inquiry about Canada

[hello30]

We are considering moving to Canada. We are curious on what the citizens of Canada think of living there. If you could please answer on the following topics, we would really appreciate it:
1. Do you like the Public Education? Why or why not?
2. Do you like the Healthcare System? Why or why not?
3. What do you think of the laws?
4. What do you think of Canada's leadership?
5. What is the cost of living like? (example: do you make
enough money to pay your bills?)

Thank you for your input.

 

[Outta here]

Hi there, and welcome to Canadian Content.

As a born and bred Canadian, I feel pretty fortunate to live here. I think we have one of the best places to live in the world.... but of course I'm biased. :canada:

There are a few members here who have immigrated here from other countries. Maybe their opinions will offer you a comparative view that mine can't.

 

[triedit]

Im not sure any of those have simple answers. Some public education is horrible, others pretty good--even within the same area. The healthcare is mostly free--but not entirely and there are long waiting lists for care in some areas. I'm ok with the laws but others think the stand on drugs is wrong. All countries have some bad leaders. We personally make enough to pay our bills but many do not, and we spend a lot.

 

[Curiosity]

Hello - hello !

You will be comparing life in Canada with ??? Makes it a bit difficult for people to answer (I think).

 

[hello30]

I am from the United States.

 

[daisygirl]

Health care, education, etc. vary from province to province. Were you considering moving to one province in particular?

 

[Niflmir]

Public education is pretty good here in Canada. The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development recently stated in their international report on education that

Australia, Canada and Japan were among the countries that performed more strongly than might have been expected from their level of investment in schools

Our health care system is amongst the most efficient in the world, which is very necessary in a country so small in population and large in scale. The fact that the biggest complaint about health care is waiting times should convince anyone of the universality of our health care.

The laws in Canada are largely irrelevant in day to day life, unless you plan on breaking them. Some things that may bother a person are the more and more common smoking bans or the enforced seat belt and helmet laws.

Cost of living strongly depends on where you end up living and thoughts about the right honorable Stephen Harper depend strongly on your political leanings.

 

[Curiosity]

Hello!

Canada is a beautiful nation - and surprisingly there is little difference between living in the U.S. and Canada with a few exceptions. There are multiple variables, depending upon what you require in your personal life - most of them having to do with financial and family issues... but...

The longest lasting and most telling difference for me was learning to exercise and expand my personal independence.

 

[darkbeaver]

1. Do you like the Public Education? Why or why not?
2. Do you like the Healthcare System? Why or why not?
3. What do you think of the laws?
4. What do you think of Canada's leadership?
5. What is the cost of living like? (example: do you make
enough money to pay your bills?)

1.free public education or death
2.free healthcare or death
3.too expensive
4.corporate bootlicking idiots same as US
5a.expensive. 5b. no this is not Utopia
Since your from the states and can already think independently, why do you want to move here and learn to think collectively.


Welcome to Canada. You must worship our sacred animal. :smile:

 

[hello30]

thank you all for your input so far. i am reading everything you all have said. i don't plan on breaking any laws. i am just curious on if it is easy for people to access guns. there is a lot of violence here, and i think young people can access guns too easily. do you (Canada) have a lot of violence there in general? we are considering possibly living in Saskatchewan. Possibly Winnipeg. But, options are still open for discussion. Also, is there a lot of drug possession in Canada? The healthcare here is one of the main reasons why we would like to find another location.

 

[triedit]

They don't like to admit it, but yes there are gun and drug problems in Canada. Moreso in Big Cities, just like in the US. I moved from a small town in the US to Toronto 7 years ago. Compared to what I was used to, "Canada" (Toronto mostly) is rampant with violence and drug use and gang warfare.

Have you considered just finding another place in the US? It may be an issue of just moving to a smaller, friendlier, safer town. That would be a lot cheaper and easier than changing countries.

Feel free to PM me about the process of immigration if you like.

But just like the US, there are pockets of crime and danger and pockets of lovely people.

 

[hello30]

i do want to live in a pretty safe place. but, i am also wanting to find the best healthcare system. i am starting to like the idea of universal healthcare.

 

[triedit]

Don't be mislead. Prescriptions and many other services are not free. Only the basic doctors visits. For instance, if you want to get a vaccine that is not required but you'd like to have it just by choice, not only do you have to pay for the vaccine but you also have to pay for the doc visit to recieve the vaccine. Dental care and regular eye care are not covered at all. A visit to the Emergency room can easily be an all day affair. For some locations, doctors are so scarce that there is a long wait to be seen at all. Mental health coverage is limited as well. Generally speaking, things like physiotherapy are not covered.

In addition to that, you're looking at paying about 12% more of your income in taxes. Some locations have an additional tax just for healthcare.

Keep in mind too that you won't get health coverage for about 6 months after you are approved for living here--at least that is the way it is in Ontario. You must be here legally six months before your benefits start. And if you have pre-existing health issues you many not be allowed to immigrate.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Why not come to Canada for a visit? Visit Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. One thing you may want to consider about both of those locations is that it gets damn cold in the winter. -40 is typical for extended periods of time. Toronto or Vancouver are warmer but have some big city issues. Although, as a general rule, if you don't look for trouble, the odds are against trouble finding you.

 

[hello30]

in general, is it low or high cost to pay for healthcare procedures?

 

[Pangloss]

We have a (mostly) socialized health care system - you health care costs are paid through taxes, and in some provinces, health care premiums.

There are some minor exemptions, and generally prescription drugs are not covered. Although, you'd be surprised how much cheaper our drugs are here.

I've lived in Mexico, the U.S. and across Canada, in well paid and rewarding jobs, and without a doubt, I like it up here.

I just wish I was in a position to move out of Calgary.

Pangloss

 

[triedit]

in general, is it low or high cost to pay for healthcare procedures?

Hospital stays are a LOT cheaper...but the experience is not so great. Mostly wards, no extras. When I had my baby I even had to provide my own sanitary napkins. Unheard of in the states. Doctor's visits run 30-50 dollars for regular visits. Physicals and specialists cost more. Some companies offer workers a "top up" package that will pay for a semi-private room instead of a ward, etc. I think our share of the costs for having our child via c-section was VERY cheap in comparison--I think we paid only about $3000 over what our top-up plan covered.

 

[triedit]

Although, you'd be surprised how much cheaper our drugs are here.

This is generally true, but not always the case. Our top up plan pays 75-90% of our drug costs and $8 toward the dispensing fee (yes, they charge a fee to fill a prescription) but we still spend over $100 a month on our 6 prescriptions.

I was recently on Ciprilex and it cost about $5 a pill--and I took two a day. Great drug, but not very economical. It's a synthetic marijuana. For $10 a day I could stay stoned off street drugs the rest of my life! So we opted out of that regimine....

 

[Unforgiven]

As well most people who work full time jobs have benefits provided through their employer. These cover most of the stuff like prescriptions, the extras at hospital like a private or semi private room, physio dental glasses and so on.

Depending on what you do for a living, and where you choose to live, the health care can be just the right system for you. Otherwise you can still go to the US and have what ever done and pay for it the way you do now.

 

[triedit]

As well most people who work full time jobs have benefits provided through their employer. These cover most of the stuff like prescriptions, the extras at hospital like a private or semi private room, physio dental glasses and so on.

Just like in the states....