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cbkeni
member
Reasons why Canada is better than the States...and go!!
cbkeni
member
Hi,
I live in New Hampshire currently and I have decided that the states are just ass backwards and dumb. I'm seriously considering moving to Canada but I wanted to get some input on it from people who actually live there.
What are your main reasons you're glad to be Canadian? Also where should I consider moving to? And are there any reasons NOT to move to Canada?
FWIW DH and I are Bruins fans so please take that into consideration when suggesting cities...:)
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Reasons why Canada is better than the States...and go!!
It's definitely a toss up!
I love living in Canada (Toronto specifically), but I'm definitely jealous of the shopping options in the states, and the housing prices!
Free healthcare is a must though, I've read what some posters on the birth month boards are paying for their L&D, and if your LO has any health issues it's even higher!
The schools here are great as well, there are a ton of great communities for families; can't think of too much else that would be helpful.
Good luck with your decision!
I would definitely say that our healthcare system is much better, in that you don't have to pay for things like a visit to the emergency room or, having a baby! Plus, maternity leave benefits rock! 50 weeks paid leave, who could say no to that??
I also love the fact that most Canadians say "eh" a lot more than we think we do; we produce tv shows like Canada's Worst Driver/Handyman, instead of COPS; most Canadians don't, and will never, own a gun; we had the first Tim Horton's restaurants (along with the best donuts known to man!); POUTINE.
As for cities... If you're already on the east end of the country, I'm sure there's lots to choose from out there. I'm partial to my hometown, though: Kelowna, BC. We're not a huge city, but we're big enough to have our own hockey arena and passport office. We're not as big as Vancouver, but I like it that way. Kelowna used to be a retirement town, but we're growing a lot, and it's been a great place to grow up. Looking forward to raising my kids here!
If you are a Boston Bruins fan, you absolutely must come heckle at a Calgary Flames game. I swear there were more of us cheering for the Bruins than there was for the Shames. I'm a Canadiens fan since birth, and cheer for whoever plays the Flames. DH has always been a Bruins fan, and also cheers on the Red Wings.
I don't know if I could say go East or West, depends on what kind of jobs/ndustry you're in. The market here is picking up steam quickly. I know Torontonians will say they have more cultural activities, but I think that hasn't been true for a long time. I've spent lots of time across the country, but I choose to live here.
If I'm going to give our come West schpiel, I'll point out practical things. Car insurance is astronomically cheaper in Alberta. Gas is cheaper.Utilities are miles cheaper (trust me, my cousins and I compare bills. Property taxes and mill rates are much lower. Average income is higher, unemployement and underemployment is lower. More rec facilities per capita. The utilities system isn't in need of a major overhaul at the expense of rate payers. The only down side is that property prices (other than Toronto/GTA) are slightly higher on average, but coming from Boston, it won't be much of a sticker shock.
On a not so practical note, our beer is phenomenal, and you must must must come to the Calgary Stampede, cowboy or not. And eat beef. Oh, and we have Mantracker. Terry rocks. And we don't live in igloos, we're too far south of the tundra. And chinooks, nothing better than going from -25C to 20C in less than a day!!!
ETA: I can't think of practical reasons not to live here, but DH's family deliberately immigrated here from England, so they chose to live here. People flock here because it is a great place to live. And aside from our shopping lacking in the value department (not terribly though), we live close enough to Kalispell MT and Spokane WA to zip across and satisfy my shopping bug.
Haha I kinda
you! Also you made me giggle cause I have no idea what a "mill rate" is...
Yea I'm definitely trying to convince DH to move. He's not against it he just says he's "not ready yet"...WTH?!? Anyway I
beer so I'm in.
Mill rate = property tax rate. The higher the mill rate, the more tax you pay. It's icky.
And mmmmmmmm beer. Saving me some Stella for New Years.