Emigrating to Canada


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Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

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joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

Thats a dangerous question right there my friend. But Canada has been my home for most of my life and cultures within Canada are as different as they are in the states. Depending on where you go, you can experience many different things. We have socialized healthcare here (our taxes are higher to make up for it). We have a fairly steady economy. As a whole Canadians are trained to be polite and as respectful as possible, we tend toward reserved in conversation as opposed to boastful (that comes from the whole british heritage). We do not have a very big political divide as compared to the US. We have 20 registered political parties but only 5 of them ever get mentioned. Generally when it comes to hot button issues Canadians like to stick with the no sex, politics, or religion discussed in polite conversation (Except in Newfoundland you can talk about your drunken debauchery at the top of your lungs for all newfies care). The only big divide seems to be between the french and english citizens. Lately the francophone and anglophone communities haven't really been getting along. Quebec feels it no longer has a voice in parliament (which is basically true for anyone outside of southern Ontario where the majority of our population resides). There was even a referendum to see if Quebec would separate from Canada in the 90's. Also depending where you go it can get really cold in the winter. For example in Alberta it isn't uncommon to get below -40 C, while in the summer it isn't uncommon to get up to 35 C. I think thats all I can think of right now.

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Jeremy Mcgillan wrote:
joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

Thats a dangerous question right there my friend. But Canada has been my home for most of my life and cultures within Canada are as different as they are in the states. Depending on where you go, you can experience many different things. We have socialized healthcare here (our taxes are higher to make up for it). We have a fairly steady economy. As a whole Canadians are trained to be polite and as respectful as possible, we tend toward reserved in conversation as opposed to boastful (that comes from the whole british heritage). We do not have a very big political divide as compared to the US. We have 20 registered political parties but only 5 of them ever get mentioned. Generally when it comes to hot button issues Canadians like to stick with the no sex, politics, or religion discussed in polite conversation (Except in Newfoundland you can talk about your drunken debauchery at the top of your lungs for all newfies care). The only big divide seems to be between the french and english citizens. Lately the francophone and anglophone communities haven't really been getting along. Quebec feels it no longer has a voice in parliament (which is basically true for anyone outside of southern Ontario where the majority of our population resides). There was even a referendum to see if Quebec would separate from Canada in the 90's. Also depending where you go it can get really cold in the winter. For example in Alberta it isn't uncommon to get below -40 C, while in the summer it isn't uncommon to get up to 35 C. I think thats all I can think of right now.

'ppreciate it, Jeremy. Sounding good. Well, maybe the cold. (I live in California.) I'd learn probably to adjust, though.

You mentioned healthcare. My spouse is a physician. How easy/hard is it to get a job in the system?


You could also try Australia - We are very similar to our Canadian cousins - a little less polite.. But we have a more varied climate - from tropical to alpine. Sport is far more important than politics and our economy is strong.


joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

I can tell you a little bit from my experience living just south of Canada (45 minute drive from Montreal). Just don't plan on watching much in the way of American television or listening to U.S. music acts on the radio due to Canadian content laws. When I was selling satellite dishes several years ago Canadian customers were buying them all the time (they claimed for their summer homes in the U.S. but I'm pretty sure most made it further north).

It doesn't take much involvement by an American for something to be excluded by the content laws. Most of the SyFy Channel's programing isn't considered Canadian even though it is all filmed in Canada. And music by Canadian citizens gets excluded for using U.S. production companies.


Jason Ellis 350 wrote:
joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

I can tell you a little bit from my experience living just south of Canada (45 minute drive from Montreal). Just don't plan on watching much in the way of American television or listening to U.S. music acts on the radio due to Canadian content laws. When I was selling satellite dishes several years ago Canadian customers were buying them all the time (they claimed for their summer homes in the U.S. but I'm pretty sure most made it further north).

It doesn't take much involvement by an American for something to be excluded by the content laws. Most of the SyFy Channel's programing isn't considered Canadian even though it is all filmed in Canada. And music by Canadian citizens gets excluded for using U.S. production companies.

I don't have a problem with that its Canada protecting its culture uniqueness and film/music industry from the all pervasive Hollyweird. Similar rules exist in Australia, UK and France.

If you are going to live in another country you have to be willing to take on a some of the culture or why bother to move there in the first place.

Sovereign Court

I don't think I'd be too upset about having to listen to:
Broken Social Scene
Arcade Fire
Final Fantasy (Owen Pallet)
Caribou
Buck 65
Cadence Weapon
Sixtoo
Silver Mt. Zion
Set Fire to Flames
etc.


The 8th Dwarf wrote:

I don't have a problem with that its Canada protecting its culture uniqueness and film/music industry from the all pervasive Hollyweird. Similar rules exist in Australia, UK and France.

If you are going to live in another country you have to be willing to take on a some of the culture or why bother to move there in the first place.

For me it is that I am not a fan of censorship of any kind. I could possibly live with it myself if it wasn't applied in such a draconian manner. (All the stuff with heavy Canadian involvement that isn't considered Canadian for purposes of the content laws)

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joela wrote:
Jeremy Mcgillan wrote:
joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

Thats a dangerous question right there my friend. But Canada has been my home for most of my life and cultures within Canada are as different as they are in the states. Depending on where you go, you can experience many different things. We have socialized healthcare here (our taxes are higher to make up for it). We have a fairly steady economy. As a whole Canadians are trained to be polite and as respectful as possible, we tend toward reserved in conversation as opposed to boastful (that comes from the whole british heritage). We do not have a very big political divide as compared to the US. We have 20 registered political parties but only 5 of them ever get mentioned. Generally when it comes to hot button issues Canadians like to stick with the no sex, politics, or religion discussed in polite conversation (Except in Newfoundland you can talk about your drunken debauchery at the top of your lungs for all newfies care). The only big divide seems to be between the french and english citizens. Lately the francophone and anglophone communities haven't really been getting along. Quebec feels it no longer has a voice in parliament (which is basically true for anyone outside of southern Ontario where the majority of our population resides). There was even a referendum to see if Quebec would separate from Canada in the 90's. Also depending where you go it can get really cold in the winter. For example in Alberta it isn't uncommon to get below -40 C, while in the summer it isn't uncommon to get up to 35 C. I think thats all I can think of right now.

'ppreciate it, Jeremy. Sounding good. Well, maybe the cold. (I live in California.) I'd learn probably to adjust, though.

You mentioned healthcare. My spouse is a physician....

No worries there, any medical is in high demand pretty much in any country you go to.


I've seen American Tv, we aren't missing anything.

The 8th Dwarf wrote:
Jason Ellis 350 wrote:
joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

I can tell you a little bit from my experience living just south of Canada (45 minute drive from Montreal). Just don't plan on watching much in the way of American television or listening to U.S. music acts on the radio due to Canadian content laws. When I was selling satellite dishes several years ago Canadian customers were buying them all the time (they claimed for their summer homes in the U.S. but I'm pretty sure most made it further north).

It doesn't take much involvement by an American for something to be excluded by the content laws. Most of the SyFy Channel's programing isn't considered Canadian even though it is all filmed in Canada. And music by Canadian citizens gets excluded for using U.S. production companies.

I don't have a problem with that its Canada protecting its culture uniqueness and film/music industry from the all pervasive Hollyweird. Similar rules exist in Australia, UK and France.

If you are going to live in another country you have to be willing to take on a some of the culture or why bother to move there in the first place.


I live in Toronto. It feels a lot different than many American cities (I have traveled extensively in the US and I'm a dual citizen, as my mom is American). The downtown is a flourishing place where people actually spend time after work (instead of retreating to the suburbs, which is the case in many American cities). I think we have a superior education system or at least one that is more equitable. For instance, schools in high needs areas receive extra funding instead of getting less funding because of low standardized test scores (which can be the case in the US). Post Secondar y education is also more subsidized, making it much more affordable than American universities, though still by no means cheap. Generally, Canadians are more socially liberal (particularly in the GTA, depending on the cultural group you are from. This isn't necessarily the case in rural areas or Alberta). For example, there is a tendency to be more accepting of homosexuality, women having abortions etc... In politics the Canadian left is divided between the Liberal (closer to the center) and New Democrat party (more left wing), which has enabled the Conservative party (right wing) to win recent federal elections (generally with a minority government) even though the majority of the population is left leaning politically. You can go to a hospital with an emergency (ie. broken arm etc..) and get treatment without seeing a bill. Day care is not publicly funding and can cost families upwards of $1300 a month, which is hard for single mothers. Canadians aren't big into firearms and we have strict gun control laws. Hunters in rural areas still like their rifles. Liquor is also more regulated, so you can't buy it in the grocery store. Canadians love their hockey. College/University sports teams are not the big deal they are in the states.


P.H. Dungeon wrote:
I've seen American Tv, we aren't missing anything.

Well, there's "Phineas and Ferb" on the Disney Channel, and... *draws a complete blank*

There's "Phineas and Ferb."


Shinmizu wrote:
P.H. Dungeon wrote:
I've seen American Tv, we aren't missing anything.

Well, there's "Phineas and Ferb" on the Disney Channel, and... *draws a complete blank*

There's "Phineas and Ferb."

Perry is the true star of that show.

Liberty's Edge

Australia is like Canada doing a handstand... or maybe Canada is like Australia doing a cartwheel. I can never seem to remember which.


Jason Ellis 350 wrote:
joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

I can tell you a little bit from my experience living just south of Canada (45 minute drive from Montreal). Just don't plan on watching much in the way of American television or listening to U.S. music acts on the radio due to Canadian content laws. When I was selling satellite dishes several years ago Canadian customers were buying them all the time (they claimed for their summer homes in the U.S. but I'm pretty sure most made it further north).

It doesn't take much involvement by an American for something to be excluded by the content laws. Most of the SyFy Channel's programing isn't considered Canadian even though it is all filmed in Canada. And music by Canadian citizens gets excluded for using U.S. production companies.

I'd say this was something of a significant point historically but is barely worth considering in this day and age simply because technology has rendered Canadian Content rules and their effects on the media down to something comparatively marginal.

Consider how you get your media. Whatever percentage of that comes from the internet is obviously unregulated. In terms of TV programing, these days most people have like 1000 channels. Canadian content rules mean that the lower channels go to Canadian stations first but all the American channels are available. If you want to watch Fox that is not going to be a problem. My Landlord watches MSNBC like as if it borders on religion and watches her Greenbay Packers with an intensity that borders on Fundamentalism (she is ex-pat American from Wisconsin).

Even if your hardcore traditionalist and want to use the most traditional of media forms, local radio, your going to maybe note the Canadian Content rules but not that heavily. I believe the rules are such that at least 1 song in 5 must meet some kind of Canadian Content. So there is an excess of Canadian groups but its not extraordinary striking. You'd probably have to be pretty familiar with the groups to even really notice.


If you are listening to the radio, I can't imagine why you would really want to listen to anything other than the CBC anyhow.

As for TV, I have basic cable and HBO. I pretty much only watch HBO.

Sovereign Court

Jeremy Mac Donald wrote:
I believe the rules are such that at least 1 song in 5 must meet some kind of Canadian Content. So there is an excess of Canadian groups but its not extraordinary striking.

Just a quibble really but I wouldn't call that an excess.

If I went to any country and only 20% of the music on the radio was off that country I would find that pretty odd.

I'm from the UK and more than half of the stuff I hear on the radio is from here. Which makes sense to me, and doesn't have anything to do with quotas.

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Jason Ellis 350 wrote:
joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

I can tell you a little bit from my experience living just south of Canada (45 minute drive from Montreal). Just don't plan on watching much in the way of American television or listening to U.S. music acts on the radio due to Canadian content laws. When I was selling satellite dishes several years ago Canadian customers were buying them all the time (they claimed for their summer homes in the U.S. but I'm pretty sure most made it further north).

It doesn't take much involvement by an American for something to be excluded by the content laws. Most of the SyFy Channel's programing isn't considered Canadian even though it is all filmed in Canada. And music by Canadian citizens gets excluded for using U.S. production companies.

That's fine with me.

Dark Archive

P.H. Dungeon wrote:
I live in Toronto. It feels a lot different than many American cities (I have traveled extensively in the US and I'm a dual citizen, as my mom is American). The downtown is a flourishing place where people actually spend time after work (instead of retreating to the suburbs, which is the case in many American cities). I think we have a superior education system or at least one that is more equitable. For instance, schools in high needs areas receive extra funding instead of getting less funding because of low standardized test scores (which can be the case in the US). Post Secondar y education is also more subsidized, making it much more affordable than American universities, though still by no means cheap. Generally, Canadians are more socially liberal (particularly in the GTA, depending on the cultural group you are from. This isn't necessarily the case in rural areas or Alberta). For example, there is a tendency to be more accepting of homosexuality, women having abortions etc... In politics the Canadian left is divided between the Liberal (closer to the center) and New Democrat party (more left wing), which has enabled the Conservative party (right wing) to win recent federal elections (generally with a minority government) even though the majority of the population is left leaning politically. You can go to a hospital with an emergency (ie. broken arm etc..) and get treatment without seeing a bill. Day care is not publicly funding and can cost families upwards of $1300 a month, which is hard for single mothers. Canadians aren't big into firearms and we have strict gun control laws. Hunters in rural areas still like their rifles. Liquor is also more regulated, so you can't buy it in the grocery store. Canadians love their hockey. College/University sports teams are not the big deal they are in the states.

VERY informative. Thanks. Though I'll probably ignore the sports (like I do in the U.S.) Is all of Canada freezing in winter? Thinkin' possibly Vancouver.

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The 8th Dwarf wrote:

You could also try Australia - We are very similar to our Canadian cousins - a little less polite.. But we have a more varied climate - from tropical to alpine. Sport is far more important than politics and our economy is strong.

I did a research paper on Australia. Wonderful country!


GeraintElberion wrote:
Jeremy Mac Donald wrote:
I believe the rules are such that at least 1 song in 5 must meet some kind of Canadian Content. So there is an excess of Canadian groups but its not extraordinary striking.

Just a quibble really but I wouldn't call that an excess.

If I went to any country and only 20% of the music on the radio was off that country I would find that pretty odd.

I'm from the UK and more than half of the stuff I hear on the radio is from here. Which makes sense to me, and doesn't have anything to do with quotas.

In the mid-90's, about half the non-classical music played on Swedish radio was from the UK...

Liberty's Edge

You better have a skill they need a Canadian can't fill, or no dice.

Liberty's Edge

Kajehase wrote:
GeraintElberion wrote:
Jeremy Mac Donald wrote:
I believe the rules are such that at least 1 song in 5 must meet some kind of Canadian Content. So there is an excess of Canadian groups but its not extraordinary striking.

Just a quibble really but I wouldn't call that an excess.

If I went to any country and only 20% of the music on the radio was off that country I would find that pretty odd.

I'm from the UK and more than half of the stuff I hear on the radio is from here. Which makes sense to me, and doesn't have anything to do with quotas.

In the mid-90's, about half the non-classical music played on Swedish radio was from the UK...

Well, there's only so much ABBA and the Cardigans you can listen to at once, really.

Dark Archive

houstonderek wrote:
You better have a skill they need a Canadian can't fill, or no dice.

I've already found several physician jobs. Apparently the Canadian system will accept U.S. BE/BC doctors (ala no need for re-licensing).

Liberty's Edge

joela wrote:
houstonderek wrote:
You better have a skill they need a Canadian can't fill, or no dice.
I've already found several physician jobs. Apparently the Canadian system will accept U.S. BE/BC doctors (ala no need for re-licensing).

Of course. That's because quite a few Canadian doctors come here when they graduate. Something about liking making money or something...

;-)

(This is 100% anecdotal, but I was on vacation in Kingston, Ontartio a while back, and I took a ferry to Wolfe Island. Most of the passengers were Canadian med students, and quite a few of them were talking about moving to the US when they graduated so they could make more money. They have a big med school in Kingston, btw.)

Sovereign Court

Jason Ellis 350 wrote:


I can tell you a little bit from my experience living just south of Canada (45 minute drive from Montreal). Just don't plan on watching much in the way of American television or listening to U.S. music acts on the radio due to Canadian content laws. When I was selling satellite dishes several years ago Canadian customers were buying them all the time (they claimed for their summer homes in the U.S. but I'm pretty sure most made it further north).

It doesn't take much involvement by an American for something to be excluded by the content laws. Most of the SyFy Channel's programing isn't considered Canadian even though it is all filmed in Canada. And music by Canadian citizens gets excluded for using U.S. production companies.

Yeah as mentioned up thread, that's not accurate. Our radio has to play 20% Canadian music, and a handful of the lower cable channels are "canadian" but the rest of the channels are american and you can watch any show or channel you want (if you pay for the channels).

Vancouver is a beautiful city - cost of living is high here though.

Sovereign Court

houstonderek wrote:
joela wrote:
houstonderek wrote:
You better have a skill they need a Canadian can't fill, or no dice.
I've already found several physician jobs. Apparently the Canadian system will accept U.S. BE/BC doctors (ala no need for re-licensing).

Of course. That's because quite a few Canadian doctors come here when they graduate. Something about liking making money or something...

;-)

(This is 100% anecdotal, but I was on vacation in Kingston, Ontartio a while back, and I took a ferry to Wolfe Island. Most of the passengers were Canadian med students, and quite a few of them were talking about moving to the US when they graduated so they could make more money. They have a big med school in Kingston, btw.)

This was a huge problem in the 90s - brain drain we called it. Professionals fleeing south for higher wages. Less of an issue now with parity of the dollar and the tax cuts etc..

Sovereign Court

joela wrote:
houstonderek wrote:
You better have a skill they need a Canadian can't fill, or no dice.
I've already found several physician jobs. Apparently the Canadian system will accept U.S. BE/BC doctors (ala no need for re-licensing).

If you are a doctor, you can afford to live in Vancouver.

Vancouver is rainy during the winter, it snows a bit typically in late December (white christmas) and clears up by the end of january. It continues to be chilly and rainy until the end of february. Then the early flowers come out. It never gets cold enough to require more than a hat, light mits and a warm jacket.

Summers are warm, but there is an ocean nearby.

Beer and liquor can be purchased at government stores scattered throughout the city or at private stores (who have to charge more than the government run stores). Or you can drink at bars. Alcohol is way more expensive than in the states - A six pack of decent beer in bottles costs 11-13 dollars (dogfishhead 90 minute ipa for ex).

Cigarettes are also expensive but can be bought anywhere.

Vancouver has clubs and theatres and all that, but it is a newer city than Montreal or Toronto. We don't have castles (well a coal baron had one built on Vancouver island) or fancy cathedrals.

Politics in the province swing between two parties, the New Democrat Party (left of centre) and the BC liberals (right of centre). Currently the Liberals are in power.

If you want to see what the city looks like you can watch Rumble in the Bronx, battle star galactica, fringe, supernatural, highlander the series etc :)

Sovereign Court

Anything else you want to know about Vancouver?

Liberty's Edge

The OP isn't alone in having considered this. I myself have considered moving my wife and daughter up north to Canada. We have some friends up there so it wouldn't be completely going in alone and without knowing anyone.

Still do consider it ...

The Exchange

joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

It is a Commonwealth Country so you can travel to any other Commonwealth Country without being harassed by a Yank From Pakistan to Jamaica to New Zealand.

Liberty's Edge

Robert Hawkshaw wrote:
Anything else you want to know about Vancouver?

All he needs to know is Van B.C. rocks. Hard.

Love the place :)


joela wrote:
The 8th Dwarf wrote:

You could also try Australia - We are very similar to our Canadian cousins - a little less polite.. But we have a more varied climate - from tropical to alpine. Sport is far more important than politics and our economy is strong.

I did a research paper on Australia. Wonderful country!

Thank you :-)


houstonderek wrote:
joela wrote:
houstonderek wrote:
You better have a skill they need a Canadian can't fill, or no dice.
I've already found several physician jobs. Apparently the Canadian system will accept U.S. BE/BC doctors (ala no need for re-licensing).

Of course. That's because quite a few Canadian doctors come here when they graduate. Something about liking making money or something...

;-)

(This is 100% anecdotal, but I was on vacation in Kingston, Ontartio a while back, and I took a ferry to Wolfe Island. Most of the passengers were Canadian med students, and quite a few of them were talking about moving to the US when they graduated so they could make more money. They have a big med school in Kingston, btw.)

This is a really good point. Check into wage differences because they are there in the medical profession and can be pretty significant. It might not seem like nearly such a great idea if you realize that your Wife will be making a lot less. Possibly see about getting her a job first before making the final descision.

My Anecdotal experience is similar to HDs in that I know a lot of registered nurses (several family members are registered nurses) who did stints in the US because the pay was much greater. This is apparently especially true early on where you can walk into a very much higher paying gig in the US then is true in Canada. That said its not nearly as lucrative these days as it was in the 90's when the US dollar was 40% higher then the Canadian dollar. In those days you not only got a better wage but each dollar earned was worth a lot more if you saved it and returned to Canada some years later or just used it to pay off your student loans.

The actual brain drain is not particularly concerning these days according to news sources I have seen on the topic. There was once a point when the government was talking about requiring Canadian trained medical students to do a certain stint in Canada before being allowed to emigrate but even talk about implementing such a policy faded away as the brain drain slowed and/or reversed after 2000.

Finally my understanding is the pay difference, for most, starts off much better in the US but then closes as US doctors that want to advance and become more then junior assistants to other doctors tend to have a lot of secondary expenses like higher insurance and a need for more administrative staff. In Canada your basically just paid, by the state, a set fee for what you do. Easier operations are worth less while more complex stuff is worth more. You start only really qualified to do the easier types of operations but once your doing the more expert type stuff your earning a lot more for what amounts to the same amount of work. This reverses again if your a world class expert in some field. At that point your already at the top of the pay scale in Canada doing operations that pay a government set amount and your probably earning no more then a quarter million a year, maybe a handful get into the half million range. In the US if you are good enough the sky's the limit.


P.H. Dungeon wrote:
Day care is not publicly funding and can cost families upwards of $1300 a month, which is hard for single mothers.

Just for the record, this is province-specific. Here in Quebec we have both private daycare (full cost) and government-subsidized $7/day daycare.

Greg


Canadian doctors don't make any money? I have 4 doctors who are pretty close friends. Looks like they're doing fine to me.

But anyway, I suppose the myth keeps certain people away.... so.

Liberty's Edge

The 8th Dwarf wrote:

You could also try Australia - We are very similar to our Canadian cousins - a little less polite.. But we have a more varied climate - from tropical to alpine. Sport is far more important than politics and our economy is strong.

Once the kids get growed and I'm closer to retirement, I plan on jockeying for a job in Australia (great thing about working for GE, you can go damn near anywhere).


Xpltvdeleted wrote:
The 8th Dwarf wrote:

You could also try Australia - We are very similar to our Canadian cousins - a little less polite.. But we have a more varied climate - from tropical to alpine. Sport is far more important than politics and our economy is strong.

Once the kids get growed and I'm closer to retirement, I plan on jockeying for a job in Australia (great thing about working for GE, you can go damn near anywhere).

Australia is good place to live, you are welcome any time.


The 8th Dwarf wrote:
Australia is good place to live, you are welcome any time.

I visited Australia once (Cairns and Adelaide-region). Felt like someone had picked up Canada moved it to a warmer climate and forced everyone to talk funny :)

Really felt like home. If Australia had a developed space industry (does it?) I'd even consider a move.

Greg

The Exchange

GregH wrote:
The 8th Dwarf wrote:
Australia is good place to live, you are welcome any time.

I visited Australia once (Cairns and Adelaide-region). Felt like someone had picked up Canada moved it to a warmer climate and forced everyone to talk funny :)

Really felt like home. If Australia had a developed space industry (does it?) I'd even consider a move.

Greg

I dont know about a space industry but We have Tennant Creek which would be ideal in location for launch facilities.


Vancouver currently uses more fresh water than it gets, which means that every year the wells are all that much closer to sucking salt water. Keep that in mind -- water will be a significant issue in the future, and Vancounver (like Denver, and the whole states of California and Nevada for that matter) is already in bad shape.


yellowdingo wrote:
I dont know about a space industry but We have Tennant Creek which would be ideal in location for launch facilities.

Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory? You probably would want something closer to the coast. Rockets exploading on lift-off over populated areas is a bad thing. East coasts are preferred for low inclination and polar orbts, and west coasts can also be used for polar orbits. North and south coasts are probably a bit too limiting. The Russians launch from their interior, but then I suspect for the former Soviet Union, secrecy was more important than safety.

I'm in the satellite operations business, so I'm usually busy with what happens after launch (with some ground system development before hand). From what I could see on-line there is not much in Australia for satellite control, unfortunately.

Greg

Sovereign Court

Kirth Gersen wrote:
Vancouver currently uses more fresh water than it gets, which means that every year the wells are all that much closer to sucking salt water. Keep that in mind -- water will be a significant issue in the future, and Vancounver (like Denver, and the whole states of California and Nevada for that matter) is already in bad shape.

? We don't use well water, we have three massive reservoirs up in the mountains. About 90% of the water that feeds the reservoirs is allowed to overflow and not be captured. On top of that, there is a massive river which we don't touch.... We've got room to grow.


GregH wrote:
yellowdingo wrote:
I dont know about a space industry but We have Tennant Creek which would be ideal in location for launch facilities.

Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory? You probably would want something closer to the coast. Rockets exploading on lift-off over populated areas is a bad thing. East coasts are preferred for low inclination and polar orbts, and west coasts can also be used for polar orbits. North and south coasts are probably a bit too limiting. The Russians launch from their interior, but then I suspect for the former Soviet Union, secrecy was more important than safety.

I'm in the satellite operations business, so I'm usually busy with what happens after launch (with some ground system development before hand). From what I could see on-line there is not much in Australia for satellite control, unfortunately.

Greg

We neutered our space industry years ago.... Stupid politicans (grumble)... We did have a very advanced Rocket Testing range at Woomera. That we stupidly allowed the British to test their nukes on.

Most of our space industry is university based research and radio telescopes. We had some success with Scramjets just recently.

The Japanese keeping up the tradition started by you Americans of crashing satellites (see Skylab) into our country recently "descended" one of their returning probes out in the middle (probably Woomera)somewhere.

There are some very high tech US military bases that we "share" such as Pine Gap an ECHELON ground station. There is also the Jindalee over the horizon radar that can detect any stealth aircraft within its range.

Most of Australia is vastly under populated... there is 1 and bit Australians for every 1 square kilometre. The far north of the east coast near Townsville or Cairns very much all of the north, west and south coast are very low population centres.


The 8th Dwarf wrote:
We neutered our space industry years ago.... Stupid politicans (grumble)... We did have a very advanced Rocket Testing range at Woomera. That we stupidly allowed the British to test their nukes on.

Ain't being a part of the Commonwealth grand?

The 8th Dwarf wrote:
Most of our space industry is university based research and radio telescopes.

That's the impression I got from a very brief Google search.

The 8th Dwarf wrote:
The Japanese keeping up the tradition started by you Americans of crashing satellites (see Skylab) into our country recently "descended" one of their returning probes out in the middle (probably Woomera)somewhere.

Just to clarify, I'm Canadian. And our North has had been a target as well.

The 8th Dwarf wrote:
There are some very high tech US military bases that we "share" such as Pine Gap an ECHELON ground station. There is also the Jindalee over the horizon radar that can detect any stealth aircraft within its range.

We've used Canberra as part of NASA's Deep Space Network quite a bit in the past. So I knew you guys have receiving stations.

The 8th Dwarf wrote:
Most of Australia is vastly under populated... there is 1 and bit Australians for every 1 square kilometre. The far north of the east coast near Townsville or Cairns very much all of the north, west and south coast are very low population centres.

Fair enough, but I did see small communities (maybe very small) dotting the landscape near the northern coast and even if one rocket were to go off course and crash into a populated area, no matter how small, the PR would be horrible.

Greg


Robert Hawkshaw wrote:
We don't use well water, we have three massive reservoirs up in the mountains. About 90% of the water that feeds the reservoirs is allowed to overflow and not be captured. On top of that, there is a massive river which we don't touch.... We've got room to grow.

Thanks -- correction noted. Not as much room as you might think, though: "Metro-Vancouver is expected to grow 34% to just under 2.9 million people over the next 20 years, and our fresh water supply will have to keep up..." (Water News -- Canada). They're already looking ahead to a desalination plant, as summer peak water usage is often greater than total spring snowmelt.

Sovereign Court

We aren't looking at a desalinization plant - if we ever do need water another dam would be the answer. We live in a mountain range, on top of a large river with decent water and in a rain forest.

Peak water is problem because of pumps / treatment facilities, not a lack of water.

We are quite wasteful with our water, I believe we in Vancouver use the most per capita in the entire whole world, so water is an issue, but its not a Chinatown drought, running out of water L.A. issue.

http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/water/Pages/default.aspx

Liberty's Edge

joela wrote:

Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's simply low blood sugar, but I'm thinking (semi) serious thoughts of immigrating to the Great White North.

Any Canadians on the boards? What are the advantages of your country versus the U.S.?

Where is this place Canada? I cannot find it on any Golarion map. Is it north of Varisia?


Robert Hawkshaw wrote:
We aren't looking at a desalinization plant

Again, thanks -- I can see where I became confused:

http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2009/12/20/vancouver-startup-saltworks-working-on- desalination-game-changer/

Mea culpa. Too much reading and too little retention. I must be getting senile.

Sovereign Court

No worries, there is a lot written about water and a lot of it is quite alarmist - lots of agendas out there and lots of people trying to push them. People up here are pushing hard to prevent water exports to the states, other people are pushing hard to make water a human right and require transfers to water poor countries, greenies who want to make it a crisis to push for environmental stuff, capitalists who want to privatize and sell water etc..

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