Why Canada????
 

Hi to you all, I was wondering if anyone could give me a bit of help! I am looking to emigrate (with husband and 2 kids) within the next couple years and are considering our choices at the moment, these are as folows.....

France - very easy to relocate here as it is part of the EU, also we are curremtly learning French and have visited many times.

Australia - I have always dreamed of moving here as i love the hot climate and social laid back lifestyle along with the beach centred sports. (i have also read up a lot about this one)

Canada - My husband has just recently thrown this one at me as he has (news to me) always fancied living in Canada, however i know nothing about this country. soooooo.......

Really, I am here on bended knees asking for as much info on the country as you could give me regarding way of life(culture), cost of living, education, length of application, gun laws(are they same as US), safety for children, Quality of family life and the best areas to live with a family.......... I could go on and on but i'm guessing you have all got the message now......

Please help me to decide if Canada is a viable possibility for us, any snipets of info you can give will be very much appreciated......

Oh and sorry for such a long post

Re: Why Canada????
 

There is no culture in Canada.
Depends on Province,
See above
Currently 4 years (unless you go pnp or work permit
Worse
Bears eat small children. Seriously I would guess as safe as if not safer than your other choices
Most would say excellent
Iqualit

Re: Why Canada????
 

I think what Butch is trying to say is that canada is rather large and diverse, with a long processing time for skilled worker applicants, but generally good quality of life and lots of stuff for kids to do, as long as they dont want to shoot:);)

If you like a hot climate, you will love it here

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...k/DSCF0140.jpg





Half the time anyway...





http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...14Dec05016.jpg

Re: Why Canada????
 

Wow, thanks for the quick reply regarding gun laws could you possibly elaborate on that reply please.......

In America (from what i understand) gun crime is pretty high including deaths by shootings , obviously it varies between states but i don't really like guns, is it like this in Canada then....

Many thanks mel

Re: Why Canada????
 

Gun laws in canada are fairly strong, but illegal guns cross the border and as many people hunt its largely irrelevant. Canadians generally dont shoot each other cos they are not totally paranoid about everyone elses intentions (yet)

Hunting is a popular passtime in canada, guns are a part of life, but its more the culture in the US that drives the crime stats than the guns, and just as in the US, there are good an bad areas in Canada.. mostly good. Its certainly not something I lie awake at night worrying about.

The gun law issue here is more about the botched long gun registry and the millions of dollars wasted on it. A lot of these "Canada" questions really need addressing on a provincial level anyway, as thats really the regional level most laws operate on here.

Re: Why Canada????
 

That's a caricature of America, like thinking that all British men have handlebar moustaches and drive Morgans. The situation in Canada is similar to the US in that urban areas have lots of shootings and rural ones have none but the numbers are lower; it's still a big deal here if a person not involved in gangs gets shot.

Re: Why Canada????
 

AND that is NATIONWIDE not just provincial.

Re: Why Canada????
 

It's a while since I've seen any comparison studies, but I believe middle-class Canadians kill each other about as often as middle-class Americans do. Most of the murders in America occur in the deprived inner city areas, often drug-dealers fighting over their 'turf'.

The murder rate in America is highly over-rated unless you happen to live in one of those inner cities, in which case you should probably get out as soon as possible; again it's a few years since I looked at murder rates by area, but some more rural states had murder rates little higher than Britain (which has a peculiarly low murder rate by Western standards, and still did back in the days when anyone with 50p to spare for a tax fee could carry a gun).

Re: Why Canada????
 

Thanks Iain thats exactly what I was trying to say (along with try addressing the questions to at least provincial-if not Metropolitan levels).
That said Perth is probably as different to Sydney as it is to Vancouver as it is to Halifax, Nova Scotia

Re: Why Canada????
 

Thanks, for the reassurance.....

BTW the reference to handlebar moustache and morgans had my husband in sticthes laughing....thanks

I would still be very grateful for any other info......I can't believe the length of the immigration process, how much quicker would it be if we sourced employment prior to aplying, and do companies usually help out with the proccess..

Many many thanks Mel.

Re: Why Canada????
 

WP can be as little as 4 months, PNP less than 12 months.
Any idea which province hubby is looking at?
What occupations do you have?

Re: Why Canada????
 

Basically, if you want to move to Canada quickly, you'll need to find a job that qualifies for a work permit or (preferably) a skilled worker residency visa. Otherwise you'll be stuck in the queue for years.

Re: Why Canada????
 

Also regarding Areas, i was looking at Perth in Australia for the High Family occupation, Is there somewhere in Canada like this....

Thanks...

Re: Why Canada????
 

Husband - Physics/Math
Me - Secondary Teacher, English/French

We are soon due to complete our degrees although we are aware employers in Canada (as anywhere) require some length of experience too.

mel.

Re: Why Canada????
 

OK

Try this link
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/assess/index.html

Click on take the test.