I got a ping today from an american interested in my thoughts on Canada versus the US. As I've gotten a few other similar pings over the past few weeks, I figure I'll just answer the questions with an entry.
Culture
Vancouver's culture is very outdoor oriented, with lots of running, biking, hiking, skiing, watersports, etc. Very multi-cultural with various ethnic communities and great variety of restaurants. Not very business friendly and traffic is getting worse. Weather is similar to Seattle.
Housing
Vancouver housing prices range from $CA 300 to whatever. The current exchange rate is around 1 US$ buys $1.25 CA. In Vancouver proper, there's a few price points:
- 90 year old character home just on the East side of Vancouver, 2200 sq ft, 33 by 122 yard, 3 bed/2 bath in a not-so-great school district (for vancouver): $500k
- 90 year old character home just on the West side of Vancouver, 2200 sq ft, 33 by 122 yard, 3 bedrooms/2 baths. In an ok school district and very central to downtown and airport. $750k
- New characters style home in in mid West side of Vancouver, 2200 sq ft, 50 by 122 yard, 4 bedrooms, 3 bath in good school district: $1.3 mil.
- New Condo on the water (Coal Harbour or False Creek), 1800 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, $1.2 mil.
- Close to beach beach front around English bay (either Vancouver west or West Vancouver) with view: CA $2.5 mil and up.
Taxes
Taxes are somewhat higher, but not as high as people think taking into account property taxes, social security, medicare, etc. short term cap gains rates are lower in Canada. There is no income tax deduction for housing.
Health Care
The real story with health care is that it is universal for critical/doctor/hospital visits. There are growing waiting lists for many kinds of optional surgeries like hip replacements. The less critical things like physio, eye exams etc. are partially covered, and my company's medical covers it. Drugs are partially covered and usually topped up by company's extended. Effectively, if you have minor/medium problems, it's so-so. If you have a serious terminal problem, you get good care.
Schools
Public schools are in a range that varies depending upon the average wealth of the house, similar to US. But the range is much less and the starting point higher, that is the worst school in Vancouver is still not that bad, ie no gun fights. The reason is that school funding is set by the province, not by local taxes, so there's not a dramatic swing between have and have-not districts. The reason for the difference in public schools is more around parental volunteer activities and fund-raising. The BC government is also introducing more competition into the school system, so it is likely that the public schools will improve over time.
Private schools aren't as expensive as you might think, I think around $15K/year.
University tuition is less than the US, but growing quickly - about 10% a year.
Politics
Canada is almost exactly what you expect from a socialist country: lots of government program spending, "equalization" payments all over the place, low crime rates, low military spending, lots of angst about identity, lots of support for multi-national endeavours. Currently a minority government of Liberals is running the show. All indications are that they are not going to be able to do much with the minority but nobody wants another election soon.
British Columbia, sometimes known as "Lotus Land", has had a Liberal government for 3 years. In reality, they are a "conservative" government that has cut government spending and taxes. Growing unrest in the province about the deepness of the cuts, so the election next year may result in a swing to the left.
