Canadians out there, Please help!!!!?

Question

After watching the movie "Sicko" from Michael Moore, I am interested of moving to Toronto, Canada by the end of this year.

I just wonder any Canadian out there could help me with these following questions:

(i) Is there really "free" health care system? as it indicated in the movie.

(ii) Is it really "free" education system? for college classes? and higher education? as it said in the movie.

(iii) Is it easy to find a job in healthcare field with a phd diploma?

(iv) is it easy to find a job in the Lab Tech/ Analytical Chemistry/ Research and Development?

(v) Is owning a home or renting expensive?

(vi) I know it is cold, but I can survive, because I live in South Dakota.

(v) I know tax is higher than US, but no problem.

(vi) Is life easier there than US?

(vii) Any other information from you all are greatly appreciative.

I hope to hear from you all. Best wishes.

Answer 1

i'm  a PR here in the US... but before moving here, i used to live in canada.

i agree with lonya. the waiting times are LONG. there also is a huge shortage of doctors. i wasn't able to get a family doctor in my 2 years of living there. my family doesn't even have a family doctor yet and they've lived there for 3 years now. i have a friend who needs an MRI badly (she had a stroke) but couldn't get an appointment until months later. good thing the husband was rich, they paid out of their pockets in order to get the help she needed.

i've been annoyed with that movie since it misleads a lot of people.

as for real estate, it's the same in the US... it depends on where you live. i lived in vancouver and the cost of houses there are 3x-4x higher than the prices here in seattle. same with rent.

Answer 2

Do your homework, that move sicko was based on biased and didn't tell the whole story.

Your going to need to check to see if it's worth it money wise just for healthcare.

Answer 3

i) No it is not free we do have higher taxes than the States. However, the average cost of healthcare per Canadian per year is $3, 500, for American insurance it is averaged at $7, 000. You do not have to pay to visit your doc up front it is covered by taxes.

ii) Again, we do have higher taxes. But compared to the States the cost of college and university is less. And undergraduate degree here averages at only $4, 000 a year.

iii) Yes, it differs from province to province, but a lot of provinces are short of doctors and are in a hiring frenzy. We are looking to get docs to Canada and stop them from leaving. A doctor makes more in America than Canada because an American doc can exploit the system.

iv) Same idea as before.

v) The markets are currently hot. The most expensive homes are in Calgary. The average cost of a home in the Toronto area is $300, 000.

vi) As far as Canada goes the Toronto area is quite mild. West of Ontario the winters are very cold averaging - 30'c. But Toronto is a bit warmer. However, it is on the edge of the snow belt.

vii) Taxes are indeed higher. But the government provides more services, healthcare, education subsidization, farming subsidization, the CBC, car and home insurance, along with all the things the American gov. does.

viii) I have never lived in the US so, I can not really comment. Toronto is our largest city, and we often joke it is our more American city. But there are some differences.

I hope your travels are safe and that you come and enjoy Canada. I love this country and I hope you will too.

Answer 4

I am not a Canadian but I am an American living in Canada.  First of all, you will not be able to just move up to Toronto without a visa.  If you are looking to work then you must qualify as a skilled worker and get an immigrant visa.

(i)healthcare is paid for by taxes----so essentially it is not FREE.  Basically, everyone has the equivelant of medicare.  If you need a dentist, optometrist, or other specialist it is usually not covered.  We have a supplement insurance provided through my husbands employer.  It is good and it is much cheaper than in the US but we still have to pay the premiums.  Also, going to a specialist is not easy.  I have to see an Orthopedic surgeon and my appointment was booked in June for the end of November.  Long waiting times.  

(ii) everything is not free here.  I am currently in a graduate program and it is not free.  

(iii) don't know about this

(iv) don't know about this

(v)  NO.  Real estate is expensive.  Rent is expensive.  Toronto will be expensive.  We live in Edmonton, a fairly large city, a 3 bedroom home (1500sq feet) will cost on average of 350,000$CAN.  Most condos and/or apartments will rent for about 1300.00/month here.

(vi)winters are long and cold here.  Toronto is warmer than Edmonton

(vii)  taxes are much higher

(viii)  life is not easier here, you still have to work, pay taxes, follow the laws, and raise your own kids.

(ix)  you need to know the Metric system and Standard conversions.  Immigrating to Canada is not easy--it is a long process.  Sometimes it can take years to get your approval.

Hope this was helpful.  Good Luck.

You can go to the CIC website to find out how to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker.  www.cic.gc.ca