Anyone lived in Canada before?

Slootvreter said:
But nanny state, etc.
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Biggest issue by far for me,
I mean most crazy laws imaginable, and people just go with it, don't argue just accept that it's illegal to get closer than 20 meters behind a school bus with flashing lights.

Or that pushing a disabled button to auto open a door for you, when your not disabled, can get you fined.

So I suppose good and bad as I mentioned.
 
Mate of mine met a canadian chick in europe earyly 90's so he went back to canada (toronto) with her, gov wanted to chuck him out so they got married. Hated the snow and guess what his first job was, yeah snow shoveler I schite you not :D
 
eg2505 said:
Biggest issue by far for me,
I mean most crazy laws imaginable, and people just go with it, don't argue just accept that it's illegal to get closer than 20 meters behind a school bus with flashing lights.
Click to expand...

Well, you almost had that right. Have you ever heard of google? if you used it you might actually post something accurate.

You have to stop at least 20m from a STOPPED school bus that has its RED warning lights flashing (which is when it’s stopped to let children alight).

Section 175(11,12) HTA states that drivers on a highway approaching, from the front or rear, a stopped school bus with its overhead red signal lights flashing, shall stop at least 20m before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead lights have stopped flashing. Drivers need not stop if they are on the opposite side of a median from the school bus.

As you can see, it’s the overhead lights that are key as there is no mention of the retractable stop sign often used as additional safety equipment on school buses in the section above.

While a school bus driver might begin to activate the overhead lights prior to coming to a full stop (likely as a warning to motorists that they are about to stop), the law specifies that traffic in both directions is required to halt for a “stopped” school bus with overhead red lights activated.

If a school bus has its overhead lights activated as it slows down, other drivers should best slow down in response and be prepared to stop a safe distance away as the bus comes to a full stop. (Stopping isn’t necessary if a moving bus passes you by in the opposite direction.)

Where a school bus activates the overhead lights only after coming to a full stop, other traffic should then stop. However, if you were truly too close to stop safely at the very instant the bus came to a halt with its lights activated – and an observing police officer would agree on this point – you may proceed.
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https://www.wheels.ca/news/when-exactly-should-i-stop-for-a-school-bus/

That sounds quite sensible..
 
We are applying for permanent residency at the moment. Done our English tests and had our tertiary qualifications sent off to WES for verification. So should be able to create my Express Entry profile by end of Feb and get into the pool for the draws.

Our decision to emigrate is mostly for us to hedge the future opportunities for our toddler and possie future siblings. I am not a pessimist about SA, I like it here. But I need to be realistic about what the future hold for my son as a minority in 15 to 20 hears time. The time to create that backdoor is now, because age counts a lot for any emigration programme especially Canada.

From a timeframe point of view, of we get to apply by end Feb this year, realistically I will be able to still stay in SA for 4 to 5 years before having to HAVE to move to Canada and still keep my PR status. It will cost me about R40k to R50k for the whole process for a family of three. I then have the option to live in Canada indefinitely and have citizenship after a years of living there. Maybe throw in a 3 week vacation to CAN to check things out and make up my mind.

Choices of countries that we also considered were (and still is) Australia and NZ. Would also choose the UK before Canada but they have no permanent residency option. Between Aus and NZ my choice would be Australia, but as it stands my profile points score is not enough to get in as an accountant without an existing job offer. I can try and boost mh score to the current minimum for accountants by redoing my English test and hoping for top marks.

Canada has the easiest entry requirements and the process and visa costs are the lowest. Bonuses are free schooling and medical, if you have PR. No crime compared to SA. Downsides are crap wheather, but so is New York or Chicago. Vancouver and Vancouver Island has by far the best temperatures, I would say similar to the milder parts of New Zealand with lots of rain. More days during winter above zero than below. The rest of the country WILL have a month or two at least where the daily average is below zero. Also a very PC country which will probably be uncomfortable and will take some getting used to. People are very easily offended. A lot different working/office dynamics where being a jack of all trades and do more than what is expected from you like we are used to in SA is a foreign concept in Canada. There you do exactly your job description and that is that. They focus on being specialists in their respective fields.

You can get all the information you need from the Canadian Immigration website (or CIC) and also check you eligibility points at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp and also read the sacanada forum or join their Facebook group for good info.

What I have noticed is there is a huge SA community in Canada, and a LOT of Saffers interested in or in the process of moving there.
 
eg2505 said:
Biggest issue by far for me,
I mean most crazy laws imaginable, and people just go with it, don't argue just accept that it's illegal to get closer than 20 meters behind a school bus with flashing lights.

Or that pushing a disabled button to auto open a door for you, when your not disabled, can get you fined.

So I suppose good and bad as I mentioned.
Click to expand...

This actually got to me the most while I visited, its something you like at first but you feel the insanity after a while. it can feel claustrophobic and the safety does not make you feel any better.
People are so paranoid about bad things happening and nothing ever happens there. The playgrounds are padded and you are not allowed to do anything that will hurt you.

My sister lives in this area that is supposed to be a dodgy area with a drug and crime problem... its idyllic. They have to lie and say they live in the neighborhood across the road or else people wont visit.
There are few neighborhoods in CT that come close to the levels of cleanliness, safety and infrastructure. Massive parks with woodlands and not a single bergie in site.

The people also complain a lot... about the corrupt government, healthcare system and economy. Its hilarious... you would think that Jacob Zuma is running the place.

The thing is ... its everywhere. UK, Aus and NZ. All the places worth going are nanny states. When going through Heathrow I wasn't allowed to take pictures of my own kid on the jungle gym.
I came back feeling like crime and corruption can be fixed, the insanity that has infected first world countries just can't.

That said... I'll probably end up living or moving there. I was meh about the place then I saw where I want to live... fell in love with a neighborhood on a hill.
I'll just have to be one of those arse holes who move there to change things.
 
This thread makes me want to move there.
 
Stefanmuller said:
We are applying for permanent residency at the moment. Done our English tests and had our tertiary qualifications sent off to WES for verification. So should be able to create my Express Entry profile by end of Feb and get into the pool for the draws.

Our decision to emigrate is mostly for us to hedge the future opportunities for our toddler and possie future siblings. I am not a pessimist about SA, I like it here. But I need to be realistic about what the future hold for my son as a minority in 15 to 20 hears time. The time to create that backdoor is now, because age counts a lot for any emigration programme especially Canada.

From a timeframe point of view, of we get to apply by end Feb this year, realistically I will be able to still stay in SA for 4 to 5 years before having to HAVE to move to Canada and still keep my PR status. It will cost me about R40k to R50k for the whole process for a family of three. I then have the option to live in Canada indefinitely and have citizenship after a years of living there. Maybe throw in a 3 week vacation to CAN to check things out and make up my mind.

Choices of countries that we also considered were (and still is) Australia and NZ. Would also choose the UK before Canada but they have no permanent residency option. Between Aus and NZ my choice would be Australia, but as it stands my profile points score is not enough to get in as an accountant without an existing job offer. I can try and boost mh score to the current minimum for accountants by redoing my English test and hoping for top marks.

Canada has the easiest entry requirements and the process and visa costs are the lowest. Bonuses are free schooling and medical, if you have PR. No crime compared to SA. Downsides are crap wheather, but so is New York or Chicago. Vancouver and Vancouver Island has by far the best temperatures, I would say similar to the milder parts of New Zealand with lots of rain. More days during winter above zero than below. The rest of the country WILL have a month or two at least where the daily average is below zero. Also a very PC country which will probably be uncomfortable and will take some getting used to. People are very easily offended. A lot different working/office dynamics where being a jack of all trades and do more than what is expected from you like we are used to in SA is a foreign concept in Canada. There you do exactly your job description and that is that. They focus on being specialists in their respective fields.

You can get all the information you need from the Canadian Immigration website (or CIC) and also check you eligibility points at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp and also read the sacanada forum or join their Facebook group for good info.

What I have noticed is there is a huge SA community in Canada, and a LOT of Saffers interested in or in the process of moving there.
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Thank you for the information :)
 
Want to elaborate on some points mentioned earlier in the thread from my experience...

- Nanny state of note. As an example, was driving after midnight in a dead neighborhood and didnt come to a complete stop at a stop sign, granny or someone next door recorded or took down my numberplate and reported me. Fines are steep.

- People bored/no excitement in lives. Some might find such intense state regulation as a good thing, but from my observations it kills all the creativity in citizens, from the time you are born government already decided how your life will go for you, no need to hustle/think outside of the box etc. Perhaps that's why they are so open for immigrants especially from developing countries.

- Weather. Visited Toronto and Vancouver, out of the two- definitely Vancouver is the one to choose if you are not a fan of minus temperatures, however the city feels overpopulated and be prepared to have more difficulties in getting a job and also paying higher rent.

Despite all of that, would still recommend it as a good option to consider for your family.
 
Zukat said:
Want to elaborate on some points mentioned earlier in the thread from my experience...

- Nanny state of note. As an example, was driving after midnight in a dead neighborhood and didnt come to a complete stop at a stop sign, granny or someone next door recorded or took down my numberplate and reported me. Fines are steep.
Click to expand...

Oh horror upon horrors!

And you can't even use the excuse that you were afraid of being hijacked.
 
Zukat said:
Want to elaborate on some points mentioned earlier in the thread from my experience...

- Nanny state of note. As an example, was driving after midnight in a dead neighborhood and didnt come to a complete stop at a stop sign, granny or someone next door recorded or took down my numberplate and reported me. Fines are steep.
Click to expand...

So you failed to stop at a stop sign and got a fine for doing so? shouldn’t that happen in any country?

PS it’s more likely you were picked up by a camera than given the fine just on the say so of a random member of public...
 
Dave said:
So you failed to stop at a stop sign and got a fine for doing so? shouldn’t that happen in any country?

PS it’s more likely you were picked up by a camera than given the fine just on the say so of a random member of public...
Click to expand...

I wish they'd police traffic lights and stop streets more vigorously than simply putting a camera on a dual lane carriage way and raking in money from those pesky murderers hitting 80 in a 60 zone.
 
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