Is there much of a class system in canada ? One of the reasons I want to leave uk is because of deep social problems, chavs etc. People in uk seem to lack ambition. As canada is a nation of immigrants people tend to want to better themselves. Also as canada has lots of natural resources there are jobs available for less academic but skilled people. With the decline of mining in uk it left people with few options in some towns.

yes there is a class system in Canada - well at least in Toronto where we have the old boys network & folks that make zillions of dollars. There are folks living in multi-million dollar homes. Average modest basic 3-bedroom house price outside the city core close to $400,000+ with a 2-bedroom decent rental apartment can be in the $1500/mth range.

As for chav's or weekend blathered all over the pavements (sidewalks) nope I haven't seen much of that.

Canada is not for layabouts or freeloaders & if there are they are few & far between. I don't think Canada is as bad a welfare state as the UK.

In Toronto we have many highly qualified immigrants driving taxi's or in jobs several levels below what they were doing back home.

Minimum wage here in Ontario is $10.25/hr at this level many working folk have two jobs. Things are expensive - basic cost of living is high. Yes a basic minimum wage job is likely easier to find than a skilled or semi-skilled position

Toronto is a hustle bustle city which has a 49% visible minority and it is very multicultural place. Quite a few immigrants bring in loads of money, set up shop with others as skilled folks with just enough money to last them several weeks to months.

Other parts of Canada similar on a smaller scale. Major cities high attraction for visible minorities Asia being the largest group comming to Canada these days.. Smaller communities would be better less of a drag, likely less snobbish & fewer jobs - that's why many will commute in one-two hours daily one way to work

Again don't judge Canada by what I posted about Toronto because skilled people can likely get here or find other provinces such as Alberta as boom times.

Maybe others can comment on their experience of the Canadian class system

Just like anywhere else ... Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham or London.

Good luck with whatever you're trying to do

Yes there is a class system.

There is much poverty too especially in rural areas. If you fall on hard times then you suffer and need food banks, and other charity as welfare is minimal.

Most Canadians don't consider themselves to be immigrants, and indeed are not.

The availability of jobs varies considerasnly across the country.

There is a social class system everywhere. People mix within their own racial origins, socio-economic groups, interests and wealth. There is less (none I have come across) of an aristocratic class system in North America.

While class systems do seem to emerge "everywhere" the class obsession and division is not nearly as pronounced in Canada as it is in Britain (same holds for USA). There is generally a downplaying of class differences, compared to Britain's habit of say allocating a class factor to the kind of tea you drink. Wealth and trappings is regarded unashamedly as an indicator of class; whereas poverty is seen as an unfortunate temporary state rather than being of a lower caste. Probably a better state of affairs overall.

Been here 6 years, verdict so far Canada has no class what so ever

Social mobility is slowing down for employees in Canada. The only way to really advance in Canada is to be self-employed, then you will be welcomed and respected if you succeed.

There is a class system in Canada - the same degree of conceit and smugness is visible in idiot pompous parasites who have either ripped off their employees and clients and/or who have inherited huge sums of money without knowing how to earn and make their own money.

Really? Are there no doctors, engineers, scientists or professors in the UK? Maybe you're only socializing with more disadvantaged people. Why not start to go to public lectures or symposia? You'll find lots of interesting people with what I suspect you call "ambition."

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The class system here seems quite muted and "in the background" to me. But I am Canadian born and really can't reference any other place.

I wouldn't worry about it, what I would worry about is the rampant nepotism and cronyism that seems to infiltrate almost every aspect of "blue collar" life here. Maybe it's just the norm everywhere, but we have it here and it's embarrassing in it's scope.

The union mentality is like a religion here, it's actually taken the place of most religions...we subsidize their way of life so that they can harp on about how they are the last bastion of workers rights and all that garbage.

Biased? Hell yes.

Yes there class system here. Just my opinion but its measured by your income. I find that despite some peoples 'higher class' here they are sadly lacking any class - eg they may have money...nice house/car etc but lack manners and decorum. I grew up on a council estate yet I am able to use a knife and fork properly. Plenty more examples.

Wanting to leave the UK because of Chavs?? Plenty here they just dont call them chavs.

I find that whilst Canadians may not talk about class there is snobbery here. Same stuff different pile.

To the Op. Watch a few episodes of Trailer Park Boys. From my experience that seems fairly representative of the lower echelons of Canadian society with one proviso, in the programme they're quite enterprising whereas in reality it seems acceptable to go on the dole for six months of the year.

Oink, I haven't seen any recent Trailer Park Boys, but find it hard to imaging Ricky and Julian working enough weeks to get pogey. If they could declare growing and dealing dope and robbing, maybe. If you define class by income and social status or by deportment and manners and what's in their heart it makes all the difference in the world. Simply being priviledged isn't enough to be classy, and wealth isn't even necessary for that in my estimation.
Of course, the survey on here earlier this year said I was low class, so I would say that.

Ah so you have class because you have the ability to use a knife and fork "properly". I suspect the Moors Murderers, John Haigh, John Christie etc, etc, could also use a knife and fork "properly". So, while vile murderers, do you think they also had class?

It rather depends on your definition of class. To avoid misunderstandings, I'd suggest using the term social class or social stratification when referring to hierarchical distinctions existing between individuals or groups. If one really wants to explore this concept a little deeper, one should really study and analyze the distinctions between Marx's and Weber's theories of social class.

Marx hated the Slavs, and Engels hated the Jews, but between them, by God, how they loved the people. I have a lot of class - it's all low class, but I have a lot of it.