Robert, we’ve been Facebook friends for a few years now. As you live in Canada, I wanted to ask you a few things. My son and his wife are very seriously thinking about leaving the U.S. and moving to Canada. I would appreciate it very much if you could tell me what it’s like to live there? Especially for someone leaving the U.S.? Would it be very difficult to assimilate? Are there very many Americans that have moved there? And if so, how are they accepted by Canadians? What is the job market like there? My son has a college degree in accounting and computer information systems. His wife has worked for a bankruptcy law firm. I would appreciate any information you could give me that I could pass on to my son. Thank you in advance.
Your friend isn’t the only American mulling over such thoughts.
Why do you suppose such questions would need to be asked?
Because the Canadian media seem to be very anti-American and that alone would give rise to such questions.
The hardest thing Canadian to learn is where to put the “eh” in a sentence…
The cold also takes some getting used but please don’t be driving around with skies strapped to the car roof in August because you will kinda stick out…
You wanna move to Canada? Stay the Hell away from Southern Ontario, which has a collective case of American Irrational Hatred Syndrome. Same goes for all of Quebec.
Wanna be accepted? Your best bet’s Alberta, with Calgary being the epicentre (about 10% of Calgary is estimated to be American ex-pats here to work the petrochemical industry etc.). The Prairies in general are better than Southern Ontario, and even the Left Coast (the Lower Mainland of B.C.) would be more accommodating.
Good luck, and good hunting.
As far as the job market goes, since his daughter-in-law works in bankruptcy law, the future looks very bright in Obama’s America. His son’s accounting background may not translate to our Canadian rules. However, we can always use more good, smart, and hard working people.
The vast majority of Canadians are very accepting of Americans. Of course there are a few ignorant leftist Canadian who feel it is their duty to spout to you how “inferior” Americans are. When you come across them, I suggest thanking them for showing their small mindedness so you can ignore them.
Canada will welcome your friends. Tell them “Come aboard and help build this great country”.
Buy parkas. Do you know what a parka is?
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Don’t worry, it’s not that hard to pronounce.
Would it be very difficult to assimilate?
The culture shock would vary depending on region of origin and region of destination.
Besides, in Canada we’re not used to immigrants trying to assimilate.
If you son and his wife are liberals or democrats tell them that we do not need more nuts like them in canada
Before they decide to move, tell them to watch the movie “Strange Brew”.
Come one, come all, we need all the immigrants we can get. Just get prepared to pay more for stuff while having an easier time finding a job. Go to Calgary. Not Edmonton. Or Vancouver. Vancouver is less than meets the eye.
I assume she just wanted to start a conversation. She’s a smart lady but, like many Americans I’ve encountered, knows way less about Canada than most Canadians know about America.
Come on out to Saskatchewan! We are looking for freedom loving, hard working people who are willing to take a chance and start a new life. It’s funny how the similar the pitch made over a century ago!
Rick, perhaps your experience with our fellow countrymen is different than mine but quick summation is that historically about 30% of Canadians seem very welcoming & positive about Americans. 70% are not. I’m saying this in the context of a Republican president being in power.
Now that Obama is there, the calculus of the 70% has changed somewhat. They’re hesitant to spit out their traditional vitriol, lest they be labeled as not liking a country run by a Black man. But if (when!) a Republican president returns to power (even if she was gay, physically disabled and half Black – half Asian) the original hate-filled narrative would return overnight. Such is the the power of the MSM on soft minds.
If I were from the US, I would not move here, a leftist experiment that is, and will, go wrong. The only reason the economy is somewhat better here is we have a slightly Conservative Federal Government and that won’t last much longer. The dim bulbs here are itching to elect a drama teacher, a.k.a. twit, to run things (likely because of his hair and Daddy’s name) and then we will finally resume our great slide along with you folks in the US. By the way, if you are trying to escape leftist utopia, there is no conservative government in Canada, anywhere, just progressives dressed up as conservatives. e.g. You can try Alberta, but so called “conservative” Alberta recently elected itself a liberal government led by a progressive. Couple that with the influx of those who destroyed their own Provinces and are now moving to Alberta, it will be a goner too, soon. There is no escape in Canada, in my humble opinion.
The ease with which they adjust will depend on where they reside. I would encourage them to pick the top three cities where they think they would like to live and use their annual vacation to spend a week in each. Make a decision from there.
I moved to Canada from the US many years ago. There are thousands of Americans in Canada. Your friend will have no difficulty fitting in, and I think that there are many advantages to living here vs. the States — particularly at this time. There are, of course, Canadians who sneer at Americans, but most do not do so to your face. I really don’t care a lot what those individuals think of me. Anti-Americanism is just another form of bigotry. The trick regarding jobs will be to get a work permit. That is what I would worry about most. Since I came many years ago, I don’t know how difficult it is to get a work permit today. Depending on where your friend lives, I don’t even think the weather will be that much of a shock. (If he is coming from Arizona, yes, but any Northern states are not that much different from most populated areas of Canada. Anyway — tell him to go ahead. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It will be an interesting experience if nothing else.
Culture-wise, it’ll help if they move somewhere that generally lines up with their own. If they lean right, go to the prairies. If they lean left, BC and Ontario. Unless they speak French fluently, Quebec is probably a bad idea.
Accounting and CIS isn’t bad, I don’t think that job market is particularly flooded. Couldn’t say about the wife’s job skills, but between the two of them they shouldn’t have much trouble making an income they can live comfortably on. Depends on their lifestyle, of course. Hobbies and interests may suffer.
Moving between the States and Canada isn’t as daunting as any other international move. Think of like moving from one side of the country all the way to the other. Or from say Texas to California. Things are different, but not alien. Canadians dine heavily on the same TV and pop culture as Americans, so even if their views differ, they’re at least on the same proverbial page.
More info about the couple in question would help.
One thing to be aware of is that the US will still require payment of income taxes, even for those Americans living in Canada who have become Canadian citizens. The USA doesn’t allow for renouncing citizenship.
http://business.financialpost.com/2012/07/03/an-unnecessary-overreaching-of-u-s-tax-law-into-canada/
Granted, enforcement is difficult – the USA can’t reach into Canada and grab funds from bank accounts. But if you ever try to return to the USA, you may find that you’re aved aside into the “we need to talk to you” line…………….
It seems this ‘professional’ couple may have some affluence, so:
Step #1- consult our resident SDA troll phil for advice on starting up a farming enterprise. The gravy train runs non-stop, and they’ll really like this feature: YOU ONLY HAVE TO WORK A MONTH EACH SPRING, and A MONTH IN THE FALL!!
This will give ample time to establish a sideline Accounting/Para-legal Business for the 10 month ‘slow’ season.
Or why not take your RV rig and 23ft ski-boat down to your Florida condo for 6 months? Forget the sideline! Who needs it?
Step#2- Put the boots to phil.
Just remember that in Canada, everything, and I mean everything is against the law. Bring lots of money, leave your First, Second and Fifth Amendments rights at home.
Canadians are real nice people but at their core socialist, so get ready for it.
Have fun, dress warm and have a Tim’s for me.
The cost of groceries will shock them but if they settle close to a border crossing they can always shop in the good ol’ USA. But, remember, the free health care comes from taxpayers so do some shopping here. A lot of Canadians forget that.
We Canadians are a passive-aggressive group. We smile and nod to your face but bury the knife good and hard in your back. We have sharp elbows as we belly up to the socialist welfare trough, and God help you if you manage to become wealthy. We enjoy pulling down successful people to our sad and grey level, and revel in the shared misery that we spread so readily. You are better off staying in America, enjoying the decline.
garth baby, there’s quite a few “Murcans here in suthern ontartio, has been for one hell of a long time,and there is NO general hate towards them, so please get informed before blowing off like an idiot!!!!
NME666:
I hail from Southern Ontario originally. The general antipathy towards Americans from that part of the Great White North is above and beyond anything I’ve seen anywhere else in the country, and, in the words of the great Johnny Cash, I’ve been everywhere, man.
Careful who you’re calling an idiot, idiot.
Americans must file a US tax return wherever in the world they live. However, The U.S. and Canada have a tax exemption treaty. You will not have to pay US income tax on moneys earned in Canada. I don’t recall what the cut off point is. It would probably be CAN$85,000 or more. There are some Canadian investments that are exempt from the treaty and are therefore taxable.
As for income tax, you are required to FILE, but only pay US income tax if your household income exceeds something like $90,000.00, and then credit is given for Canadian taxes paid. You CAN renounce your US citizenship, in front of a Consul or Ambassador (US), and paying a fee. You certainly wouldn’t want to do this prior to obtaining Canadian citizenship though.
My wife and our two children moved here in 1986, and even in Hamilton, a very blue collar, leftist city, there is plenty of prejudice against US citizens. Be patient with the stupid jokes like the mythical American family, arriving for vacation in August, with snow-skies atop their car, and other such put-downs. Many Canadians will inform you of: 1) the superiority of English language spoken here, 2) the superior grasp of geography, 3) the commitment to peace, love and harmony that is evidently lacking in the US, and 4) the USA is more racist and intolerant. A brief conversation will give lie to all three of these. You’ll hear grammatical charms like “these ones” or “I’m done it;” you’ll be asked if Omaha is in Utah; and as to #3, Canada has superior social assistance, but the level of compassion displayed is nowhere near comparing to the poorer, redneck portions of the US. As to #4, tell people you are from Texas. Then ask how many black Prime Ministers we’ve had.
If you have children, KEEP THEM OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Knowing our two were from the US, our local schools behaved as if they were running a re-education camp, and punished our daughters for infractions such as asking “what?” if they didn’t hear something the first time, rather than “pardon?” Being the only Yankees in the school made them pretty much fair game.
And when you become a citizen of Canada (which we all did), prepare to be lectured by the citizenship judge about the importance of assimilation (although I doubt immigrants from other countries got that speech)!
But the longer you stay, the better it gets. Also, 1) there is no free healthcare. You’re taxed. 2) There are no limits to the imaginations of governments as to their involvement in your business, social network, family, personal life, and religion. Socialism knows no limits, and the bigger the government the smaller the you.
Fairly incredible that an American who is becoming disillusioned with the USSA under King Obama has not taken enough time to do research on a country via the internet, or to visit same, before deciding to pull the plug. I would think that a logical way to scope out Canada would be an extensive visit to some nearby provinces by car-trip, as I have done through numerous visits to the States (although I don’t wish to move there, unlike many of my neighbors who own property in Arizona.)
My only experience with Americans who moved to my country, unfortunately, comes from 7 draft dodgers who moved here around the time of the Vietnamese war, and obtained teaching credentials. All became heavily involved in the BC Teachers’ Union, as they discovered that it -and it alone- would protect them in their jobs, because they all were as useless as te#ts on a boar in the classroom. Socialists, whinging Marxists and lazy parasites all, they found their niche among the BCTF crowd, helping to subvert the youth of Canada to their dissolute ideology.
My reason for mentioning the above is simple: if the Americans who say that they are disillusioned with America are somehow still admirers of Obama and the socialist way of life he espouses, stay where you are. We don’t need more of the same. Quebec does, but it is more like Europe than Canada.
If, however, you are sick and tired of how that poseur has chipped away at your constitution with his big-government, big-union, big-spending agenda, come to any of the western provinces, where hard work and energy will pay dividends.
Dear American Friend,
Tell your wife that English Americans and English Canadians only differ in that the Canadians were wise enough to choose British liberty rather than French pipe dreams of an ideal republic–and humble enough not to mind picking their own crops. In her everyday life your wife will be grand anywhere in English Canada.
Your real problem will be getting in at all. A generation of Liberal and Progressive “Conservative” governments were controlled by French Canadian Catholics who blamed the English for their alleged poverty and misery. (Of course, their own shiftlessness, witlessness, ignorance, and their penchant for breeding like rats and spending every last penny on their huge litters and on keeping the Roman hierarchy from honest labour, with the parish priest the fattest man in every parish, were not at all to blame.) The French have plotted these 250 years to drive the English out again. The French did everything in their power to turn Canada into a French-style dictatorship or absolute monarchy with a “multicultural” rabble who knew no more of British liberty or the Protestant faith that undergirded it than they did of life on other planets. Canada is the only English-speaking country on earth where you have to speak French to be taken seriously.
Finally our country’s prime minister is a loyal Englishman once more, but he couldn’t undo 44 years of damage in seven. Your son’s real problem will be getting in at all. The immigration minister Jason Kenney, fearing the wrath of multicultural ghettos at the polls, refuses to make it easier for the class who would be most willing, proud, and able with no trouble to find honest labour in Canada and keep British law—white, Protestant Britons and their progeny in the New World—to come seek their fortune. With few exceptions only those who manage to arrange employment before entry are to be admitted. Canadian employers are, naturally, expected to make every effort to find a black lesbian Muslim who speaks French (and not of course a word of English) to fill the job first before even lookng at you, and explain to a French bureaucrat who knows nothing about the reality of your industry why they couldn’t find one before offering you the job.
If you really don’t have a truly unique skill, and you’re not a Third World kleptocrat coming to set up a business to launder your ill-gotten gains, it could be a long time before anybody here gives you a break. For now, you’d be better off keeping your eyes peeled for opportunities in parts of the States where people still fear the Lord and not a hard day’s work—and keeping any savings you can’t afford to lose offshore.
Something else.
The east German communists knew they were finished not when the people started shouting “We want out!” but when they started up with “We’re staying put!” The ultimate goal of Barack Hussein Obama and his cronies is to drive the men who built America before them into exile or extinction, as they did in southern Africa, and help themselves to the inheritance of English America.
If you want to leave because you fear Obama—do not. The Lord has delivered him into your hands. All you have to do is insist that if Obama wants your country he can fight you for it like a man. All that will take is a little courage, and faith in the God of our fathers. To put it another way, not showing up to riot is a failed conservative policy.
Don’t tell us you want out—not while you still have a choice. Go to that backguard in DC, look him in the eye and tell him you’re staying put.
You are a parody, Dick. Admit it.
Dear American inquiring about Canada, ignore Dick. If you speak English, you are half way there. French is for government jobs only. You may need to inquire if your qualifications may be accepted depending on what province you go to. A relative has a teaching license good for Ontario and New York. That is the sort of thing one must consider. Also, the spelling. It’s “colour”, not “color”.
Just a few things.
Commenting a a dual citizen, born & raised in Canada and lived/worked 20+ years in U.S…
* Easiest relocation on earth if you stay out of Quebec
* Best for jobs > Saskatchewan and Alberta
* KEY difference (often overlooked) is that city people need another city, town people need another town … hard to go town to city, or city to town
* American citizens will still need to FILE taxes annually forever; currently their first $80K of forieng (Canadian) income is tax-free in the U.S. but ALL taxable above that
* moving is easy – LEGAL “white collar” work without Cdn credentials and work permits is complicated
* northern states same as Canada – warmer U.S states rpesent a tougher relocation because “weather” is 24/7/365
* LOUSY (or non-existent) Mexican food; excellent Indian food
* I miss owning my handgun for self-protection
* EVERYTHING and I DO MEAN EVERYTHING costs more up here
Think it through rationally – no emotion. Good luck.
Scott:
What brought you and your family to Canada in the first place — what caused you to leave the U.S.? And why Hamilton (not that I’m being critical or sarcastic or anything)?
What is your assessment of the condition of America today? I’m guessing you still have an avid interest in American news, etc. and still have many contacts there.
Unless a person has a critical skill or lots of money it can be difficult to get permanent resident status to live and work in Canada. One must apply while living in the US and wait until status is granted before moving here. It can take a very long time, so start applying now and be patient.
Interesting I guess. My family left Haldimand County in Ontario in 1861, no work to be had. The men all joined Michigan cavalry regiments and fought in the Civil War.Some of the womenfolks’ background was as Tories from New York that settled in southern Ontario. Anyway, they all moved here to Washington state to work in the woods. I guess they made the circle route New York-Ontario-Michigan-West Coast.
After hearing about a 2 foot snow storm coming into the NY area.
I wonder how much further north I would have to go to get away from it?
Who said not to bring skis?
Stay in the US and fight the Socialists; they already run the show here. It’s a nicce place, though.
Just be aware that in SK your family will be extorted to the tune of $2500.00 every year to keep farmer freeloaders Idle All Winter.
If you buy a farm in SK be aware you will be extorted a similar amount to keep Phil’s kids in the daycare they call school and pay for dr’s visits for their sniffles.
Grow up strad. People who do not have kids are being subsidized by those who do. Unless you are a hermit living in a cave on your own land where you hunt, trap and grow your own food, someones kids are providing you with your life. The pittance you provide to support their education does not begin to cover what you receive back from an economy that is dependant on a replacement generation. Those who raise children put a lot more into the next generation than the tiny pocket change non child bearers do, and they continue after the kids are raised to pay the same taxes you do. Japan has a low birth rate and has been in a no growth economic siuation because of this since the ’80s.
Unless you are a hermit living in a cave on your own land where you hunt, trap and grow your own food, someones kids are providing you with your life.
Another Big Zero acolyte, ‘you didn’t build that…’
The pittance you provide to support their education…
A pittance? Health and education accounts for way more than half of all taxes.
Oh, Americans do fairly well in Canada. To start with, unless an American makes a point of identifying himself as such, he isn’t likely to be noticed. As the typical middle class American is more energetic and more enterprising than the typical Canadian he won’t have much trouble in getting ahead. Politics? Well, he will run into anti-Americanism there, but if he just states why he left the US he will probably be regarded as OK. He should attempt to learn the differences among the Canadian political parties, but other than that should steer clear of Canadian politics. He has been brought up with a very peculiar political philosophy and peculiar method of political analysis, which doesn’t transfer anywhere, while Canadians learn their politics gradually, as they grow up, by osmosis.
Grow up Strad – Did you build your own house, kill your own cow, grow your own veggies, build your own car from metal you dug from the gournd? No the children others raised did. They added to teh economy through their labour and sold you stuff to live. This has nothing to do with roads or government services. It has to do with replacing the population and econmic growth in the private sector. Most of health care goes to seniors, who are subsidized by….. the next generation. If you do not provide the next generation, then you are being subsidized by those who do. It’s math. I pay the same taxes you do, and I pay 100’s of thousands toward raising the next generation of productive economy growing workers over and above what you do. Sorry to bust your libertarian bubble of that’s what you are, but math is math.
Did you build your own house, kill your own cow, grow your own veggies, build your own car from metal you dug from the gournd? No the children others raised did. They added to teh economy through their labour and sold you stuff to live.
Most of that I have done. Apparently I owe someone’s kids the education to do the rest for me. How leftist of you.
I pay 100’s of thousands toward raising the next generation of productive economy growing workers over and above what you do.
Gee, big spender. I was always told it’s not what you make, it’s what you keep.
Robert, your friends will move to Canada and the biggest differences they will notice will be the grocery store chains and the wrapper on Wonder Bread.
For about a year.
After that the deep cultural assumptions of Canadians will become more and more apparent, and your friends will feel like they live in the Twilight Zone for a while. They will also start to see just how badly the US media has lied to them their whole lives, by virtue of watching the completely different yet no less heinous lies told by Canadian media.
At that point they will either accept that Canadians are strange and alien but basically ok, or they will run back home where people are not crazy. Takes two to three years for that process to go through, depending on how clued in your friends are.
This guy’s son and daughter-in-law should not move to Quebec or Toronto. ‘Better that they move to Alberta, i.e., Calgary, where the sky is not cloudy all day. You know, home, home on the range … the sky’s big and the people are friendly.
Sadly, I live in Toronto, where the sky isn’t big and where the 67 or so cultures all stuffed into the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) make for a pretty congested, dysfunctional, and unfriendly atmosphere, especially on our seriously substandard public transportation system known as the TTC.
My girlfriend who lives in Ottawa, has joked about me moving there.
Our plan is for her to move to Texas when she retires, as she loves the sun and heat. I was appalled when I read up on Canada’s gun laws, as I am an avid shooter, but not necessarily a hunter. I would have to leave most of my arsenal here in the states if I moved there.
That being said, if the current administration here in the states has their way, it may come to that. I can protect myself and mine with a 30-30 and an Enfield No.4, but it isn’t my 1st choice.
On a bright note, I think the FED might have a problem disarming the folks here in Texas. The Republic of Texas might be again if this crap continues.
I’m not leaving the US, hell, it’s just starting to get interesting, what with Obama trying to start CWII.
,
From the Sixties until around 2000, there were around a million Canadians that emigrated to the US. Most went for better work and most were likely on the conservative side of the ledger. During that time about a quarter million Americans immigrated to Canada. Aside from the Oil Patch in Calgary, many of those were stationed in Canada during the Vietnam war, never returned, and went on to enthusiastically contributing to the leftist and Green drift of the Deranged Dominion, particularly those in the professoriate. The US likely got the better end of that arrangement.
Now that Atlas is clearly shrugging in the US, it will be interesting to see how many return or move North seeking new turf. Anyone from the US, unfamiliar with Canada, could get a good balance of perspective from the comments above. The only thing I would add is that Americans would likely notice a much less obvious underclass in Canada compared to the results of a legacy of US nurturing (great society ghettos, 47%, including a tolerated Southern invasion) of that aggregate.
I do see the point you’re trying to make but in real-life practical terms, is there much difference between living in Canada or America?
I’ve often joked with visitors that if they had been blindfolded and dropped in Vancouver, BC or Seattle or Portland, OR what would they really notice that was so different – beyond the license plates, flags, & mailboxes?