Yes we bought a farm and all the stuff......however barring all the expense for having barns built and setting the farm up, the household income that I have lived on this year was under $20,000. We don't have a mortgage and we own all our vehicles, machinery and livestock outright so no monthly payments on anything except Utilities. My husband lives in England for most of the year so there is usually only myself and my 9 year old daughter living here, however........... I do have 3 dogs, 3 cats and 13 horses which I feed and care for using only this apparent miniscule income. We still eat Aberdeen Angus steaks and Wild Salmon fillets; the house is never bare of food or drink and I certainly haven't noticed that we are missing out on anything in day-to-day life, although I do find I choose to drive the Jeep more often than the truck with gas prices the way they are right now!

Having said all that, because I own and actively work the farm, we are charged Farm Property Taxes (approx. a third of the price of Residential Taxes), Hydro is on Farm Billing Rate and Insurance is very cheap for us as everything is insured on our farm insurance.

I think more to the point is not how much income we all earn - but how much available cash we all have once the obligatory outgoings are paid for. My outgoings are probably very low in comparison to many people therefore my standard of living is still pretty good.

Besides the off-topic posts I notice that not one Canada basher has responded.

my god im on the right forum? it's so nice to hear good stuff about canada just for a change it is very off putting when all you hear is moans about crap like, the tv is bad here, it's too cold, the bacon isn't the same, i could go on but i won't, all this stuff is just so borring to all those who moan about stuff like this, all i can say is remember your in a foreign country and it is going to be different isn't that why you moved you wanted different?

That is a very good question. But why would anyone want to return to Britain. This country hasn't got ANYTHING to offer. People in Britain doesn't take any pride in their country or themselves. No wonder people call us boring and ugly. I'm ashamed to be part of this country and can't wait to be in Canada.

I don't think people "Canada bash" for the sake of it. Most people who go through the paperwork and expense of getting to Canada in the first place aren't doing it just for the fun of it.

Perhaps one reason some stay despite the hurdles they come across is the hope that things will get better ie. in our case, we had a horrible first few months in Canada which was made worse by the fact it took my hubbie 7 months to find a job in his field. That can be hard to take even though you try and prepare for that scenario. You can feel like a second class citizen and not partiuclarly welcome in the country you gave up everything for.

If we truly thought that everything was better in the UK, we would simply go back and I think others do. However, while we think that the UK is better than Canada in some respects, we still like being in Canada. Having a job that you enjoy in your field helps. I like the weather better here - summers and winters. I also like having less traffic - depends where you live, but in London Ontario, it's not too bad at all. I also like the fact that people do more things together as families and that there are loads of activities for kids in summer and winter. Both my children love being here.

Chris

You high roller you Any chance of sending some of that over?

LOL!! I'm not a high roller - just a poorly paid farmer - and loving it .

My point is that you don't have to have a high income to live nicely here, but you do need to have availabe cash and low outgoings to enjoy it.

It seems that hi-jacking posts with pretty inane responses that have nothing to do with the topic is pretty common around here. I for one posted a serious question and would expect the same in responses. If you have nothing to add to the topic, take your chat to a chat board.

Thought the thread was about why people are still here? It's not likr the last few posts have bashed Canada, have they?

What has this got to do with why you are still here finallygotout? It isn't a chat board.

Tom Masters, I find what you said pretty interesting. "You can feel like a second class citizen and not particularly welcome in the country you gave up everything for."

I guess it is all in how you look at it. You seem to look at it from YOUR point of view (most people do). That is, what YOU gave up everything for as opposed to from Canada's view, which might be that you have been given the privilege of a chance at a better life for you and your family.

As for being a second class citizen, well the answer to that is obvious. You're not a citizen initially at least, you're an immigrant, just like any other immigrant in any other country. How are immigrants treated back in dear old Blighty? If the average Brit sees immigrants as taking their jobs away, how do you suppose the average Canadian would see you?

It's good to see all the reasons why you remain Tom Masters but maybe the comment about 'giving up everything for' helps shed some light on why some people Canada bash here. They don't see themselves as just another foreign immigrant with all the prejudices and difficulties that brings when living in a new country.

It would be nice if everyone accepted every immigrant with open arms but that wouldn't be reality would it. Then you have to ask yourself whether your expectations of how you should be treated are realistic or not. One surly store assistant treating you poorly doesn't mean Canada is a bad place to bring up your kids, it just means there is at least one surly, ignorant store assistant in Canada.

Yes I did answer your question based on my personal experience and opinion because that is what you asked for in your question.

Coming to Canada isn't just about what Canada can do for me and my family, but also what me and my family can do for Canada. It is two-way. Yes I am glad that we were able to come to Canada, but we had to prove that we had skills to bring into the country. If we choose to stay here, Canada will benefit from what we have to offer too. We are not necessarily being offered a better life, just a different one.

As far as being an immigrant is concerned, I think this is one area which contributes to 'culture shock'. If I have recognised skills and qualifications I expect to be given the same chance as anyone else at getting a job regardless of where I was born. When that chance is denied based on nationality, it is a form of prejudice which is unfair.

Your sarcastic reference to "dear old Blighty" suggests a hint of bitterness towards Britain and perhaps you have another agenda for starting this thread in the first place, rather than to purely find out more about people's opinions and experiences of living in Canada.

Chris

They get off the boat at Dover, straight into the Sodex office to pick up there 280GBP, free mobile phone, keys to there council property (which must have a new cooker, double glazing and carpets throughout) and a free travel ticket. Once in there nice new home, they get an interest free loan to buy a car and a TV for which unlike the rest of the UK, they don't need a licience to watch.

How are immigrants treated back in dear old Blighty? Pretty good i would say

On the contrary - this is a discussion forum - where people talk freely to one another and if I have comments directed to me then it is pure and simply common courtesy to answer them.

Re the dear old Blighty, no bitterness or sarcasm intended Tom Masters, just a change from UK, Britain, back home, etc.

Re being an immigrant and culture shock, I agree that in a perfect world you should get the same chance as anyone. I expect that in most cases you would but at the same time it shouldn't come as a shock when you are sometimes treated like an immigrant is treated in many countries.

I'm just trying to say that sometimes I think an immigrant should look at things from the locals point of view and compare it to how an immigrant would be treated in their home country.

Do you think that being treated like an immigrant is something that most UK immigrants to Canada don't expect? I think so. I think you may have hit on something quite signifigant in trying to understand the Canada bashing that goes on here by some.