Hansdza said:
Just a dumb question from me..
Why do you guys want to move to Canada? Is it better than Australia?
I'm a PR here and want to move to Australia instead,
Call me nuts..
I also work in IT like the OP.
While quality of life between Australia and Canada are similar, these are the issues I have with Australia:
Many Australians are xenophobic and not as politically aware as Canadians.
There's a larger class divide in Australia than Canada.
While our minimum wage is much higher than Canada's, our median wage is very close to the lower class. This means that the middle class and lower class have almost the same quality of life. Our lower class is similar to Canada's lower class, but I'd much rather be poor in Australia than in Canada.
Things are generally much more expensive in Australia, because companies can.
You think the housing situation is bad in Vancouver? Wait until you go to Sydney.
TTC is bad? You will love it once you've experienced Sydney's CityRail.
If I were doing the same job as I am in Toronto in Sydney (and I have lived in Sydney and did the same job I'm doing in Toronto for 3 years), I lived in a much worse apartment, much further outside the core (at least 40mins-1hr travel time each way). In Toronto I live and work in the core.
I think the Rockies is much better than out mountains in Australia, but Australia does have very nice beaches and mountain ranges/rain forests.
Our government is full of corruption, just Google any of these topics: NBN, offshore detention centres, human rights violations, AFP (federal police) corruption, China style internet censorship, spying on Australians both foreign and domestic, both private and public companies corruption and the list goes on. All of which is illegal for any news outlets to release information about due to gag orders and all main news by being owned by 1 company with strong ties to the government.
Our government is backwards thinking, using delaying tactics on LGBT issues like legalising marriage for them, revoking carbon tax, pulling funding from research and STEM fields and investing it into mining (coal/uranium) and our insanely huge housing bubble.
Animals:
While many animals and plants are dangerous in Australia, they'll generally leave you alone unless you go messing with them. Respect the wildlife and you'll do fine. It's very rare to be attacked by a wild animal unless you are pissing them off. The Gympie Gympie (you seriously need to Google about this plant, you wouldn't believe me if I told you) and Wait-awhile plant are probably the 2 major plants you got to look out for, and both grow in rain forest areas. If you're in grass land, wear boots and try to keep out of the long grass, don't go over turning logs etc and the snakes will leave you alone. If you see a Taipan or King Brown snake, run. Look where you're walking to avoid Death Adders.
Stay clear of wild kangaroos, while they'll generally run away, an alpha male will make you have a very bad day. Actually stay clear of all wildlife. If it's injured, call animal rescue and don't attempt to touch it.
Jumping Jacks Ants/Bullet Ants are extremely vicious and painful, and can kill you if they cause an anaphylactic shock without medical treatment (which can happen in anyone, even those not allergic to anything). If you've been stung before and didn't have a reaction, you should be fine. Just being near their nest is a violation to them, and they will find you. Check your area before setting up camp or sitting down. They are generally in arid and rain forest areas. Their nests are big lumps in the ground. They are 1-3cms big can jump about twice that distance. They do climb trees and will get on you that way if you stay around long enough for them to get angry enough.
Comparison between Sydney and Vancouver:
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Canada&country2=Australia&city1=Vancouver&city2=Sydney
Sydney and Toronto:
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Canada&country2=Australia&city1=Toronto&city2=Sydney
All in all, I suggest you go there for a year or 2 and see if you like it. Don't give up your Canadian PR though.
