Thinking Of Relocating To Canada.

Delta!!!!! I hail o!!
why are you scaring me now? eh? i'm looking for a way to evade the horrible tax here and you are telling me it's the same in Canada? I don't know what to say now,honestly. As for the weather,i think we can live with that.It's often terrible here for me. Unless you are telling me it's like being in the north pole. Is it that bad?
please educate me.I'm open to advice. Where exactly do you reside? is the tax up to 40%?

Thank you so much. You have woken me up from my slumber.I thought Canada was a paradise of some sorts.How is the healthcare system there? will keep coming back,so expect me.

There is no paradise anywhere thats the truth.

Tax IS high in Canada, but there are ways to reduce your tax bills if you are creative about it - register a business, buy a house, etc.

Some parts of Canada are extremely cold, others are not so badbut the truth is once you've been here for a year or so, its no longer as bad as it sounds - the first winter is the real test. If you make it through that, then you'll be fine

In Ontario, health care (basic) is free with your OHIP card, but you pay a tax premium on that. In BC you pay about $60 a month for mandatory provincial insurance with basic stuff covered too.

Tax levels depends on your income and how much deductibles you have - family, home business, etc.

Delta is very right, it depends on what you're looking for - income taxes are about the same, but housing/cars are more affordable.

If you can tell us what exactly is terrible for you then maybe we can give you some perspectives on how it is in Canada.

@Amsky:

Hopefully, i can address a few issues based on my experience.

Firstly, with regards the tax issue, that is a big killer. Every province is different tho. Some are less than the others (depending on how wealthy the province is). At the moment, Alberta is booming because of the oil sandsso u guessed right; every living soul is virtually moving there because u can cash in within a cpl years and leave. The real estate market there is unreal. Thankfully, as a graduate, I have a regular well paying job most people would dream of, with a lot of flexibility and honestly, if i have to cater for my lifestyle (which some might say is abit flamboyant, but I no send  ), it would be a tough one. I remember looking at the summary of my tax payments last year from this job and i just shook my headwetin man dey pay, kai! I have to supplement my regular income from a few enterprises I tend to work out. I be Naija and even if they paid me 1million a day, I'm not just satisfied with coming home at 3pm because office don close. I just love challenging myself and fortunately, that brings me extra income. Like Debosky said, other ways people use to combat the tax issue is buying a house, registering businesses, etc. I can't tell u how much tax u would be paying; it just depends on which tax bracket u fall into.  Feel free to browse the Canadian revenue Agency ( http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/menu-e.html ) to get an idea.

As for the education thingy, firstly, Canada is way cheaper than the UK. That's a fact. Prior to my move to Canada years ago, I had the option of choosing both locations and it's no contest. Altho, previously, international students werent allowed to work off campus in their respective universities in Canada; so either they settle for crappy limited spots on campus or they work under the table. Hence, I always advised people with little income to settle for the UK so they can generate some income for their upkeep while in school but that law has been scrapped and international students are allowed to work after the first 6mths of starting their studies. As a permanent resident or citizen, u are not subjected to those high international differential fees. Students in provinces like Quebec pay peanuts. Also, I believe the standard of education in Canada is relatively high and although about 8% students attend private schools, majority High School students are in public schools and the education is free.

Someone has already addressed the health care issue. . . yeah, it's free 

Yeah, babysitting cud be expensive too. I got friends and relatives with babies and I feel their pain when they complain. The govt tries to assist by paying u some social supplements per child (which u do not get if u do not file your taxes  ) which is barely enough for anything. The more u make, the less u obviously get from the govt with regards this subject. I think the best way is to help yourself by settling in fast and making decent friendships that share similar interests. That way, u can help your neighbour and your neighbour can help u.

Transportation . . .not as bad as the UK in my opinion. Yeah, gas is getting expensive everyday and i drive those guzzlers  (see? i told u  ). Most provinces have rebates now if u buy a vehicle that qualifies for the program. e.g. hybids. Every city/province also tends to have its own unique public transport structure. Some cities have deals with the respective universities so that all students (whether u use public transport or not) pay a flat fee (which is less than half a student would pay) for public transportation during the school year.  If u drive, parking cud be a b!tch if u work or got business to do in the urban metros.

I wont fail to emphasize the weather. I've been here long enough and I don't for one bit, dig the weather. I've only learnt to live with the weather and structure my activities around it. The summers could be very hot, just that it's short.

At the end of the day, if asked if i'D still make the move, Yes I would. Life is all about challenges and in my sojourns on planet earth, there' no one place u can go where success is guaranteed.

Hey Shapey thats nice you're relocating to Canada.I live in Ottawa/Hamilton and its really good here.Seems your going to B.C which i can't say much about because i have not lived there but it is an international city(mostly asians though). Dont worry about the weather,in Vancouver you get more Rain than snow not like in Ontario.I'm sue you'll love it here, Cheers

From Halifax to Vancouver  girl that is some move7 hours time difference. 

Vancouver is booming alright, but rent is getting crazy, so are housing prices - the weather has been fantastic the last couple of days, not bad throughout winter at all. For someone looking to settle with a family though, you'll end up in the suburbs like Burnaby, Surrey and co if you want to afford rent/mortgage. The black population isn't too large and its 8 or 9 hours behind nigeria, so that takes getting used to as well.

Its also extraordinarily beautiful - mountains, the pacific and lovely weather all in one locationwish they had my kind of jobs there, then I wouldn't be leaving.   

Research, research, research. Thats what you need to do. 

Victoria?

Nah, its good to visit, but I wouldn't like to live with a bunch of rich white retirees. Was there last yr for the Naija soccer game.

I guess some people like the few black people thingbut it gets annoying after a while. Vancouver is lots of fun if you have some dough, plus there's a nudist beach there too if you roll that way 

yes I doVancity is like home for me, but now I live in Ottawa, just came back to finish up some school business. Vancouver has entertainment as well if you hang with the right folkmake sure you check out Au bar the next time you're there. I frankly don't like the nude beach - too many men with big stomachs walking over the place.  The beaches around stanley park are much better. Are you in DAL? I have a friend who moved to Vancouver from there like 3 years ago.

if ottawa is past bedtimethen you should be up already in Hali  I'm probably leaving Ottawa soon too though  moving to some small town called Peterborough, but I think I'll be here every other weekend, I need my social life. 

i'm actually in Vancouver right now, been here the past few days, so its still early over here. High ratio of women to men eh? Send me your addyI think I need to take a vacation over there

yes it is, about 90mins from Torontosend me the address quick, man isn't getting any younger y'know   

Muchbabe, u be Naija? Do I know u? How u go enta Hali without paying dues to the Mayor himself? Oya, identificate yourself sharp sharp!

@Amsky, Obviously, YHZ is one of my few bases in Canada.

@Debosky, u don jam olumo rock oh. _{I fit re-introduce u to Almond sha.}

@ Debosky,
ill have to send u the address in private so i don't have a lot of people trooping into Halifax, 

@Delta007
Of course am naija, so mr mayor where are u hiding because ive been in Hali since sept of 07. Am sure u don't know me, i don't go out much,

  homage fee, lol

yea i use msn, 

 

well since u tried dalhousie, u could check out saint mary's uni, mount allison, saint francis xavier, mount saint vincent,  all the schools are located in Nova Scotia which is where dal is.

@DELTA, thanks very much, i want to study petroleum engineering, and i studied civil engineering. thanks for d help, will expect yur response

That's another tough one, especially since you do not have an upper class GPA. I'm guessing that even if and when you are admitted, you'D be required to do some undergrad courses in Petroleum or Chemical Engineering.