Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What are you thoughts on Canada.

Being a Canadian I think my viewpoints are a little biased...

It's always interesting to see what other countries think of us. I rented cars last summer and had a lot of American vacationers and we always got comments about how polite everyone is where I was. Holding doors, overall friendliness, etc. I've visited the States more times than I can account and I can attest to that for sure. To be honest a lot of people from central/western Canada said that as well (I'm from the east coast).

I've also been told that we talk a little funny, but I can't confirm that...eh.
 
ravenvii said:
I want to move there. :)



Could you indulge us on how you managed that?
Click to expand...

Unless you have family, etc. in Canada, immigration is decided on a point system. You get points for things like education, age (not being elderly is better), good health, and skills needed in certain job categories, etc. Learn French. Being bilingual is a huge number of points. If don't actually speak French, learn to speak with a French accent. When you are being interviewed, ask - in your French accent - if you can be interviewed in English so you can show your proficiency.

After you've provided the documentation for your education, past employers, other skills and gathering enough points your application will be processed. Can take some time though, because they are very thorough now about checking your background. Just as you are getting close to getting a decision the Government will toss out the entire backlog of applications (because the department is underfunded it can't keep up with the applications it receives), refund you your application fee, and ask you to start again. Oh, I'm sorry - did I say that out loud?

Or you can find out which province needs your skill set, and apply to them directly - bypassing the whole federal immigration process. Try Manitoba and Saskatchewan... unless you have French proficiency, in which case your application to Quebec is pretty well guaranteed. Especially if you are an actor or poet, or another chronically unemployed cultural job.

Good Luck, eh?
 
ravenvii said:
Could you indulge us on how you managed that?
Click to expand...

I originally got in on an Open Work permit after graduating University, after that there were about 5-6 different applications to fill out through my work just to extend my permit (which is a major pain in the ass) and another pile of paper work the size of a dictionary for Permanent Residence.
 
I've lived in Canada for the past 22 years and have been to many countries across the globe. Canada is easily the most bureaucratic country on the planet. Yes its safe, clean and organized here but damn near every aspect of life is filled with regulations. There are far too many by-laws, especially in Ontario.

My parents own a restaurant and had to pay $300 CAD just to get our store signage approved before it was even made. $300 dollars!!!! Car insurance in Ontario costs $100/month if not more, my friends in Toronto pay close to $300/month. 2am cut off for buying alcohol anywhere, including clubs and bars (really??). Our license plates also have this weird mandatory sticker that costs nearly $100 to renew each year to 'validate' the license plate number. I don't see the need for this, as throwing the l.p. number into the database once would suffice, its clearly a money grab. Pets in Toronto are no longer allowed to be sold in stores.

Any my favourite, if youre going to the beach, forget about having alcohol, open fires, smoking, swimming far, kite surfing, motorized vehicles and other things as they are all illegal.

Thats just scratching the surface though. For all of the comfort that Canada gives, there are equally as many limitations to keep its citizens by its balls.
 
I was born in Toronto and lived there for most of my life (moved to Los Angeles in 2008), so I felt that I needed to set the record straight on this poster's complaints.

wikus said:
I've lived in Canada for the past 22 years and have been to many countries across the globe. Canada is easily the most bureaucratic country on the planet. Yes its safe, clean and organized here but damn near every aspect of life is filled with regulations. There are far too many by-laws, especially in Ontario.
Click to expand...

Canada is not the most bureaucratic country in the world. Have you heard of the United States? As an example, when I had to apply for a certain exam regulated by a California board, there were three steps I had to take:
  • initial application to take the exams, including initial application fee.
  • once the initial application was approved, I had to submit another application in order to get approved to book the exam dates.
  • once that application was approved, I had to submit the exam fees.
  • once receipt of the fees was confirmed, I was finally allowed to book the exam dates.
I had to wait a week for the board to receive and approve my initial application. Then, there was a week of waiting between the initial application approval and my being able to book the exams. It could have all been done in 1-2 steps.

My parents own a restaurant and had to pay $300 CAD just to get our store signage approved before it was even made. $300 dollars!!!!
Click to expand...

Not sure about that one, but I'd guess there are other countries with the same type of reg.

Car insurance in Ontario costs $100/month if not more, my friends in Toronto pay close to $300/month.
Click to expand...

I lived in Toronto, and I never paid anywhere near $300/month. I had a clean driving record, and I think I was paying around $130-ish a month. Now I live in Los Angeles, and it's around the same.

2am cut off for buying alcohol anywhere, including clubs and bars (really??).
Click to expand...

That isn't unique to Ontario or Canada. I lived in Chicago for 4 years, and the bars/clubs in the suburbs closed at that same time (downtown Chicago stayed open much later). And IIRC, there were cut offs for when you could buy alcohol at stores there too.

Our license plates also have this weird mandatory sticker that costs nearly $100 to renew each year to 'validate' the license plate number. I don't see the need for this, as throwing the l.p. number into the database once would suffice, its clearly a money grab.
Click to expand...

That's the way it works in most places. I pay more than $100 a year to renew my license plate sticker here in California. I think it was $159 for the year last time.

Here's an image I found:
ca2002.jpg


Pets in Toronto are no longer allowed to be sold in stores.
Click to expand...

That's to try to stop the puppy-mills from staying in business. A good regulation IMO.

Any my favourite, if youre going to the beach, forget about having alcohol, open fires, smoking, swimming far, kite surfing, motorized vehicles and other things as they are all illegal.
Click to expand...

All of those rules are very typical of many of the California beaches.

Thats just scratching the surface though. For all of the comfort that Canada gives, there are equally as many limitations to keep its citizens by its balls.
Click to expand...

I really don't understand what you're complaining about. Nothing too different in Ontario vs. other places regarding the above items.
 
Surely said:
I was born in Toronto and lived there for most of my life (moved to Los Angeles in 2008), so I felt that I needed to set the record straight on this poster's complaints.



Canada is not the most bureaucratic country in the world. Have you heard of the United States? As an example, when I had to apply for a certain exam regulated by a California board, there were three steps I had to take:
  • initial application to take the exams, including initial application fee.
  • once the initial application was approved, I had to submit another application in order to get approved to book the exam dates.
  • once that application was approved, I had to submit the exam fees.
  • once receipt of the fees was confirmed, I was finally allowed to book the exam dates.
I had to wait a week for the board to receive and approve my initial application. Then, there was a week of waiting between the initial application approval and my being able to book the exams. It could have all been done in 1-2 steps.



Not sure about that one, but I'd guess there are other countries with the same type of reg.



I lived in Toronto, and I never paid anywhere near $300/month. I had a clean driving record, and I think I was paying around $130-ish a month. Now I live in Los Angeles, and it's around the same.



That isn't unique to Ontario or Canada. I lived in Chicago for 4 years, and the bars/clubs in the suburbs closed at that same time (downtown Chicago stayed open much later). And IIRC, there were cut offs for when you could buy alcohol at stores there too.



That's the way it works in most places. I pay more than $100 a year to renew my license plate sticker here in California. I think it was $159 for the year last time.

Here's an image I found:
ca2002.jpg




That's to try to stop the puppy-mills from staying in business. A good regulation IMO.



All of those rules are very typical of many of the California beaches.



I really don't understand what you're complaining about. Nothing too different in Ontario vs. other places regarding the above items.
Click to expand...

Your only comparisons are between USA and Canada. You know, there is a whole world beyond Canada's and USA's borders, right? I don't understand this north american mentality where only two countries in the world exist, there are 194 other countries which you can make comparisons and weigh the pros/cons of both.
 
Surely said:
I'm sure. I just don't know about how things work at other beaches besides the ones I've been to, so I didn't want to make a blanket statement about something I don't know about. :)
Click to expand...

You guys should come down to the uncivilized world, no regulations, and if you break the law just bribe the police... :eek::(

All i know about canada is that a certain immigrant that has a fobia for immigrants lives there, crazy eh?

Closest i've been is MN, Does sound like a nice place to live though :)
 
wikus said:
I've lived in Canada for the past 22 years and have been to many countries across the globe. Canada is easily the most bureaucratic country on the planet. Yes its safe, clean and organized here but damn near every aspect of life is filled with regulations. There are far too many by-laws, especially in Ontario.

My parents own a restaurant and had to pay $300 CAD just to get our store signage approved before it was even made. $300 dollars!!!! Car insurance in Ontario costs $100/month if not more, my friends in Toronto pay close to $300/month. 2am cut off for buying alcohol anywhere, including clubs and bars (really??). Our license plates also have this weird mandatory sticker that costs nearly $100 to renew each year to 'validate' the license plate number. I don't see the need for this, as throwing the l.p. number into the database once would suffice, its clearly a money grab. Pets in Toronto are no longer allowed to be sold in stores.

Any my favourite, if youre going to the beach, forget about having alcohol, open fires, smoking, swimming far, kite surfing, motorized vehicles and other things as they are all illegal.

Thats just scratching the surface though. For all of the comfort that Canada gives, there are equally as many limitations to keep its citizens by its balls.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of extra regulations and thanks to the Provincial Liberal Dalton McGinty, plenty of new taxes too.

BUT, we also live in a land where those monies pay for alot of things. ie. health care. if I hurt myself or get sick, I'm covered and the thought of not having that protection scares the crap right out of me.

As for us Canucks, I do think we are polite in general. I've heard that from tourists.

We like our beer :)

On average, laid back enough as well. I've heard that is one reason alot of Americans buy cottages in Ontario (maybe other provinces too, but I've only experienced ON). They feel safer and it's a friendlier atmosphere (not saying parts of the US aren't).

Europeans love us. They liken us to Australians and New Zealanders. I was in London taking a train to Cardiff once and the ticket master at the train yard was really rude to me. Not nice at all and I casually mentioned the train system was a little different in Canada - he completely changed his attitude and even bumped me up to 1st class. He told me he thought I was American. I'm not sure why he treated me that way, but honest to God true story. I didn't even ask him b/c I was confused.

Yes, parts of Quebec want to seperate and as a proud CDN, that breaks my heart b/c they were part of the founding fathers of this country. I believe them to be a strong part of the CDN identity. On the flip side of that breaking heart, it does pi$$ me off that some want to seperate b/c I believe it hurts other countries investing in us.

Plus, Quebec women are smokin' hot :)
 
wikus said:
Your only comparisons are between USA and Canada. You know, there is a whole world beyond Canada's and USA's borders, right? I don't understand this north american mentality where only two countries in the world exist, there are 194 other countries which you can make comparisons and weigh the pros/cons of both.
Click to expand...
Do you ever not complain about things? Surely was speaking of his experience. It was appropriate for him to only reference places in North America if that is the sum of his travels or knowledge.

For God's sake, you ignorantly "slam" Canada's/Ontario's way of doing things without considering that those ways are normal in other places as well, then you take offence when you think someone else has done the same thing.

Why must you always be so negative and hypocritical? They're not becoming traits.

----------
Keebler said:
Plus, Quebec women are smokin' hot :)
Click to expand...
Oh **** yes! And on that, a piece of advice for travellers visiting Québec: if you decide to visit a, uh, gentleman's club ;), be prepared to spend. One must tip every staff member one meets.

It gets really expensive.
 
wikus said:
Your only comparisons are between USA and Canada. You know, there is a whole world beyond Canada's and USA's borders, right? I don't understand this north american mentality where only two countries in the world exist, there are 194 other countries which you can make comparisons and weigh the pros/cons of both.
Click to expand...

He's only lived in those two places... What he said is a fair comparison based on HIS experiences. I'd like you to compare the pros/cons of the other 194 Countries.

What you're asking for is just absurd. You're so ignorant.
 
wikus said:
Your only comparisons are between USA and Canada. You know, there is a whole world beyond Canada's and USA's borders, right? I don't understand this north american mentality where only two countries in the world exist, there are 194 other countries which you can make comparisons and weigh the pros/cons of both.
Click to expand...

There are other countries besides the US and Canada? No way! Are you sure? Because my map of the world looks like this:
MapLargeUSCA.gif


:rolleyes:

Is that really the best reply you can come up with? Like before you clicked "Submit Reply" you were like "yeah, this will totally help to solidify my argument." If so, that's pretty sad.

Your post made it seem like the rules and regs in Ontario are unique. That there aren't other places in the world that have such over-the-top, outrageous rules. That Canada is "the most bureaucratic country in the world".

The reason I made the comparison between where I live now and where I used to live is because that's what I know. I know about the rules and regulations in Ontario and I know about them in California.

See, what I did was show you that the rules and regs in Ontario aren't unique and aren't very different than what they are in other places, such as here in California. I guess that gave you a mad?

----------
Wondercow said:
It was appropriate for him to only reference places in North America if that is the sum of his travels or knowledge.
Click to expand...

I've traveled quite a bit more than just in Canada and the US. However, when I'm sitting in a piazza in Italy, or on the beach in the Bahamas, I don't stop a policeman to ask him if people need to pay an annual fee to renew their license plates.;)

----------
Keebler said:
Plus, Quebec women are smokin' hot :)
Click to expand...

That's why I married one. :cool:
 
wikus said:
Your only comparisons are between USA and Canada. You know, there is a whole world beyond Canada's and USA's borders, right? I don't understand this north american mentality where only two countries in the world exist, there are 194 other countries which you can make comparisons and weigh the pros/cons of both.
Click to expand...


Amen brother. Surely, Surely shoudld have compared Turkmenistan and Slovenia. :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
Ontario is a lot more regulated than say Kansas. California and New York are probably the most regulated states so its not a great comparison to the US as a whole.

----------
jsolares said:
You guys should come down to the uncivilized world, no regulations, and if you break the law just bribe the police... :eek::(

All i know about canada is that a certain immigrant that has a fobia for immigrants lives there, crazy eh?

Closest i've been is MN, Does sound like a nice place to live though :)
Click to expand...

If this is referring to me, I have no phobias and I only hate illegals because their first act in the country is to break the law and then to continue breaking laws to work, drive, etc. I have friends from pretty much every part of the world here. Saudi, Kuwait, China, Niceragua, and Portugal just to name a few. I have no problem with immigrants.
 
well personally i love canadians..... in other words we can call him land of opportunity.... canada is biggest country of human right........
 
rdowns said:
Amen brother. Surely, Surely shoudld have compared Turkmenistan and Slovenia. :rolleyes::rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Slovenia is actually an awesome country. Not wealthy by any means, but the government doesnt baby-sit you through your entire life. I feel like i'm constantly being reminded of petty crap and large fines if i step out of line in Canada.
 
Wondercow said:
Do you ever not complain about things? Surely was speaking of his experience. It was appropriate for him to only reference places in North America if that is the sum of his travels or knowledge.

For God's sake, you ignorantly "slam" Canada's/Ontario's way of doing things without considering that those ways are normal in other places as well, then you take offence when you think someone else has done the same thing.

Why must you always be so negative and hypocritical? They're not becoming traits.
Click to expand...

xAnthony said:
He's only lived in those two places... What he said is a fair comparison based on HIS experiences. I'd like you to compare the pros/cons of the other 194 Countries.

What you're asking for is just absurd. You're so ignorant.
Click to expand...

Yeah man, because theres absolutely no room for improving Canada. Let us all in typical canadian fashion let parliament decide whats best for us. I've organized rallies with Jack Layton and other MPs a year ago and not to my surprise I noticed that Canadians have no backbone. Parliament says jump, Canadians ask 'how high' ? If new absurd regulations are put in place especially for those stemming from isolated incidents, NOBODY says a thing. As if Canadians really believe that the government is looking out for them. I'm sure theyre looking out for me with that 2am drinking law. I don't drink, but I cannot tolerate being forced to basically go home between 2-3am when I'm out having fun with friends. I want the choice.

You know whats disgusting and offensive? Your attitude towards people that VOICE these very opinions. What are you trying to tell them? To shut up and deal with it? Do you guys have any idea how incredibly ignorant and arrogant you are by negating these things???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back