urville

Dear Canadian friends,

So, I have decided it might be nice to be Canadian. In doing so i have begun looking up things about Canada. It occured to me in this endeavor that you can learn alot from books and documents, but sometimes more from experienced people. I certainly trust the resident TFP posters more than random websites.

I understand I will need to move to Canada and become a permanent resident first. Getting a passport is no issue for my family and I. I also see that you need to be a PR for 3 years prior to applying for citizenship.

I am curious about regions and areas. Culture. I've found some guides, but it seems as with most things on the net, lots of different and conflicting accounts. Not sure who to believe, lol.

How does the credit system work in Canada? Is it still the credit bureaus in the US? Does my credit rating/information from here translate or do i start over? This was vague in the documents i found.

Any suggestions or information you can divulge that may be of more assistance or well learned experience is greatly appreciated.

amonkie

Those specific kinds of questions are definitely where having an Immigration lawyer on your side is crucial.

I have considered moving/immigrating to Canada and it appears to be easier and more straightforward for people with desired working skill sets. These will depend on the skills you have, and the area you are looking to inhabit.


Have you ever actually been to Canada before?

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

urville

I have not been to Canada, yet... I plan to this summer to check it out.

Well, I'll have a degree in Social Work before I can become a citizen, and i manage and have owned a printshop. Not sure if that qualifies for anything.

The area is something i'm still trying to discern.

An immigration lawyer? i had no idea such a thing existed. Hmmm, wonder how pricey that gets?

Baraka_Guru

I recommending visiting first if you haven't.

To start, Canada is a nation of immigration. Our low birth rate makes this necessary. This means that your transition won't be impossible, but there are definitely hurdles.

As for the "where," what sort of area are you used to? Urban, rural, mountainous, temperate, cold, hot, flat, coastal, landlocked? What do you prefer?

Like most geographically large countries, culture varies by region. If you let us know what you're looking for, we'll be able to help better.

I'm pretty sure the credit bureaus in Canada are separate. Though they might have the ability to base a score on an American bureau. I don't know. I've never thought of that before.

And like monkie said, skills matter. The government is going to want to know what you're bringing to the economy. As for the local economy, finding a match is going to give you a leg up. If you're getting into social work, there should be a wide, wide area of opportunity both urban and rural. However, you might want to look into the different standards/practices that might vary between where you are and where you end up.

You could use your managerial skills to get you your first job if you want to get things rolling sooner.

More info in, more info out. Give us more and we'll give more in return to help you figure this stuff out.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Martian

Credit bureaus here belong to the same parent companies as the US ones, but operate independently. Conversations with US expats in the past have lead me to believe that your credit history will not carry over.

And, as mentioned, Canada is quite culturally diverse. The attitudes and customs prevalent in Vancouver are quite different from those in Edmonton, which vary still more from those in Toronto. The bulk of our Canadian crowd on TFP hails from in or around Toronto, but we do have a couple of westerners as well. Give us an idea of where you want to live or what you're looking for, and we can tell you a bit more about what to expect.

For the rest, I'd say get an immigration lawyer. We can answer culture questions, but fine details on the procedural stuff is better left to a professional.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Lucifer

Oh sure, just gloss over Greywolf, Seamaiden, and myself from the East Coast, not to mention a few others.

you friggin' Ontarians are all the same, if it doesn't happen in Tranna, it doesn't happen.

__________________
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
- Job 30:29

1123, 6536, 5321

Baraka_Guru

Well, Yonge & Bloor really is the centre of the universe. It's not our fault all the important stuff happens here.

But I'd like to thank you guys for sending us all the fish. Keep up the good work.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Martian

East what?

I checked with CNN. They say that Canada consists of Toronto and Vancouver and sometimes Alberta if we're talking about oil. Technically there's Quebec too, but the Quebecois get offended if you actually refer to them as Canadian.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Leto

Urville, you're getting a taste of what it's like up here in Canada. But rest assured the squabbling is all in good nature.

If I had to choose over again where to live in this country, it would be Halifax.... I love the ocean and the salmon and the lobster. Or perhaps the Vancouver area. I love the ocean and the salmon and the crabs.

Naa, Toronto has it all afterall. I love the beaches and the diversity and the food...

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

Baraka_Guru

Just don't go to "Winterpeg."

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

GreyWolf

Unfortunately, Urville, the comments by the "bulk of our Canadian crowd on TFP", which does hail "from in or around Toronto", will give the impression that Canadian society is defined by a lifestyle of drugs and egocentricity (the only possible explanation for thinking Bloor Street is the centre of anything ).

I would recommend that before deciding anything about where to reside in Canada, you visit anyplace east of Quebec City, and see where the intellectual and cultural elite of the country tend to congregate!

__________________
The secret to great marksmanship is deciding what the target was AFTER you've shot.

Lucifer

Well, that's Stephen Harper's opinion. Glad to see you are in line with the "great dick-tator!"

__________________
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
- Job 30:29

1123, 6536, 5321

ASU2003

That's only where I have been in Canada, well I would want to live in Vancouver...

There are a few people that if they become President of the US, I may have to escape to Canada...

snowy

I would move to Vancouver any day of the week. I haven't really been anywhere else in Canada, but I know from traveling in the United States that I prefer a marine climate over humidity.

And mountains.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

urville

Whew, got busy...

Haha! I like it! At least when you guys argue and fight no one seems to be bringing a rifle and calling each other socialist fascist commies who should be shot. Theres intelligence to it.

I'm definitley coming to check it out but probably not too far from where I am. i cant leave my job for too long without all hell breaking loose and I'll come back to Lord of the Flies.

We like culture and music or at least the option. We like the Ocean, its Canada, but I'll take as warm as it gets. Sheesh, why cant you guys just invade already? You could probably walk in and get the entire northeast coast and west coast.

Right now I live in Wyoming. i like the mountains to go camping but beyond that, I'm not forever sold on it. I'd probably try to live outside a major city. We like having a bit of land but not being a million miles from everything. you see Wyoming is like... hmmmm... devoid of everything you could ever consider culture, music, fun, intelligent discussion, etc. I've always liked Boulder, colorado and colorado in general. I've always wanted to live in Berkley if it werent for the earthquakes. I've also always wanted to check out NY. We like a fair amount of rain. Sheesh... I'm not sure we know... we've lived here forever. Anything but this lol. I mean i like hot places but none of them have decent government alone. At my age the hows and whys matter more than the looks and feels.

Alot of this is government, healthcare, and people related as well. I dont mind paying taxes for the benefits it provides. If I thought the Euro union was more stable I'd even look at Germany.

now I feel like i wasnt helpful at all and this post was slammed togetehr in small breaks from working bah... sorry

---------- Post added at 12:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:57 AM ----------

Me too. It's Canada or california frankly... California can be ridiculous and hazardous to your health.

---------- Post added at 12:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 PM ----------

I love oregon! on the coast... omfg gush, lol.

Thats a great state, alot of loonies but a great state weather and land wise. I like liberal states too so the coastal region works well for me...

Baraka_Guru

urville, check out Vancouver and Vancouver Island (say, Victoria). Generally, the Greater Vancouver Area. You'll probably love it. Nice people, outdoorsy, interesting culture going on. Plus it's probably the most temperate area in the country.

Do it. I fell in love with the Left Coast the moment I landed.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Martian

We are socialist fascist commies. It's not an insult, it's a fact.

(How are we fascist communists? Magic!)

If you want to avoid the cold, Van is definitely the place to be. Something about the Rockies and the ocean and how they interact; I learned about it in grade school but damned if I can remember now. It pisses down rain 364 days of the year, but you won't see a whole lot of snow.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Leto

it's the rain shadow effect that you are referring to:

Rain shadow - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

basically, the prevailing winds off of the ocean force the warm moist air up the slope of the mountain where it cools and looses pressure (adiabatic cooling) to the dew point (about 3 degrees Celsius per 1000 ft of lift). Once the dew point is passed, the air looses its moisture in the form of rain - thus the rany west side of the mountains, and it moves on in a dry form over to the east side of the mountains (dry interior of the Okanagan).

So far this month, Vancouver has had about 75 mm of rain. But Toronto isn't that far behind with about 73 mm. That's due to the jet stream being amplified and bringing moisture up from the Gulf.

I agree, Vancouver area has the best combination of mild climate, ocean/mountain juxtaposition as well as cosmopolitan and urban culture.

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

Martian

*twitch*

I believe the word your looking for is loses.

You'll lose your woman if you call her loose.

See, we're also nazis.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Baraka_Guru

Oh, and this movie is pretty much a prerequisite.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Willravel

If I were looking for the sexiest women in Canada, where would you suggest I look?

I've been denying it for years, but tbh, there are a lot of very good reasons to move from the United States to Canada, particularly for folk like myself who like the cold and are far-left for an American.

Charlatan

There's still people living east of Montreal? I thought everyone there had moved to Fort McMurray or Toronto.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

GreyWolf

Yes, there are people here, despite the fervent hope and machinations of the denizens of the Central Canadian Wilderness and westwards. In fact, in general, there are 2 types of people in Canada... those living east of Quebec City, and those who wish they were

__________________
The secret to great marksmanship is deciding what the target was AFTER you've shot.

Charlatan

Goin' Down the Road



or as most of us remember it...

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

urville

thats pretty much my only complaint about canada... its not nestled inbetween mexico and the us

Leto

Goin' Down the Road - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I know the first pic, is the second from a remake of Goin Down the Road? I think I see the Sam The Record Man sign in the background... but the guys are looking older...


I thought of just pm'ing you on some recent local film news, but then thought why not let our erstwhile American friend a window in on the goings on?

So this was in the Toronto Star on the weekend and given your interest:

Hollywood North ...the sequel - Entertainment - Toronto.com


Hollywood North ...the sequel



By Bruce DeMara
Entertainment Reporter
May 20, 2011


At the moment, Toronto's hopes of regaining its status as the pinnacle of Hollywood North are resting on the shoulders of an Irish actor and a Mexican director.

All seven sound stages at the mammoth Pinewood Studios Toronto, 4.5 hectares on the city's waterfront, will soon be fully occupied as production begins this month on Total Recall, starring Irish actor Colin Farrell. That includes the 46,000-square-foot “mega” stage, the largest in North America.

The $200 million film clearly represents a milestone. It is both the largest budget film in the city's history and the first “tent-pole” blockbuster ever produced here.

Within days of its departure at the end of the summer, the Star has learned that a second mega-budget feature will take its place: Pacific Rim, directed by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy II), a high-tech sci-fi movie about an alien invasion of Earth.

Eight years after SARS temporarily branded Toronto a leper zone and sent the industry into a tailspin, there is optimism that the dark days are past and the city will reclaim its position as Canada's centre of film and TV production in 2011 over perennial rival Vancouver.

“We've got the chops to do it in Toronto and we're going to have a chance to show our stuff this year. We'll be able to show the international world what Toronto's capable of,” said Edith Myers, managing director of Pinewood Studios Toronto.

The film industry in Toronto was riding high in March 2003 when the musical Chicago — produced here a year earlier, much to the chagrin of the real Chicago — won Best Picture at the Oscars. At the same time, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) hit, spurring a four-month crisis that sent the international film and TV community elsewhere.

“In 2003, for many genres, if you were going to go to Canada, we were it. And what we saw with SARS was a shift. A lot of our business went to Vancouver and some of that business just did not come back,” said Toronto film commissioner Peter Finestone.

In the same period, the competition for film and TV production grew increasingly fierce on a North American and global scale. Canada had been able to grab a piece of Hollywood's multi-billion dollar industry because of a cheap Canadian dollar: as low as 63 cents (U.S.) in 2002. Suddenly it was going head to head with U.S. states and overseas locales like Prague and Budapest, which were anxious to attract “green” creative industry jobs with lucrative new tax credits.

At present, 43 U.S. states offer some kind of tax credit program to attract production. The bandwagon trend began in the mid-2000s and gained such steam that it forced California, under former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, to enact its own tax incentives in 2009 to stem the hemorrhaging in its industry.

But in recent years, the tide has turned as many U.S. states, including New Mexico and Michigan, had to slash spending to cope with massive budget shortfalls. The timing could not be better for Toronto and the Canadian industry at a time when the loonie is soaring above par against the U.S. dollar.

Despite New Mexico's recent success in capturing major film and TV production, Governor Susana Martinez recently described tax credits as “a giveaway the state can no longer afford” and the state adopted a $50 million annual cap on payouts.

Michigan, which has one of the most generous tax-credit programs in the U.S., is poised to replace its credits with a $25 million culture fund if Governor Rick Snyder, who assumed office in January, gets his way.

That's good news for Ontario, where the position of the McGuinty government has been to go the other way. Two years ago, the province revised its tax-credit program to match Quebec's on a 35 per cent rebate on labour costs for domestic production. More importantly, it expanded its production service tax credit of 25 per cent, for foreign and domestic projects, to include all spending in Ontario, including labour, material, studio space rental, etc.

The Ontario government has also signalled there will be no spending caps and no end date for the program.

“The thing that Ontario has always had going for it in terms of tax credits is the stability,” said Karen Thorne-Stone, president and CEO of the Ontario Media Development Corp., which oversees the tax-credit program. “So we don't have a sunset date. In fact, the Ontario government made a conscious decision a couple of years ago to remove sunset dates to give some real comfort to the industry around the world, that they could count on Ontario.

“We don't have fine print. We don't have caps and there aren't special conditions on the Ontario tax credit. We've also got the depth and breadth of infrastructure to support an unlimited number of productions once they're here,” she added.

Pinewood Studios also fills a significant gap in that infrastructure. Toronto has long had medium-sized studio spaces like Cinespace and Showline, as well as a number of smaller studios, many of them converted industrial or warehouse space. The missing piece was a purpose-built studio large enough for big-budget films, space that existed in both Vancouver and Montreal, built, unlike here, with government support.

But when Filmport, now Pinewood, opened in 2008, the expected rush of business did not follow. In fact, 2008 was one of the worst years for film and TV production in the city, at about $600 million. Soon, Filmport needed financial support from the City of Toronto, which took a 20 per cent equity stake, just to stay afloat.

Riding to the rescue came Pinewood Studios, the venerable U.K. company in business since 1934, best known for playing host to the James Bond series and the Carry On movies. The studio had planned to locate in Toronto and seized the chance to take over the flailing Filmport. For the city's film and TV industry, the last piece of a complex puzzle fell into place.

“The association with Pinewood gives us some good contacts, gives us some good economies of scale in terms of sales and marketing, and gives us some credibility,” Myers said.

Two mega-budget movies at Pinewood alone could give Toronto's and Ontario's industry the boost it needs to eclipse its main Canadian rivals, Vancouver and B.C., which have led in overall production in every year of the 2000s except for one, some years by as much as $600 million.

In North America, the key to success remains landing a major Hollywood film or TV series. Despite the loss of projects to other places, film and TV production in California is still a $30 billion annual industry.

“In the world maybe outside of India, (Los Angeles and California) still is the entertainment capital, we still have the majority of production,” said California Film Commission director Amy Lemisch.

Lemisch is well aware of the success that tax-credit programs, including Ontario's, have had.

“Each year, we do continue to lose production.... It is a global competition. It's not just a competition within North America. It's a global competition for our film and television dollars,” Lemisch added, noting the U.K., Australia and many places in Eastern Europe aggressively compete for Hollywood dollars.

“Production has always been a very mobile industry. It's very easy to pick up and move.”

Next Week: What the city is doing to make sure the movies stay this time.

__________________
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
And I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr

http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

Charlatan

Leto,

Thanks for posting that. It's good to hear that things are getting better.

As for Goin' Down the Road... the second image is from the SCTV parody of Goin' Down the Road. That's Joe Flaherty and John Candy.

"I'm bored. Let's go to Yonge Street!"

Also, they filmed a sequel to Goin' Down the Road. I think they made it last year. I don't know if it's out yet.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke