Want To move to Canada

[KarenCee 3]

Good info! Thanks for the links. I can hardly wait until we're finally in a position for Joel to apply for me as his spouse so we can move home.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Be adivsed that there isn't free healthcare everywhere in Canada despite what you hear in the American news. If healthcare without a fee is important to you, do not go to Vancouver or B.C. as you will pay a premium for your healthcare. There are other provinces as well that require you support your own healthcare.

Having said that, it depends on what you are looking for in an environment. Please check out travel websites, photo sites and then the chamber of commerce for each city you are interested in.

If you are a white collar worker, you will want to stay in the larger cities.

This is absolutely true. I pay for my "free" health care through both premiums and taxation.

I'd also stay away from BC if you want to choose your auto insurance companies. There's only one auto insurer in BC (which is run by the government) and they charge a ton. For ONE car, with my wife and I on a fairly basic plan, it costs me over $3000 per year. Unless I want to drive uninsured, I can't do anything about it.

I've also found the majority of people in Vancouver (and the outlying areas) to be extremely rude. The drivers are horrendous as well. They're unnervingly aggressive and just plain bad. I've dealt with my fair share of a$$holes (both on and off the road) in Houston, but nothing as bad as I've experienced here.

In all fairness, Vancouver does have its positive side. The SkyTrain is nice, Lonsdale Quay is neat and there are some great parks. That's about all I can think of right now.

[trailmix 77]

How much is the premium for HC in BC?

[DeadPoolX 9]

How much is the premium for HC in BC?

I'll need to check. I don't recall the price off the top of my head. In all fairness, it's lower than health insurance in the U.S.; however, BC Health doesn't cover medication. I take a lot of prescription medication (I spent over $200 a couple of days ago on one month's worth of two of my five prescriptions), so I'll probably require health insurance, in addition to BC Health's premiums, in order to cover me. Most people, however, probably don't take as many drugs as I do. For them BC Health is probably plenty.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Be adivsed that there isn't free healthcare everywhere in Canada despite what you hear in the American news. If healthcare without a fee is important to you, do not go to Vancouver or B.C. as you will pay a premium for your healthcare. There are other provinces as well that require you support your own healthcare.

Having said that, it depends on what you are looking for in an environment. Please check out travel websites, photo sites and then the chamber of commerce for each city you are interested in.

If you are a white collar worker, you will want to stay in the larger cities.

This is absolutely true. I pay for my "free" health care through both premiums and taxation.

I'd also stay away from BC if you want to choose your auto insurance companies. There's only one auto insurer in BC (which is run by the government) and they charge a ton. For ONE car, with my wife and I on a fairly basic plan, it costs me over $3000 per year. Unless I want to drive uninsured, I can't do anything about it.

I've also found the majority of people in Vancouver (and the outlying areas) to be extremely rude. The drivers are horrendous as well. They're unnervingly aggressive and just plain bad. I've dealt with my fair share of a$$holes (both on and off the road) in Houston, but nothing as bad as I've experienced here.

In all fairness, Vancouver does have its positive side. The SkyTrain is nice, Lonsdale Quay is neat and there are some great parks. That's about all I can think of right now.

Sheeshkebobin - had no idea about the single autoinsurer in BC - interesting there are such differences from province to province on these types of things

Edited October 10, 2009 by Udella&Wiz

[DeadPoolX 9]

Be adivsed that there isn't free healthcare everywhere in Canada despite what you hear in the American news. If healthcare without a fee is important to you, do not go to Vancouver or B.C. as you will pay a premium for your healthcare. There are other provinces as well that require you support your own healthcare.

Having said that, it depends on what you are looking for in an environment. Please check out travel websites, photo sites and then the chamber of commerce for each city you are interested in.

If you are a white collar worker, you will want to stay in the larger cities.

This is absolutely true. I pay for my "free" health care through both premiums and taxation.

I'd also stay away from BC if you want to choose your auto insurance companies. There's only one auto insurer in BC (which is run by the government) and they charge a ton. For ONE car, with my wife and I on a fairly basic plan, it costs me over $3000 per year. Unless I want to drive uninsured, I can't do anything about it.

I've also found the majority of people in Vancouver (and the outlying areas) to be extremely rude. The drivers are horrendous as well. They're unnervingly aggressive and just plain bad. I've dealt with my fair share of a$$holes (both on and off the road) in Houston, but nothing as bad as I've experienced here.

In all fairness, Vancouver does have its positive side. The SkyTrain is nice, Lonsdale Quay is neat and there are some great parks. That's about all I can think of right now.

Sheeshkebobin - had no idea about the single autoinsurer in BC - interesting there are such differences from province to province on these types of things

Yeah, a lot of people are surprised by that. I was too and I still dislike it. If there was more than one auto insurer, there would be competition and that'd probably drive the price down. At the very least, there'd be better benefits since each company would have an incentive to get clients. As it is in BC, there's no incentive at all and you simply have to pay up if you want to drive legally.

Maybe it seems silly to get so angry about that, but $3000 (actually somewhat over that) is a lot of money to pay on an yearly basis.

[KarenCee 3]

Whoa...that IS huge! When the time comes we're moving back to hubby's province of Nova Scotia. I'm thinking it's pretty reasonable there regarding HC and auto insurance. Anywho, it will be a few years yet (we both need to finish school and wait for daughter to finish as well) so I've got some time to research.

[Malrothien 6]

How much is the premium for HC in BC?

It is $96 a month for a couple.

Be adivsed that there isn't free healthcare everywhere in Canada despite what you hear in the American news. If healthcare without a fee is important to you, do not go to Vancouver or B.C. as you will pay a premium for your healthcare. There are other provinces as well that require you support your own healthcare.

Having said that, it depends on what you are looking for in an environment. Please check out travel websites, photo sites and then the chamber of commerce for each city you are interested in.

If you are a white collar worker, you will want to stay in the larger cities.

This is absolutely true. I pay for my "free" health care through both premiums and taxation.

I'd also stay away from BC if you want to choose your auto insurance companies. There's only one auto insurer in BC (which is run by the government) and they charge a ton. For ONE car, with my wife and I on a fairly basic plan, it costs me over $3000 per year. Unless I want to drive uninsured, I can't do anything about it.

I've also found the majority of people in Vancouver (and the outlying areas) to be extremely rude. The drivers are horrendous as well. They're unnervingly aggressive and just plain bad. I've dealt with my fair share of a$$holes (both on and off the road) in Houston, but nothing as bad as I've experienced here.

In all fairness, Vancouver does have its positive side. The SkyTrain is nice, Lonsdale Quay is neat and there are some great parks. That's about all I can think of right now.

Sheeshkebobin - had no idea about the single autoinsurer in BC - interesting there are such differences from province to province on these types of things

Yeah, a lot of people are surprised by that. I was too and I still dislike it. If there was more than one auto insurer, there would be competition and that'd probably drive the price down. At the very least, there'd be better benefits since each company would have an incentive to get clients. As it is in BC, there's no incentive at all and you simply have to pay up if you want to drive legally.

Maybe it seems silly to get so angry about that, but $3000 (actually somewhat over that) is a lot of money to pay on an yearly basis.

Don't forget to add that ICBC, while our insurance company, also controls the driver's licensing. Yay monopolies!

[trailmix 77]

Yes interesting, in Alberta you just buy insurance from whomever you choose.

Prior to them doing away with HC premiums in January of 2008, the price was $44 single and $88 for a family of two or more. Which is pretty darn cheap.

[LeprechaunSean 0]

As someone that has spent a large part of their lives in both BC and Alberta, I believe I can positively contribute to this discussion.

ICBC is the Devil. Or at the very least his organization here on earth.

[LeprechaunSean 0]

ok besides my opinion on ICBC, here's my two cents:

I grew up in BC and have traveled all over canada, living for 7 years in alberta as well. I still think that BC is probably one of the most beautiful places on in the world - mountains, lakes, ocean, beaches, orchards, forests, rainforests........it's pretty much got it all. Having said that, I would state that BC has over the last ten years definitely developed an arrogant sort of attitude(as evidenced by the new license plates 'best place on earth') The cost of living in BC is ridiculous as well(at least anywhere on the west coast). I realize that there are still some good friendly people in BC still, it's just that they are really outnumbered now.

Alberta doesn't have the same skyline as BC, or the lakes or ocean, but I'll take the people there anyday over BC. And of course you can always go to Banff or Jasper and see the mountains if you want. The cost of living is better than BC, although still high if you ask me. Northern Alberta gets bitter winters that sometimes drag on way longer than you would think possible, but southern AB is not bad, of course Calgary gets the 'chinooks'. I think Calgarians are still slightly more snooty than emontonians(sorry Trails, it's true) but of course they have to compensate for having such a crappy hockey team.

So in my opinion, if you move to BC you'll see some beautiful scenery, but maybe have a hard time with the people. If you move to Alberta you'll meet some really good people but have to put up with a flat skyline and cold winters(actually it should be noted that northern BC has really bad winters too. actually anywhere north in canada does.)

ok I'm done. for now.

[trailmix 77]

Well from where I sit, literally, I see those rocky mountains, the skyline doesn't look flat from here.

As for the flames comment

But for broad generalizations you get the prize for the month

Edited October 11, 2009 by trailmix

[Marilyn. 340]

I used to live in BC and my car insurance was only about 80 bucks a month...

also the health premium depends on how much money you make... I wasn't paying anything most of the time..

$54 for one person

$96 for a family of two

$108 for a family of three or more

The current adjusted net income thresholds are:

$20,000 - 100 percent subsidy

$22,000 - 80 percent subsidy

$24,000 - 60 percent subsidy

$26,000 - 40 percent subsidy

$28,000 - 20 percent subsidy

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/premium.html

I also didn't notice a lot of unfriendly people... and anyways you will find unfriendly people wherever you go.. they aren't limited to certain areas..

Edited October 11, 2009 by Marilyn.

[Malrothien 6]

What kind of car did you drive and what area did you live in Marilyn?

We live in the greater Vancouver region and we pay $157 a month for ICBC. Granted, we do have uninsured, third party, and a $2 million limit (MIL was hit by a car and had low limit coverage and is going through a pain in the butt because of it).

[Marilyn. 340]

right before I moved I had a 90 something Dodge shadow and I lived in the Chilliwack area...