Why do you want to move to Canada
#511
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
But the reason I'm saying this mainly is that we have what can only be described as a gut feeling that life will be better in Canada. I grew up in France and so speak fluent French and my OH gets by very well. So it's going to be a bit of an adventure.
And what's the worse that can happen? You find that life is not what you expected and you go back to the UK! But whatever the outcome, your kids can only gain from the experience of living in another country like I did in France all those years ago.
Good luck and see you maybe one day in Canada
For ages I said I would rent out my home in London so if it did not work out I could come back to the area that I know and like. But part of me feels that if I do that and having a bad time I may give it up to easily.
So depending on the outcome of the visit we will take things from there.
Good luck with your application what area would you like to move to?
#512
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
I like southern Ontario. My husband looked at a job in a small town called Sioux Lookout ON but there are too many bears!!! Now he constantly teases me about it!
We're going straight for our PR and he's going to apply for jobs so who knows where we might end up. It's likely to be touristic as he is a hotel general manager!!!
We're visiting Montreal in May so we might change our minds and we've been told that all being well we could be on our way by the summer!
Where are you hoping to settle?
We're going straight for our PR and he's going to apply for jobs so who knows where we might end up. It's likely to be touristic as he is a hotel general manager!!!
We're visiting Montreal in May so we might change our minds and we've been told that all being well we could be on our way by the summer!
Where are you hoping to settle?
#513
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 556
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
A good point Keith. I did, however, manage to visit the UK numerous times. I haven't been back in the last five or six years and don't really have much desire to. There are many other places in the world that I have yet to see.
You are right about communicating back then. I bought my folks a portable cassette tape player and used to make one one hour tapes and send them once a fortnight or so. They did the same. It was state of the are way back then ! Somehow it seemed easier but more personal than letters.
You are right about communicating back then. I bought my folks a portable cassette tape player and used to make one one hour tapes and send them once a fortnight or so. They did the same. It was state of the are way back then ! Somehow it seemed easier but more personal than letters.
Apart from an elderly brother and my SIL we have virtually no contact with family in the UK. Our family is here. We moved so much in the UK after we married that we never really got attached to any place, unlike our 47 years in Ottawa.
#514
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
Yeah, the kids of today - they have no respect. Not like back in our day. Things were different then, a real sense of community - not like now-a-days when they all play on xboxes and don't talk to anyone. We was always popping over for a cup of sugar or to listen to the queens speech at christmas and then falling asleep after a mince pie. we was happy with an orange and a lump of coal back then too - did I mention xboxes. The kids of today etc etc.
#515
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 701
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
I have never heard that. I don't think it's much different today then it was in 1969. It just takes a lot longer for some people to get into Canada. I know that the effort that I have invested over the years has paid off for me as it has for many others that I know. Obviously it hasn't been the same for some though and I feel for those whose dreams are dashed for whatever reason. I can say that I do not know personally anyone who came and left.
In addition, services and benefits are and have been pruned back in the past 2 decades, so whilst the new immigrants fund the system, they gain less than their predecessors. Furthermore, commercial corporations are adding to the 'minus equation" with fewer benefits, poorer compensation and all round less stability to newer immigrants than was available before.
If you take Hong Kong immigrants as an example. They realised quickly that the Canadian dream was better achieved by returning to Hong Kong but retaining a foothold in Canada. ie garnering financial security and protecting ones own interests instead of energies being diverted toward a system that was / is of little long term benefit.
Of course, their situation is far different from East Europeans and some Africans whose main concern is physical security, and the dream for them is basic survival and Canada is ideal.
But for a Brit: with a long and noble history reflected in every facet of UK life, why would Canada be attractive? high utilisation of natural resourses such as oil, poor city/town planning and increasingly unrewarding investment into Canadian life, must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
Even prisons become beautiful to the imprisoned.
#517
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
There was an article recently, a very thoughtful and insightful one I thought, about healthcare in Canada for example. There are many research documents on pensions, employment insurance, etc along the same lines ie: the main financial support for these schemes comes from geographical areas where the immigrant populations of the recent 2 decades, is very high and these immigrants are from 'non traditional' countries ie Asia and Africa, Latin America. However, the recipient areas of the funding are populated by Canadians who are largely composed of people that came pre 1980s, and from the 'traditional' european countries.
In addition, services and benefits are and have been pruned back in the past 2 decades, so whilst the new immigrants fund the system, they gain less than their predecessors. Furthermore, commercial corporations are adding to the 'minus equation" with fewer benefits, poorer compensation and all round less stability to newer immigrants than was available before.
If you take Hong Kong immigrants as an example. They realised quickly that the Canadian dream was better achieved by returning to Hong Kong but retaining a foothold in Canada. ie garnering financial security and protecting ones own interests instead of energies being diverted toward a system that was / is of little long term benefit.
Of course, their situation is far different from East Europeans and some Africans whose main concern is physical security, and the dream for them is basic survival and Canada is ideal.
But for a Brit: with a long and noble history reflected in every facet of UK life, why would Canada be attractive? high utilisation of natural resourses such as oil, poor city/town planning and increasingly unrewarding investment into Canadian life, must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
Even prisons become beautiful to the imprisoned.
In addition, services and benefits are and have been pruned back in the past 2 decades, so whilst the new immigrants fund the system, they gain less than their predecessors. Furthermore, commercial corporations are adding to the 'minus equation" with fewer benefits, poorer compensation and all round less stability to newer immigrants than was available before.
If you take Hong Kong immigrants as an example. They realised quickly that the Canadian dream was better achieved by returning to Hong Kong but retaining a foothold in Canada. ie garnering financial security and protecting ones own interests instead of energies being diverted toward a system that was / is of little long term benefit.
Of course, their situation is far different from East Europeans and some Africans whose main concern is physical security, and the dream for them is basic survival and Canada is ideal.
But for a Brit: with a long and noble history reflected in every facet of UK life, why would Canada be attractive? high utilisation of natural resourses such as oil, poor city/town planning and increasingly unrewarding investment into Canadian life, must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
Even prisons become beautiful to the imprisoned.
#519
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
high utilisation of natural resourses such as oil, poor city/town planning
My view on life in London is that it's impersonal, very hard work, pecuniarily damaging and not fun any more. This is my view, and personal to me. Other people have different experiences and got a lot out of life here, but they probably want different things to me.
#520
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
Just don't come in the summer. You'll never want to leave.
#521
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
There was an article recently, a very thoughtful and insightful one I thought, about healthcare in Canada for example. There are many research documents on pensions, employment insurance, etc along the same lines ie: the main financial support for these schemes comes from geographical areas where the immigrant populations of the recent 2 decades, is very high and these immigrants are from 'non traditional' countries ie Asia and Africa, Latin America. However, the recipient areas of the funding are populated by Canadians who are largely composed of people that came pre 1980s, and from the 'traditional' european countries.
In addition, services and benefits are and have been pruned back in the past 2 decades, so whilst the new immigrants fund the system, they gain less than their predecessors. Furthermore, commercial corporations are adding to the 'minus equation" with fewer benefits, poorer compensation and all round less stability to newer immigrants than was available before.
If you take Hong Kong immigrants as an example. They realised quickly that the Canadian dream was better achieved by returning to Hong Kong but retaining a foothold in Canada. ie garnering financial security and protecting ones own interests instead of energies being diverted toward a system that was / is of little long term benefit.
Of course, their situation is far different from East Europeans and some Africans whose main concern is physical security, and the dream for them is basic survival and Canada is ideal.
But for a Brit: with a long and noble history reflected in every facet of UK life, why would Canada be attractive? high utilisation of natural resourses such as oil, poor city/town planning and increasingly unrewarding investment into Canadian life, must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
Even prisons become beautiful to the imprisoned.
In addition, services and benefits are and have been pruned back in the past 2 decades, so whilst the new immigrants fund the system, they gain less than their predecessors. Furthermore, commercial corporations are adding to the 'minus equation" with fewer benefits, poorer compensation and all round less stability to newer immigrants than was available before.
If you take Hong Kong immigrants as an example. They realised quickly that the Canadian dream was better achieved by returning to Hong Kong but retaining a foothold in Canada. ie garnering financial security and protecting ones own interests instead of energies being diverted toward a system that was / is of little long term benefit.
Of course, their situation is far different from East Europeans and some Africans whose main concern is physical security, and the dream for them is basic survival and Canada is ideal.
But for a Brit: with a long and noble history reflected in every facet of UK life, why would Canada be attractive? high utilisation of natural resourses such as oil, poor city/town planning and increasingly unrewarding investment into Canadian life, must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
Even prisons become beautiful to the imprisoned.
a) they fill gaps in the labour market (aka doing the jobs the existing population don't want to do). In the developed world this also means replacing the aging baby boomers in the workforce.
b) they work harder than the cradle Canadians (or whoever, because this isn't a unique Canadian phenomena) because they need to establish themselves economically
As for your last bit, I think it would be better phrased ...
But for a Brit: with a long and ignoble history exploiting the resources of other peoples of the world why would Canada be attractive? A depressed UK housing market and a weak pound that means a massive house and lots of toys may be beyond the reach of those seeking an instant boost to their standard of life. This must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
#522
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 701
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
All well and good. But it is not exactly news that immigrants benefit the economy because:
a) they fill gaps in the labour market (aka doing the jobs the existing population don't want to do). In the developed world this also means replacing the aging baby boomers in the workforce.
b) they work harder than the cradle Canadians (or whoever, because this isn't a unique Canadian phenomena) because they need to establish themselves economically
As for your last bit, I think it would be better phrased ...
But for a Brit: with a long and ignoble history exploiting the resources of other peoples of the world why would Canada be attractive? A depressed UK housing market and a weak pound that means a massive house and lots of toys may be beyond the reach of those seeking an instant boost to their standard of life. This must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
a) they fill gaps in the labour market (aka doing the jobs the existing population don't want to do). In the developed world this also means replacing the aging baby boomers in the workforce.
b) they work harder than the cradle Canadians (or whoever, because this isn't a unique Canadian phenomena) because they need to establish themselves economically
As for your last bit, I think it would be better phrased ...
But for a Brit: with a long and ignoble history exploiting the resources of other peoples of the world why would Canada be attractive? A depressed UK housing market and a weak pound that means a massive house and lots of toys may be beyond the reach of those seeking an instant boost to their standard of life. This must provoke second thoughts for anyone currently thinking of moving here.
The UK has contributed massively to the world. There's barely anything that Canada has done as a nation of its own volition and what it has done is exaggerated by Canadians.
#523
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
Evidence please?
Evidence please?
I was able to afford to live when I first arrived purely on the salary I was able to obtain. Why would this not apply to all immigrants?
Didn't it just pilfer the world? In what way has it massively contributed, say, in the last 50 years?
#524
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
I think it's very easy to argue the case that artistically the UK punches well above Canadas weight. Not just poncy art either, but films, music, general popular culture; in these the output of the UK surpasses that of Canada by far.
#525
Re: Why do you want to move to Canada
Re the last para: there is no longer an instant boost to their standard of living. Food quality is lower in Canada, and may even be less healthy. Clothing is of the lowest quality as it must be to reflect inferior demand and sourcing (Canada produces none). For real quality in anything, choice is limited for the average joe, but accessible to the few in the upper income brackets which consequently means those who are well past being the 'immigrant'.
The UK has contributed massively to the world. There's barely anything that Canada has done as a nation of its own volition and what it has done is exaggerated by Canadians.
I think some of your points make sense, but only for those imigrants who are looking for a quick win. I don't expect to earn more money, I don't expect to have a big house and small mortgage. I do expect changes in our lives where we wish there to be changes. Emigration still has a romantic notion to it and an outdated ideal (for the British) that you'll move to the colonies and own your piece of land etc.