They're referring to you. There are many cynical and heavily sarcastic people on this forum. Sarcasm can be difficult to identify when written and often times new posters believe someone is actually being nice and sincere when actually they're mocking you. You'll need to keep a look out for it.

Sounds like you have already made up your mind - good luck!

I just wanted to provide a perspective from someone born, bred and brought up over there. Too often I have seen people making the move based on a brief holiday and not realising that life is often no better in Toronto than it was back where they moved from. I have plenty of friends in Toronto from the UK who have made the move, regret it, and now can't afford to move back - moving is an expensive business!

To address some of your points (although I am sure you have already made up your mind, but it is good to go in to things with your eyes open!):

- TRAVEL
Your description of your daily commute sounds like an average Toronto commute - I am not sure it will be any better for you by moving

Toronto area commutes add to time crunch, study shows | Toronto Star

Yes you might be able to get the GO train or subway (if you live downtown), but if you are in the suburbs (and that is where most people end up living due to cost) then the public transit isn't great. It can take over two hours just to get across a small part of the city with multiple connections needed mid journey (and think about doing it when it is -10c out for months on end!)
Crushing commutes make Toronto's suburbs intolerable for some - CBC.ca | Metro Morning

-DRUG USE
Agreed, but once you move over you will see what I mean!

- PROPERTY
Average house prices in Toronto are now around $596k (around £298k at a rate of 2:1) with detached houses an average of $1m (£500k).
Average price of Toronto detached home shoots past $1 million | Toronto Star

You can easily enough compare this to the UK (or other places in Europe) to see if you think this is reasonable. It is also worth noting there have been various international agencies warning that Canadian house prices are 'overvalued', for instance:
IMF warns over Canada’s ‘overheated housing market’ — again | Globalnews.ca

For comparison with Edinburgh (where I live and did research on) the average house price is £233k with average detached house costing £382k
https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets...t-Dec-2015.pdf

You should easily enough be able to compare house prices with your own local area.

-WEATHER
Yup, you can get used to weather anywhere, and for me as well it is not so much of a big deal - but my UK friends in Canada have really struggled with 3 - 4 months of sub zero temperatures with the last snow / ice often not going before April.

-CRIME
Again this is easy enough to compare. There are lots of police / government website where you can get data. For a high level summary this listing on Wikipedia lists countries by murder rate. Canada has a murder rate of 1.4 murders per 100,000 people, compared the to UK's rate of 1.0 per 100,000 people.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._homicide_rate

Here is a 'crime-map' you may find useful when deciding where to base yourself:
Crime Maps | CBC Toronto

What I have found to be quite different is how the media and TV news cover crime. In Canada it isn't seen as such a big deal, and murders will get a brief mention on the news. In the UK each murder gets wall to wall coverage. This is what, I think, gives people in the UK that their crime rates are so high, when in reality, compared to other countries, they are actually quite low.

Having said all that I am pretty sure, from reading your posts, that you have already made your decision. With that in mind I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing about how you settle in!

Thank you. I agree, the sideways rain is indeed something that takes some getting used to!

I knew they were being sarcastic which is why I asked. People should read all the posts before making unnecessary comments about peoples prospects. Other than a cheap laugh I can't see what there is to gain as a result.

Especially when they are probably twice my age and taking out their own self pity through someone who is trying to make something of their life and seeking some advice in the process

Sarcasm on a British forum. Who'dve thought it?

There is some good advice and comment in amongst the banter. On the general theme of moving to Canada mine would be consider all aspects and don't be surprised if many of the same things that frustrate you in UK end up frustrating you here. In particular, we pay as high taxes here (generally) as in the UK and your commute of an hour and 15 minutes is relatively short in GTA terms. (Greater Toronto Area). If you want a short commute you'll need to live close to work and that will likely preclude, easy access to the wide open spaces of Canada.

On Procurement specifically I might be able to help. I've worked in the sector, both in Canada and UK for 20something years. I'll drop you a PM.

Brilliant, thank you

Quite. Upthread the use of a train for commuting was mentioned, this is only viable if you live in Toronto or inner suburbs and so can take the subway or if you live in one of the outer suburbs along the Lakeshore. (or if you have a job requiring that you work only a few, fixed, hours, but government jobs are not usually offered to immigrants). None of these locations offer significantly better access to green space than does living in Camden Town.

I did live in open country (open enough to put horses in the backyard) and commuted into Toronto by car, it was consistently 1' 15" in the morning but up to 4 hours to get back again. If I'd had to pay to park it would have been crushingly expensive. I don't think fields and car commuting to Toronto are a viable combination for the long term, not more so than in the UK anyway.

On the topic of vacation, it vary much varies but I, for example, don't get paid time off (not for any reason). There are, perhaps 300 people in this building who have similar contracts, casualization of the workforce is very much the trend here. This is, of course, not very good if you're the sort of person who indulges in illness.

So, same shit, different bucket, but a change is as good as a rest and you'll never know if you would have enjoyed a same-sex relationship if you don't try one.

I'm glad you have prospects. You hadn't mentioned that before.

Well one should never assume. I thought I had - or had at least referred to what I currently do so glad that's cleared up

Good. Now something was said upthread about IEC. Did you see that?

If you had asked a pointed and well thought-out question rather than feebly fishing for affirmation of some half-baked notion you had while on holiday you might you might of got a decent and considered response.

That's what I thought.

An so the hen pecking of a new member begins again... Give up now ChrisBrough - Thread unsubscribed.

I asked people for advice on the whole process of moving to Toronto and their thoughts and opinions. If you haven't got something half decent or constructive to say why bother wading in?

A forum is a place for discussion and not a FAQ or seeking approval from the masters above. You don't have to comment in every thread so if you think I've asked a -snip- question just scroll on by.

Never seen anything so pathetic.

Here's a thought out and pointed question; - snip -

I sometimes wonder when people ask non specific questions on forums such as these my answer would be we can't give you an answer we can only post our experiences or opinions good, bad or indifferent and our reasons for doing so vary.

With your age you have the option of applying for the IEC working holiday and if accepted you get a work permit for 2 years and potentially PR status via other routes.
There are too many if and or buts and you eventually will make your own decision regardless if I or others said Yes do it or No don't do it.
Having a work permit isn't a guarantee that you would get a job its just a legal document that allows you to work in Canada.