Is no one happy in Montreal/ Quebec?

[KbGold]

I read many posts about Quebec/ Montreal. Except $6 daycare and low housing rent, I did not see any positive comment from anybody.

If people are so unhappy, why are they living in Montreal/ Quebec?

If no or bad healthcare, how do they find a doctor in hospital?

If there is no job, how cic website showed only 17% unemployment?

Please discuss the reality.

 

[Lammawitch]

I can only speak for myself .

I am not unhappy in Quebec, I wouldn't have stayed nearly 19 years if I were!!

Healthcare is not at all as bad as it is made out to be. I have found it excellent, albeit with long waiting times, *sometimes*, for non-urgent matters. Over the years, family members and I have needed and received speedy and first class care and attention. Including medivac for a life-threatening situation.

Pre-tertiary education is okay to excellent. No better or worse than other countries I have lived in.


There are jobs. Yes, unemployment is a reality, but if one is adaptable, one can find a job. A concrete example: at the moment, I can't find a job in my sector, at my level of experience. Am I moaning and b*tching? No. I'm working 3 part-time/freelance jobs at a lower-skilled level while still actively looking for something permanent.

This is not exclusive to Quebec. It could happen anywhere.

Disclaimers: I was bilingual before I immigrated. I don't live in the city. At most levels, in most sectors other than high level or highly specialised jobs, good French IS a necessary reality.

 

[next2015]

The thing is most (if not all) of the negative comments are posted by people living outside Quebec. It's funny, when one asks a question about Quebec, no poster actually answers the questions but you get a lot of responses with incredible amounts of negativity.

Lammawitch is one of few posters that actually reside in Quebec and has actually answered questions on the province. For that, I thank you.

 

[kjg09]

I can only speak for myself .

I am not unhappy in Quebec, I wouldn't have stayed nearly 19 years if I were!!

Healthcare is not at all as bad as it is made out to be. I have found it excellent, albeit with long waiting times, *sometimes*, for non-urgent matters. Over the years, family members and I have needed and received speedy and first class care and attention. Including medivac for a life-threatening situation.

Pre-tertiary education is okay to excellent. No better or worse than other countries I have lived in.


There are jobs. Yes, unemployment is a reality, but if one is adaptable, one can find a job. A concrete example: at the moment, I can't find a job in my sector, at my level of experience. Am I moaning and b*tching? No. I'm working 3 part-time/freelance jobs at a lower-skilled level while still actively looking for something permanent.

This is not exclusive to Quebec. It could happen anywhere.

Disclaimers: I was bilingual before I immigrated. I don't live in the city. At most levels, in most sectors other than high level or highly specialised jobs, good French IS a necessary reality.

hi lammawitch, thanks for your inputs. My husband got a job in montreal and we are still waiting for our work permits. Thus, we do not have a choice but to stay in montreal. I have a lot of doubts and received some negative feedback regarding montreal. I have the following concerns if ever we will migrate there. I hope you can answer me.

1. Is it difficult or almost impossible to get a job if you do not know french? I am applying for OWP and my current job outside canada is minimal/none in montreal. Thus, I might need to shift to new job/career.
2. We are also planning to have our 1st baby there in canada since Im already in my 30s. Can we get a free healthcare/ delivery in montreal for tfw like us?
3. If the child is born in montreal, is she/he can get free healthcare as well? Can we also get childcare payment?
4. How much is the tax in montreal? we just want to know how much will be our disposable income after tax.
5. Regarding the house rent, how much is the studio unit rental? We want to get a cheaper rent so we can save some money for downpayment if we will buy a house.
6. In our case, can we only enroll our child in public french school? not in english school?
7. If we will enroll our child in french school, is it difficult to a child that we are speaking english at home then at school they use french language? Do you know how other immigrant family overcome this? I have worries that the child may not cope well coz the parents are not fluent in french but can only teach thru english language.

We are planning to settle in montreal once we get there. We will try to get PR thru PEQ. Thus, we will attend french classes as well but we do not know if we can be fluent in french. I will greatly appreciate if you will answer my questions. Sorry if I am asking a lot of questions. Thank you.

 

[Lammawitch]

Kjg09's questions:

1. Outside highly skilled, high demand sectors, yes.

2. Yes. There is a 3 month waiting period.
http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrants-foreign-workers-students/health-insurance/Pages/eligibility.aspx

3.. Yes and yes. Baby will also be a Canadian citizen.
Child assistance payments Quebec (note that TFWs become eligible after 18 months)
http://www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en/programmes/soutien_enfants/paiement/Pages/paiment.aspx
Federal child benefits (also after 18 months)
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/menu-eng.html
Click on both CCTB and UCCB
Note that some benefits are means tested.

4. You will pay Quebec and Federal income tax.
Quebec
http://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citoyen/declaration/produire/taux.aspx

Canada
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/fq/txrts-eng.html

Calculator: http://www.creditfinanceplus.com/calculators/calculate-personal-income-tax-canada.php
(Does both CA & QC)

5. Google "studio for rent Montreal". Price varies enormously depending on quality, area, size, etc.

6 & 7. Children of TFWs can attend English schools. Children of PRs must attend French school.

My experience with the language was quite easy, but I was already bilingual when I came here. I do know other immigrant families who don't have problems. Their and my children speak/spoke French at school, English and/or another language at home. I see it as hugely positive and advantageous to the children - bilingual without thinking about it!!

However I can't recommend strongly enough that you and your husband start learning French ASAP, and really really practice hard when you get here. You will need to be able to communicate with teachers; in fact in all areas of life. While English is widely spoken in the city, French is the Official language, and this is taken very seriously. To truly integrate, and for you to feel at home, French would be essential.


HTH, it's a very quick summary! Shout if you need anything else

 

[kjg09]

Thank you so much!! I greatly appreciated your effort in answering all those questions.

We've been waiting for 3 months and 1 week still no updates in our work permit application This one worries us most.

Its good to know that sending our children in french school would be an advantage. Does they teach english in french school as 2nd language? So they can be fully bilingual.

We came from tropical weather country. We are not used to snow/winter. How many months the snow in Quebec? Is it really that dangerous to drive during winter in montreal? Does they clear the road during winter? We are thinking to buy a house in suburb area maybe after 1 year stay there. Thus, we need to drive along the highways I guess.

Thanks for all your help!!