living in the US compared to Canada..(long)

fergus51 · Oct 25, 2004

You think there is less violence in the US? I feel the opposite.

I am a dual citizen and love both countries (living in the US right now), but I know if I have kids I am raising them in Canada for some of the reasons you mentionned. It may sound harsh, but I really have no doubts about that one. I don't know if I could afford to raise kids in a nice neighbourhood or send them to a good school or pay for their medical coverage, let alone worry about sending them to university here in the US.

I just don't see the same support for families here as I do in Canada. I mean, even maternity leave! One year vs 6-12 weeks, which would I choose? I think the fierce independence that has made Americans some of the most industrious and successful people in the world has a downside too: individual success is seen as more important than the community's as a whole.

Fiona59 · Oct 25, 2004

It all depends where in Canada you are returning.

Vancouver's cost of living is high, Vancouver Island higher. Gas 90.4/L. Thats 20cent/L higher than Alberta.

Housing in the urban areas is expensive. I'll never own a home in the lower mainland.

Education cost vary province to province. BC is cheaper than Alberta, but then there is the waitlists to factor in.

As the old sayings go: swings and roundabouts, and the grass is always greener on the other side.

fergus51 · Oct 25, 2004

I found Vancouver cheap compared to southern California, same with Toronto. The wages here make up for it as a renter, but I could never buy a home in my neighbourhood (and it's the only neighbourhood I want to live in). The place 3 doors down is for sale. It's a smallish 3 bedroom 1 bath home and it's listed at $900 000, and that's without a yard! I could buy in Washington or Oregon, but then I would miss the weather... I tell myself that I'm getting half of my wages in sunshine:) I might not have the deed to a house, but I am as tan as I have ever been in my life:)

beausud · Oct 26, 2004

You think there is less violence in the US? I feel the opposite.

i appologize, i meant that the US has more violence in comparison to Canada. by the way i plan on moving to montreal or somewhere in ontario after all my schooling is done. thx for your reply.

Schems · Oct 26, 2004

It's normal that the gaz in Vancouver is more expensive than in Alberta, 'cause the principale economic ressource in Alberta is 'GAS'.

I live in Montreal and I have know alot of people saying that they prefere Canada to Us, cause the living is less expensive. Specially, if you have a family to take care or if you are a student. But as a nurse you are paid more for less hours in US and here in Canada.

That the huge problem in Canada. When the student get is license, he immediatly leaves the country for US. That's why in the territory of Quebec, if you study nursing with an award. They gonna hold your licence for an indetermined time. Thats mean, but you can understand the gouvernement.

paddi · Nov 8, 2004

hello all, well i have been debating this for a while now. i'm planning to go back to school in Canada just cause its more "cost effective" if i did it here in the US it would cost me about $15000-$20000...in US dollars!!! in Canada it would be approx. $5000 for the whole 2 years!!. i have been living/working in the US for about 5 years as a travel RN. i love what i do but now its time to be "more" resposible and plan for the future.
i've recently had discussions w/ some co-workers and we compared the cost of living in Canada to the US. yes i make more money here in the US, if i went back home i would take a serious pay cut (another reason why im going back to school). on the other hand Canada has medicare for me and my future family. here in the US i have to pay $$$ to get covered, i just have to pray that no-one gets seriouslly ill. i saw a documentary on tv: the ferry accident in new york a while back... for those of you who didnt see it, this is the short version. 3 people: one a young man who didnt have insurance or wasn't conrtibuting to one, another young lady, she is (at that time) an illegal alien. the third and elderly lady who had insurance. the 2 people who had no insurance got taken care of even after the ordeal, i.e.: physio etc... the lady who was contributing $$ per month wasn't wholly compensated. i dont recall the reason why, but she wasn't well taken care of by her insurance company post accident. they interviewed the person who was in charge of the hospital billing, she said that the hospital recognizes the fact that they have to bill other pt's "more" to make up the lost revenue. what does this have to do w/ me? well in Canada we may all have access to health care but the system isn't perfect, BUT we all have access to it. in the US (i'm quite convinced) that most insurance companies will try to get out of their responsibilities where ever they can. so in short in Canada i have good access but i might wait for a while to get that CT/MRI for egsample, in the states i can have good access also but it'll cost me; i also hope that my US insurance company wont try to @#$% me. thats one issue.
when i start a family i have medicare to help me w/ my basic healthcare needs. to put my kids through school in Canada will not bankrupt me. the "over-all" violence in major US cities is more compared to Canada... here me now i said "less" in general. the housing prices in California are insane. i spoke w/ another traveller who recently bought a house here... her mortgage payment is approx. $2000 per month. thats NOT including all the other costs of owning a home. housing costs in other states may be less but thats only part of my concerns.
so those are my issues, the cost of healthcare for me and my future family, future educational costs for my kids, and the over all quality/safety factor of life (in general). a little something about me: i'm not one who has to drive a fancy car to be happy, i dont need a gigantic house. those are luxuries, dont get me wrong those things are nice but they are not on the top of my list.. im going back to school so that i may have more choices in the future. if it doesn't work in canada i can always go back to the US.
thank you for making it this far into my long post. so now i ask those of you who have experienced working in the US, taking into consideration all the realities and experiences that you have... would you consider moving back to Canada to raise a family? thx for your time.

Hi there..

Hving read your mail, its realistic to think about your move to Canada. We got our green card to USA and Permanent resd to Canada. We are at the cross roads of going where sort. I am a BSN OR / Cardio thoracic, general surgeries; nurse with CRNO, with 15 yrs of experience we both are in our early 40s and its time we need to decide where to go!!!. We hv a son around 8 yrs. At present I am working as scrubb nurse in Missouri/USA. If we do not enter Canada by 2006 oct, our canadian immgration goes up in flame. Can't hv both We hv to give up one of the status or country.

My husband prefers to settle in Canada, on the long run, he thinks like you, He is also not much after money but for quality and other basic benifits one needs. Pls tell us what are the other benifits, that we can get and would it be difficult for me to get an OR job with 15 yrs experience, currently I am working towards RNFA, which should finish by next summer. I do have Ontario / CNO license and also recently got British columbia RNABC approval, need to send the fee to be registered as an RNABC nurse.

What are our chances of settling down, my husband also works for hospital, which place is better. Prior to coming to US I worked as an aneasthetist OR RN for 3 yrs in Cardiothoracic centre / Liverpool - UK.

Thanks for taking the time to go throu' this mail so far, your input is vvery much appreciated, orelse we are thinking of settling down in Seattle/ Washington, got few offers from there. I am on contract till 2006 june with the current hospital, I do search all the wenb sites such as Medhunters etc. BUT whtais the reality from what you hear and see on Net !!!!

Bye for now PD

SusanJean · Nov 8, 2004

Many are posting about moving from Canada to USA?

DOes anyone know about immigrating from USA to Canada? (And available work for a US educated BSN.)

Curious.

SJ

Sarah, RNBScN · Nov 8, 2004

Hi there..
Hving read your mail, its realistic to think about your move to Canada. We got our green card to USA and Permanent resd to Canada. We are at the cross roads of going where sort. I am a BSN OR / Cardio thoracic, general surgeries; nurse with CRNO, with 15 yrs of experience we both are in our early 40s and its time we need to decide where to go!!!. We hv a son around 8 yrs. At present I am working as scrubb nurse in Missouri/USA. If we do not enter Canada by 2006 oct, our canadian immgration goes up in flame. Can't hv both We hv to give up one of the status or country.
My husband prefers to settle in Canada, on the long run, he thinks like you, He is also not much after money but for quality and other basic benifits one needs. Pls tell us what are the other benifits, that we can get and would it be difficult for me to get an OR job with 15 yrs experience, currently I am working towards RNFA, which should finish by next summer. I do have Ontario / CNO license and also recently got British columbia RNABC approval, need to send the fee to be registered as an RNABC nurse.
What are our chances of settling down, my husband also works for hospital, which place is better. Prior to coming to US I worked as an aneasthetist OR RN for 3 yrs in Cardiothoracic centre / Liverpool - UK.
Thanks for taking the time to go throu' this mail so far, your input is vvery much appreciated, orelse we are thinking of settling down in Seattle/ Washington, got few offers from there. I am on contract till 2006 june with the current hospital, I do search all the wenb sites such as Medhunters etc. BUT whtais the reality from what you hear and see on Net !!!!
Bye for now PD

========================

If you are working towards your RNFA in the US, the US RNFA program is of higher standard than the one in Canada. You can compare your program to the Canadian one available at: http://www.BCIT.ca look up RNFA program. Let me know how this varies from yours. RNFA role in Ontario is starting to evolve. You can check out this link http://www.rnfa-ontario.ca . I love living in Canada because of our access to health care, security and safety I feel. I hold a US Florida nursing licence and will keep it active but for now CANADA is the place for me and my family. The west tends to be more expensive than the east. Ontario varies as with any other provinces with respect to housing, etc...It all depends on location. For jobs, try this web site: http://www.hospitalsoup.com

Good luck and hope this helps.

Sarah

fergus51 · Nov 8, 2004

Many are posting about moving from Canada to USA?
DOes anyone know about immigrating from USA to Canada? (And available work for a US educated BSN.)
Curious.
SJ

You would have to write the Canadian exam and register as a nurse in the province you choose to move to. Then you need to find a job (not too much of a problem) then you can immigrate on a NAFTA visa. It doesn't take long.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 8, 2004

It all depends where in Canada you are returning.
Vancouver's cost of living is high, Vancouver Island higher. Gas 90.4/L. Thats 20cent/L higher than Alberta.

Okay, wait a minute there! I live just outside Edmonton; they're practically pumping the oil up out of my backyard and I'm paying 82 cents a litre for regular unleaded on a good day. It's a little cheaper in the really rural areas, but not a whole lot. And our utilities are deregulated here, meaning that we pay more for the natural gas being produced just up the road than anywhere else in the country (she says as the furnace comes on yet again!). Our electricity bills are also about 40% higher than in most other major cities. Our insurance rates are ridiculous, the insurance companies being private for-profit enterprises. But we pay a flat income tax and the economy is booming, so there are compensations.

I totally agree with the OP that life in Canada is pretty good, comparatively speaking. Lower violent crime rates, lower cost of living, better social supports... I'll never be rich, but I have everything I need. My girls are both getting excellent educations and my son, bless his heart, is attending a private day program that the government funds. Had he been born in hte States, he would have died in infancy because we could never have paid for his care. My sister and brother-in-law are in Colorado on a military exchange. They hate it there and can't wait until the day they can come home. A friend who had her head turned by the big bucks she could make in Texas was back over the weekend working casual shifts in our unit and is planning to return here as soon as she can, pay cut be darned. I guess it comes down to what you're willing to accept.

SusanJean · Nov 9, 2004

You would have to write the Canadian exam and register as a nurse in the province you choose to move to. Then you need to find a job (not too much of a problem) then you can immigrate on a NAFTA visa. It doesn't take long.

Thanks for the info:)

Once I get my degree, we are looking into it. Don't suppose you would know about veterinarians?? :rolleyes: