hey in the very far away future i was thinking on maybe movin to canada if its a nice place. what im trying to figure out what it is like in genearal i know its diffrent with each province bu im trying to get a picture of what its like. what kind of taxes do you folks have up there? is there a lot of govemrent regulation like down here? any info at all would be apperciated.

 

I moved here from the SF Bay Area in 1980. I first surveyed the Vancouver area in 1976 and it reminded me of the Bay Area of the late 50's-60's, the perfect place to raise a family. There was plenty of work available with decent wages, all the housing outside the cities was on acreage and you couldn't tell that you were in a foriegn country unless you looked in your wallet.
Upon return to the States I applied for "Landed Immigrant Status" kind of like applying for a green card. My wife, newborn daughter and self went through three years of extensive backround, medical, police and employment searches before being accepted. I entered Canada Oct. 1, 1980 at the Pacific Boarder Crossing.
I have never regretted moving here and the most difficult things to accept is the different political style and the higher taxes. There is a fair amount of Govt. interfence in things like Fishing & Hunting but once you learn how the system works it's pretty easy.
I live in British Columbia, North of Wa. Id. & Mn. It has about every climate you could ask for, including a desert, glaciers, fiords, the Rockies etc. Whatever your lifestyle is you could find somewhere to settle down and enjoy the quiet, peaceful life up North.
My suggestion to you is... Take some vacations and look around up here. It' a big country with lots of room to grow.

JK

 

What things do you like or dislike ?

Every region of Canada is different.

Humid or Dry Climate

Average Temp

Average Rainfall/Snowfall

Topography

Geographically centered

Government influence


http://www.niagara.com/~freedom/accniag/truflg.htm

http://www.icomm.ca/emily/pictures.html

http://canada.gc.ca/main_e.html


http://jamesbredin.tripod.com/numberfour/id6.html

http://www.political-landscape.nelson.com/canpol.html


http://www.transcanadahighway.com/

I really can't think of Me living anywhere else.

I prefer Alberta for:

The proximity to the US,the Pacific Ocean,The Praries,The Mountains & the people.

 

thanks for the links millon,
what about ontario? i like the st lawerence and would probably be goin there. what about taxes and goverment regualtion there?

 

Don't you have to speak French to live in Ontario?

 

No you don't have to speak French! LoL! I live in Sarnia, Ontario.

We pay 7% GST (Goods & Service Tax) on everything and sometimes 8% PST (Provincial sales tax). Every province has a different PST. Sometimes you pay just GST sometimes GST and PST.

As far as Government regulation I don't know! LoL! I don't get involved. And isn't that a subject for the Off-Topic Lounge?

It is nice here. We are well taken care of and there is free health care (see above subject on taxes!) But, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

-Matt

 

Ontario is really nice where Nutter & Quadquism lives.

Port Perry & Peterborough respectively.

Tons of lakes & recreational areas.

Outside the Toronto area it is referred to the 905 districts.


Edit:
SCreeecccch !

That free health care in Ontario is what the 8% Pst pays for.
Alberta doesn't have a sales tax but has Medical premiums instead.

I've never been to Sarnia so I can comment on that.

If you want a quality lifestyle >>>Stay a long ways from Hamilton,Windsor,Toronto.

 

If you're a city slicker and you like the looks of Ontario, Toronto is your best bet. However, housing is expensive and don't even think about buying acreage within 50-60 miles of Toronto unless you're a millionaire. As far as cities go, Toronto is one of the best in the world, relatively low crime, lots of stuff to do, easy to get employment, etc but it is kind of expensive.

If you're a little more laid-back and into the country life, Northern Ontario is nice, property up there is dirt cheap, but its almost impossible to find work unless you're a mining engineer or a miner. Immigration is probably going to be a lot more likely to let you move in if you stay away from Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. This is where 99% of immigrants to Canada go and the government is trying to spread them out into the rural areas where there is a real need for workers.

Taxes are a bit of a pain, they're everywhere, we pay the equivalent of 2.60-3.00/gal for gas and if you work a 40 hour week, count on losing about 7-9 hours of pay (depending on what your wages are) to tax deductions. Healthcare is absolutely free. Going to college is cheap. New vehicles are more expensive than in the US but for some reason, it seems like used cars cost less here.

What kind of work do you do, because that will have a big effect on where you should look into moving to.

 

OK I want to join in here and ask a few more questions,the two things I am skilled at mechanics and carpentry, rely on populated areas,so what areas would be good to look into where,I could work in the city,but yet live in the country without having to spend a fortune on land(sounds like Toronto is out)

 

Well, I live in Sarnia, Ontario (as mentioned above). The city has 73,000 people (but it's actually closer to probably 100,000). Housing here is relatively cheap. My dad bought a house about 5 kilometres outside the city. It has a house and a 120' driveshed and is 5 acres. He bought it for $170,000. To rent here is relatively cheap. I used to rent a one bedroom apartment with everything included (hydro, water and cable) but no phone for $445 a month! Depending on what you want it is between $400-800 a month. I am renting a 2 bedroom 3 level townhouse for $610 a month plus hydro. Not too bad.

Minimum wage was just put up and is $7.15 an hour. ANy other questions? Feel free to ask!

-Matt

 

West is best
I wont try to talk you out of going to Ontario though....unless you want me to.
Like shakemyspeare pointed out gas seems expensive. Remember though that our gallons are bigger.
And when comparing prices take into consideration that the Canadian dollar is only worth about $.75 or thereabouts US.
Some things seem cheaper to buy in Canada. Computers for instance have posted prices that are close to the same on both sides of the border which would probably make them cheaper here.
We ship quite a few used trucks to the US as we get way more money for them there.
Generally Canada is a very laidback place. We dont get too excited about most things.....other than hockey, fishing, hunting, beer etc
Minimum wage in BC is $8 an hour. Vacation pay is mandatory. You get minimum 2 weeks paid vacation every year.

 

thanks for all the replys guys and gals thats what i was looking for=) what about the area near the st lawernce river, is it hevaly populated or rural? now i know northern new york is prettey cold in the winter and mild in the summer, the way i like it. i imagine its about the same in the ontraio area? one more thing, im a country person and want to stay that way are ther plenty of rural areas in southern ontario?

 

King Triton, you would have very little trouble finding a carpentry job in the Toronto area. The population around here is growing at 30,000/year and as a result there are a TON of new housing starts out in the suburbs and even in the city too. If you were interested in the Toronto area specifically you could probably find a couple acres outside a small town like Cambridge, Waterloo or Milton (they're only about an hour west of Toronto) or Bomanville, Blackstock or Oshawa (an hour east) and then only have yourself an easy 20-30 minute drive into the suburbs where all the new houses are going in. Basically, your commute in the morning would end in the place where most people start. The demand for skilled trades like plumbing, masonry, roofing and carpentry is really high so I'd go with that unless being a mechanic was much more enjoyable for you. For a piece of rural property, say about 2 acres you're probably looking at 250-350K to start, but this is Canadian money.

FERacing, The St Lawrence region is actually more Quebec than it is Ontario. But you could check out a town like Kingston which is on Lake Ontario just before it starts to drain into the St Lawrence river. Its not a big place so you wouldn't have any trouble finding a big piece of land out there. Like I said, you won't find any 'acreage' within 60 or 80 miles of Toronto. Once you get beyond that distance, you will start to find bigger properties, but if its the country life you want, check out places like Kingston, Peterborough, Sarnia or London. They're what I call big small towns.

 

Its simple !
If you are good at carpentry & you want in the south part of ontario, then i recommend Barrie.
Its close enough to the cities like toronto & mississauga.
They are always expanding, so that whole area is a goldmine for a fellow like yourself.

As for government, i work in it!
Its ok if your straight and honest.

that is dont go into the stixx where i am cause u wont like it nice an quiet where all the locals outsider's, are all tourists.

 

ok couple more questions,In mi there are certain restrictions on private hunting,if you own less than 40acres,does Canada?And what about retirement plans,401k investment,those kind of things?
AND Racerguy, B.C. sounds sweeeeeeeet!But your teasin right,mandatory vacation?