Has anybody moved from the Middle East to Canada?

[Tallblue]

DH and I are in the early stages of thinking about where our next move will be. We currently live in the ME where we have a good lifestyle, I gave up a senior management role to be a SAHM to our now 5 month old baby. We are originally from the UK yet no plans to return yet.
We miss the great outdoors, greenery, and having seasons. DH loves the idea of Canada.
If anybody has made the move from ME to Canada, how did you find it?

I see no one responded to your post so I will share what I have heard. I live in the US but my mother is Canadian and I have a lot of family living in BC and Ontario.

For the negatives: What my family tell me is that the country is becoming more divided income wise. There has been a lot of immigration over the past 20 years from 3rd world countries and assimilation hasn't been as successful as hoped. Family out on the west coast have moved out of Vancouver now as there is a drug problem there. North Van is lovely but you need to be a multimillionaire to own a home.

That said, I would move to Canada in a heart beat. The country is growing yet they still support family. I kind of see it as the right balance between the UK and the US. You could also consider working again or not if you so wish to continue staying at home. Also, you get one year of maternity leave when you have a baby. My cousins were all paid full salary but I don't know if this is a requirement or their employer being generous. Cousins work for government, big 4, software, consumer group company, metal manufacturing company and business owner (beauty schools plus spas). One cousin is now home with her 3DC but all the others work on a FT or PT basis.

I moved from the UK to Canada 4 years ago. It's quite difficult to get a visa to live here at the moment, unless you have a specific skill that there isn't a Canadian available to do. What does DH do?

I did, moved from Bahrain to Montreal at the beginning of winter. This was about 10yrs ago now, also moved to Montreal from UK 6mths ago.

I went on an intercompany transfer so only had to pack my suitcase and get on the plane after the visa was issued.

Where in Canada would you be going? Which industry are you in?

I did enjoy the move, after 2 yrs in the heat and sand, it was nice to have seasons and greenery again. We really enjoyed Canada and would go back as expats, locals pay too much tax, but we equally want to go to the ME again on our next project.

I had a mat leave in Quebec and I can't remember which I took, but it was either 70/75% of pay. It dropped after x weeks to 60% I think and paid by federal govt. Max of 40 weeks. It may have changed as that was 4yrs ago now.

www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/travailleur_salarie/types/maternite_en.asp

*from UK 6yrs ago

Thanks to you all.
DH is an engineer so fairly confident he would find work. I'm in HR.
We haven't worked out which city to aim for, I'd probably like to be in the east on the basis of shorter flying time for trips home to UK.

Is the cost of living comparable to the UK?
How about costs for schooling and healthcare?

Would it be just too cold now I've acclimatised to the desert?

Don't know enough about healthcare if you are an expat. Education is excellent where my cousins live. All have attended public schools and graduated with top grades. They are smart, accomplished and hard working. Two of my cousins are engineers and have excellent jobs.

The cold in certain parts is terrible. I would either want to be out in BC or in Ontario between London, kitchener and Toronto.

We moved from the UK to Canada (via the US) six years ago, and thought about the Middle East last year but decided to stay put until our children finish school. We live in BC and love it.

One thing to bear in mind that the different provinces have many variations in terms of health care, education etc. Plus Quebec has a different legal system as well as a different language, so you'll need to research the provinces more than the country really.

Try Ottawa Ontario, it is a midsized city, excellent for kids and great schools in either French or English or a mix of both so your kids will pick up French. The city is abou a 7 hour flight to the UK ( we go every summer) and there are lots of expats here. The housing prices in Canada are ok and if you move out of city centre you can find something nice and at a reasonable price. The people are friendly and there is lots to do. Yes it is cold but not all the time and you learn to bundle up. This month is winterlude and you and your kids can take in ziplining over snow, giant ic slides and ice sculputure, skating the giant Rideau canal and skiing downhill ALL FOR FREE. We learn to embrace the cold and enjoy it until it is gone. ( and you can also fly to a warm place for a week or 2 very cheaply and quickly).

One of my employees is now settled in Vancouver after working for us in the ME for almost 4 years.