I couldn't help but respond:
I've lived in both Canada and the US. Here's my take on things.
1. Taxes. In Canada, you're overtaxed. For example, when I left Canada to accept a job in the US, I made the same annual salary. The difference was the tax. In Canada, I claimed married with 3 kids on my taxes. When I first moved to the US, I claimed single. Even claiming single, my take home pay was about $300 more per pay period. (every 2 weeks) Once my wife and kids moved down and I changed my tax category to married, that amount increased to about $700 more take home per pay. I also get back around $2000/year in income taxes. (Since you can write off so much more on your income taxes in the US).
Sales tax where I live is 6%. In Canada, I used to live in Ontario, the tax was 15% on most everything. Even service. (There is a federal GST which I am including to make up the 15%). Not to mention all of the taxes that they "bake" into goods. (i.e. gas, liquor, cigarettes etc).
Property tax. I pay about $1000 for a 2700 Sq ft home with about 1/2 acre of land. My parents pay about $2500 for a 1200 Sq ft (at most) home with a lot that's 20' by 80'. (My home is also worth between $300,000-$400,000 in Canada. I paid around $150,000..Just to give an idea of the difference in home prices)
2. Health Care. I do have a health plan at work so I realize I get better care than those less fortunate. But let's be real, most people in this discussion aren't homeless and would probably have coverage as well. When I went to a hospital in Canada, I'd wait for hours upon hours to be seen. Here, you're in and out exponentially faster. (Plus the quality of care is better). Hell, last time my wife had to go the hospital they kept apologizing because it took about 45 minutes to get her down for an MRI. How many months does it take in Canada these days to get an MRI? (Most people where I lived just go to Buffalo)
3. Schools. Again, depends on where you live, but my kids were learning in grade 7 and 8 what I was learning in grade 10 back in Canada. When my daughter started kindergarten in the US, she was learning to read. My uncles kids were learning to count to 10 back in Canada.
4.Crime. Don't go where you're not supposed to in the big city. Same applies in Canada. (Just look at the trouble in Toronto these days). There's also 10 times as many people in the US.
Most goods are cheaper here. (About the only thing I find are more expensive where I'm living are lunch meat and potatoes...:-) )
I think my father-in-law, Mr Anti-American, said it best the first time he came down to visit us. I remember him sitting in the yard and saying "This isn't at all what I expected. This isn't the way it's portrayed in Canada". When I was planning to move down, I had a one year plan. Make enough money to pay off some bills in Canada and get the hell out. I hoped that I could survive the year without getting killed. Well, I loved it so much that I moved my family down and we've been here over 5 years now. Not one of us wants to leave.
Anyway, that was long winded, but I wanted to get my experience out there....for what it's worth.
Regards
Rav
Slashdot Mirror
I couldn't help but respond: I've lived in both Canada and the US. Here's my take on things. 1. Taxes. In Canada, you're overtaxed. For example, when I left Canada to accept a job in the US, I made the same annual salary. The difference was the tax. In Canada, I claimed married with 3 kids on my taxes. When I first moved to the US, I claimed single. Even claiming single, my take home pay was about $300 more per pay period. (every 2 weeks) Once my wife and kids moved down and I changed my tax category to married, that amount increased to about $700 more take home per pay. I also get back around $2000/year in income taxes. (Since you can write off so much more on your income taxes in the US). Sales tax where I live is 6%. In Canada, I used to live in Ontario, the tax was 15% on most everything. Even service. (There is a federal GST which I am including to make up the 15%). Not to mention all of the taxes that they "bake" into goods. (i.e. gas, liquor, cigarettes etc). Property tax. I pay about $1000 for a 2700 Sq ft home with about 1/2 acre of land. My parents pay about $2500 for a 1200 Sq ft (at most) home with a lot that's 20' by 80'. (My home is also worth between $300,000-$400,000 in Canada. I paid around $150,000..Just to give an idea of the difference in home prices) 2. Health Care. I do have a health plan at work so I realize I get better care than those less fortunate. But let's be real, most people in this discussion aren't homeless and would probably have coverage as well. When I went to a hospital in Canada, I'd wait for hours upon hours to be seen. Here, you're in and out exponentially faster. (Plus the quality of care is better). Hell, last time my wife had to go the hospital they kept apologizing because it took about 45 minutes to get her down for an MRI. How many months does it take in Canada these days to get an MRI? (Most people where I lived just go to Buffalo) 3. Schools. Again, depends on where you live, but my kids were learning in grade 7 and 8 what I was learning in grade 10 back in Canada. When my daughter started kindergarten in the US, she was learning to read. My uncles kids were learning to count to 10 back in Canada. 4.Crime. Don't go where you're not supposed to in the big city. Same applies in Canada. (Just look at the trouble in Toronto these days). There's also 10 times as many people in the US. Most goods are cheaper here. (About the only thing I find are more expensive where I'm living are lunch meat and potatoes... :-) )
I think my father-in-law, Mr Anti-American, said it best the first time he came down to visit us. I remember him sitting in the yard and saying "This isn't at all what I expected. This isn't the way it's portrayed in Canada". When I was planning to move down, I had a one year plan. Make enough money to pay off some bills in Canada and get the hell out. I hoped that I could survive the year without getting killed. Well, I loved it so much that I moved my family down and we've been here over 5 years now. Not one of us wants to leave.
Anyway, that was long winded, but I wanted to get my experience out there....for what it's worth.
Regards
Rav