[RSKennan]

Why should anyone believe anything you say?

I'm a long-time lurker, and you have zero credibility with me.

[Gonzo]

Where did you get that statistic? On some neo-conservative web site?

[RSKennan]

The rates of the two types of crime that worry my family and I the most; Rape and Murder, are lower in Canada. It's a trade-off worth making, in my opinion.

Don't worry Godz, my family and others like us are still coming.

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

I've never really looked much into living in Canada. I have been there, visited a friend who played in a band here, but moved back with his family. I don't know much about the economic issues. As far as I can tell though, everything in Canada seems just fine compared to anything 3rd, 2nd, whatever world nation. I mean there's parts of the US that are just plain ghetto. Go the projects, and tell me that the US is a great developed nation. Stats don't really mean much. If you have more chances to get a job in Canada, or to live comfortable, that should be all that matters. Although one thing I do have to say is that as far as living comfortable, both the US and Canada have pretty high living standards when compared with other nations. Problem in the US seems to be the insurance rates. I mean while we don't pay taxes for our health care, we can still get insurance if you get a decent job. Kind of sucks, but you can usually get healthcare even working at target. What should be blamed are the people who drive the healthcare cost up with cheap lawsuits, and the insurance companies overall. I'm only 20 right now, but I've thought about moving to Canada, just because of their seemingly more advanced stances on social issues.

[GreatBriton]

The following analysis compares levels of firearm crimes between Canada and the United States. Data for comparison are available only for firearm homicides and firearm robberies.

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS

HOMICIDE (Table 1)

Rates for all homicides are 3.8 times higher in the United States than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average homicide rate was 8.8 per 100,000 people in the U.S., compared to 2.3 per 100,000 in Canada.
A much greater proportion of homicides in the United States involve firearms. For 1987-96, 65% of homicides in the U.S. involved firearms, compared to 32% for Canada. Handgun homicide data are available for 1989-95. During those years, 52% of homicides in the U.S. involved handguns, compared to 14% in Canada.
Firearm homicide rates in the United States are 8.1 times higher than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average firearm homicide rate was 5.7 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 0.7 per 100,000 in Canada.
Handgun homicide rates in the United States are 15.3 times higher than in Canada. Based on available data for 1989-95, the average handgun homicide rate was 4.8 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 0.3 per 100,000 in Canada.
Between 1987 and 1996, firearm homicide rates increased slightly (+2%) in the United States but decreased (-7%) in Canada. On the other hand, both countries reported a decrease in the overall homicide rate (-11% in the U.S. and -13% in Canada).
ROBBERY (Table 2)

Rates for all robberies are 2.4 times higher in the United States than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average robbery rate was 238 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 101 per 100,000 in Canada.
A greater proportion of robberies in the United States involve firearms. For 1987-96, 38% of robberies in the U.S. involved firearms, compared to 25% in Canada. In addition, the proportion of firearm robberies in Canada continues to decrease while the proportion in the U.S. has been stable in the last few years.
Firearm robbery rates in the United States are 3.5 times higher than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average firearm robbery rate was 91 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 26 per 100,000 in Canada.
Between 1987 and 1996, firearm robbery rates increased significantly (+19%) in the United States but remained unchanged in Canada. However, the overall robbery rates decreased 5% in the U.S. but increased 22% in Canada.
SUMMARY

While homicide and robbery rates are significantly higher in the United States, firearm homicide rates and firearm robbery rates show even greater differences between the two countries.


http://experts.about.com/q/351/661961.htm

[-Mario-]

Canada recently announced that they wanted to increase immigrant into Canada. Maybe they had in mind all those already trained and qualified American workforce. A lot of them would probably start small businesses. All good stuff.

I welcome them. Hopefully Nova Scotia will be able to attack some.
Anybody welling to leave a good job, uproot his familly; usually will be active member of the workforce.

[figfarmer]

I have coined a new name for those Americans who are flocking to Canada, "CANARYCANS", which was originally (Can)ada) (Am(ericans), but they are so much like canaries fleeing the coal mine that I changed it to Canarycans. They are the opposite to Snowbirds, which are becoming extinct.

[Soulsedge]

-Mario- -Mario-:

Canada recently announced that they wanted to increase immigrant into Canada. Maybe they had in mind all those already trained and qualified American workforce. A lot of them would probably start small businesses. All good stuff.

I welcome them. Hopefully Nova Scotia will be able to attack some.
Anybody welling to leave a good job, uproot his familly; usually will be active member of the workforce.

i'm in new brunswick atm. But as soon as i'm able to work, i'm getting a part time job, and going back to school up here to get a few more skills

I have a college degree in computer programming, i dished out 45,000 for college. Only to work for 2 years as a system admin, before getting fed up with office work. (all that money, only to find out i didn't like being trapped in a office) So i took up carpentry, and thats been my trade since 2000. I like it, the different locations, different projects everytime etc. Anyways enough rambling, i like it, but the pay is only so-so. So i've had a chance over 4 years to see all aspects of construction, and i've realized being an electrician is the way to go. Most electricians you see, are 50+ and there is due to be a shortage of them soon(there is now actually). Having a computer degree, electrician's certificate, and carpentry exp is going to look very good on a resume. =)

Soon as i'm done with school here in NB, and i can work, we plan on locating to Nova Scotia, perhaps outside of Halifax somewhere. I want to take a few business management courses as well, due to the fact i want to own an electrical business on the side...to do residential homes. =)

Eventually i want to move into buyin up properties, renovating them, fixing them up, and reselling for some profit.

[figfarmer]

Maybe "attract some" would work better.

They are a bloodthirsty bunch out there on the east coast though.

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

GreatBriton GreatBriton:

The following analysis compares levels of firearm crimes between Canada and the United States. Data for comparison are available only for firearm homicides and firearm robberies.

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS

HOMICIDE (Table 1)

Rates for all homicides are 3.8 times higher in the United States than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average homicide rate was 8.8 per 100,000 people in the U.S., compared to 2.3 per 100,000 in Canada.
A much greater proportion of homicides in the United States involve firearms. For 1987-96, 65% of homicides in the U.S. involved firearms, compared to 32% for Canada. Handgun homicide data are available for 1989-95. During those years, 52% of homicides in the U.S. involved handguns, compared to 14% in Canada.
Firearm homicide rates in the United States are 8.1 times higher than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average firearm homicide rate was 5.7 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 0.7 per 100,000 in Canada.
Handgun homicide rates in the United States are 15.3 times higher than in Canada. Based on available data for 1989-95, the average handgun homicide rate was 4.8 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 0.3 per 100,000 in Canada.
Between 1987 and 1996, firearm homicide rates increased slightly (+2%) in the United States but decreased (-7%) in Canada. On the other hand, both countries reported a decrease in the overall homicide rate (-11% in the U.S. and -13% in Canada).
ROBBERY (Table 2)

Rates for all robberies are 2.4 times higher in the United States than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average robbery rate was 238 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 101 per 100,000 in Canada.
A greater proportion of robberies in the United States involve firearms. For 1987-96, 38% of robberies in the U.S. involved firearms, compared to 25% in Canada. In addition, the proportion of firearm robberies in Canada continues to decrease while the proportion in the U.S. has been stable in the last few years.
Firearm robbery rates in the United States are 3.5 times higher than in Canada. For 1987-96, the average firearm robbery rate was 91 per 100,000 in the U.S., compared to 26 per 100,000 in Canada.
Between 1987 and 1996, firearm robbery rates increased significantly (+19%) in the United States but remained unchanged in Canada. However, the overall robbery rates decreased 5% in the U.S. but increased 22% in Canada.
SUMMARY

While homicide and robbery rates are significantly higher in the United States, firearm homicide rates and firearm robbery rates show even greater differences between the two countries.


http://experts.about.com/q/351/661961.htm

Hmm, some of those stats seem quite old...

[Rev_Blair]

Electrician is a good way to go, Soulsedge. I'm not sure how your programs work there, but the one here sucks...you have to go through an apprenticeship and nobody will take on first year apprentices. Of course they're all screaming for third and fourth year apprentices and journeymen, but to get a first year apprenticeship so you can get up to that level you pretty much have to have a relative in the business.

When I was running my reno business I used to shake my head at these guys...so busy they couldn't keep up, journeymen stringing their own wire, all screaming for experienced help but not one of them willing to train anybody. Meanwhile I knew three or four guys who were doing day work and would have given their left nut for an apprenticeship. Truly bizarre.

With all of your varied experience you will do well though. A lot of new houses are being pre-wired for computers etc. too so even that experience plays into it. I'd suggest that you get a night course or two on building science if you can though. As far as I know nobody is treating it as a separate sub-trade, but it's going to be the wave of the future...how a house and it's systems work and how air and moisture move around is going to be a big deal, especially in renovations and retrofits, as we become more energy efficient.

[Soulsedge]

*laughs*

I know what you mean Blair...thats what it was like for me, trying to get my foot into the door for Carpentry. No one wanted to train you, and everyone was looking for someone with min of 1 year exp, the usual being at least 2 yrs exp.

And yes, its the same in Canada as the states, just a different home voltage system i guess? Must have something like 8000 hours worked toeven take the test for your Journeyman's cert....and you have to have the schooling before you can even start.....that the same as up here?

In the states its very hard as well to get into being an electrician, because everyone is too busy to just step back and train someone. They figure its more hassle then its worth short term. Of course no one thinks long term anymore, its now now now. heh.

I had to go with the biggest a-hole in the world, to get my foot in on carpentry....the guy was such an arse he couldn't keep people on for more then 1 month at a time, so it worked out for me. I put up with him for about 2 months, all while looking around for a better place. Finally found a place that would take me, i told them i'd do anything for training, and if they were too busy to teach me, i'd sweep up the messes. It worked, the hired me on, and i was there for 2 years+ before i came up here. =) And i learned a boatload from it. On top of learning how to run excavators and backhoe's on the side...(which is fun). Granted i'm no expert in carpentry, i know a few things here and there...but still need much supervision to get anything done, cause i still have a multitude of questions....as i'm not able to read blueprints, etc.

Thats why i'm doing the schooling first for electrician, then trying to get in....that way i have the base knowledge(i'm really good at picking things up from books)...and i can build from there. I want to learn to read blueprints, once you get that done, most people tell me your set.

Whats this building science consist of? I've never heard of it before. Any other courses you can recommend....remember we're not to high tech out here on the east coast. lol.

On another note: MY LAWYER stiffed me. He assured me when we hired him on, that 2,000 dollars was going to be my fee for immigration paperwork. Sounded about right, considering me and the wife had to do all the running around. He gave me papers, and told me what i needed, and i had to apply and send and arrange for delivery's of medicals(omg sooo many medicals), background checks, fingerprints, everything i've done, been to, eaten(lol not really) for the last 10 years. He assured me it was a fee of 2,000 for him, and then whatever the government charged for fee's to file. I saw on the agreement that there was a little window in the left that said 250 per hour for lawyer fee's and 42.50 per hour for paralegal. I asked him about it, and he said that it didnt apply to me, and it was just a standard write up contract that he didn't alter. Now after 1 year and 3 months of waiting for them to finish the paperwork, when i've sent them everything within 1 day of me getting it (approx 3 months to get everything).....we're finally near done. Tomorrow(this friday) we are scheduled to meet, i'm to pay the other 1,000(they took 1,000 on first day as a retainer fee)..and pay the filing fee's to immigration canada. They call up today with the total amount of fee's to confirm(as i asked)....what do i get? Not the 1,000 + 475(sponsor fee) + 75 (applicant fee) as expected.....

Instead i get a bill of 1,000(2nd part of the 2,000).....1676 in disbursement fee's, 550 for applicant and sponsor fee. So rather then 1600 that i thought we'd be paying (2600 total (2000 + 600))....we are told we owe 3,593.00. And i freaked out....she put me on hold and got the lawyer on the phone...we talked for probably 30mins, before you could tell he was becoming aggrivated. He said he'd drop 478 of the fee's .. but i still needed to pay the taxes(HST) etc that he never mentioned. No biggie, no way around that i guess. So now, i'm scrambling to find the additional money tonight...as he wont take payment...and i didn't have enough budgeted to account for the extra amount + still cover bills since i can't work.

So i basically owe like 3,105 bucks. a far cry from the 2,000 that he swore to me up and down was fee that would not change or go higher. (Now i'm thinking, he lied to me, and after he got all my medicals, and documents, all of which i had to pay for as well out of my own pocket....and he has me by the nuts....either i pay, or i dont and wont get any of it back). Which consists of a lot of money, especially the medical bills(as i had to have chest xrays, abodomen xrays, physicals out my ears, blood work, etc).

So rather then 2,600 total like we thought and were lead to believe...It's actually 4,500 total. Grrrr.

Needless to say, i'm quite upset tonight. I dont think i'll ever go to another lawyer again. What a wake up call.

[Rev_Blair]

Layers are like that. The best thing to do is get it in writing. Unfortunately you need their services sometimes.

Sounds like your experiences with the apprenticeship system are the same as here. The one place I was supposed to be apprenticing for carpentry they had me driving a truck to the dump for the roofing crews. I was never going to get my hours that way. I finally said, "Piss on it," and started my own reno business. You don't need a ticket to do carpentry here and I knew there was lots of work.

That went well for about three years, but my arthritis got bad enough that I couldn't do the work so I had to decide if I wanted to hire guys to do the work I liked and just do the quotes and paper-work, which I hated, or go do something else. I went back into the photo business for a couple of years. Now I'm writing.

Building science is mostly about air and moisture flow and how to control it. Building techniques, insulation values, vapour and moisture barriers...that sort of thing. It isn't rocket science, but most of it is really important if you want to build an energy efficient structure. The coolest thing about it is that everything that makes a house more energy efficient also makes it more comfortable and saves money on hvac bills.

Most courses are taught in class, sometimes with a field trip or two to a building site. The one I had was part of the reno/carpentry course I took, but I know they were teaching it as a night-time upgrade course too.