Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

We Canadians are used to people not knowing too much about our country ... I think most of us like the anonymity ... except of course for hockey:D:D:D

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

This is quite common. In Eire, for example, now that they are experiencing and economic boom, they have immigration, rather than emmigration. But it is not only the people who are leaving for sunnier climes, it is jobs. The people leave to look for jobs, the jobs leave looking for people who will do them for less money. If the jobs stay in England, people will fill them; but only for a decent wage, not for peanuts.

But it is becoming more difficult for people to emmigrate. The places where people wish to go are no longer as welcoming as they used to be. In Canada, particularly in booming Alberta and soon to boom Saskatchewan, the labour shortage is being solved by accepting contract workers, who work on a permit for a year or two and then go home. In the near future ... it is starting even now ... it will be very difficult to get Canadian citizenship. Those who have enough money to start a business, some doctors, engineers, and highly skilled tradesmen can still make it. But for every one else, the signs are going up: Go Home, Canada is Full.

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

It is very much like that in Australia according to my sister-in-law, she was saying it is much harder now for people to get into the country. Sounds like she went at the right time, I wouldn't want to be so far from family.:(

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

In a sense Canada is full ... most of the people in Canada live within 200 miles of the US border and in the major cities, particularly Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. In the province of Manitoba, for example, over 600,000 people out of the 900,000 in the province live in Winnipeg. Much of our country is forrest, Canadian Shield, and Prairies. Then there are the mountains in the west and the immense and sparsely populated areas of the North and the high Arctic. In Saskatchewan, a major wheat growing province, there are fewer than a million people. Most of them live on farming, ranching, mining (most of the world's potash and uranium, with hard rock minerals and gold). The central and northern parts of the province comprise mainly forrest and lakes. The two major cities, Regina and Saskatoon, are closely linked to agriculture. A new boom in the oil industry (Athabasca tar sands) is just starting. Saskatchewan is more than twice as big as England, yet its economy, lacking as it does any major industries apart from the resource industries, supports only a relatively small population. The most industrialised areas are in southern Ontario, and the area of Quebec around Montreal. So in a sense, Canada is full.

Sorry about the extensive geography lesson:D

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

Isn't the newspaper sensationalising something that we all suspected?
And no-one really knows how many of the 1 in 4 who are claiming benefits are not entitled to them......this is just using statistics in an irresponsible manner to stir up unrest....we don't even know what criteria was used to come to the figures stated.

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

A number of Australian States are actively welcoming Brits again......South Australia and Western Australia being two that spring immediately to mind........and while it isn't easy to emigrate to Oz, it isn't nearly so hard as it has been in the past.
They are actively seeking out building workers, Nurses, police personnel and painters and decorators....if you are a hairdresser too, you would find open arms in the two states mentioned.

I wish I had gone when I was younger - they aren't so keen on the wrinklies....they want people who are going to have children....so that lets me out :D

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

It is similar in Canada ... we have very strong family ties with Great Britain. And we have lots of shortages in the skilled trades, and particularly in nursing. However, with nursing and medicine in particular, immigrants willing to live in the underserviced areas are given priority. Kingston, for example is very short of nurses in its two major hospitals, Kingston General and the Hotel Dieu (for this last one it helps if you are catholic). In general though, it is getting increasingly more difficult to get citizenship in Canada. I know that I am biased, but this is a very desirable place to live. Living standards are high, and , compared to England, the cost of living is still relatively low. (I remember someone asking if there was somewhere in Accy where a couple could go out for a meal for 40 pounds. Assuming this is about $85 you could eat your fill at any one of the really fine restaurants in town.) A country such as ours, rich, safe, and free, attracts a lot of applications for entry. And, unfortunately for most applicants, this means that the people at Immigration Canada can afford to be choosey and restrictive.

Also, to keep more or less on topic, we too have a social safety net, which includes unemployment benefits, worker's compensation, old age and disability pensions, welfare payments to those not covered by any other programme, and universal access to medical care and education below the university level. At that level, there is, for those who qualify but can't afford to go to college and university, an extensive system of grants and govt. guaranteed loans.

And in winter you can watch hockey every night on tv. And Coronation Street if you wish.:D

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

How about me Marg ? I wouldn't mind having another kiddie, I like cricket and I can sell things ! Plus I drink Fosters ( so much that they really should make me an honourary citizen !):rolleyes:

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

Lindsay, I would say go for it girl.....a great place to bring up children too
My sister migrated 5 years ago and she has done really well, of course she has worked hard (she is a Nurse).....her hubby trained for the Queensland Police....he was a graduate Nurse in Learning Disabilities over here....they have two houses and have just bought a plot of land in Tasmania (to build a retirement home on).
I'm not sure about them needing folk who can sell things though...but if you have any other skills you might just qualify.

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

Well, if you want to migrate to Oz you get extra points for being able to read and write and speak English....and I was talking to one Aussie recently and he said it is a back handed way of the Australian governments to keep out the Vietnamese.

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

It certainly is ironic. Canadians live comfortably with the idea of a "cultural mosaic" in which all races and cultures exisst in relative harmony. The only major racial irritant is a recent one: in subtle ways and sometimes in an outspoken fashion, Canadians are letting it be known that muslims are welcome only if they leave their islamic law where they came from. Canada has laws and a Charter of Rights and Feedoms; these are for everyone. Other systems of law, which are extremist, racist, and sexist are not welcome.

Re: 1 in 4 living off benefits
 

Sounds great, just a pity it is to late to try and adopt that attitude here:(