Close Reading

I work for northern health, they only hire East indians

I’ve been privileged to actually live and work for long periods of time in USA, Netherlands, and China…and in a variety of locations in each country. Until recently, I’d have chosen Canada without hesitation. Canada has been rocketing into an ideological cesspool rivalling China, but so has USA and the Netherlands. As for the future…if I were middle aged (as opposed to OLD!) I would go to southeast USA Fla or Tx. Not because they are ‘better ‘ right now, but I believe USA still has a chance to sort itself out but Canada is simply too screwed up and corrupt (morally, politically, socially, & financially) to recover at least in my lifetime. I was living in northern China (Harbin) when that idiot Trudeau became PM and hoped he had a chance to improve things in general. But it is clear he (or whoever is pulling his vapid strings) has been a disaster and his current opposition shows signs of being equally awful. I believe US citizens care far more for their constitution and freedoms and more aware of the perilous situation they’re in than Canadians, many of whom still believe we have a functioning health care system. All this is coming to you from a Canadian septuagenerian, highly educated by what was (decades ago) the best educational system in the Western Hemisphere. One who benefited from a wonderful health care system before it got farmed out to private corporations and became a haven for niche specialties while starving out the family physicians who were the front line for proactive family care. Can u tell I’m cranky yet? ?? Might as well laugh about it at this point. P.S. When the history of Canada is written I suspect an unabashed plagiarist will begin with the line, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

Im Canadian from Northern Alberta. I travel often to the balkans often. Every time I come home i see how bad it is here. People work so hard for very little. And the extras people have is wasted away. Then there is the nanny state aspect, it is not just from the government but the citizens as well. Which creates a atmosphere that makes community building seem impossible. \n We hit the apex 10 years ago. And it really is time to leave. \n Health care?\n My friend had a botched back surgery, he nearly lost everything. Waited over 6 months for mri and other tests, treated like garbage. Now in Belgrade Serbia. You call for a mri you get it the next day for 100 dollars. \n Things aren't as good as the people believe they are. \n Modernity is killing the human connection, but other places still have it. And it is refreshing to see it.

I moved from the U.S. to Canada. Some observations:\n1. It's unbelievably safe in Canada. The most dangerous places in Canada are still very safe compared to much of the U.S.\n2. Outside of DC and New York and I guess Chicago and L.A. in the U.S. and Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, you need a car. I disagree that city planning is that much better in Canada.\n3. The maternity leave in Canada is great \n4. The unemployment insurance in Canada is great too\n5. I prefer the Canadian health care system. I never experienced any long wait times. My wife had literal brain surgery and it was free whereas it would've been hundreds of thousands of dollars in the U.S.\n6. Canada is further to the left and is much more woke than the U.S. Everything here is about equity, diversity and inclusion. Even many Canadian conservatives would be moderates in the U.S. but most people know this already.\n7. There is a better work life balance in Canada. I worked a lot more when living in the U.S.\n8. Most Canadians live by the U.S. border  so the weather is not that different than most northern American states. But once you go to northern Canada, it is as cold as they say it is.\n9. The U.S. is better for making money.\n10. It is much more racially segregated in the U.S. \n11. Outside cities like Montreal and Toronto, Canada is very white.\n12. Things are much more spread out in Canada. When I lived in the U.S. driving for 1 hour to go somewhere was a long drive. In Canada, that is normal.\n13. Canada is pretty great if you like the outdoors. There's only 36 million people here and outside the major cities, you find small towns and the wilderness. \n14. Canadians are quite friendly. I know my neighbors in the country. I never knew my neighbors in the U.S.\n15. Canadian politics is boring and I like this. However, in the rural areas, it seems that people really hate Justin Trudeau.\n16. Since Canada is so similar to the U.S. it is very easy to adjust to life here.\n17. Outside of Quebec, you really don't need to speak French. \n18. The nationalism of the Quebecois is very surprising. There is no group in the U.S. this nationalistic.

Bad things about Saskatchewan:\n-A LOT of snow, A LOT\n- negative 30c is the norm in winter, summer usually plus 25c (It's COLD)\n-housing prices aren't as cheap as the video says... sure you can buy a place for $280,000 :) ...an apartment. \nA new family house made in 2012 costs $550,000, an old one made in 1980 costs $330,000.\n- Not a lot of bang for your buck. Yes, there are jobs in the major cities but the pay isn't so great unless you are a nurse or work in health care. (Best province for upcoming nurses btw) Minimum wage for the win! \n-As I said previously, minimum wage for the win! There are jobs but you don't get paid enough to live without a roommate or almost be constantly broke.\n-Rent is okay. If you DO manage to get a decent paying job, like a teacher, plumber, doctor, etc, rent is cheap.\n-Expensive retirement. Thinking the healthcare is great for seniors? It is. But, get ready to give every last penny to your senior home. A neighbour got a quote from a local seniors home for him and his wife, $65,000 per year (MINIMUM) for the 2 of them. That's how much the old folks home costed.\n-You need a car. If you want to visit outside the major cities, you need a car. In the cities you can survive traffick by bus, but it is better with a car.\n-You can't see northern lights a lot. Not from the cities. You have to go north, north, north, out in the middle of nowhere.\n\nGood things about Saskatchewan: \n-No cougars. Bears and wolves live here, mainly in the north.\n-People are friendly. There isn't as much crime in the 2 major cities, Prince Albert does have a lot though just like the video said, so I'd steer clear of that place.\n-Great education. Good place to raise a family.\n-Great healthcare. Has most covered in universal healthcare I think out of every province. Seniors like to move to Saskatchewan for retirement. It's a great place to retire if you have the money to move.\n-Lots of local stuff to see. A lot of local shops, parks, camp grounds, etc.\n-Rent is cheap. It's cheaper than Vancouver or Toronto.\n-Food prices are alright. Not good, not bad, just okay. Even a poor single mother can buy some food I think.\n-Lots of land. There is lots of flat land here. Not that you could own it all lol But it is pretty to look at.\n\nHighlights/Best people to move here:\n-nurses\n-immigrants for fast food jobs\n-rich seniors\n-rich families (good place to raise a family)\n\nPeople not good to move here:\n-single people\n-poor seniors