverites are so indoctrinated that they would think otherwise.

Its the rest of Canada selling up and retiring out to BC that drives the prices
Its very desirable and one place you can still be in Canada and not have to suffer a bad winter..
For some they'll pay a lot of money, for others in TO downsizing at 60 to a Vancouver Condo form a 4 bed Toronto house doesn't invole a mortgage and can often leave a surplus..

Steve_ Jul 15th 2011 12:37 pm

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 9495901)
Province Average House Price
British Columbia $588,000
Ontario $360,000
Alberta $352,000
Quebec $252,000
Saskatchewan $251,000
Newfoundland / Labrador $240,000
Manitoba $222,000
Nova Scotia $207,000
New Brunswick $151,000
Prince Edward Island $134,000
Canadian Average $365,000

What I've heard various people say is that they'd never move to Calgary because it costs too much to live here - well, if you remove housing costs such as mortgage/rent/buying I think Calgary is a very cheap place to live, low taxes, etc. However according to that list PEI has the cheapest housing but it has the highest taxes, doesn't it?

Gives you a very warped view of the cost of living.

BristolUK Jul 15th 2011 1:15 pm

Re: Reasons for emigrating?
 

Originally Posted by Steve_ (Post 9498427)
well, if you remove housing costs such as mortgage/rent/buying I think Calgary is a very cheap place to live, low taxes, etc.

I couldn't help but notice that on Saturday Shoppers DrugMart has one of it's regular 20 x Optimum points when you spend $50 "Except Alberta."

I followed the link and it seems in Alberta you have to spend $60 to qualify.

Does that make it more expensive or does it mean people there have 20% more money? :rofl:


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