Canadian Exodus as Borders Re-Open For Travel.
Are Canadians happy post-Covid? The reality shows many citizens leaving in search of a better life.
While globally Canada is still considered one of the top place to expatriate, citizens seem to have opposing views on whether the North American territory still has the best quality of life. If you are planning to come to Canada, this article can help you have the correct mindset and be aware of realistic expectations when you arrive.
Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, approximately 49,770 people emigrated from Canada to another country. The data released in September 2022 shows as the pandemic ended the rise in emigration sky rocketed surpassing 2018 pre-pandemic figures of 47,337.
The majority of emigrants from Canada are coming from the province of Ontario, with British Columbia having the second largest number of any province (according to statista.com). Here are some of the reasons why:
The cost of living is sky-rocketing!
Recently, inflation in Canada has increased significantly with increases in prices of gas, household goods and other essential items. Inflation in Ontario’s Consumer Price Index ( CPI ), which measures the cost of a basket of goods and services commonly purchased by Ontario households, was 7.9 per cent in June 2022, compared to a year earlier, the fastest rate of inflation since 1983.
A declining health system
Once the envy of most nations, the health system in Canada is in fast decline.
Although public healthcare is free in Canada, it does not cover everything. If ill, patients are bear the responsibility to purchase any prescription drugs and complicated dental treatments. Moreover, there are long waiting times for getting medical appointments. Event if you have to need treatment in an Emergency Rooms, the waiting times can be 3 to 4 hours.
Most health workers are underpaid, overworked and understaffed. In September 2022, Dr. Alika Lafontaine the president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) said he fears the country’s fragile health-care system will deteriorate further without an injection of cash — and a plan to increase the number of doctors and other health care professionals.
“All of these things are not normal things for Canadians to experience so we are at a critical point right now. If you can’t access services, that literally does mean collapse.”
Doctors on the frontlines are at a breaking point and have been for the better part of two-and-a-half years, he said.
(read more of Canada health system report on cbc.ca)
Expensive property and rentals
Home prices are increasing across Ontario, notes the March 2022 edition of the Semi-Annual State of the Housing Market report from Mortgage Professionals Canada.
“Price growth across Ontario has been rapid, with Toronto stealing most of the headlines,” the report states. “But in fact, many other communities in the province are seeing higher growth, particularly the regions around Toronto.”
Despite the skyrocket prices in Toronto, the city has among the lowest price growth over the last two years of major Ontario population centres. This doesn’t mean prices aren’t high, it just means they were already inflated and other cities are seeing bigger jumps.
Surviving the cold weather
Seven months of the year are extremely cold in Canada. Lately, much of Western Canada, the North and parts of Ontario and Quebec are under extreme cold alerts and winter storm watch. Temperatures could drop to -20 to -30 degrees for a few months, especially in the early months of the year. Moreover the temperatures are lower in northern provinces like Saskatchewan or Alberta.
So if warmer climate appeals chances are the weather is one of the reasons people are moving abroad.
Not finding the desired job
Some Canadians are leaving for countries in Europe, the U.A.E and Asia. A combination of little to no taxes, ease of travel to other parts of the world and better business opportunities. In merging economies and developing countries there are plenty of opportunities to climb the corporate ladder which Canadian citizens are taking.
Like the American dream, immigrants come to Canada with high hopes, but not everyone succeeds in landing the job they want. However, many immigrants believe it would be easy to get the same position in Canada because they worked for a multinational corporation back in their home country.
If you intend to move to Canada, there’s a risk you might not get the job you’re looking for, but with time, effort, and Canadian experience, you’ll succeed. There is also a little possibility that your employer will take advantage of the fact that you lack Canadian work experience by offering you a lesser pay scale. So, Canadian experience is the key.