Think Canada's the Place to Be? Think Again (A Canadian expat explains)

The Seattle Times ^ | December 12, 2003 | Jennifer Meeks

[quidnunc]

It has been said that Seattle mirrors Canada in its tolerant attitudes, but there is a dark side to this utopia across the border.

My husband and I left Canada six years ago to start a new life in the United States. Tens of thousands of university-educated, middle-class Canadians leave Canada for the U.S. every year. The Canadian government even has a name for us — "The Brain Drain."

Why do we leave?

Taxes – Ever wonder why you see so many rusty cars up north? It's not just because they salt the roads in the wintertime. People can't afford new ones.

Fifty percent of the Canadian paycheck goes to taxes. And, in Ontario, for example, there's a 15-percent tax at the cash register. Think about paying that every time you buy a car, a fridge or clothes. The Canadian middle class has almost been taxed out of existence.

Official bilingualism – This is what most of the taxes pay for.

Learning and speaking another language may seem like fun to most Americans. Forget about that textbook Parisian you learned in high school. My husband speaks French fluently but not by Canadian government standards. He'd be passed over in employment by someone who speaks a government-approved level of French.

Canada is officially bilingual and that means everything must be in French and English. Everything. It's the law.

If you or your company do not comply with regulations then the official language "police" will be at your door. If you want to pursue a career in retail, the police, the post office, government, business and even the military, you must be bilingual.

The U.S. has its issues with African Americans and Canada has its issues with French Canadians. Affirmative action in the name of official bilingualism has resulted in a great deal of conflict.

Employment – If you are English-speaking in Canada, it's difficult to find a job.

Salaries are much lower than in the U.S. When we moved to the U.S., my husband almost tripled his salary.

Our standard of living is beyond what we could have ever achieved in a lifetime living in Canada. Our relatives can't believe how well average, middle-class Americans live. Our son, who has a learning disability, is getting the best education ever in an American public school.

-snip-

[Snowyman]

WHY would Ontario, knowing what they know of Martin, vote for him???

First. Ontario didn't vote for Martin. He lives in Quebec and became leader of the Liberal party by default .

Second , the Liberal Party in 2000 was elected with 37.8% of the vote.

Third. In Ontario alone , the combined votes for the Alliance and the PCPC in 29 ridings would have defeated the Liberal who won .

Fourth . The existence of a red tory PCPC and the Stockwell Day Alliance displaced many voters who vote in the center of the two. They didn't vote.

Fifth. As of last week, the Alliance no longer exists , nor does the PCPC .The vote splitting will stop. Clark and his red shirts have fled the party along with , most notably Orchard and the gay Bisson , who now appears as a member of Martin's government .

Sixth. The CPC , Conservative Party of Canada , does not have the luxury of time as Martin will go for a spring election. And right now we don't have a leader. We may squeak by with a minority government but it's doubtful . The next election, 2008? will be the battle ground.

And finally , Someone who lives in Perth or Arnprior or Barrie is just as ignored by Ottawa as you are .

[spectre]

From your post I must assume you are posting from a cave in Afghanistan.

[Canadian Outrage]

I know those facts you just posted. I knew that Chretien had a MAJORITY government with 37% of the vote (because of the seat structure). Also, I am extremely glad that the Conservatives and the CA got their act together and joined. However, yesterday as I drove home after work, I heard the announcer say that the Liberals are still way out in front with over 50% of the vote?? I realize Martin hasn't been VOTED in yet, but it is assumed by all the media that he's the NEXT Prime Minister. No matter that there must be an election called. It just irks the bejeezus out of me that the assumption is already made that MARTIN WILL be the winner of the next election. I'm sure he realizes that he does not have the same situation as Chretien had but a lot will turn on Ontario because Quebec will never vote for the New Conservative party. I agree that he will call an election as soon as possible. Same as Chretien did when Stockwell Day was gaining steam fast. A Minority Government would be liveable I guess, because everything would NOT be a foregone conclusion. David Orchard has proceeded to make himself look really bad. I listened to him on Dave Rutherford recently. Bisson, the same. I wasn't aware that certain parts of Ontario were ignored, that is news to me. A monumental upset is my dream.

[Black Powder]

The fish didn't belong to Canada. They were caught in U.S. waters or international waters.

The fish orginate in Canada. The Americans catch salmon left alone by the Canadians so that they'll return to spawn in Canadian waters. If the Americans continue to take the fish, the result will be no salmon for either the Canadians or Americans. This has already happened with Coho salmon.

[Snowyman]

I wasn't aware that certain parts of Ontario were ignored, that is news to me.

I think you missed my point. Ottawa ignores all of Canada , unless there is something in it for them .

Ottawa is a very bizarre city. There are two classes of people there. People who work for the government and those that don't . Those that do are over paid , believe they are indispensable and will get a promotion , are masters at passing the buck to the guy one rung down the ladder and at the same time know their bosses are overpaid and at any moment will dump the buck in their lap . Those that don't work for the Feds , either thank heaven they don't or wish they did . :)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Think Canada's The Place To Be? Think Again - Jennifer Meeks

It has been said that Seattle mirrors Canada in its tolerant attitudes, but there is a dark side to this utopia across the border.

My husband and I left Canada six years ago to start a new life in the United States. Tens of thousands of university-educated, middle-class Canadians leave Canada for the U.S. every year. The Canadian government even has a name for us - "The Brain Drain."

Why do we leave?

Taxes - Ever wonder why you see so many rusty cars up north? It's not just because they salt the roads in the wintertime. People can't afford new ones.

Fifty percent of the Canadian paycheck goes to taxes. And, in Ontario, for example, there's a 15-percent tax at the cash register. Think about paying that every time you buy a car, a fridge or clothes. The Canadian middle class has almost been taxed out of existence.

Official bilingualism - This is what most of the taxes pay for.

Learning and speaking another language may seem like fun to most Americans. Forget about that textbook Parisian you learned in high school. My husband speaks French fluently but not by Canadian government standards. He'd be passed over in employment by someone who speaks a government-approved level of French.

Canada is officially bilingual and that means everything must be in French and English. Everything. It's the law.

If you or your company do not comply with regulations then the official language "police" will be at your door. If you want to pursue a career in retail, the police, the post office, government, business and even the military, you must be bilingual.

The U.S. has its issues with African Americans and Canada has its issues with French Canadians. Affirmative action in the name of official bilingualism has resulted in a great deal of conflict.

Employment - If you are English-speaking in Canada, it's difficult to find a job.

Salaries are much lower than in the U.S. When we moved to the U.S., my husband almost tripled his salary.

Our standard of living is beyond what we could have ever achieved in a lifetime living in Canada. Our relatives can't believe how well average, middle-class Americans live. Our son, who has a learning disability, is getting the best education ever in an American public school.

Meanwhile, it is the norm for Canadian schools to have at least 40 kids per class - that is, if the teachers are not on strike.

Speaking of strikes. There are a lot of unhappy workers in Canada. I remember one summer when the bus drivers, postal workers, movie projectionists and government workers were all on strike. Even the doctors have "worked to rule" - offering minimum health care to their patients to force the government to comply with their demands.

Health care - Speaking of doctors, every Canadian has experienced or knows of a family member who has a nightmare health-care story. It may be free but that doesn't mean it's good.

Hospitals are miserable. There are long waiting lists for the most basic treatments and operations. When we went to an American hospital, it was like entering a five-star hotel. I hear Americans complain about the cost of medical bills but I would rather my child be alive and have a bill to pay than to be dead at no charge.

In Canada, there is one system of health care for everyone - except the elite or government bureaucrats, who go to the U.S. and pay for decent health care.

Political oppression - Imagine an American president and one political party in power for over 10 years. That's what's happened in Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's regime has been in control for more than a decade and the average Canadian is fed up and glad to see him go. Even then, it was his decision to allow an election. Hopefully, Canada will be able to make amends and repair its relationship with the U.S.

Living in Canada made me feel like a barn animal in George Orwell's "Animal Farm." My only worry is that someday the United States will resemble Canada. Sort of like one giant Seattle. That would be my nightmare.

P.S. One difference between Canadians and Seattlelites is coffee. A Canadian would never choose Starbucks over Tim Horton's. That's one of the few things the Canadian government can't control.

_________________________________

Speaking from the perspective of a transplanted American currently living in Toronto I'd have to say the author is right on target in regards to her article....worthy of a full posting....

- ConservativeStLouisGuy

[Canadian Outrage]

I recently heard that one in four Canadians is employed by the Government. That means that you and I pay not only our taxes and support that HUGE INEFFICIENT Government machine and pay the salaries of 25% of the population. Do you get to listen to Dave Rutherford in the mornings?? He's just great. I recall he said that they took him off in Ontario tho. Surprise surprise.

[Snowyman]

Dave Rutherford in the mornings?? He's just great. I recall he said that they took him off in Ontario tho. Surprise surprise.

I doubt if he was "taken off" for the reasons he or you might imply . I suggest you listen to CFRA , Ottawa , Lowell Green , especially in the morning . Maybe too early for you . 9am-12 est.

[Snowyman]

You use living in Toronto as an example of living in Canada? You've got to get out more,,

btw, the author of this article generalizes too many points and on many , she is just plain wrong . For the most part, doesn't know what she's talking about.

[Doc On The Bay]

"--one level "Above"---

I THINK you are describing the (Fading) influence of the British Educational System in Canada.

While I agree that THAT system worked well, & graduated WELL EDUCATED citizens, I fear that Canada--like the USA--will succumb to the "PC" philosophy which places "Diversity" above academic Excellence!

Are we DOOMED to "Dumb-Down" our "Best & Brightest," or can we "Recover," & REMEMBER WHAT IS IMPORTANT!!

Doc

[Dan Evans]

The fish orginate in Canada. The Americans catch salmon left alone by the Canadians so that they'll return to spawn in Canadian waters. If the Americans continue to take the fish, the result will be no salmon for either the Canadians or Americans. This has already happened with Coho salmon.

Fish do not carry passports, they have no nationality. If they didn't feed in our waters they would never return to spawn -- why doesn't that make them "American" fish? A lot of the salmon spawn in U.S. rivers, but where they spawn is not an issue. The population of wild animals is not limited exclusively by the ability to spawn. Food supply has more to do with it than anything.

And the "overfishing" was done as much by Canadian fisherman as U.S. If you want a fishing treaty there are better ways to go about it than by blockading boats. Glen Clark was using this issue to exploit anti-American hostility for his own political purposes.

[MAGEE]

LOL - that "my fish/your fish" remark made me remember something I read on the Canadian forum. One mental giant was accusing an American there were more eagles in Canada than the U.S. and anyway "they were stupid birds to have for an emblem". To which the "accused American" after being defrocked of "eagles", stated the U.S. probably had more maple leaves. To which the great northerner blew into another anti-American tirade.

The level of childish taunting is what bothers me. Is this what Canadians are like? Competitive right down to the number of fish and where they feed? My god, let's put a net in the Pacific too.

Um --- what if the fish originate in Alaska? Sorry had to ask.

[BurbankKarl]

hey, I left Seattle in 91!

[Black Powder]

If they didn't feed in our waters they would never return to spawn --

How do figure that fish taken from their feeding waters will ever get to spawn?

but where they spawn is not an issue.

Not to American fishermen, of course not. Neither to you. But Canadian fishermen on the West Coast must adhere to government quotas to the point where many cannot make a living off fishing anymore. They let fish go so that they'll return, then the Americans take what the Canadians have left behind.

If you want a fishing treaty there are better ways to go about it than by blockading boats.

Yeah, they should just ask the Americans to not overfish.

[Black Powder]

The level of childish taunting is what bothers me.

People who are really good at doing something are usually bothered by competition.

[Dan Evans]

How do figure that fish taken from their feeding waters will ever get to spawn?

They won't. Any fish taken from water will never spawn again whether it is salmon, or halibut or carp. That's what I'm saying -- spawning is a non-issue. The issue is over-fishing. If an area is being over-fished, get a fishing treaty. But don't say the fish belong to you because they spawn in your river. People will just laugh at you.

[MAGEE]

Not certain what you mean by "People who are really good at doing something are usually bothered by competition."

Are you referring to the fact that because Canadians are good fishermen and manage their industry well, they prefer not to have anyone else loading up on catch in international waters?

I believe with common sense (which I would expect of any commercial operations), that there will be enough for all unless greed is the word for the day.

And if we are going to go near "greed", let's introduce the Japanese fishermen who respect no international law whatsoever in their commercial operations. Yet the finger is consistently pointed south not west.

I do not believe in all the carping going on between the two countries. There are other ways to discuss dissatisfaction with trade and commerce than whining on the internet and in the media.