Been here almost a year, Canada not so great

[AAL1984]

I wrote a number of previous posts before moving here in 2010 from Australia. At the time we were very excited to start living in North America and were looking forward to new opportunities.

As a person who has lived in 5 different countries in my lifetime, I can now honestly say that I am really disappointed with Canadians. Now, maybe it's different in cities other than Toronto, but these are my personal thoughts.

1) Finding work here is a real struggle. I'm not used to being in a culture where people just simply don't respond to resumes and job enquiries across the board. I cannot get my head around the fact that after enquiring about almost 60 different positions in my field of expertise, only ONE person has ever bothered to actually respond to me. In Australia, I never had a problem moving from one position to another - agencies always took the time and trouble to meet with me, look me in the eye, shake my hand, find out my goals and get me a job. They don't get paid otherwise! Here, all these guys must be going out of business, because it is NOT just an immigrant problem, born and bred Canadians have the same barriers. It's incredibly frustrating and soul destroying.

2) Networking - it seems like just about the only way to get a job is by networking. You have to know someone who knows someone who knows someone etc. For newcomers who don't know "anyone", this can be tough. Skills are secondary, it's "who you know" that seems to open the doors around here.

3) People talk a lot, but don't follow through with actions. I've lost count of the number of times people have promised and committed to all sorts of things and not delivered. This is a place where you quickly learn not to bother holding your breath.

4) Toronto has to be one of the ugliest cities on earth. Suburb after suburb is just a revolting bland landscape of uniformity. It's actually depressing.

5) Canadians are very quick to say "no". Seems to be too hard for them to think beyond themselves and say "yes" to new ideas and opportunities. They seem to be quite insular.

So at the end of the day, IMHO it's really not all that special. Things are very tough here, opportunities are minimal and the general attitude sucks. I can't see our family making this a long term place to live.

I agree with a lot of stuff you said, just I have a small issue with that one part there. Toronto can't be called ugly.

What's wrong with suburbs, I personally like them. Having lived in Europe I much prefer spread out wide open cities to crowded narrow lanes and dense housing, Toronto has some really nice suburbs with some huge huge houses.

A lot of immigrants really like to have their own space, car and suv, suburbs exist because the market demands them.

Further there is a huge condo boom going on in Toronto and the greater Toronto area, lots of nice condos being built.

Toronto is a lot cleaner than places like London, Ny, or LA, much cleaner.

 

[AAL1984]

Also I want to add that, I've been to Australia. Not as an immigrant, just as a tourist.

In general, I wouldn't say it's a paradise either. Things are more expensive than Canada, just general items like food, cloths, gas, electronics etc... Also there are a lot of spiders and bugs of sort, huge giant hairy spiders.

There are also a lot of youth gangs there, esp at the train stations and such, and Australian cities also have a lot of ugly run down ghetto areas.

 

[AAL1984]

Also I think it depends on what industry you work in and which part of Canada you live in. I'm from Alberta and I know Afghans here who came as refugees around 1998-1999 from Pakistan, who've made a lot of money in the construction industry, doing work like drywall, or renovations etc..these guys drive around in Benz's and are living in wealthy suburbs. However these people worked their asses of when they came to Canada, working in pizza delivery and such, just to make ends meet and to save money. However now their kids are in University and will go on to be well settled.

So it's not all bad, just depends.

However I agree, for well educated people from rich countries like Australia it can be tough.

 

[edmonta]

@AAL1984,
pl. check your Inbox.I sent a pm.pl. reply.

 

[AAL1984]

Most of you will end up in a place like one of the Toronto ghettos shown on this map:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/interactive-map-explore-the-data-behind-torontos-working-poor/article2332885/?from=2334814

First of all I already live in Canada, I'm not an immigrant. I'm just here because I'm sponsoring my American wife Inland.

Also have you ever been to London, NY, LA, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Miami ? Those cities all have far far worse ghettos than any Canadian city. Every major city in the world has poorer parts, but the poorer parts of Toronto are still clean as compared to other major cities.

Even Paris has very poor areas and slums outside of the tourist spots, go and see.


I am friends with an Afghan family that came to Calgary as refugees (5 kids) from Pakistan in 1997, they were provided free government housing and schools, and healthcare, they worked hard saved a lot of money, working many odd jobs. Eventually the father saved enough money to start his own business.

Now they live in a large house in a rich suburb, drive around in nice cars, and their children have finished University and are working (graduating in such programs like Engineering, Accounting and Nursing) etc.. they have become successful, they would have never had these opportunities living in Afghanistan.

I know so many Middle Eastern people who came here as refugees from Lebanon, escaping war, and these guys have made a fortune in the construction industry, some of them have no problem donating $100,000 in cash to the mosque in donations.


So Canada can be good for some people. I think for people who are coming here with nothing, and looking to make a fresh start, it can offer some great opportunities.


However, for people who already have a job, are well settled, they need to think long and hard about coming here. Come see the country first, and see if you can get a job, talk to employers etc..first check the place out before you decide to sell everything and come here.


Do your research If you are well educated please do your research!!


Also don't just come here for a Canadian passport, the government is cracking down on people like that. There is a new conservative government here now and they are implementing tougher rules in terms of residency requirements, they have also arrested fraud consultants, and are revoking citizenship's of people who obtained them in a fraudulent manner.

 

[zub2612]

I have visited the country twice and I love Canada. Not worried about job. I will have to work extremely hard to survive, but I am not bothered.

Canada is better than Australia as immigrants are welcome there. Australia may have much more opportunities, but I do not want to live a 2nd grade citizen in Australia. I want my kids to live in the country where they will not be racially discriminated. I have never been to Australia as I have heard from many people in UK that there is loads of racism in Australia against the people of Indian origin.

Canada is not for immigrants of 3rd world countries. I am UK citizen and feel that Canada is the best country in the world.

 

[AAL1984]

^

I don't know where this myth is coming from that Australia has "so many more opportunities than Canada", in Australia new immigrants also have to struggle and work hard in order to get a job in their field, just like Canada. Australia is nothing special, you'll find tons of Australians living and working in Canada. In terms of long term growth I think Canada has better potential, it's situated right next to the U.S and has huge potential in terms of natural resources.

Australia is also very expensive in terms of real estate, and normal day to day items, you will find that your dollar goes further in Canada.

There is no paradise anywhere, not in Canada, States, Australia, definitely not in Europe, whole World is struggling right now.

Welcome to the new globalized economy.

Anyway ZUB, I wish you good luck, I think you have an excellent attitude. Hopefully things will be easy for you.

 

[mmh93]

I have visited the country twice and I love Canada. Not worried about job. I will have to work extremely hard to survive, but I am not bothered.

Canada is better than Australia as immigrants are welcome there. Australia may have much more opportunities, but I do not want to live a 2nd grade citizen in Australia. I want my kids to live in the country where they will not be racially discriminated. I have never been to Australia as I have heard from many people in UK that there is loads of racism in Australia against the people of Indian origin.

Canada is not for immigrants of 3rd world countries. I am UK citizen and feel that Canada is the best country in the world.

>>Canada is not for immigrants of 3rd world countries. I am UK citizen and feel that Canada is the best country in the world.<<

What does it mean? If a someone from a third world country has all the skills CIC has set out for skilled worker category, why Canada will NOT be for him/her??

 

[nicholas30]

It's each ones choice.......... Research is very important.
Professionals need to think twice, as they may have to start from scratch.
LUCK & HARD WORK is vital.......SO ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[zub2612]

>>Canada is not for immigrants of 3rd world countries. I am UK citizen and feel that Canada is the best country in the world.<<

What does it mean? If a someone from a third world country has all the skills CIC has set out for skilled worker category, why Canada will NOT be for him/her??

actually someone has said in this thread that Canada is good for the immigrants of 3rd world country. I just tried to reply him/ her that i am UK citizen and strongly feel that Canada is better for me (or indeed for every immigrant).

 

[Aquib]

I agree totaly with Bkuper and Mitali. Well i think a person well settled in his or her homeland and not satisfied will ever satisfy somewhere else.

I am not agree with you .
no doubt Develop country like UK , Australia , US, Canada are better then third world/developing countries like India, Pak,China , Middle east etc .
Immigrents migrate for better life as if they are qualified and talented they can earn much more in country like India or Gulf but they don't want there children grow into corrupt society where snatching from poor is only way to grow richer .

After all if you all got genuine talent / qualification and still thinking to migrate Ca then definitely money is not the criteria , there must be something in Ca over India that's why you taking this biggest step of your life .

 

[harry_aussie]

Dear Tesqo

I respect your personal stand but we people make the society corrupt. I still feel anyone well off in his or her own home country and not satisfied will ever be satisfied anywhere else. I dont know what do you mean by better life?. I am an Indian and i can say that there is no one in this forum from India who has not done something out of the law. If its regarding children then i do have relatives who are sorry to bring their children to these so called developed countries. Please also think that these so called third world countries are supporting the major chunk of world population and there are many people in my city in India who have a way better life than we people living in developed countries.

 

[belize]

guys,
I came from Australia, and I am here in Toronto almost 4 months now, but that's true in Australia good money and lots of work but too much discrimination, In Canada people are ok but no jobs and no money, and life is very very hard here so my real advise, if someone has good job or business please stay at your homeland country.

 

[zub2612]

guys,
I came from Australia, and I am here in Toronto almost 4 months now, but that's true in Australia good money and lots of work but too much discrimination, In Canada people are ok but no jobs and no money, and life is very very hard here so my real advise, if someone has good job or business please stay at your homeland country.

Not even odd jobs? What about business? Is there no business as well? What about farming?

 

[zub2612]

I am not agree with you .
no doubt Develop country like UK , Australia , US, Canada are better then third world/developing countries like India, Pak,China , Middle east etc .
Immigrents migrate for better life as if they are qualified and talented they can earn much more in country like India or Gulf but they don't want there children grow into corrupt society where snatching from poor is only way to grow richer .

After all if you all got genuine talent / qualification and still thinking to migrate Ca then definitely money is not the criteria , there must be something in Ca over India that's why you taking this biggest step of your life .

I agree with you. I am definitely not going to Canada for money. I have 2 reasons (i) Sponsor my brother and sister who live in Pakistan (ii) I want my kids to live in a discrimination free country.