Canadian Eh?

[Millacol88]

Are you guys talking about Canada's Wonderland/Paramount Canada's Wonderland, the amusement park north of T.O.? I guess it changed it's name again?

I don't remember a water park when I was there but I went many years ago. Do they still have the really huge wooden roller coaster?

The Minebuster? Yeah, they still have that.

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

Who here likes pemeal bacon?

[prateek]

Umm, I like regular bacon

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

Who here was offended by the King of The Hill series finale?

[prateek]

Yesterday I went to the TRU at Markville Mall (Kennedy & Hwy 7) and they had the car carrier creator set and all the space police except galactic enforcer. They have squidman's pit stop too. They're also loaded with clone and rebel BPs no stormtroopers or assasin droids though

[tedbeard]

The episode with the "Canadians"?

I usually love when shows make fun of us (How I met Your Mother is great - even if I am NOT afraid of the dark). However the characterization in this episode was bizarre. Sure their beer sucks but who f#%!^g pours out a free one and then leaves a beautiful glass mug in a f#%!^g potted plant?!?! Most people I know would finish the beer and wash the freaking glass while staying to the end to help clean up! And I have never met anyone who would call the cops on a summer BBQ before midnight.

I don't know what kind of "Canadians" the writer has met but clearly they must have been total a$$&@!#$. I'm not mad at the writers/producers. I'd just like to find the SOB "Canadians" they must have met and kick them in the nuts.

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

I'm pretty sure they just wanted an episode that makes America look great

I really didn't like how they mocked canadian inventions! We invented basketball, the polio vaccine, hockey, the arm on the space-shuttle ect.

But I do like it when shows make us seem polite, friendly, smart, and peacful

[Peppermint_M]

*Bof*

The Peppermint_M one week invasion will commence on the 28th of July and proceed as planned to return date on the 6th of August. Kelowna is base of operations.

In mundane speak: I am going on holiday to Kelowna for a week. For family stuff so I can't arrange any sort of meet-ups etc but I thought I'd post it here anyway.

Can't wait to go!

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

*Bof*

The Peppermint_M one week invasion will commence on the 28th of July and proceed as planned to return date on the 6th of August. Kelowna is base of operations.

In mundane speak: I am going on holiday to Kelowna for a week. For family stuff so I can't arrange any sort of meet-ups etc but I thought I'd post it here anyway.

Can't wait to go!

Hope you enjoy canada

Go to a Tim Hortons while your there

[Ricecracker]

*Bof*

The Peppermint_M one week invasion will commence on the 28th of July and proceed as planned to return date on the 6th of August. Kelowna is base of operations.

In mundane speak: I am going on holiday to Kelowna for a week. For family stuff so I can't arrange any sort of meet-ups etc but I thought I'd post it here anyway.

Can't wait to go!

Have fun with the forest fire !

[Lt. Col. Thok]

I'd just like to find the SOB "Canadians" they must have met and kick them in the nuts.

Some of us can be as bad as our Yank cousins....but not usually.

[prateek]

Have fun with the forest fire !

Hopefully it stops

Edited July 20, 2009 by prateek

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

To much striking, it's going to ruin toronto

[prateek]

I know. First there's a city strike, then there's a Zellers warehouse strike, and there might be a VIA Rail strike from Friday

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

I know. First there's a city strike, then there's a Zellers warehouse strike, and there might be a VIA Rail strike from Friday

Toronto might become the New Jersey of Canada, full of trash

[prateek]

Windsor is already like that. They have a garbage strike since April 12 (around that date)

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

So, enough about trash, ets talk about Canadian television eh!

[Ratshot]

To much striking, it's going to ruin toronto

I heard a lot of stuff in the news about the trash strike I feel bad for you feellars having to deal with all those pesky strikes.

The last time we had a serious strike in Saint John, New Brunswick was about a year and a half ago.

ALL the janitors went on strike. It went on for about 2 months and it got pretty grose.

[Brickmaster]

I have some honest questions for a Canadian, preferably older, has a job, homeowner, etc.

1: How much of your earnings go towards taxes/government in total? (Percent is fine)

2: How much do you spend on health care? (monthly, yearly, if atall, and taxes not included)

3: How is the economy and house marketing there? (Are prices ridiculously inflated, or justified?)

4: Is there anything you would change about the government that effects you?

I am basically asking this because I want a good idea of the money flow there.

[blueandwhite]

I have some honest questions for a Canadian, preferably older, has a job, homeowner, etc.

1: How much of your earnings go towards taxes/government in total? (Percent is fine)

2: How much do you spend on health care? (monthly, yearly, if atall, and taxes not included)

3: How is the economy and house marketing there? (Are prices ridiculously inflated, or justified?)

4: Is there anything you would change about the government that effects you?

I am basically asking this because I want a good idea of the money flow there.

1.

That of course depends on your income tax bracket. That being said, Canadians pay extremely high taxes (when compared to the US). We pay tax federally and provincially.

Federal Tax rates are as follows:

15% on the first $40,726 of taxable income, +

22% on the next $40,726 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $40,726 and $81,452), +

26% on the next $44,812 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $81,452 and $126,264), +

29% of taxable income over $126,264.

Additionally, each province has provincial income tax.

i.e.

Ontario

.05% on the first $36,848 of taxable income, +

9.15% on the next $36,850, +

11.16% on the amount over $73,698

or

British Columbia

5.06% on the first $35,716 of taxable income, +

7.7% on the next $35,717, +

10.5% on the next $10,581, +

12.29% on the next $17,574, +

14.7% on the amount over $99,588

etc.

In short, we pay alot of tax. Don't forget licencing fees on vehicles, sales tax (provincial and federal), and property taxes. When all is said and done, we probably pay about 50-70% of our income on taxes if you ignore any income tax loopholes for small business.

2. Healthcare is free (when one pays the aforementioned taxes, you would hope it would be).

3. Like any place, housing is what it is. Cities like Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto will put you in the poor house (literally). You can expect to shell out $500,000+ (a decent condo or small house in Toronto for example). Conversely, if you live in a more rural area prices reflect that difference. Pricing in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) is a bit cheaper and smaller cities are again cheaper than that.

4. Honestly, every government has it's drawbacks. Canadian government is far bigger (per capita) than the government of a lot of nations and it isn't exactly a well-oiled machine. That being said; we've got decent healthcare and education systems. The taxes are killer though.

Honestly Canada is a wonderful country, but as with any nation it has a few warts and blemishes. Many people are caught off guard by the cost of living here simply because taxation eats so heavily into one's income.

(I hope this post isn't considered too political).

Edited July 25, 2009 by blueandwhite

[tedbeard]

... Canadians pay extremely high taxes (when compared to the US).

Actually this is a myth perpetuated by neo-cons.

For example, I know it was too many years ago (late 80's - early 90's) but around when I was finishing University my parents lived in Virginia while my father was assigned to the Canadian Embassy. They compared everything they paid back home with every fee, school levy, tax, etc and it was clear that in that case residents of McLean, Virginia (just outside DC) paid more for less services than someone in Victoria, British Columbia (provincial capitol). Americans pay for things like schools and roads and other services differently in many jurisdictions. We just bundle it all up as "taxes".

I would guess the question comes from all the debate about health care reform in the the States. Our system covers everyone and is not an unreasonable burden on individuals. The horror stories you are being fed about waiting lists are bull-crap. If people were dying or being refused life-saving care by bureaucrats there would be holy heck to pay. We have news media who are more than happy to pander to our neo-cons.

I have a wife and three kids and we pay a not unreasonable amount of tax. If any one of us is sick we are treated quickly and effectively and I don't see a bill. We have good schools, decent roads, safe streets and a banking system that behaves itself. Of course, here on the Left Coast we also have far less snow (except in the mountains) and an irritating smugness about our part of Canada.

It does make house prices ridiculous here. The average house prices in Vancouver - Victoria are the highest in Canada but that has been true for years. There is a limited supply of land around here - Victoria is on an Island and Vancouver is surrounded by mountains.

Edited July 25, 2009 by tedbeard

[blueandwhite]

Actually this is a myth perpetuated by neo-cons.

For example, I know it was too many years ago (late 80's - early 90's) but around when I was finishing University my parents lived in Virginia while my father was assigned to the Canadian Embassy. They compared everything they paid back home with every fee, school levy, tax, etc and it was clear that in that case residents of McLean, Virginia (just outside DC) paid more for less services than someone in Victoria, British Columbia (provincial capitol). Americans pay for things like schools and roads and other services differently in many jurisdictions. We just bundle it all up as "taxes".

...so taxes are higher in Canada .

My response wasn't intended to be political. It was simply a response to brickmaster's questions. I didn't mention anything about hospital wait times or sub-standard health care. The income tax rates in Canada are what they are.

[tedbeard]

...so taxes are higher in Canada .

That is a truly ignorant response. Juvenile word-games have no place in this discussion. Income taxes may be higher but overall they actually pay more for public services as we use the term.

My response wasn't intended to be political. It was simply a response to brickmaster's questions. I didn't mention anything about hospital wait times or sub-standard health care. The income tax rates in Canada are what they are.

I was not responding to you, I also was responding to Brickmaster's original question. As for being "political" it is not possible to discuss taxation, governance or health care without being "political", so get over it.

Let's all go to Timmy's and solve the world's problems over an Iced Capp and some Timbits.

[prateek]

Let's all go to Timmy's and solve the world's problems over an Iced Capp and some Timbits.

I found out how to make an Ice Cap at home

[Brickmaster]

I won't lie in telling you why I asked you these questions; I was thinking heavily on moving up there somewhere in the future. Mainly for monetary reasons; Although taxes are plentiful there, we have many things in America that will suck you dry. Even with insurance here, you shell out insane amounts of money for healthcare, among other things. Having a baby with complications during birth can literally cause you to loose your house, and I am just appalled at that. I don't mean to case a debate storm or a political dishevelment, it's just I'm not exactly happy with how the system is here, and given the opportunity and information, I could attempt to live somewhere else. Also, I live in Wisconsin, so Canada is only really alittle bit north from me..

That being said, I thank you greatly blueandwhite for your very informative post.

I am also well aware of the propaganda the American commercials are trying to feed us about Canadian Health care; I was merely wondering some exacts of whether there are some hidden fees or costs somewhere in there. I live in a relatively cheap place to live, however; Very cheap houses, which is a big theme in the midwest. I would be more after living in suburbs rather than big city, if I were to move anywhere.

I'm still debating on the logistics of moving purely based on the standpoint of trying to avoid monetary loss through some accident that hasn't even happened yet, but as I may have mentioned, theres alot else I am unhappy with here, and have been for years, and if anything, this healthcare stuff is more a final push to get me to look at my options.

Again I thank you blueandwhite; is there any more light you could shed on my situation, or in general? (If you feel it is necessary, you may PM me rather than putting it in public.)

Edited July 26, 2009 by Brickmaster