[unblinkered optimist]

Originally Posted by spartan5power

Wow this thread really went off on a tangent!

Thank you to everyone for sharing your valuable experience and opinions.

I for one don’t expect Canada to be the same as Ireland and would imagine there will be pros and cons as there would be for living in any country..

In Ireland right now even the worst houses are so expensive, is Canada the same?

Is the health system more efficient than the HSE?

Is it a necessity to have private health insurance like it is in Ireland?

Im also interested in the difference in standard of living and opportunities for someone like me who works within the Learning and Development function..

Does anyone have any further information on any of these questions?

You will find cheaper housing in places like Winnipeg or London, Ontario. If you are happy to live and work in tier 2 cities, you will have a pretty decent quality of life. Any good employer will supply some form of health insurance. But the public health system in my experience is better than Ireland. Good luck with your research.

[el diablo]

Originally Posted by antix80

They won't get away with their nonsense over there.

Why not? they get away with it in the UK, Australia and all over Europe.

[the_syco]

I've only lived in Toronto, so my answers are based around that.

Originally Posted by spartan5power

In Ireland right now even the worst houses are so expensive, is Canada the same?

Toronto houses would be equal to Dublin city centre prices, and then some. Have seen houses go for in excess of a million dollars. Even with the exchange rate, so would be equal to a million euros for a four bed house, at roughly a distance of Dublin city centre to Lucan.

Originally Posted by spartan5power

Is the health system more efficient than the HSE?

Yeah. In Ontario, you get an OHIP card after you work for 3 months, and you need to renew it every year. With it, you can goto a walk-in doctor with ease, and I even had my foot x-rayed for free with it. Find it to be a good system.

Originally Posted by spartan5power

Is it a necessity to have private health insurance like it is in Ireland?

Going over, you need to show that you won't be a leech should something go wrong. Pay €300 for it. Reading the small print, and you'll see that it'd cover expenses to allow you to be fixed up to fly home, but not much more. Without this 2 year insurance, you won't get your two year visa, and you'll be told to fcuk off back to Ireland.

Most full-time employment will get private health insurance, and this often covers dental work. Contract work will pay nice, but no company private health care.

Originally Posted by spartan5power

Im also interested in the difference in standard of living and opportunities for someone like me who works within the Learning and Development function..

Sorry, can't help. If you're going to Toronto, join "irish and new in toronto!" or if going elsewhere, join the Irish facebook page for that location, and ask there.

Originally Posted by spartan5power

Does anyone have any further information on any of these questions?

Ask away.

Originally Posted by Elite Woad Raider

By the way, Canadians think it's acceptable to live in a caravan. I worked with a lady in a bakery in Victoria. She was working full time with early morning starts from around 4am. The most she could afford was a mobile home in a trailer park.
By the way people act here you would think they were impoverished.

Have seen a few of these. Typically, I find them to be in areas where people wouldn't buy houses in. In Toronto, the cheap houses/mobile homes are in the flight path of Pearson airport.

Originally Posted by antix80

I've a friend who lived in canada and he bought a mobile home in a small city , nice garden with 2 mature trees. It wasn't cheap. It was as good as any small house and his neighbours were mainly retirees. I'd take it any day over a flat in Toronto

Have found that people in a lot of the flats in Toronto don't know their neighbours, unless you're in the likes of the Irish Twin Towers. So for that reason, I don't know would I live long term in one.

[Elite Woad Raider]

Originally Posted by antix80

They won't get away with their nonsense over there.

There are people out there who are worse than gypsies, and they're called Canadians. Before you make your mind up, come here and find out for yourself!

[poisonated]

Some very racist comments in this thread. I’ve lived in Canada and found that Canadians are lovely. It is expensive though. Also the winters are not pleasant.

[jme2010]

Originally Posted by poisonated

Some very racist comments in this thread.

That Elite Raider chap is a troll.

Originally Posted by poisonated

I’ve lived in Canada and found that Canadians are lovely.

I can only speak to people in Toronto. I work in software and everybody in this small start-up have such good personality and make great friends. I've been to my co-workers homes to watch hockey and basketball. At least half of them love the drink and get proper drunk on nights out, but the other half of the group is more of the dry, one pint and a pint of water.

Originally Posted by poisonated

Also the winters are not pleasant.

I found the start of the winter in Toronto to be bitter cold and hard to get through. That was until the snow started around December 1st and I discovered skiing and ice skating.

Nothing like free ice skating outdoors at Christmas time. Or snow shoeing at night on fairy lit trails. Pure magic can be found during the winter too.

[flynner87]

Originally Posted by jme2010

I can only speak to people in Toronto. I work in software and everybody in this small start-up have such good personality and make great friends. I've been to my co-workers homes to watch hockey and basketball. At least half of them love the drink and get proper drunk on nights out, but the other half of the group is more of the dry, one pint and a pint of water.

This.

I love it here, way more than at home, and I never thought I would still be here but here I am, just sent my citizenship application in last week. Have had no trouble meeting and becoming friends with Canadians although I do know a couple of others from home here which is nice to have.

Best decision of my life, easily.