greatwhite

Hi, I currently work as a Podiatrist (Chiropodist) in the UK for the NHS (Monday to Friday 9-5 job with 5 weeks holiday).

I've always wanted to work and live in Canada and in recent Podiatry journals there have been some jobs advertised for what I think is a private practice. What sort of hours do people normally work in this sort of field? What sort of holidays do people normally receive? The adverts are usually for Winnipeg area and in Saskatchewan.

Also, how long would I initially be allowed to stay and is it easy to get an extension if I wanted to stay for good? I assume I would initially only be able to rent property rather than buy when I first arrived.

If it's relevant I'm currently 29, married with one child and another on the way. I've been working in my field for over two years now.

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks in anticipation of any replies.

YYZlover

Hi Greatwhite.

Welcome to the board. Please read the wiki. A lot of your questions will be answered there and in the sites it links to. When you stumble on something you don't understand, feel free to ask here.

Happy Holidays

YYZlover (giving Judy a bit of a break)

greatwhite

Oops, didn't see that. Thanks. Anyway, it looks like I'd be able to get a Temporary Work Permit (although I'm not sure how long that would last or how long I'm allowed to stay on that) and then apply for permanent residence which would hopefully, in this case, only take a year providing it was succesful.

Also, I cannot see why it wouldn't be possible to buy a property, although this would be foolish unless I had a succesful application for permanent residence accepted?

Finally, I can see that there are about 9 days of 'public holiday' but not much info regarding holidays provided by employers. I was just after a ball park figure for this. Is around 4 weeks the normal amount? More? Less? I'm assuming with a private Podiatry/Chiropody that weekends and evenings may have to be worked. To be honest I was just wondering that some people who may have visited such a clinic may be able to inform me of the opening hours. However I may be able to google this info.

Maple Leaf

hi there and welcome

as to the holidays/vacation times......it varies..you will hear many different alloted times. some as short as 2 weeks per year.

however i work in Health Care..and within my field of work and the health authority i work with it is 6 weeks, per year with extra time accumulated for working weekends and public holidays.

so if you are told people in Canada only get 2 weeks off per year! it isnt' true...it is true that SOME do..but not all.

all the best~ Maple Leaf~

greatwhite

That's not bad. I'd be over the moon with six weeks! I could get by with two to be honest especially with almost 10 days public holiday. Of course more is always better

Thanks for the info so far.

Beebop

& you can buy a house, there are no restrictions on buying property.

Surrey Expat

Vacation pay from BC Employment Standards. This is the minimum, however non governmental employers follow this.

(1) An employer must pay an employee the following amount of vacation pay:

(a) after 5 calendar days of employment, at least 4% of the employee's total wages during the year of employment entitling the employee to the vacation pay;

(b) after 5 consecutive years of employment, at least 6% of the employee's total wages during the year of employment entitling the employee to the vacation pay.

R I C H

.

greatwhite

Hi R I C H that is most helpful. I guess buying a house may be worthwhile initially then, especially if it may take 4 years + and if the housing market is reasonably stable. I'd not be too chuffed if I had to leave and the house I had bought was worth less than I paid for it

Are you planning on staying longer than your 3 years?

R I C H

Yes, I applied for PR while still in the UK (AOR June '05). I had my 90 day update letter arrive last week, so expect to have PR sometime within the next 6mths.

In the area of BC that I live, house prices have risen quickly over the past 3yrs (45% growth according to a realtor friend). This coming year it's set to continue, albeit at a slightly lower rate.

jerry brewer

Hi
Thanks for posting this.
It seems to explain why my vacation allowance went up because I had worked overtime..
Cheers
Jerry

Alberta_Rose

This site may be helpful as a start, if you haven't already come across it.

http://www.cicic.ca/en/professions.a...21&prof=3123.1

and this: http://www.podiatrycanada.org/faqs.html

I suspect that you would have to have your UK qualifications evaluated and then apply to register with the licensing body of your chosen province. This involves some time, expense, and I don't know if they have a credentialling exam like we do in physiotherapy.

The question of paid vacation may be academic if you are working in private practice, as I believe you are often paid on a contractual basis rather than as an employee, so if you have time off, it is unpaid.

Also under this type of employment you don't get other benefits, so have to organise your own private insurances etc .... you need to look into all this before considering accepting a job.

greatwhite

Thanks Morwenna, some useful info there too. I must admit it does seem a little expensive, however that's not so much of an issue if my cost of living is lower and salary slightly higher.

Just out of interest, apart from private practice what is the 'state/provincial' healthcare service like from an employees point of view?

Alberta_Rose

This quote is from the seond of my links:

Why is an office fee charged to the patient?
Podiatric medicine does not fall under the Canada Health Act, therefore podiatrists receive limited or no provincial health plan coverage. As a result, podiatrists charge a fee for their services.

It appears from the above that there may well be no such animal working in the "provincial Healthcare service" In any event each and every province is entirely a law unto themselves, and as such should be investigated separately.

I can only answer as a physiotherapist, who has worked in the Calgary Health Region. We are quite strongly unionised, and the union (HSAA) negotiates our pay and conditions. PT's have 15 days paid vacation, for example, plus sick days, and are paid within a salary range depending on your documented hours worked in the past 5 years, irrespective of your actual experience (ie what you were actually doing in those 5 years).

birdman

There is information on Podiatry Arena about working in Canada as a Podiatrist. For those with a UK qualification, Ontario is the only option.
See this:
http://www.podiatry-arena.com/podiat...splay.php?f=13