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I am glad someone is honest about the problem.\n\nI'm surprised by how much everyone promotes moving to Nova Scotia, given the housing shortage that has led to exorbitantly high rents, a one-bedroom apartment in an old building costs 1,600, and in new building costs 3,500 per month. And for three people I pay 85 dollars of electricity every two months. Internet is 105 dollars per month. Professional salaries barely cover rent, food, and car expenses, as they are quite low, often ranging between $50,000 and $60,000 for positions requiring 5 to 10 years of experience, and sometimes even lower. Before you even see your paycheck, expect at least 30% to be deducted for taxes, as calculated by a Nova Scotia tax calculator. The healthcare system is struggling; last year, joining a list to be assigned a family doctor was estimated to take up to three years. For those seeking care at walk-in clinics, you must arrive before 7 am and wait in line; they only see the first 15 people, typically just on Mondays. If you're last, you might wait until noon or later to be seen. After working for 40 years, the pension is approximately $1,200, or less if you haven't worked the full duration with salaries over 60,000. \n \nI forgot to mention that prices in stores are without an additional 15% tax, you should add that to every product or service you purchase. If you want to go to a restaurant, an economical one, and buy a lasagna and something to drink, it will cost you at least 70 dollars. McDonalds and Tim Hortons, for three people, may cost 40 dollars, but it is your health. \n \nThe government is investing millions to attract students and new immigrants, making labor significantly cheaper for large companies. Individuals with low wages can't even afford the cheapest rent, resulting in some living in tents across cities and towns in Nova Scotia. With an annual inflation rate of 15% to 25%—and the official rate reflecting only a detailed list of products deemed as basic food items by the government—only the minimum wage is legally required to increase when deemed appropriate by the government. Other wages increase only if the employer decides to do so. How often do they do this out of kindness to their employees? That's a good question. \n \nYour work experience in other countries does not count. They want people with Canadian experience, so it is better to think you will start with a 35,000 salary per year. A house cost between 450,000 to 2,500,000. When are you going to save to pay for a house? The cheapest ones can be 200 years old. A 100 m2 apartment, new, not very elegant but nice, can cost more than 2 million dollars in downtown Halifax. People say it is due to money laundry, and for sure is not because the medium class is buying them. \n \nI have many friends, who graduated from Canadian colleges and universities that haven't gotten a job in their career even after four years of graduation... and the list is longer. Please, be honest with people like these girls.

I had my last straw over four years ago when I left my job in Canada.

How is it possible that one man has literally destroyed this country in the last four years ?????

Canada has high quality every thing as well. The only issue I have with our health care (in Ontario it is called O.H.I.P. - Ontario Health Insurance Plan) is that sometimes there are long waits for specialists and specialized tests. I have had a reason to be a burden on our heath care system recently. In December of last year I did some major damage to my arm (severed the vein, nerve and muscle that works the inside part of my left arm). I had an argument with my angle grinder while using a thin metal cut off blade. My angle grinder won the fight! I was in hospital for 19 days, had three surgeries, attended an out patient hand therapy clinic for 5 months, had a nurse come to my home to change my dressing twice a week for 5 months, then attended a nursing health care facility for four months, and about 5 follow up visits (so far!) with the plastic surgeon. I know what this cost me in Canada. $0.00. Any guesses what that would have cost with no medical plan in the U.S.? Me either but I know I would have that debt for a long time I'm sure!

Been in Canada for approximately 25 years. I can say that the effect that Canada has on a legal immigrant is neither here nor there. If you can make lemonade out of any lemon you’re dealt, you will thrive in Canada (and anywhere else where your efforts are not overwhelmingly quashed by corruption, blatant racism or other forms of segregation). \n \nLynn, I was a lecturer in Kenya, went back to school here in Canada after wallowing in culture shock the first year, then circled back to teaching in college again after an arduous journey in school, but this time in a different field. \n \nAfter becoming a single mother of four kids, I had to also hustle on the side to build a small business empire along my life’s ladder. Partnership with God, goal clarity, the get-up-and-go, and relentlessness truly work. It isn’t the size of the dog but the fight in the dog that does it, regardless of where you live. \n \nThe starting point for a new immigrant can be very low due to the weather, unpreparedness and culture shock, but if you know that the only way is up, and are self-motivated, those challenges are soon behind you as the tests become testimonies. \n \nBy comparison people have more human rights here regardless of their status. The wheels of justice grind slow but they do grind fine. Women and children have equal rights with men. Politicians are mostly there to serve not necessarily to exploit. \n \nOpportunities for self-development galore - including being trained to become employable and going to school at any age (sometimes for free while you are still at the bottom of the ladder). There are food banks so you never go hungry if it came to that. The disabled are better treated with dignity. \n \nThere are prolonged parental leaves for both moms and dads for up to 18 months. Commensurate with earnings, parents under certain thresholds are given Canada child tax benefits and other supplements for each child under 18 years of age. \n \nDepending on the number of kids and their ages, the money can add up handsomely. Not to mention that there’s no tuition to pay for primary and high school students. Tuition fees start at post-secondary level. \n \nTo see a doctor is free as it is paid for by taxes. It the meds that you and/or your insurance pays for. Some medical equipments may be paid for by either or both the individual/insurance and the government depending on eligibility. \n \nBy and large, there’s cleanliness of common spaces. There’s also safety and relative peace. At least wherever I have lived, I can’t tell you how many times I forgot to lock my door with impunity. \n \nThere’s a lot more stressful work here in my opinion, but like you said Lynn, systems work a lot more efficiently and effectively. \n \nThe elephant in the room is the extra hard work that those living abroad must put in to fulfil expectations back home. Also known as black tax, the overwhelming financial dependency of relatives on their diasporan loved ones places undue stress on many here, especially because there are no short cuts to getting money here. \n \nAnyway, Lynn, thanks for such a great topical issue you’ve shared. I have to stop here as I have written a lot. Hope this helps someone on this forum. \n \nAnd last but not least, you’ll be proud to hear that even though Canada has been good to me, my face may now be turning towards home to see how I can be of use to mama Africa. Super excited!

Betweet 2003 and 2015, I lived in the US for four and half years. And I once thought about it in 2011 (while in LA). And when I got back the last time in 2015, I said that I would not come back. And I haven't even set a foot there since. I'd only go back for work.

Over four times as many Canadians moved to the US last year, than vice versa...

Bro, Your So Focused On CANADA, But Your NOT Focused Enough In Your Back Yard! You Guys Are In TROUBLE! You Are On The Edge Of Collapse! If Trump Gets Into Power, Then It's ALL OVER!\nI Have Spent The Last Four Years Of My MIND Focused 24-7 All Attention To The US. SO TECHNICALLY I'M ALREADY LIVING DOWN SOUTH And My BODY Is In CANADA!\nTRUMP IS SUCH A THREAT, I Cannot Afford Not To Stay Away! Your Government Is Very Unstable! The Republican GOP Are Property Of Maga Trump And They Praise Vladimir Putin WHO IS A MASS SERIAL KILLER! CORRUPTION In WASHINGTON DC Out Of Control Which Most Of The Politicians Have Been BRIBED By Corporate Elites. Desantis Is A Fascist Ideologist And Has Converted Many Laws In Florida Exactly The Same In Hungary, Run By Dictator ORBAN. Who The Republican Invited To CPAC To Spread His NAZI IDEOLOGY On To Americans. The Supreme Court Are Rouge! Turning Back Many LAWS! Back Fifty Years! Everything That's Been Accomplished For The PAST DECADES Is All In VAIN - CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS OUT OF CONTROL! Influenced By BILLIONAIRES! JUSTICE ROBERTS IS A PIECE OF SCUM AND TRAITOR. THAT RIGHT THERE IS A SIGN YOUR COUNTRY IS GOING BACKWARDS!\n2024 ELECTION IS GOING TO BE THE MOST SCARIEST ELECTION IN HISTORY! 2024 COULD BE THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY And One Step Away From CIVIL WAR! TRUMP SUPPORTERS, 1/3 Of The Population, 76 Million ARE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT TRUMP LOSING IN 2024! If TRUMP WINS, The LEFT Will Believe The Election Was Rigged BECAUSE TRUMP IS AN ENEMY AND TRAITOR CRIMINAL HUNGRY FOR POWER!\nEVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE! VOTE BLUE IF YOU VALUE YOUR DEMOCRACY AND YOUR LIFE BECAUSE EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE TOMORROW AND YOU'LL LOSE EVERYTHING IF TRUMP MAGA HAVE THEIR WAY! DARK TIMES AHEAD BRO. I gotta Get Back On Twitter And Help Fight To Save OUR DEMOCRACY BECAUSE THEIR OTHER CHOICE. Their Are Still Many People That Are Not Informed By What's Happening, So Need To Find Them And Teach The Realities On What's Happening Till 2024 Election! If You Go On To Twitter, Look My Name Up! I Do Digital Artwork And Have Plenty Their. Alot Of It Is Political! Peace Bro????

I'm homeless, Navy Veteran and work full time. If housing programs can't help homeless Americans, how can we help immigrants. I want a home too. Update: I'll elaborate more on my situation. I served for four years. I lost my job as an Uber driver in 2018 after my car got repossessed. I live with my fiance who has PTSD from her family upbringing. She tries to work but she doesn't last long. We have gone to 3 different housing programs and they prove to be unhelpful. You make too much money from working they can't help you, if you make too little money they can't help you. WTF!!! All housing that is offered is usually in areas that are in high theft and homeless areas. People steal from you and you up right back in the streets. One program helped me become a fully trained security guard. We have also been in two car accidents, none were our fault. But now I'm stuck just living in a car and working full time. After I work all night I drive around at gas stations, asking people for money for gas and food. Every check I get goes to gas, food and bills. We manage our money wisely. Our money last a day and then we have to go straight back to asking for money again. Everyone I have asked for help is always a broken promise. I don't know what to do anymore.

I think you ladies are way out in left field and you really don't know what you're talkin about. Unfortunately for some people it doesn't work out for whatever reason usually because they do not want to assimilate very well. I grew up in Ontario to a french-canadian father and an Italian mother in my life in Canada was so perfect said if I had to dream up a better life I could not have done so. I grew up playing all the sports and enjoyed all the different sports and the changes of seasons. My parents had a summer home on the st-lawrence river and every summer we water-ski swam fished, play golf in the morning and barbecues every night right on the water. Even though my grandfather was in the hotel business I was all about sports and enjoying everything about it. I grew up in a town of about 50 thousand about 40 miles from Montreal. When I wanted some great nightlife just drove a short drive to Montreal and it had everything did anyone could want in Nightlife. I have lived in United States for forty years and I can tell you that it really isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Heaven forbid should you get some kind of catastrophic illness you are screwed. I knew a woman who work for travelers insurance for 30 years at the best insurance a money could buy had suffered a couple of strokes and was on the verge of going broke had she not died when she died. People think that insurance continues to pay his long as you're ill and nothing could be further from the truth. This lady was going to have to sell her house to continue paying for round-the-clock care had she not died when she did. United States middle class is getting wiped out. I've seen enough poverty and hardship in this country to last a lifetime. I find greed to be running rampant in this country. When I grew up in Canada there was always the grass is greener on the other side and when I did move over to the other side the US that is I can tell you unequivocally the dead grass is not greener on the other side. There are more millions and millions of people here that are one or two paychecks away from being homeless. And we're talkin 2023. Now let's talk about violence. There is a mass murder in the United States every single day of the year. And a mass murder is defined by four or more people being killed by one person at one time. Killing these so out of control in the United States that now even six-year-olds are shooting their teacher. I find a tremendous amount of built-up Anger from people. Food is very expensive and shelter is also out of control and non affordable to most people. Again I find United States being able to paint a much Rosier picture then does really exist. And there are more con artists and thieves , Crooks, con-artists, bamboozlers, cheats and scammers then anywhere that I've ever been. And I will say this is it it ain't getting any better and I don't see it ever getting better. I find it is everybody out for themselves no matter who they cheat. I live in Southern California and I can tell you that night life where I live is non-existent. Understand that LA and Hollywood they always have to glamorize everything to sell it to tourists. Just remember that things today are not what they were 40 years ago. Middle-class people in Canada would also be just middle-class people in the US. But if your life means anything to you as far as safety and raising a family then Canada wins hands down end of discussion. People that say Canada is boring is because they are boring. That's what I found to be pretty standard across the board. Life is what you make of it. But I will say that you gals definitely need to move away if you don't like Canada. Do not let the door hit your ass on the way out. And just for your information Canada ranks annually as one of the top countries in the world to immigrate to. Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area and next to Saudi Arabia has the third largest oil Reserves in the world. Canada has huge amount of freshwater which most of the rest of the world seems to be lacking and having spent my Summers on the Saint Lawrence River one of the Great Rivers in this world. I wouldn't change my twenty years in Canada for anyplace else in this world and I will be moving back shortly.

First let me say that every country and I do mean every single one has their pluses and minuses Canada's major plus is the fact that crime is almost nonexistent as opposed to the United States where there is a mass murder every single day and a mass murder defined as four or more people killed in One Time by one person this does not even count where there is just two or three people killed at one time they're not included in the statistics the United States is out of control with violence guns you name it and I've lived here for 40 years I spent the first 20 years in Canada in my life was so perfect that I can't even dream of a better life the problem with most people is they move to the larger cities Vancouver Toronto I grew up 40 miles outside of Montreal on the great Majestic St Lawrence River one of the truly great rivers in this world my parents had a summer home on the river and every summer it was water skiing fishing boating golfing swimming you name it growing up 40 miles outside of Montreal if you wanted The Nightlife of Montreal one of the great International cities in this world then you could just drive there in less than an hour and enjoy the great nightlife that is Montreal as someone who is French and Italian I loved the winters because ice hockey was my favorite sport and I played all the sports nothing even comes close to the speed skill and excitement of ice hockey it is like soccer on steroids they're only two cold months during the winter January and February and even then it's really enjoyable as long as the temperature stayed below 32° I was happy because that meant that they could make outdoor ice rinks and I could enjoy my favorite sport of ice hockey all winter long Outdoors as someone who's lived all over the United States over the last 40 years I wouldn't trade Canada for any place else the United States is full of scammers I've been in all kinds of businesses working for different companies and there's rarely a company that I didn't get cheated by and had to take to the labor board for justice and compensation I trust nobody the main thing here is stay away from the major cities of Vancouver and Toronto and you will be able to have a great life with affordable housing and if you're into the outdoors Sports Canada is the greatest and best secondly Canada has the third largest oil reserves in the world and so there are a lot of Natural Resources that Canada has that is wealth for the country that will filter down to the average person what people don't realize is it when you live I've lived in Southern United States and most places the summers are unbelievably excruciatingly suffocatingly miserably hot hot hot at least in the Colder Weather you just put on some great looking ski wear and you can be outdoors and not be bothered by the cold because you eventually a climatize yourself to it Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area and has only a 35 million population there is a lot of room for growth and opportunity and in a safe safe environment to raise a family and at the end of the day that's what it's all about I wish I could say the same for the United States being safe but no it is not and Mexico is they have six out of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world and Tijuana is the most dangerous city in the world with almost 2000 murders and the year is not over don't believe me just Google it the reality is that the drug cartels control everything in Mexico and the police and politicians are afraid because the cartels are so ruthless there is way too much money to be made in selling drugs and the cartels will stop at nothing to make sure they get their money by the way most of my family still lives in Canada and are doing extremely well for themselves and I am the only fool that moved to the US

After struggling four years of heavy tuition and exponentially increasing rent, finally I have a decent Job and I got My PR last week. It was a long journey but there is always a finishing line. Don't give up stay strong! you can do it, believe me at the end its rewarding.

Hello, Dream Canada. Very nice explanation of the step-by-step processes. I have lived in four countries in the last 10 years. Do I need police verification from each? Thank you. Please let me know.

I am Living in Ottawa I am white, I lived here my whole life and now I am a minority I deal with different races all the time and I do feel that I am being pushed out of my country different ethnicities treat me with disrespect I was growing up with Canadian culture of respecting everyone around you but I fine with all these different cultures coming in I’m losing my Canadian identity and it is a lot for me to hold strong onto the values as of what the Canadian is and I’m a fourth generation Canadian I see what’s happening to our veterans I visit my grandfather every other week and I see all the different nationalities that are PSW‘s and nurses And I really mean no offence but we have a different level of respect we have a different way of talking and these different nationalities coming in they all click together and some of them they treat the men who built this country with such disrespect please listen to meand I’m really not Trying racially profile this is been happening for the last 15 years and I’m not being silent about it Canada is freedom of speech Canada is being strong enough to speak up I mean this from the bottom of my heart if you’re coming into my country that my grand parents built for me and my children can you please give my children the opportunity that you were now taking from them and I see how they treat our veterans I see how difficult it is for seniors that didn’t have a placement in our homeless I see that all of our government funding is now going to people that are now immigrating into Canada and they’re being able to start up small businesses have four bedroom townhomes in their children to schools and drive them and fancy SUVs can you look around us and see somebody sold Canada