I never thought I would be posting a downbeat message, but having been here 4 years I have noticed that some families end up having the Dad going back to the UK to do contract work whilst the kids and other parent stays in BC.

Why? They cannot get a job in Canada, but can walk into jobs in the UK.

Why don't they all return? Well, some of them can't afford to, but it seems a combination of finance and the fact the kids are settled in Canada, and the parents firmly believe that they will eventually be better off remaining.

It just seems so depressing to me...

Clare

How many families has this happened too (that you know), and what sort of work is not available in B.C.?

And if they want to stay in Canada, one wonders whether they've looked at the option of relocating to another province, such as Ontario or Alberta.

Also, one wonders if these are all IT people - IT seems to be one of the areas where it is a lot harder to get good work in Canada compared to the US or UK. It's also probably one of the most common occupations among skilled migrants.


Jeremy

FWIW I'm in the computer business and over the years have known several people who moved to BC. All but one came back when the money ran out. The one still out there packed in computing. If a computer person wants a left coast lifestyle he or she really has to bite the bullet and deal with the property prices in the Bay area; the work's there, not in Vancouver.

Since the Canadian market is this bad, why have skilled worker immigrant category in the 1st place. Why make people immigrate...Why the necessity to have the canadian experience to get some jobs...

If i were an immigrant consultant and a member of this forum, i would write a report summarizing the issues of the immigrants and bring it to the media and to officials.

There is something wrong with the Canadian system to have all highly qualified immigrants who end up with NO jobs or finding so so jobs.

Some people with no jobs will end up asking help from the government which is putting more pressure on the government and draining the resources....

That's a huge generalization, based on a couple of posts about BC which seems to have it's own self-contained economy.

If anyone is struggling to get a job with reasonably up to date I.T. skills then head for Alberta, and Calgary specifically. The job market is crying out for skilled people.

This is also true for engineers, electrical draughtmen etc etc.

I know many immigrants in Calgary and they are all working.

Nobody is holding a gun at anybody's head to come to Canada. The onus is on the prospective immigrant to do the research beforehand.

No-one is *forced* to immigrate.


Canada is quite a diverse country and a shortage of jobs in one part of the country may be matched by a surplus in another part. That said, IT seems not to be a popular option in Canada.

But if the Canadian government did what you suggested, and moved to occupational based criteria for skilled immigration, those those in 'excluded' occupations (eg IT) would also be complaining that they weren't allowed to migrate.

Sooner or later they will probably act to prevent people migrating as skilled migrants - especially in restricted occupations - if they have not got qualifications acceptable 'in principle' to the relevant Canadian professional or trade bodies. Australia already does this.


Jeremy

It's not just IT or Vancouver.
The work situation in Canada is dire compared to Britain whatever field.

I live in Ontario and it's impossible to get IT or frankly any kind of work here.
I have A+, Network+, MCSA and 2 degrees and earn $8 an hour working as a cashier in retail having previously earned 32k a year in Leeds.
Personally I can't wait until next April when we finally leave this godforsaken place. Our flight is already booked!!!

Call me all the names under the sun if you like, but Canada is a craphole.

Really?

Another blanket statement covering a huge country with many disparate economies. I guess when you mean "Canada" you mean the immediate four blocks around where you live in Toronto? You really have bought into the "centre of the universe" deal eh?

Parts of Canada are among the fastest growing economies in the western world. There is a shortage of skilled workers in Alberta, doing real jobs producing goods for exporting out of Canada.

Do you realise what's happened and happening in the UK? The "economic miracle" is unravelling, manufacturing (what little there is left) is officially in recession and factories are starting to lay people off.

The consumer-fuelled boom is over, inflation is up to 2.3% and the economic growth is way below the government predictions. The prognosis is for interest rate rises to cap inflation and to keep the pound reasonably strong against the USD. This the BoE has to do as oil is priced in USD and a weak pound will further cripple the economy.

The housing market is stagnating, and starting to go south and with that many jobs that are reliant on a bouyant housing market will go with it.

Reading your posts on here you come across as some one who was dragged here rather than break up a relationship, hardly the most positive of situations. Fair enough, but if you're going to post negative statements at least make them specific and not just "woe is me".

I guess there's a a pub somewhere near Whitby waiting where you can eat your fish and chips by the fire while watching the rain drive against the windows.

I really can't believe that you can't do better than that. Is Ontario really is such bad shape or is it your bitter and twisted personality?

I earned more than double what you did in the UK, but my skills were out of date for the market here. So, I took some time out and re-trained using cash that I'd saved and now have a job in I.T. paying very well.

BTW are you sure you can't get an earlier flight than April, I think the UK needs you earlier.

Same old, same old.
Believe me, I'm rather used to hearing that Canada is nirvana and the best country in the world. Woe betide anyone who says anything remotely negative about the place.
Personally I think Canada is crap. It's boring, has no culture whatsoever and surprise surprise it has it's fair share of a**eholes, criminals, druggies and scumbags just like Britain has.
Not a night goes by without news of someone having their face blown off or pedestrians being sprayed by stray bullets.
The ideal perpetuated in Britain about Canada is nothing more than a myth. Canada has all the same problems as Britain and a lot more. At least the UK has history, culture and benign climate. Canada has none of those.

Save the crap moron. I've dealed with bigger a**eholes than you and most of 'em live in Toronto.
Have a nice life with the other Calgary rednecks.

Sounds like you made a bad decision and you've wasted much of your time here then.

That's a shame for you, we like it and the people very much.

Thanks I will.

A word of advice: When you're in a hole, and trying to get out, stop digging