Lot of Interesting discussions going on this thread and some others.
So had to post.
No country is perfect.
Everyone agrees that things are cheaper in US than in Canada.
Than there are some advantages that Canada offers that US does not have
1. Universal Health Care
In US if you are employed you are most likely to be convered in the employement insurrance or if you are above 65 years it is medicare or if you are dirt poor it is medicaid.
But if you are not and you happen to fall sick you are likely to go bankrupt.
2. Cheaper Colleges
While Canada cannot boast world class colleges like Havard, Stanford, MIT, CalTech, etc institutions like McGill, Uni of Toronto, McMasters, etc are very good too.
Lets be frank not all people are ivy leage material, so for an average student to go to an average school/college Canada is a cheaper option.
For people saying that US offers aid etc, Please note that for the first time in history student loan in US has exceeded the credit card loan. U can declare bankrupcy for other loans but not for student loan.
3. Safer than US.
Lets accept this fact, that most of the areas in Canada are safer than most of the areas in Canada.
4. If you consider US/Canada to Europe you will find that they are even more costly.
-Petrol price is more than double,
This is because they want to encourage people to use public transportation/bicycle rather than cars.
-Food is costly.
Most of the food is non GMO and organic hence production cost is high. HCFS is banned/or rarely used. Poultry and other animals are ethically raised.
For all the people who want cheap food, please note that it comes at a cost. That cost is your health. You can watch an excellent documentary called 'Food Inc' or read Michael Pollan's 'In Defense of Food'.
Other reading I recommend is reading Thomas Friedman's 'World is Flat' & 'Hot Flat and Crowded'. It will give most people an understanding that why cheap is bad. In the book he gives example of Walmart one of America's biggest retailers. Things are dirt cheap. What they do is buy directly from suppliers cutting the middle man, so the middle man looses his employment. So his expenses as he is unemployed will fall indirectly on the tax payers. They don't give fulltime employment to lot of people who want it but hire more people on part time so they won't have to provide benefits to those workers. Now who'll pay if they fall sick: the taxpayers.
I am really sorry for the rant but I had to express it.
If your political viewpoint is conservative than you are better off in USA. If you are liberal than Canada or Australia or Europe would be a better place for you.
. Each individual have different reasons wanting to migrate to Canada.