Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I live in the United States, Iowa, Dubuque, to be specific. I am contemplating a move to the country. I love America, I am just fed up with our political ways and corruption. Health Care--Is TRYING to go in a good direction, but the Republicans ruling the house right now don't want to do anything about it.
Canada seems like a great option. It wont be too far away from family in Illinois and Iowa. It's colder, but I dont mind the cold.
So the question I am asking here is where in Canada is the best place to live-
A city where the Canadians aren't partial to Americans, housing is affordable, pollution and crime is low, and the city is beautiful and "green," for new college-grad.
I'm interested particularly in:
Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Victoria, Calgary, Regina, and Thunder Bay.
If you have any better suggestions they are welcome.
--Thanks for the help.
Before you get busy picking out prospective living locations, you might want to consider how you're going to meet Canada's immigration requirements. There's more to it than just popping across the border with a suitcase.
suggestions? Forget about Thunder Bay or Regina unless you have a job lined up.
Calgary is great if you can afford the rent. Ottawa is great for those who speak French, same goes for Montreal, not to say that you canot get by in both without french. Vancouver and Toronto would be the top two places I'd suggest. You'll be hard pressed to find many canadians who hate "americans". to be blunt, we hate your government almost as much as you do!
Thank you--I have a job in the science career and attended The University of Iowa and recieved my Master's in Science. I am looking at job openings now, and science careers seem to be pretty widespread much to my surprise--of particular interest are Calgary and Vancouver.
--Yes, we HATE our government here-especially in Iowa where we have better ideas of what to do, better healthcare, better schools, if the US government would act like Iowa's legislature, everything would be splendid then--except the quality of our roads...lol.
--French is not a problem either, I studied some French in college and could get by if I had to.
Thank you for the help. I am hoping for Canada to have a more "Iowa" type government, and I know about the taxes, but just how bad are they...
Any further info on Vancouver and Calgary would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you--I have a job in the science career and attended The University of Iowa and recieved my Master's in Science. I am looking at job openings now, and science careers seem to be pretty widespread much to my surprise--of particular interest are Calgary and Vancouver.
--Yes, we HATE our government here-especially in Iowa where we have better ideas of what to do, better healthcare, better schools, if the US government would act like Iowa's legislature, everything would be splendid then--except the quality of our roads...lol.
--French is not a problem either, I studied some French in college and could get by if I had to.
Thank you for the help. I am hoping for Canada to have a more "Iowa" type government, and I know about the taxes, but just how bad are they...
Any further info on Vancouver and Calgary would be greatly appreciated.
--Thank you for all of your help.
if you want your government to stay out of your life then your only option is Alberta. Calgary is pricey, but you can get a good job there. Edmonton is a little lower on both ends, but you can still find a great job in that city. If you have the cash (IE for first and last month's rent, and to last you a few months until you get on your feet) to move to Calgary, then go ahead. They have an excellent transit network and a good road network, and the entire province is experincing a shortage of workers.
Vancouver is full of NDPers. They are a party of people who think Dennis Kucinich is a genius. (IE socialists)
I did a income tax comparison for a number of provinces in states back in 05. Give me 12-24 hours and I'll do one up for 2008 that compares Iowa to Ontario, Quebec, BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan!
I am going to setup a job interview in Calgary, they are interviewing in a week, and am wondering if I need just a visitor's passport or need to apply for citizenship, I know eventually I will have to apply for citizenship, but I am not planning to move until at least late March...
I will do a real estate search in Calgary, and look for an available loft or apartment or even a home, are you familiar with Calgary? If so, where are the best places to live, and are there areas to stay away from? How is the weather? How is the city, in general...
Please note I could not find any data on the US excemption rate - IE that income below which you do nto pay any tax. Therefore, the table may be slightly askew. Also note that this is the combined Iowa+US and Alberta+Canada rate. I've also done a Ontario+Canada rate should you chose Toronto.
Sounds like your reason for moving might have to do with politics to be aware of the following:
Canada has 3 national parties. the Conservatives, Liberals, and the NDP. It also has a separatist Bloc Quebecois in Quebec. While nearly every Liberal would identify themselvs as US Democrats, the other parties dont match the same way. 40% of Conservaties would think of themselvs as Democrats, and 40% as Republicans. NDPers might consider the US Democratic party "too right-wing"
Ontario would vote for the US Democrats in a huge way if it could. It would likely be another Massachusetts. Conservatives from Ontario tend to be more progressive. Provincially, we have a Liberal government, with the Progressive Conservative Party as the official opposition (PC) and the NDP brining up the rear as a smaller third party. Politics in Canada tend to be a "2.5 party system" with two parties fighitng for government and a third winning 10% or so of the seats.
Quebec is in political flux. the Liberals are in power, but hold less then half the seats. The conservative ADQ party holds nearly as many seats, and the seppies in the Parti Quebecois (PQ) hold a good portion too. The PQ is much like the NDP, but wants Quebec to be a country, and has been called pro-french racist. Quebec has punishing taxes.
Alberta is the base for the Conservatives. a PC government has been in power here since 1971, and no other party currently threathens them. The Liberals and NDP have seats here but so does the Alliance party, a very american-style right-wing party. If our provinces were your states, Alberta would be the only "Swing state" so expect some "Republican" thinking to be found here.
BC is much more left-wing. The Liberals and NDP are the two big parties here without any third party holding any seats. In Saskatchewan a conservative party is in government with the NDP as the number two, also without any third party that holds seats. Both provinces would trend more Democratic.
Also note the parties are different. Each party is a private entity, and therefore, you dont 'register' as a member, but rather you have to pay to sign up. For this reason fewer then 5% of canadians are party members. on the plus side you get a nice card identifying yourself as a member.
I myself am a card carryng Conservative, but if I lived in the US I'd identify as a Democrat. This election I'd vote for Guiliani or McCain, however. In Canada, social-conservatism does not sell well. The Conservative government here has not banend gay marriage (which is legal) or abortion (which is also legal) but has spoken about tax and service cuts.
also note I've run for office, so if you have any questions about canadian politics (even the ins and outs of politics in calgary, or any other assorted city) feel free to direct message me.
Thank you, nickbjor, I knew Canada was very conservative, but didn't know just how much... I am an independent myself and am pulling for Barack Obama over BILLary Clinton, as we are calling her here now. On my television right now, they are having "a special news update on ABC," just to watch what the NYSE does today, very interesting, today is the day that we will know whether recession has arrived in America. Not only are we worried about our economy, but we are worried about dragging down EURO markets...This never happens, they NEVER have had a special report about the stock market in as long as I can remember...
--Interesting day on wall street--
anyway, i wonder if it will drag down Canada's economy with it? I am leaving next Wednesday for Calgary for my job interview, and have looked at real estate, and have found it remarkably expensive, 1000 square feet per 300K, you can get 3500 sq. ft for 300K in Iowa, but I am trading quality of life, so it doesn't matter...
--Thank you for your help
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
