If you're thinking of moving to Canada

[Swede]

here is an article in the Guardian. Someone asked what is the pros and cons of 2 different cities to move to.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/25/private-lives-canada-move-dilemma?showallcomments=true#comment-fold

[Edweird]

1. I am, but I'm looking towards Vancouver.

The least cold weather and mountain bike heaven on earth.

[provis99]

11. Vancouver`s nice, if you want to pay $5 million for a bungalow.

[Edweird]

15. I found the real estate to be roughly equivalent to where I live (South Florida)

I haven't gone into too much detail since I'm at least 6-8 months out from even applying for residency, but I wasn't startled by what I found price-wise.

[pa28]

2. Thanks. Read through a few of the comments and I'm looking forward to reading all.

Victoria is my goal but they just have too steep a property bubble going at the moment. Unfortunately I'll have to wait :(

[DesertFlower]

3. if they had warm weather we'd go.

today it was 63 in phoenix and i was freezing.

[Amonester]

5. The human body adapts progressively to colder temps.

And since in Canada, temperature is measured in Celcius, it kind of 'helps' too (0C is 32F and 63C is a deadly heat). ;)

[DesertFlower]

6. i lived in new york city for the first 48 years of my life.

never got used to the cold. anything under 70 degrees is too cold for me.

[XemaSab]

8. I grew up in Oakland

and anything below 40 gives me teh asthma. :(

[SoCalDem]

10. and you can always put ON clothing

but if you are sweating to death & nearly naked, ...well..you get the idea:)

[morningglory]

12. they sunbathe on top of the snow up there. nt

[SocialistLez]

4. From what I've heard, it isn't cheap to immigrate there.

I'll just hope one day I can escape to New York.

[DesertFlower]

7. really? i lived there for the first 48 years of my life.

the weather sucks. the summers keep getting shorter. the rents are sky high. our friends live in manhattan. there paying $3500 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment. a really nice apartment in queens would run about $1700 a month for a 1 bedroom and $2200 a month for a 2 bedroom.

the taxes are high. you have a state tax and a city tax. our state tax in arizona is less than our city tax was in N.Y. even if you live in New jersey and commute to new york for work you're charged a commuter tax.

[morningglory]

13. They say the summers are getting longer up there.

Polar bears are wearing sun shades.

[SocialistLez]

17. Of course I realize it's expensive to live there

I'd just like to live in area where there is tons to do constantly.

Where I live now, it's boring as hell.

[remember2000forever]

9. Quebec! I loved living there!

First the food.......Yum! The people....friendly to Americans. (You just need to try and speak French to them. Then they will smile and switch into perfect English.) The stores....all with that French Flair.
However:
We did eventually have to leave because my 5 year old was not allowed to go an English Speaking School. IF you were Canadian and schooled in English, only then could your children go to the English Schools. (I must add that we lived in a small idyllic town called Morin Heights which was an English enclave.) We, as Americans, petitioned Quebec City and lost.

This was during the Referendum and the English Canadians were quite upset with Quebec wanting to succeed. But as Americans, we had absolutely no bad vibes. In hindsight, I wish we had learned French and stayed.

[morningglory]

14. You are so right about the people and the food! Beautiful cities!

People dancing polkas in bars. They appreciate good music up there. Have you ever watched the Canadian Country Music Awards show? I saw one in the middle of an insomniac night. It was amazing how much less consumerist capitalist it was. Made me cry...I weep for my country that I love. We are lost.

[cleanhippie]

16. Unless you are very wealthy or a refugee, good luck with that.

The immigration process is long, tedious, and expensive. Unless you are a refugee or have $500,000 to invest as an entrepreneur, you need to have a confirmed job and a place to live first. To get those two things, you first need a work permit, the process for which is long and tedious.