androme said:
Well people should know the facts and truth and if that scares them then its a fear that is extremely neccessary and important. One of the main reason for this person in question to come to Canada is "pure drinking water" and I just wanted him to know the truth. I wasn't embelishing the fact nor was I manipulating it or lying to him. If the truth scares him and helps him take a better decision then I think its a good thing. But North Americans are pretty damnned for thinking that they have everything perfect and the best. Seems like the only information that is available to people outside Canada and who wishes to immigrate is all rosy and positive ones. They don't have any information or a clear picture of what life realy is over here. Admittedly, if you work hard and make some sacrifices there is a high chance that your life would be better off than whereever you immigrated from (depending on your situation over there and your definition of a "good life"). However, I think people should have access to both good and bad picturte of Canada to enable them to take an 'Informed decision". Even for people who are in Canada. For Instance, the car insurance or the mobile phone charges in Canada can be quite shocking to lot of people. Its so bad compare to lot of third world and other countries that some people feel stiffled and forced to abide by the charges. They fell forced to shell out the costs for these services if they wanna have an average comfortable living. Not luxury, however comfortable living. Now this might make people feel more dissapointed and also a failure. There are lots of countries where the insurance payment is included in the overall cost of the vehichle that they purhchase. This ensures that they are insured and they dont ahve to shell out $200 (on average) a month to insurance cos. In the case of mobile ph, the incomings are not charged in most part of the world. However, in Canada you are not only charged for incoming, you are also nickeled and dimed for anything that they can think about. All this adds to the negative experience of a Canadian life. I am talking about a regular person with an anverage or below average pay. The mortgage situation is another scam that I have heard a lot of people talk about and are dissapointed about. If you wanna pay off your mortgage sooner or earlier than planned, YOU ARE FINED. just like you are fined if you pay it late (which is okay). ALl this effects a person or family living on average pay and majority of the immigrants are on average pay jobs. The reason why Canadian cos and the govt can afford to get away with all these unscrupulous practices is becoz the so called "Canadian citizens" are compkascent and go about their regular life like nothing is happening and that everything is fine and dandy.
Look at the medical care sitution. We are only 33 million people in the country. There is a reservoir of talents and qualified doctors both who are educated in and outsidfe Canada. However, the wait timings are so high. Sorry so artificially high. The Medical care is in dire situation so much so that access to a doctor and hospital is even worse than compared to some developing nations and I am not talking about access for minor issues. All this so that they can privatize the medical care just like in the United States. I mean think about it, why wouldn't the insurance cos lobby our govt to privatize the health care system. Before they privatise it, they would wanna build up a case which refelcts that the public health care system is not working due to govt "REGULATION And INTERFERENCE". Infact they have already started doing that. Now you can say that no one's forcing you to come to Canada. I agree,however when people set out lookiing for a better life and when the information available is all skewed to make things look all rosy and dandy, you are bound to fall into the great white north trap and bound to feel dissappointed.
Hi,
U have really made good analysis of certain things,i agree with many things u have mentioned.thanks a lot for bringing awareness on certain aspects.
"Canada is just another country with its pros n cons".many new immigrants think its better in all aspects in comparision to their countries.canada has definite negative things which many people learn only after coming while other r either ignorant about or doesnt want to accept or not affected(less probability in certain aspects).positive things like cleanliness,human rights,nature's beauty,low pollution etc etc r very attractive,however on the down side the country has drawbacks and middle class person is the one who is bearing the brunt of it.
The best time for immigrants to analyse things is during settlement time,during this time comparision definetely happens for certain people who had luxurious life or comfortable life back home.one will b ready to compromise but to what extent and how long and is it worth n in what aspects n hw important r those in ones life.these questions will arise and will continue to bother till they decide on country.my point of view regarding this comparision in the initial period is healthy in certain aspects n will help anyone to decide on things to compromise n will eventually give clear vision n full commitment to country.
As a new immigrant i had observed certain things which make life of a new settlor difficult,which i wil detail later.i started calculating long run benefits like financial stability, health(considering water,fruits, vegetables,meats,seafood,hazardous chemicals in air,ozone hole n the goventment support in medical care n my affordability in long run).i would like to share my observations,which i consider more or less as facts.
1.mobile phones --prepaid credit lasts only one mth,one cant continue credit for longer period( possible in other countries). its not based on usage.new immigrant with less network, surviving on savings is the biggest loser here.companies like rogers have got cancellation charges which i have never heard of before,this company also notorious for wrong bills( not expected in developed countries).
2.car insurance-new driving experienced immigrant is considered as new driver n ends up paying huge amt on car insurance while trying to get hold in country.additional fiancial burden.
3.banks--monthly charges on savings account,not a featute in several developing countries.
4.water --roughly 90% of human body is composed of water n its not 100% pure.i can take a bet that it doesnt have microbes but it has chemicals,astonishing in a developed country.water has high chlorine content,not expected.supermarkets have huge shelf for filters n bottled water,one can see chlorine in water-evidence water is not pure.
5.food--many vegetables r grown using hormones n genetic engineering,third world countries r not using these thanks to their ignorance,its a bliss.
6.food-meats, poultry n seafood, again animals r giving hormones n given prophylactic antibiotis never heard of this in third world countries.one cant get fresh meat or poultry or seafood (esp fish),people eat days old meat,fish or poultry,hw healthy?i dont want to go to details.
7.chemical pollutants--there r lot of chemical air pollutants in canada in certain regions,pls browse for urself if interested.
8.canola oil--another GM product widely used.the toxic chemical is reduced to safe level for human consumption n added with essential product to attract people.farmers n supermarkets r cashing on once industrial oil.
9.health benefits--this aspect canada is far better in taking care of citizens,however it has lot of loop holes.medicines r not covered(one need to hv good earnings to buy branded ones or patent ones or best ones).doctor to patient ratio is not met.definite deficiency of doctors,surprised by the fact that nurses r working as practitioners in cities itself,many people presume them as doctors,u can imagine abt remote areas.r these nurse practitioners better than immigrant doctor,i can take a bet there r immigrant doctors who r far far better than them n not absorbed into system.there r several things n i will try to post abt this later,hopefully.
Its a challenge to adopt to new environment,its healthy to compare certain things n decide on choosing country.if one expresses certain negative aspects it need not b that one is in depression,anxious or a loser or incompetent.i dont mean to hurt anyone here or spread negative vibe,all im trying to say is that every country has its merits n demerits n canada is no different from others in this regard.
Rgds,
Art.
I don't like the idea of privatised health care though, but that's a whole different political debate!!
