...Thinking about moving to Canada...

[Electric Rain]

Disclaimer: This thread may get locked, and I apologize if the following comment is offensive to anyone, but it is only to set up my actual question. Do NOT make this thread about politics. If we can prevent that, there's no reason for this to get locked. If it starts to turn that way, then someone lock it ASAP, and I'm sorry for the trouble. I hope we can all be civil enough to prevent it coming to that, however. If you can NOT be civil and must force your political beliefs down everyone's throats, please leave this thread now!

Okay, so, as the election draws nearer, it's looking like Obama may very well win. If that happens, my family and I are considering moving to Canada... at least until he's not in office anymore. I will NOT go any further into why this is, because that would be unfair of me when I am also asking that nobody make this into a politics flame war. I just want everyone to know WHY I'm thinking about moving to Canada.

So, basically all I want to know is, how is it? I know there are a lot of Canadians on these forums, so I was hoping some of you could tell me what it's like up there, and what I should expect to be different from the US. All I really know is that you guys use the metric system (w00t), half of you speak French, the other half speaks English with an amusing accent (no offense ), and that it's freaking cold. You still drive on the right side of the road though, don't you? That's cool... I hope it's not too much different there than it is here.

My first choice was Japan, but nobody else in my family would go for that.

[Valium]

a) Yeah, metric system
b) That's only in Quebec and partially New Brunswick, almost no one else is French
c) It's not that cold compared to the states. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta etc, they're all around the same temperatures as the upper states.
d) Yes, right sides.


You'll find we're a lot nicer, even our biggest cities have that small town homey feeling.

[khaag]

1)Metric System 90% of the time, except when you're talking about building... that's still imperial mostly (which I prefer), although they're trying more and more to competely change over.

2)English is our language. Even Quebec isn't officially bilingual anymore contrary to popular belief. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province. French is definitely a very small majority. (Even though I like the language as a language)

3)Freaking cold? Holy stereotype Batman! It's not as cold as everyone thinks it is... There ARE places that are cold, but mostly in the North. It's barely different to your middle state winters. Where I live in British Columbia, the summers are HOT. Like it gets to the late 30's most days and even into the early 40's in the heat of summer (Celsius)

4)Canada is a great place to live. From my experience, we're much more friendly than the Americans.

5)If you're gonna pick a province to live in, I'd definitely vote British Columbia as, by far, the best province out of the lot. I'm not being biased either as I have been to and spent time in all of them. BC has everything. Beautiful lakes and forests and mountains in the summer, and AWESOME skiing and snowboarding and other winter sports in the winter. There's definitely something for everyone here.

6)Also, you could avoid the whole risk of this being locked by just removing the political remarks... it really is irrelavent

[Electric Rain]

That's only in Quebec and partially New Brunswick, almost no one else is French

English is our language. Even Quebec isn't officially bilingual anymore contrary to popular belief. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province. French is definitely a very small majority. (Even though I like the language as a language)

That's good to know... I didn't really want to have to learn French to communicate with half of you. With the rate things are going in this country, I'm going to have to end up learning Spanish soon to survive here! And I REALLY don't want to do that... Yeah, I would never do that, actually... but, that's a different issue.

It's not that cold compared to the states. Ontario, Quebec, Alberta etc, they're all around the same temperatures as the upper states.

Freaking cold? Holy stereotype Batman! It's not as cold as everyone thinks it is... There ARE places that are cold, but mostly in the North. It's barely different to your middle state winters. Where I live in British Columbia, the summers are HOT. Like it gets to the late 30's most days and even into the early 40's in the heat of summer (Celsius)

I suppose it can't be much worse than Michigan, and I lived there for most of my childhood.

If you're gonna pick a province to live in, I'd definitely vote British Columbia as, by far, the best province out of the lot. I'm not being biased either as I have been to and spent time in all of them. BC has everything. Beautiful lakes and forests and mountains in the summer, and AWESOME skiing and snowboarding and other winter sports in the winter. There's definitely something for everyone here.

Hmm... that does sound nice. My family and I would enjoy the scenery more than you know, but it's all the way on the west side... Would about that piece of Ontario that kinda dips down into the States? How are things there? Probably colder compared to a lot of other places because of the lakes, but it's in a great spot for us, because it's close and very centrally located between where my family lives, in Michigan, and where my Stepfather's family lives, in Massachusetts.

You'll find we're a lot nicer, even our biggest cities have that small town homey feeling.

Canada is a great place to live. From my experience, we're much more friendly than the Americans.

...And maybe a bit more arrogant as well...? Ah, maybe not MORE arrogant. We ARE the nation that universally seems to believe we're better than everyone else, independent of which of us actually know any better.

Okay, so... this question may make some of you uncomfortable, but it's a serious concern, and has significant relevance to where we live... My step-father is black... well, half black and half Wampanoag Indian, technically, but he looks about as much Indian as Obama looks white, so... Anyway, I need an honest answer: How accepting do you think Canadians would be of him? I mean, you don't really see many people of darker skin (whether that means "black" or not) in Canada, but that can be a good thing or a bad thing. I mean, there aren't many (Any? ) black people in Japan, but a lot of them seem to LOVE black Americans... *shrug* So, how about you guys? Does it tend to vary by area, like it does even here in the US, or what?

Thanks for your info... it probably won't happen, but I am getting kind of excited. I mean, it's just such a big change, moving to a new country... I don't know if we'll be up for it. Yes, I said change... and NO, that doesn't have anything to do with why I don't like Obama, despite that being his campaign's favorite word in the English dictionary. <Not an insult.

Edit: Hmm... you guys use PAL too... I'm so very used to NTSC. I wonder how big of a deal that would be. Oh well... once everything goes digital it won't be a problem (...right?). But, that could be a while.

[SpongeBuell]

Speaking as a guy who's been to Canada 4 times, you may not like it so much if you'd leave because of Barack Obama winning the election, as Canada is more liberal than McCain... just sayin'

[Squalid]

Isnt that abit..you know...extreme?

[Jongamer]

Obama won't win. Nuff said

I really want to start a Obama flaming fest, I really do.

My Grandma is hardcore Democrat and refuses to vote for Obama.

Obama Appeals to younger people
Mccain appeals to older people

More old people vote and young people.

like I said nuff said

[wallydawg]

From what I've heard in the past it's harder to get a job if you are not a citizen of Canada. May not be an issue for you but it might affect your parents some.

[DK]

This should help with chooosing

[Valium]

Okay, so... this question may make some of you uncomfortable, but it's a serious concern, and has significant relevance to where we live... My step-father is black... well, half black and half Wampanoag Indian, technically, but he looks about as much Indian as Obama looks white, so... Anyway, I need an honest answer: How accepting do you think Canadians would be of him? I mean, you don't really see many people of darker skin (whether that means "black" or not) in Canada, but that can be a good thing or a bad thing. I mean, there aren't many (Any? ) black people in Japan, but a lot of them seem to LOVE black Americans... *shrug* So, how about you guys? Does it tend to vary by area, like it does even here in the US, or what?

Canada is a melting pot, I'd guess and say that at least half our population is based on people from other countries (excluding mainly white countries, US, Britain etc). We're pretty accepting of any culture (at least over here in Nova Scotia, wouldn't doubt that the rest of Canada is much different). Your step daddy should be fine, as long he's a man of decent morals, doesn't cause trouble, and doesn't refer to us First Nations as Indians.

But no place is perfect, there will always be some discrimination.

[timmeh87]

Um we dont use PAL.

Also theres lots of black people? And everyone else as well. We are known for being a multicultural place.

Oh and that bit of Ontario that sticks into the USA has half the population, the biggest city, and the capitol in it.

It pretty well looks the same as America.

[SpongeBuell]

Also theres lots of black people? And everyone else as well.

In the Toronto area, sure, but trust me... go to Thunder Bay, Ontario (350 miles or so north of Minneapolis, MN) and there are no black people. Native Americans, sure, but no black people. I went up there with a few friends, one of which was black, and he got a lot of stares... especially from younger kids.

[CronoTriggerfan]

So you're leaving because Obama would win? I really don't wanna make this political, but if that's your only objection, you should reconsider. Candada is what the Left in America, especially Obama, want the U.S. to become. It's like getting fed up with the Chinese government and moving to North Korea.

[SpongeBuell]

Speaking as a guy who's been to Canada 4 times, you may not like it so much if you'd leave because of Barack Obama winning the election, as Canada is more liberal than McCain... just sayin'

So you're leaving because Obama would win? I really don't wanna make this political, but if that's your only objection, you should reconsider. Candada is what the Left in America, especially Obama, want the U.S. to become. It's like getting fed up with the Chinese government and moving to North Korea.

What's this, we actually agree on something?

Then again, I guess we do have disagreements on if that's a good thing or bad...

[benheck]

Nothing is going to change regardless of who wins, so stay in America!

Speaking of this, I am pissed because the Office won't be on because of the stupid debate between Old White Dude and Republachick.

-Ben