What are some benefits and downsides of living in Canada in comparision to the states?

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Cariad

The health care is much better here. Yeah, we pay for it in our taxes...but there is more equality. I totally agree with the person that pointed out that those that complain about their health care like to omit pertinent details like accidents occuring while they wait. No system is perfect, but I much prefer what we have here.

Our political system is a lot more easy going. Watching the nasty attack ads on TV recently for the election down there had me shocked. Its rare to see something like that up here. There was as much publicity recently over a Member of Parliament allegedly calling his exgirlfriend (also an MP) a dog as there is the USA over a President getting cozy with an intern. (ok, I'm exaggerating...but you get the idea)

Religion isnt quite as strong up here. There are the areas we could call a bible belt, but no where near what I saw in the USA.

I also found there the disparity between rich and poor isnt as much. It is still a problem, but it didnt seem as glaring as the places I have visted.

Good cities? It depends what you like; we're pretty diverse. Winnipeg Manitoba is middle of the road. Easy going, houses arent as expensive as Kelowna BC and you will likely see the same people in a week. Calgary is more "Western" but urban as well. Alberta and BC in general have a higher housing market. Toronto likes to think they are the centre of the universe (as the rest of the country calls them) The Maritimes...poorer in cash, bigger in heart. The Prairie Provinces (Manitoba & Saskatchewan esp) are friendlier...but not as many jobs. If you are going into firefighting I would see what the pay is in different cities as well. You may get paid more in Alberta, but the cost of living is higher there too.

Good luck to you...we're a diverse country and I welcome you to it. :) Make sure you explore wherever you move to.

Richard P

Continuing from first answer

No George Bush

Lower crime rate (Toronto, population 3 million, only 65 murders per year)

No George Bush

Income taxes are higher. So are consumption taxes.

No George Bush

People gripe about the health care, but I personally have never had a problem. If you're really, really sick (eg. on death's doorstep) there is no real waiting list. People like to complain that they had to wait 3 hours for a doctor at a hospital. They omit that there was a car crash with 5 victims and that their ailment was a bad cold.

Did I mention no George Bush?

Gun control...political hot potato, but it works (see murder rate!)

Do your own thinking!

I've lived in both, and... The bias should be obvious.

First, I heartily concur with "If you're really, really sick (eg. on death's doorstep) there is no real waiting list. People like to complain that they had to wait 3 hours for a doctor at a hospital. They omit that there was a car crash with 5 victims and that their ailment was a bad cold." That's about it. And it's not as though the hospitals are shabby or anything like that.

Plus, the HMO system blew me away when I was in the States. It's _junk_. I suspect the people here who'd like the option to go private would shush if they found out how useful for-profit insurance schemes are.

Higher taxes blah blah blah, but it's not as though they're grafting it off the poor, and what you get for it is, as you saw, noticeable. There aren't really serious slums in Canada, which is quite different from the US, where I saw some really weird concentrated poverty -- parts of DC that looked like they did in the Depression, parts of CA and NM with some third-worldish rural poverty, etc. The infrastructure's sound, the schools are good, and so on.

There's some downside in being near but not in the US. America is a relentless influence, and sometimes very irritatingly so. "Offer valid only in US" is a pretty common frustration in Canada.

Even Toronto can seem a little small after big US cities, too. Sometimes, Americans just seem to have a lot more to _do_.

But if your biggest complaints run to stuff like "There is no equal to that quirky little nightclub I found in NYC here, and the grocery store won't take my coupons," life is pretty good. People _are_ politer, and cities _are_ safer.

And, I find the average Canadian to be better-educated than the average American. I was _shocked_ at what US high school graduates didn't know while living in the States.

There's substantially less right-wing/fundamentalist nonsense; I haven't heard a peep about anybody wanting to teach "creation science" here, for example. Having that BS out of the way makes for better government.

Possibly useful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_identity

He'elehdeni

canadian cities are much cleaner/nicer look than US cities

stevewbcanada

Cons:

1. Higher taxes (as you noted)

Pros:

1. Health care geared to need, not income.
2. Generally cleaner cities.
3. Not having to worry about getting shot in the street (outside of Toronto, that is).
4. Far superior public schools.

And the most important one:

5. Real beer (not the yellow swill made from corn syrup that Americans have to drink).

Lisa L

The only other thing i can add to everything else u have mentioned is that Toronto does have a colder climate in the winter months of Jan and Feb. the temp. does drop with very high wind chill factor. So get ready to put on quite a few layers of clothing.
Toronto has become a very sophistacted city!! High quality living and good jobs with good pay for those with a higher education.

you will be happy here in our city of Toronto!!

mRNA

Try sudbury,ontario. The taxes are bad in town but you can get cheap waterfront properties at 5 minutes out of town and the taxes drop off. pros:3hrs from Toronto, not as expensive as toronto, over 300 lakes within city limits, medical school and university, 2 colleges, good hunting/fishing, lots to do in the summer and winter.cons:high taxes, people are really bad drivers, bears(attracted by all the blueberries), houses in town are a bit pricy

mary57whalen

I Live in Canada and I've been to the States I'll never go again after Bush /Cheney has made it sound like boarder crossing is 50/50/ chance of a cood ending. I have relatives in NYC one girl cousin with my same name and bithdate She came to visit when we were 12 she totally freaked me out. She wouldn't walk the streets at night. Always repremanding me 4 not locking myself in house..I think it would kill her to know 34 yrs. later that back door of the house I grew up in has yet to ever be locked. You never know when grown child might drop in.Or old friend that knew one of us kids as teens has a bit much to drink andhas to find a couch for a couple of hours.
One day it was really getting all to much for me we were walking thruogh park on worn path to get to mall a man came out shortly after with plastic returnable milk jug headed to same place. i swear she had panic attack. visions of slit thoats rape.. I really thoght she was physco drama queen and I turned and walked up to the man and asked him to please explain to my cousin his intetions for walking in the same park as her and please assure her he will not kill/ rape/mug/ etc. I managed to embarress then both but I was only 12 and hadn't lived in Bronx. anyways Iread two books by this guy Laxer or Laxner..Fire & Ice... &The 49th Parrallel. They really explain the differances. One thing stuck in my mind a poor presn in Canada is 14 times better off then a poor person in States.Yes we pay Higher taxes and are paid higher wages. In 98 I woked ashort stint with Autohaulaway. Basicly we drove brand new cars out of Ford Plant about 20 miles to pre arranged parking lot where somebodychecked new motors 4 leaks and bus drove us back to plant and stopped at Wendys or Tim Hortons each run back the job wasonly 4 say 2 or 3 months. You worked 7 days a week 12 hours a day. You could take off any day you wanted cause their was always alist of people willing to come in. this how we were paid 4 the first 8 hrsk $20.oo per hour $30.00 per hour 4 hous 9 & 10 $40.00Per hr. 4 hr. 4 hr. 11 &12. Labour laws perventented anyone working more then 12 hours straight.. so a night crew did 6.00PM to 6:AM.. I remember day our Detroit counter parts drove up deilevering..some cars. very nice people we all working 4 same co. Culture & shop talk. They were all pleased with $$ they were making..so were we..Only mood really changed when we swapped hourly waged we all shocked. The Detroit Poeple we all assumed to b paid more driving out of coutry gone sometimes 36 hrs from home...only paid hrs. worked. at until talking 2 us thought jackpot wages $8.25.per hour no overtime wages!
Not long after that lou Dobbs at CNN did a special "Tale of Two Cities" comparing Toronto & Buffallo. The diferrences were stark 2 sa least. T.O. was thriving low unemployment.. low crime.. high tolerance..great puplic schools. Buffalow was opposite in each catagory Lou went on mission 2 find out y . U know Lou he was particlairly outraged at U.S. Motor Co. moving to T.O. even when they had 2 pay higher taxes & higher wages. The answers He got surprised him the companies perferred Toronto because Canadian government provided citazins with so many social safety nets 100% health coverage 4 all each child o til 18 gets 100% eye & Full dental with regular check ups. Employment & Welfare & disabilaty transfers are better This said companies offset costs people were not demanding in company benifets Extra bonus is abilaty 2 work and live in cities...Low violence make walking around cities at night enjoyable.. high tolerance means u don't panic just because people of different ethnic group r approaching at night. Sure u may get robbed.. just as likely 2 b same ethnic as u.
Our Prisons would never tolerate sociopath gaurds watching or turning blind 2 strong preying & raping weak. These people come back u know. Better 2 empathize rehab & education.. then pervert punitive punisment. Also with our legal aid you get 2 pick a lawyer of choice.. not some appointed D.A. unless D.A. is not asking 4 time then u can work compromise or go 2 judge with duty counsil.
One last thought I have read the statistcs from # of places all say same thing. We r all being lied 2 . More so in U.S. If u ad up all the fed & state transfer payments 2 those in need. Welfare..Retirment...Disabilaty...Unempl... leave..Food stamps....ALL goverment tranfers that so many need just 2 get by they amount 2 about 1 1/2 0f 1% of GNP. If all payments stopped it would not make a difference able to b noticed. On the other hand The real Wefare the Corperate kind benificeries like Lockhead Martin.. Haliburton.. Kellog Brown & root.. Boeing..Put this way.. 498 out 500 of the furtune 500 companies would go **** up without government handouts..but they distract u from this truth with their large propaganda machinary...and totaly demonize single moms.. and other making it sound like they are the reason of tour tax woes. With the free rides they are getting..Have u Any idea how miserly a cheque they get? Varying from place 2 state say $100. 2 $350. per month. Aprivitized group home paying only one rent will $$thousands per child on top of clothing .. transpotation allowance (they have lobbiest) imagine if moms .dads.. families in emergy surcunstances others given even just 1 tenth with day care and market trainining.. The need 4 group homes youth jails would minimal.. It would show that despite what everything shows us ...A capitalist society does care about the youth of it's nation. Looking after your vulnerable youth is harly socailism. as I am sure the bully pulpits would scream. Pull up by your own bootstraps. Me thinks GWB would b in prison if such rules applied 2 him....Mary

robert m

Civilized people.

Mr. T's Pretty Cuzzin

The grass is always greener... (and in this case, legal in small quantities). Part of your high taxes on income include an obligatory health care system that I, personally, have never heard anything good about--and I will freely admit that is anecdotal evidence; however, all of it (about 10 in-depth conversations about life in Canada as European expats) compared their socialized health insurance to what they had in Europe, and said it couldn't hold a candle, that Canada had much more bureacracy, diminished levels of service, and they felt, inferior care. GST adds 6-14% depending on Province.

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