Anyone live in Canada?

calibride2005 · November 2011

You all have given me great ideas as to where to live....now its just a matter of deciding where and when. Decisions, decisions. We have never lived anywhere but here in CA...well I lived in AZ for a year when I was 18. Anyone live in Canada? It is beautiful up there too (at least when I visited). How is it living wise?

Ahhh help me make a decision! lol

thewayiam · November 2011

Yes, I do. I'm Canadian and I love living here. Like the U.S., Canada is huge and geographically diverse. So it depends on what you're looking for. I've missed your story - why do you need to find a new place to live?

johnscou · November 2011

I live in Canada. Its a nice place to live, just depends where in Canada you want to live. Out east, out west , Ontario?

calibride2005 · November 2011

We are looking for a change in scenery and CA is just getting way too expensive!

luvboston · November 2011

My DH is Canadian and I tried to live there but hated it. The cost of living is very expensive and food is sooo expensive. Also the health care is not up to par. They left me gushing blood during my m/c and I had to fly to the states.

jkfranklin · November 2011

I've seriously considered it. One year of maternity leave? Heck ya!

thewayiam · November 2011

luvboston:
My DH is Canadian and I tried to live there but hated it. The cost of living is very expensive and food is sooo expensive. Also the health care is not up to par. They left me gushing blood during my m/c and I had to fly to the states.

Very sorry you had such a bad experience during your miscarriage. That must have been terrible. I would hate to think that you're generalizing about all Canadian medical care, though, as my health care is very much up to par, and I had excellent care during/following my own D&C, and didn't receive a bill for it. Everyone here gets health care, as I'm sure you know. After all the posts I've read on the Bump about the costs of having a D&C, ultrasound, childbirth, fertility care, etc. I'm glad that cost doesn't come into play for the decisions that we make regarding our baby-making. When we lived in the U.S. for a few years, while fully insured, we had some problems with the health care we received, but I'm not going to generalize that to all of the U.S.

The cost of living is a little higher here, this is true.

I'm sorry you hated Canada so very much, and am glad you're happy now "luv-ing" Boston. I hope you have a better experience this time around with your health care, and I hope your DH enjoys living across the border.

piedpiper07 · November 2011

I really like living in Canada! Depends what you like but I find it to have way less people and quite a bit more outdoorsy type of stuff (unless of course you want to live near Toronto).

About the health care, I can't complain. I have never had anything bad happen or known anyone to have any terrible experiences with it. Sometimes waiting can be more so than in the states (maybe a few hours at a busy ER) but then again that being said I am definitely willing to wait a little bit extra if that means everyone gets care no matter what.

The food is a bit more expensive, but I just find that the social programs are so much better!

luvboston · November 2011

thewayiam:
luvboston:
My DH is Canadian and I tried to live there but hated it. The cost of living is very expensive and food is sooo expensive. Also the health care is not up to par. They left me gushing blood during my m/c and I had to fly to the states.

Very sorry you had such a bad experience during your miscarriage. That must have been terrible. I would hate to think that you're generalizing about all Canadian medical care, though, as my health care is very much up to par, and I had excellent care during/following my own D&C, and didn't receive a bill for it. Everyone here gets health care, as I'm sure you know. After all the posts I've read on the Bump about the costs of having a D&C, ultrasound, childbirth, fertility care, etc. I'm glad that cost doesn't come into play for the decisions that we make regarding our baby-making. When we lived in the U.S. for a few years, while fully insured, we had some problems with the health care we received, but I'm not going to generalize that to all of the U.S.

The cost of living is a little higher here, this is true.

I'm sorry you hated Canada so very much, and am glad you're happy now "luv-ing" Boston. I hope you have a better experience this time around with your health care, and I hope your DH enjoys living across the border.

The D&C was not my only incident with the Canadian healthcare system. I had bleeding problems for months and they never thought to send me for an u/s. I had a doctor actually tell me my case was to complex and that I should go back to the states. Also they tried to get me a gyn appt and the first available was 7 months away. My friend who is Canadian almost died and so did her child because the ER doctors didn?t know to test for RH factor. Then they gave her all kinds of meds throughout her pregnancy that were not safe. If she hadn?t googled each one her child would have died or come out with severe developmental problems. Our other friend works for the health service and got a pinched nerve in his neck which took them 8 months to diagnose because they didn?t send him for an MRI. Then he finally had surgery 7 months later. And it?s a lie that Canadians don?t pay for healthcare because in BC they pay a monthly fee and prescription drugs are very expensive. Also you have to have alternative secondary insurance for many things.

Another factor is that getting through the immigration process can take 2yrs and you have to have a medical exam if you don?t pass your out. And there is a huge disparity in care across the entire country. In Alberta there is no infertility coverage.

The US isn't perfect either but don't move with your eyes closed

thewayiam · November 2011

luvboston:
thewayiam:

luvboston:
My DH is Canadian and I tried to live there but hated it. The cost of living is very expensive and food is sooo expensive. Also the health care is not up to par. They left me gushing blood during my m/c and I had to fly to the states.

Very sorry you had such a bad experience during your miscarriage. That must have been terrible. I would hate to think that you're generalizing about all Canadian medical care, though, as my health care is very much up to par, and I had excellent care during/following my own D&C, and didn't receive a bill for it. Everyone here gets health care, as I'm sure you know. After all the posts I've read on the Bump about the costs of having a D&C, ultrasound, childbirth, fertility care, etc. I'm glad that cost doesn't come into play for the decisions that we make regarding our baby-making. When we lived in the U.S. for a few years, while fully insured, we had some problems with the health care we received, but I'm not going to generalize that to all of the U.S.

The cost of living is a little higher here, this is true.

I'm sorry you hated Canada so very much, and am glad you're happy now "luv-ing" Boston. I hope you have a better experience this time around with your health care, and I hope your DH enjoys living across the border.

The D&C was not my only incident with the Canadian healthcare system. I had bleeding problems for months and they never thought to send me for an u/s. I had a doctor actually tell me my case was to complex and that I should go back to the states. Also they tried to get me a gyn appt and the first available was 7 months away. My friend who is Canadian almost died and so did her child because the ER doctors didn?t know to test for RH factor. Then they gave her all kinds of meds throughout her pregnancy that were not safe. If she hadn?t googled each one her child would have died or come out with severe developmental problems. Our other friend works for the health service and got a pinched nerve in his neck which took them 8 months to diagnose because they didn?t send him for an MRI. Then he finally had surgery 7 months later. And it?s a lie that Canadians don?t pay for healthcare because in BC they pay a monthly fee and prescription drugs are very expensive. Also you have to have alternative secondary insurance for many things.

Another factor is that getting through the immigration process can take 2yrs and you have to have a medical exam if you don?t pass your out. And there is a huge disparity in care across the entire country. In Alberta there is no infertility coverage.

The US isn't perfect either but don't move with your eyes closed

Well, I'm sorry that you and everyone you know has had terrible experiences here. I don't know how I'm surviving, or how any healthy children are ever born here.

Myself, I got into my ferility doctor within a week or two. I had regular check-ups and follow-ups after every procedure that I've had in my very long and drawn-out gyne history. I've encountered good doctors/offices here, and less proficient ones as well, just like I did in New York.

And immigration - if you'd like to open the can of worms about mine and my DH's experiences with immigration to the U... well, I don't have the time right now and am not into cross-border bashing. This conversation is a losing battle.

OP, don't move anywhere with your eyes closed, obviously. Good luck to you wherever you move.

princesscto · November 2011

jkfranklin:
I've seriously considered it. One year of maternity leave? Heck ya!

I am Canadian! I live in Ontario, I love it and wouldn't live anywhere else!

and yes one whole year of maternity leave! I am very much looking forward to it!

princesscto · November 2011

thewayiam:
luvboston:
My DH is Canadian and I tried to live there but hated it. The cost of living is very expensive and food is sooo expensive. Also the health care is not up to par. They left me gushing blood during my m/c and I had to fly to the states.

Very sorry you had such a bad experience during your miscarriage. That must have been terrible. I would hate to think that you're generalizing about all Canadian medical care, though, as my health care is very much up to par, and I had excellent care during/following my own D&C, and didn't receive a bill for it. Everyone here gets health care, as I'm sure you know. After all the posts I've read on the Bump about the costs of having a D&C, ultrasound, childbirth, fertility care, etc. I'm glad that cost doesn't come into play for the decisions that we make regarding our baby-making. When we lived in the U.S. for a few years, while fully insured, we had some problems with the health care we received, but I'm not going to generalize that to all of the U.S.

The cost of living is a little higher here, this is true.

I'm sorry you hated Canada so very much, and am glad you're happy now "luv-ing" Boston. I hope you have a better experience this time around with your health care, and I hope your DH enjoys living across the border.

I agree with this, I"m sorry you had such a horrible experience. xoxo

kcanuck · November 2011

I'm Canadian and currently living in Alberta (which is where I'm originally from). I also lived in the states for over 4 years. I've had poor experience with Drs on either side of the border...but one of the major things about moving back to Canada was the health care and education costs. I don't find the cost of living that much more here, honestly, and my taxes are about the same. Plus I'm making double than I was in the states.

That being said, I have a great Dr here, I love living in Calgary as it is a fun city with lots to do. Love being close to the mountains!

Down sides include a long snowy winter. My DH is from New Zealand and finds our weather 'inhumane' to use a direct quote. I'd love to move to NZ, but my folk would lose their minds!!

Moving to Calgary from Ca might be a shock climate-wise, but we do have a pretty rocking economy, lots of jobs, and lots of skiing etc.

Missuskeekers · November 2011

I live in Canada (bc to be exact) and definitely enjoy our healthcare system and am looking forward to a year of mat leave. Regarding pp I don't know what happened with her or her friend but sounds very unfortunate. I was tested for rh when I had my first miscarriage and was not left bleeding, I had a d&c (for free of course) at a hospital where I received excellent care and have had multiple ultrasounds (also free) due to spotting to make sure everything is ok. I also got my ob appt with my preferred (very popular and highest rated) OB within 2 weeks. But this is all besides the point. I live near Vancouver and yes it's HCOL but it's beautiful and consistently rated one of the best place in the world to live.

tiffanyings · November 2011

I live in New Brunswick Canada- in the maritimes. Been here all my life and I love it. Where I live it's peaceful and small and great for raising a child. Our healthcare is okay- I mean we pay for medicare through our taxes so I guess you can't really consider it "free" but most people do. I find our "free" healthcare comes with a cost, because you don't always get the best service. But there are great healthcare workers out there too. Our island that we live on is in the top 3 islands to live in the world. Which is weird because we are not tropical in the least lol.. but I get to see the ocean everyday.

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