A land of opportunity?
Canada is a country which was for many years seen as the poor cousin of the United States of America but has over the last few years begun to emerge from the shadows and become a popular expat destination in its own right. This is a country which has massive natural resources and many other positive factors in its favour and a country which is seen by many as the perfect place to start a new life with more and more people looking to move to Canada. So what exactly does Canada have to offer?
The Canadian economy
Many people will be surprised to learn that Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and a key figure in the G8 set-up. For many years the country depended upon close trade links with the US, and while these links are still in place, the country has certainly increased its own profile on the international stage and is more of a worldwide player than ever before.
The Canadian economy, like so many other developed countries, is dominated by the services sector but unlike many counterparts there is still a major part to play for the natural resources, manufacturing and mining industries. When you consider that logging and oil are the two primary growth areas of the Canadian economy (with Canada second to Saudi Arabia with regards to oil reserves) it is easy to see why the country has developed and grown over recent times.
Natural resources
In conjunction with the above comments regarding the Canadian economy a move to Canada is a move to a country which has more than its fair share of natural resources and unlike countries such as the UK is not dependent in any shape or form on overseas energy suppliers. As a consequence, with energy prices around the world higher than they have been for some time the Canadian government has benefited substantially from increased income which has been used to build the Canadian economy.
There are still great areas of Canada which have yet to be developed with regards to oil and other valuable resources and it is no surprise to see that many overseas energy companies have targeted the country as a potential goldmine for the future.
The Canadian landscape
Canada is an enormous country, much of which has yet to be fully developed, offering some of the most beautiful landscapes and sceneries which you could ever hope to see. The development of the Canadian tourist industry has brought more and more people to the region and led to a significant increase in expats looking to relocate to Canada. While the likes of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia seem to attract the greatest number of visitors to the region there is so much more to the country than many people have realised as yet.
When you consider that the temperature in some areas of Canada can drop to -40°C during the coldest part of the year and yet the average summer temperature is around 25°C to 30°C you may then begin to see the variation in climate, landscape and scenery. Many people will not be aware that Canada does have more than its fair share of earthquakes and a number of potentially active volcanoes although these tend to be in the more sparsely populated areas of the country. There really is so much more to Canada than many people believe!
Ethnic diversity in Canada
It is believed that in the medium to longer term the Canadian population will be dominated by those descended from Europe but at the moment 32% of the population is descended from Canada. Other prominent ethnic groups in Canada include English (21%), French (15.8%), Scottish (15.1%), Irish (13.9%), German (10.2%) with the Italian, South Asian, Chinese, Ukrainian, Aboriginal, Dutch and Polish also prominent in the country.
The country has very strong links with both the UK and France which is very visible in a number of areas across Canada. Indeed the Queen is still a head of state of Canada and the country is still part of the UK Commonwealth. There are very few countries in the world who can boast the kind of ethnic diversity which Canada offers, something which has led to a very calm and collected population with little friction between the various ethnic groups.
Canadian foreign policy
Canada has for many years been seen as a relatively neutral country with very little in the way of military action in recent times. Indeed the country decided not to become involved in the Iraq war despite the fact it has very close relationships with a number of prominent countries such as the US and the UK. Canada has very much an independent foreign policy and is seen by many as a non-aggressive country and as such it is deemed by many people around the world to be “safer” from terrorist attacks and other such atrocities.
While historically this particular aspect would go relatively unnoticed and receive very little consideration from those looking to move overseas, the increased threat of terrorist attacks in the US, UK and other prominent countries around the world has made this particular issue more prominent. The very fact that many people disagree with various military campaigns around the world has also become a consideration for those looking to move to places such as Canada.
Employment in Canada
It is often very difficult to compare like-for-like employment figures in Canada because of the massive variation in towns and cities across the country. However, with an average unemployment rate of around 7.5% there has been a recent increase in this figure due in the main to the worldwide recession and the ongoing problems associated with this. Despite this, recent figures from the Canadian authorities show that more full-time jobs are becoming available and even though the unemployment rate is over 8% there is a feeling this will come down in the short-term leading to more opportunities for Canadian nationals and expats.
As with many popular expat destinations around the world, Canada offers a fast-track system for those specialised in certain employment sectors where the natural supply of potential employees may be somewhat lower than demand.
The cost of living in Canada
If you are looking to move to Canada it is vital that you are aware of the cost of living in the country because it can vary enormously between the rural areas of Canada and the highly populated major cities. However, those looking to move to Canada to start a new life will be pleased to learn that in general the cost of living, in even the major cities of Canada, is lower than in countries such as the UK.
Even though the cost of living is considerably lower in many areas of Canada compared to many developed countries the income per capita in Canada is one of the highest in the world which would lead you to assume an enjoyable standard of living could await you in Canada. The country also has a large food and drinks industry, with some Canadian companies very prominent on the worldwide stage, and therefore on the whole, food and drink prices are very competitive.
The Canadian property market
While the Canadian property market was fairly slow to develop compared to many other countries around the world, there is no doubt that Canadian property investors are making up for lost time. As you would expect from a country which offers such a diversified landscape, culture and employment prospects, the variation in property prices and property market activity is enormous across the country.
Some of the larger better-known cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Ontario have obviously been the centre of the Canadian property market for some time due to the fact there are significant employment opportunities in these particular regions. However, while the property market in Canada as a whole has performed very well and remained fairly stable, on an upward curve, we are starting to see property markets increase in size as more and more expats and Canadian nationals look for cheaper properties within the vicinity of their employment.
The various property laws and regulations can be markedly different between different provinces of Canada and again you need to be aware of the situation before committing yourself to any property purchases.
Health care in Canada
When you consider the situation in neighbouring USA, where health care is not available to the masses and can cost a significant amount of money for individuals and families, the Canadian system is very attractive. In broad terms it is based upon the National Health Service of the UK in that the Canadian government funds the vast majority of medical services which are free at the point of use and funded by taxpayer income – although some provinces have introduced fixed monthly premiums to those who can afford them.
The situation is very simple in that each and every doctor in Canada will make a claim against the state insurance system for any treatment for patients. The government does not become involved in collating information about patients or their treatment, preferring to let the doctors look after the medical side and the government authorities look after the funding side. This is a situation which many people will appreciate and one which appears to work very well.
Canadian culture
As we touched on above, Canada has been influenced by a number of countries over the years with the British and the French the more prominent although there are strong aboriginal cultures and traditions still visible in Canada today. There is obviously a major impact from the neighbouring United States of America where free movement between the countries is possible using what is the longest unprotected border in the world.
However, while Canada readily appreciates different cultures and different beliefs it is interesting to see that many Canadian government laws and regulations are predominantly aimed at maintaining the original Canadian culture into the future. This is an interesting development and one which many people around the world would welcome into their own country.
The Canadian education system
Over the last few years Canada has become a very popular destination for international students looking at education overseas. Indeed it was recently revealed that 2008 saw nearly 180,000 international students arrive in Canada to study for a minimum of six months. While many people have respected the Canadian education system for many years, especially the higher education system, the very fact that international students are generating a massive $6.5 billion for the Canadian economy each and every year is testament to the quality of international education in Canada.
Conclusion
Canada is seen by many people as a non-aggressive and non-conflict country which has decided to remain on the sidelines during events such as the Iraq war. This is a country which was for many years in the shadow of the United States of America although recently it has begun to emerge from the shadows and claim its own individual place on the worldwide stage. There has been a massive increase in the number of expats visiting Canada and this would appear set to increase into the foreseeable future.
It seems that the mix of the culture, environment, cost of living, cost of property and the relatively crime free aspects of Canadian life are attracting more and more people to the region. The Canadian authorities should be congratulated for their part in expanding and improving the Canadian economy because they have used the significant extra income from overseas investors and overseas visitors to maximise the potential of Canada.
Even though it would be wrong to suggest it is easy to obtain employment in Canada before arriving in the country, there is no doubt that various skilled employment sectors are crying out for overseas employees with the skills to match their needs. While the ever growing influx of overseas investors and overseas visitors to Canada may well change some dynamics, such as the cost of living and employment prospects in the future, there is no doubt there is much further growth potential for a country which has been blossoming for some time.
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