Moving Back to Canada Questions

I'm planning to move to Canada in the following 2 months. I was born out of Canada but went once a year from the Brazilian summer to WINTERpeg Christmas. Two years ago I went with my husband for him to get to know the family and place of my winters - and he loved every second of it, from the fenceless homes to the amazingly warm fellows. on August 07 we got held-up with a gun and decided it was enough here, and this last Christmas we decided we would only come back to Brazil to get ready to move and return only for vacations.

Anyways, I'm scared to death - leaving everything behing and starting from zero - and although I have family there I am not very confident of going to Winnipeg. I guess I just don't know where to start in a completely different environment. I will leave in April and my husband will follow in Spetember. Could anyone tell me more or less how much does it cost for a couple to live in Winnipeg - including grocery, light and gas bills, and rent?

I just found out that pets are no longer allowed in the cabin in Air Canada flights - so remember this when you guys decide to take pets traveling.

Thanks in advance!

I've been living in the USA for 20 years now and am thinking of moving back to Canada. Is that a bad idea or good idea?

If you like snow (or rain in Vancouver) and higher taxes.

Will I be taxed on 20 yrs of income in the States (I have had zero financial ties to Canada during the 20 yrs)?

No. You are taxed on your global income based on where you reside. As a result it's a good idea to move on January 1st if you possibly can, it means you only have to fill in one tax return for the year of your move.

Should I keep my money in a US account? (Revenue Canada was legendary in the 80's for ripping people off).

And US banks aren't? Their interest rates are criminal. Can't see a point unless you buy everything in the US, but now is not the time to do it because the Canadian dollar is so strong. Whether you get a W-9 or a T5 is irrelevant, you still have to declare it to the relevant tax authority, you cannot legally hide income.

Will I have culture shock? Will my US Wife and our daughter be culture shocked?

If they've lived in Vegas all their lives I'd say so. "Honey, what are those green leafy things called? What is this wet stuff falling out of the sky?"

I grew up in Vancouver, but moved to the US in the late 80's and am concerned about a bunch of stuff. Any insight is appreciated.

Often when I talk to Americans they talk in glowing terms about how wonderful Canadian healthcare is. It's not that great IMO. It's very inefficient and consumes 60% of provincial tax revenues. And you still have to pay for optometry and dentistry, and many common prescription medicines and other supplies are not covered. I have five things on prescription and Blue Cross only covers one.

Winnipeg or TO?

I have to say whenever I turn on the Weather Network I'm always glad I live in Calgary. Calgary has 330 days of sunshine on average every year.

During the winter I always look at the forecast and I go: "Aaagh, it's going to be cold!"

Then I watch the national forecast and lower BC is just one big blue blob, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are even colder and have snowstorms, ditto for Québec, and Ontario is under a ton of lake effect snow. And the Maritimes just have storm after storm from the ocean.

Alberta is colder than southern Ontario and BC but other than that it's the place to be in Canada. Cost of living is quite low (not as low as it was but lower than Ottawa, TO, and Vancouver). Taxes are also the lowest in Canada outside of the Territories.

Easy to get a job.

The only major problem is that everyone is moving here and the infrastructure is stretched to breaking point at the moment. Healthcare, schools, roads, etc.

I did think about moving to Kelowna, but there's no point: Kelowna moved here.

Just thought I'd post an update to this thread for anyone considering a move to TO or the GTA. We did end up in the GTA in the Durham region and moved in on Labour Day 2007. We are loving it here and can't say enough about the fantastic schools in our town and the convenience of the area. As much as it pains me to say it, being an Ottawa native, Toronto has turned into quite a fantastic city and we enjoy outings there from time to time. My hubby is commuting when he needs to and the 407 is a great option to get into the city but actually driving in TO is another story.they don't call it the "Don Valley Parking Lot" for nothing. I guess it's no different in any major city though. We have a child with special educational needs and the support in the Durham District School Board has been great so far and I hope the level of support will remain high as he heads off to high school next year.

Oh and we've been enjoying a good old fashioned Canadian winter here this year and we've been loving it after the dismal, grey winters in the U.K. I hope it's not a fluke so I can look forward to using the new snowblower again next year, hehe. Funny how -20 doesn't seem so bad when the SUN is shining off the sparkling snow.

Just some thoughts on our "big move" and how we are settling in.

I totally agree! I'm a B.C. native, but in recent years I've divided my time between upstate New York and Scotland; the only easy winters I've had have been in freezing-cold NY!

B.C. and the UK are both really temperate in the winters, but it's so incessantly grey and wet and miserable in both places until at least March or April. Not to mention both are far enough north for the days to feel really uncomfortably short in December and January (especially up here at 56º N). Not that I don't love both B.C. and Scotland, but to my surprise, I'm actually looking forward to spending next winter back in NY due to the considerably higher amount of sunlight relative to my other two places! You can really tell here why seasonal affective disorder is so much more prevalent at higher latitudes, and the perpetual overcastness doesn't help.

Glad the move to Toronto is working out so well!

B.C. and the UK are both really temperate in the winters, but it's so incessantly grey and wet and miserable in both places until at least March or April.

In Edinburgh perhaps, further south it gets warmer but you do get a fair amount of rain. Not as much as BC though.

Go Home.

I just gave notice yesterday here in Colorado. A year was enough for me. We look the same, we act the same but culturally we are way different than the Americans. I miss being able to make fun of myself and not caring what others think.

Its time to go. I can't wait for real Molson Canadian, Keiths and Kokenee. Can someone say Timmy's. Holy crap I miss Tim Hortons. Don't forget clean air, free unpopulated forests, and good ole Canadian healthcare baby.

I hate cold weather, but you know when you live in the most truely free, most beautiful country on the planet.be thankful. It isn't an illusion like some countries

I can't wait to get back. got my passport and social insurance card this week and i'm counting the days. really looking forward to coming home.

Move home!
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Just MHO, but I'd rather live in Canada than the states anyday (she says from London, England were she has resided for nearly two years!)I'd say quality of life, quality of education, and general atmosphere are better in Canada....

So many illegal immigrants. The USA is so full that even the illegals are complaining about the lack of jobs for illegals. They are moving further North. Where could that be? Oh,Canada. The illegals will soon be there to greet you.

People have been in Canada illegally already for decades. Its nothing new.