A few quick questions for Canadians?

Question

I am considering moving to Canada and any answers are appreciated:

1) How is the healthcare system in Canada?

2) Are food prices reasonable?

3) What is a general cost of living in a decent apartment or small house for one?

4) How many sick days/paid vacation days do you get?

5) Are people generally nice?

6) Taxes?

7) How's the economy?

8) What are gas prices (regular)?

9) What's the weather like?

10) Cost of college?

Answer 1

Better start applying for a visa, it takes a couple of years at least.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/

Answer 2

1; Healthcare is free except drugs but they are lower priced than the US.  Unfortunately the waiting lines for help in the hospitals is too long (3-6hrs) and in some areas trying to find a family doctor is real hard (not enough around).

2: Food prices are comparable to the US and in fact some are lower (not a lot).  Restaurants are similar and again both same and higher and some things lower than the US).

3:  Apartment pricing for a one bedroom rental ranges from 700 and up depending on building and locale but decent ones are over $1000/month.  House rentals start in the 1200 and go up from there in most of the cities.  Townhouse rentals are similar with most houses in the 1500 and up.  You'll have to hunt to find a bargain.

4: Many companies offer 10 days paid vacation per year and from 6-12 sick days a year.  Gov't rules in Ontario for example state 4% of pay for the year as vacation pay for employees but some places are open to negotiation.

5: most canucks are friendly and open and receptive to newcomers.

6:  Taxes are high with income tax taking over 20% (sliding scale) and then all the other taxes, gst, pst (except alberta), excise taxes on beer, gasoline etc.

7:  Economy is rather good considering we are so tied to the US business systems.  We actually have just started slowing down and layoffs etc are just starting in some industries.  Housing is still going not too bad except in cottage country.

8: depends where in the country you are regular is currently priced from $1.25/litre to 1.51/litre or 4.72 - 5.70/US gallon.  So buy a fuel efficient vehicle.

9: We have all four seasons and the west and east coasts have more rain than other areas but less sun than southern US.  Loads of snow thru most of the country although southern alberta has less than many other areas. So warm summers, cool autumn and spring and cold (I mean cold) winters.

10: College for citizens is not too bad with courses ranging from 2000 to over 4000 for courses.  Depends on your choice of subjects and such.  Pricing really varies across the country.

Depending on where you are going to live will make pricing for all the above different from other areas.  Not all areas of canada offer as many services or colleges etc.  Taxes vary across the country as well.  Cost of living for utilities and communications vary as well so for example it costs more to rent in Toronto than Elliot lake.

Answer 3

The first responder got most of your questions answered correctly except for one...

1) How is the healthcare system in Canada?

He wrote: "1; Healthcare is free..."

Healthcare is NOT free; never was, isn't now and never will be. Canadians pay a lot of tax to cover the cost of medical care. We have universal health care which simply refers to free access. While we do not have to pay up front to see a doctor, we do pay through our taxes. Thus, healthcare is not free.

Answer 4

I agree with everyone.  good luck

Answer 5

These are very general questions, would be easier to answer if you specified a city or province but I'll do my best!

1) How is the healthcare system in Canada? Looking at the big picture of things, unlike the U.S. no one in Canada will go bankrupt or have to sell their house because they got cancer or had to have some major surgury. But I'm pretty sure we have longer ER waits and less doctors. Its getting better I believe but a few years ago we were harshly short on doctors/nurses. But Ontario has the best general healthcare. Highest taxes yes, but best healthcare.

2) Are food prices reasonable? Yes. And we have higher quality standards for our foods. Dairy and meat especially. But I do have to say I bought a box of Froot Loops cereal in the states recently and man are they good! lol!

3) What is a general cost of living in a decent apartment or small house for one? Depends on the province and city. Per month: out east for an apartment maybe $400-$700. Ontario $500-$1000. Although Toronto is pretty bad for rent. Out west you're looking at a minimum of $950. But out in Alberta right now theres ALOT of high paying jobs.

4) How many sick days/paid vacation days do you get? All depends on where you work. Government employees get the best. Actually its nut the amount of time they have. Family days, sick days, appointment days, personal days. As for vacation days you will get a minimum of 2 weeks. This goes up in most places once you've been there for 5 years. My mother has worked for the government for 25 years and she gets like 8 weeks paid vacation a year.. plus all the other paid leaves I just mentioned. Lol, man I wish I got a government job!

5) Are people generally nice? You will find rude, inconsiderate and racist people no matter where in the world you are. But yes, we're generally nice.

6) Taxes? Again, Ontario has the highest. People that make good money $50,000 a year plus get about 45% of their paycheck deducted for taxes, unemployment insurance, C.P.P., etc.

7) How's the economy? Alberta is the best right now. Places are closing up early because they don't have enough employees to work the shifts. Out east there really isn't much work right now and Ontario is starting to get bad. Although Ottawa has a pretty good job market.

8) What are gas prices (regular)? Right now, where I live $1.35/L. Soon to be going up to $1.50/L.

9) What's the weather like? Again depends where. Out west gets alot of rain. Ontario's weather is like a rollercoaster, never know what its going to be like. And places like Newfoundland gets ridiculus amounts of snow.

10) Cost of college? Approx. $2,000-$3,000 a year plus books, parking costs, etc. Books would run you about $300-$600. Unless you go to one of those private colleges like CDI or Everest, they're about $11,000 a year all included. Also it may depend on what program. Aprenticships you'd have to buy tools, safety boots, anything required. While anything medical requires certain shots and lab fees. I took law, so there was no extra fees like that.

Hope this helps! Feel free to e-mail me from my profile page with any other questions!

Answer 6

1. Free, but we do pay for it in taxes. For many people, it is a great advantage though. Long line-ups, but available to everyone.

2. Food prices are comparable to the States.

3. Right now, my apartment in dowtown Vancouver is costing me about $2000 a month. Pretty average. Similar to most other main cities. And i am assuming that you are going to live in or near a city.

4. Depends where youre gonna work...but Im sure its also comparable to the States.

5. Generally, yes.

6. High. For healthcare

7. Going pretty strong as of right now, but i have a sinking feeling that the US is going to drag us down with them.

8. Here, it is usually $1.25/litre. I heard in Montreal it got up to $1.50 or something crazy.

9. Weather varies. Alot. I could help you out a bit more if i knew where you wanted to go, but there is lots of info online you could check out. And its not really cold everywhere.

10. Reasonable. Msot schools are cheaper than US ones. Again, lots of info online.