life in canada compared to UK (sales, townhouse, pharmacist)

[ans333]

Hi everyone just joined this exciting forum.I have applied for canada's permanent residency which would take atleast 2 more yrs to finalise.Was wondering is it worth moving to canada from UK in terms of my profession.I qualified last year as a pharmacist in UK.So how does life compare in these two countries.I have lived here nearly for 5 yrs now.Its not like I dont like here but always wondering about canada,its wide open spaces and clean environment.If any members have any input I will deeply appreciate.What are the current and future prospects for pharmacists(retail) in canada and what is the avg pay structure/yr.Here we pay high taxes in UK is it similar in canada or different.

Cheers.

[Robynator]

First, the answers to your questions vary by province.

Second, I think you'll get many more responses if you post here:

Canada : British Expat Discussion Forum

Third, I'm sure you'll even find some of the answers to your questions if you browse that forum, as it's a forum of people from the UK who have moved to Canada. They're the experts at knowing how life compares.

[Galloway]

its very cold in canada, i wouldnt suggest moving here. Just today i was walking and the wind and cold and snow mixed together was simply unbearable. I can't take it here anymore, this place sucks!! i couldnt even make it across the parking lot without almost freezing to death.

[nickjbor]

Originally Posted by ans333

Hi everyone just joined this exciting forum.I have applied for canada's permanent residency which would take atleast 2 more yrs to finalise.Was wondering is it worth moving to canada from UK in terms of my profession.I qualified last year as a pharmacist in UK.So how does life compare in these two countries.I have lived here nearly for 5 yrs now.Its not like I dont like here but always wondering about canada,its wide open spaces and clean environment.If any members have any input I will deeply appreciate.What are the current and future prospects for pharmacists(retail) in canada and what is the avg pay structure/yr.Here we pay high taxes in UK is it similar in canada or different.

Cheers.

I know about the politics much better. There is a simple way to explain the difference in the political parties in Canada and the UK
you have "2.5" major national parties. The Conservatives (blue), Labour (red), and the Lib-Dems (Yellow). We have 2.5 major national parties. The Conservatives (blue), the Liberals (red), and the NDP (orange). Our Liberals are a much bigger-tent party then your Liberals are, and on the political spectrum would take up half of where Labour sits (think Tony Blair). Also, rather then alternate between Conservative and Labour, our governments alternate between Conservative and Liberal, with the NDP holding up the rear. Second, imagine that rather then 1 Scotland, there are 10, and nothing else. Each of Canada's provinces is different from the next one. Quebec elects a nationalist party on the federal and provincial level, but unlike the SNP it does not just win 6 or so seats, it wins 50. The remainder of the provinces are english and more similar to the federal government. Some provinces alternate in government between the Tories and the NDP, while one does so between the Liberals and NDP. The only other big difference between politics is that being a social conservative (EG traditions) is not seen as highly in Canada as it is in the UK and is in fact somewhat unacceptible in the mainstream.

as for taxes, they are about the same. be aware that in most provinces the sales tax averages 13%.

[Robynator]

Originally Posted by Galloway

its very cold in canada, i wouldnt suggest moving here. Just today i was walking and the wind and cold and snow mixed together was simply unbearable. I can't take it here anymore, this place sucks!! i couldnt even make it across the parking lot without almost freezing to death.

Sure it's cold in Canada...

... in the winter.

What you've just described, however, isn't Canada, but a very regional example of what happens in Toronto during a cold spell in the middle of winter. Toronto may be in Canada, but Canada isn't Toronto.

[Cornerguy1]

Moderator cut: Moderator Note: Several posts have been moved from this thread to preserve the topicality of the thread. Those posts may be found in the thread entitled The Great Debate.

[LeafsFan85]

A pharmacist make at least $80K/year minimum in Toronto.
Comparing housing cost between Toronto and London England is like comparing housing cost between Hong Kong to China.

I saw a show on TV where a young doctor paid around 1 Million for a small townhouse in London, the same townhouse should only cost 300K CND$ max.

[nickjbor]

In downtown you could pay 500K for a townhouse that would run one 1mil or more in London. Then again, if you move far enough outside the city, you could get the same townhouse for 150K