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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Canada ??? |
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| Caraj |
| 04/03/02 at 19:08:37 |
| I am seriously considering moving to Canada. Are there any bro's or sisters who are or have lived in Canada who can tell me more about the people, ways of thinking, etc. My considering this is motivated by many things one being political. I can't change my country but I can move somewhere, where my taxes are not used to help other countries make war on others. I want to be in a country that doesn't think they are the worlds policemen. (We won't go into this... you hear me Mujy  :P  ) But seriously, if anyone has info or insight I would appreciate it. I am thinging BC area but am opened to other Canadian areas. Thank you,  Cara  |
| 04/03/02 at 19:09:57 |
| Caraj |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| M.F. |
| 04/04/02 at 04:04:44 |
| Wow Cara! That's certainly a noble reason to move :) I've heard BC is REALLY beatiful but that's all I know about it. What would happen to your horses? |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Dawn |
| 04/04/02 at 04:35:33 |
| Hate to spoil things for you Cara, but if you are a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, the U.S. government will tax you regardless of where you live in the world. :o Yes, it is true, the US is the only first world country that taxes its citizens' foreign earned income. Now, there is what is called a foreign income exclusion (or something like that), to the amount of $75K right now. What this means is if your income where you are living is more than 75K in US dollars, you pay taxes only on the difference, and if your income is less, than you don't owe US taxes, but you still have to file a 1040. There is also something called a foreign tax credit where, effectively, tax you pay in your country of residence is sort of "deducted" from what you would owe the U.S., and you pay the difference. In actuality, it is way more complicated than that, but I don't want to regurgitate the tax code here. However, from having done this twice so far from Switzerland, I can assure you it is a real pain. The IRS makes sure you deal with them, regardless of where you live. >:( |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Sumaiya |
| 04/04/02 at 19:01:42 |
| Woooohoooo Cara is moving to Canada!!! :) k...well atleast considering to move. :-[ I've lived in Toronto, Canada for 3.5 yrs and I think it's pretty cool. After having lived in India and Saudi Arabia for a loong time, I find Canada to be the better option. Some positive aspects include: [list][*]It's a very multicultural environment here, esp. in Toronto. Many people describe it as a 'tossed salad' environment. Immigrants who come here find a way to be a significant part of society while maintaining their cultural identity. The level of tolerance amongst people is quite high. [*]Freedom of speech and all are present, but their govt. plays an awesome role. Living next door to the most powerful nation of the world, Canada is still able to keep its morals and values in tact (i.e. peace keeping, not supporting attacks on Iraq, etc.) [*]Its sports teams are hype!!! [] oh yeah, Canada winning gold in hockey was soo cool. :) [*]It snows here!!! ;D well, umm...that is if you like the snow [*]The place has several attractions, the Niagara falls, the CN tower, etc. BC is absolutely incredible for vacations. It is known for its scenic picnic spots, skiing, the mts, etc.[/list] Disadvantages: [list][*]The taxes are pretty high. 15 % tax on all purchases. [*]The health care system, although is free, is not very efficient. There can be long hours of waiting even in emergency rooms. [/list] That's my view of Canada, and perhaps it could be limited cause I'm only a student. Hope that helped. Sumaiya |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Julie |
| 04/04/02 at 20:06:35 |
| I've lived in Toronto all my life, and I really like it here. :-* As Sumaiya said, it's multicultural, and you get to meet people who come from all over the world. I have relatives in BC. There's great skiing out there if you're looking for a new sport. ;) I really don't know too much about BC other than that. Vancouver is supposed to be a nice city, but I'm guessing you're thinking of a more rural area? Some differences I find between Canada and the States: -Attitude towards other countries (we're usually much more neutral than the States, have a much smaller army) -Attitude towards immigrants (racism exists in Canada, but I think to a smaller extent ~ that's my opinion) -Gun control (no, I'm not starting another debate ;)) -Health care system is different -We have two official languages - English and French -We say "eh" instead of "y'all" ;D If you're seriously thinking of moving here, don't hesitate to e-mail me if you want more info. :) Julie :) |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Ayla_A |
| 04/06/02 at 18:05:24 |
| Hiya Cara Well I think you know I live in Saskatchewan, I love it, but it is very cold in the winter and scorching hot in most summers. I actually wouldn't suggest anyone live here unless you have family (the only reason we stay here) For you though, with your horses and being kind of a "ranching" girl, I would have to suggest Alberta - close to Calgary if possible, but not right in the city (cost of living in Calgary is crazzzy) They have tons of stuff to do in Calgary, the have the STampede (large large rodeo) in the summer, it is very multinational as well. The taxes in Alberta are about half what we pay in Saskatchewan. They have no provincial sales or provincial income taxes there. So you would only pay 7% on most purchases (food/prescriptions and some other items are GST exempt). They are also at the base of the rocky moutains so their winters are very mild and they have heat in the summer but not like the prairie heat that we have here. Your horses would have good vets in the area, and if you bought an acreage or something I am sure that you could have a business boarding horses as well. I know the usa has the tax thing (that I don't totally understand) but I know that you can apply for Canadian Citizanship after you are here for 3 years. Plus you would only be about a 6 hour drive from me, not far at all:) I am a huge fan of Canada!!!! Salaams :-) Ayla_A :-) |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Leslie |
| 04/09/02 at 21:20:45 |
| Hi Cara, I grew up just outside of Vancouver and I miss it so much. (I live near Toronto now) There really isn't all that much difference in culture between the Vancouver and Seattle areas (some people have even proposed that Western BC, Washington, Oregon and Northern California secede from Canada and the US to become something called Cascadia due to the cultural similarities. One of their websites is [url]http://zapatopi.net/cascadia.html[/url]). For those of you who wonder about Cara's horses, as long as their shots are all up to date, there should be no problem taking them across the border, and there is lots of farmland in the area around Vancouver, so buying land for them would not be a problem. And Cara, Dawn is right: unless you actually immigrate to Canada and become a citizen, you would probably still have to pay some American taxes, although not as many as you do living there. If you do decide to move, let me know -- I could put you in touch with my mother who still lives on the West Coast -- she'd be able to help suggest where to buy land and what not. Good luck making a decision, Leslie |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Murshidah |
| 04/09/02 at 22:34:58 |
| Asalaam Alaikum RahmatuAllahi wa Baraktu, I used to live in Everett, Washington abou a two hour drive from Vancouver...I miss it soooooo much! Vancouver is a very clean city, and there are many Muslims there (although it is nothing compared to Toronto) but it's a very nice city, and all the time I spent there I never once got a mean look, or anything of that sort...Now I'm in Atlanta, GA and I fear I may go insane if I stay here much longer...LoL...bas sabreen jameel inshaAllah... |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Caraj |
| 04/19/02 at 18:22:31 |
| Hi everyone, thank you for your posts. I have many questions and will ask later this week-end. I am posting this to bring it to the top of the board so Mujaahid will find it easily. [] |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| muqaddar |
| 04/24/02 at 12:43:24 |
| [slm] WHATEVER YOU DO , DON'T MOVE TO BRITAIN the most racist country in the world after France :-[ |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Khuram |
| 04/26/02 at 01:08:03 |
| salams folks I live in Winnipeg, right smack in the middle of Canada. so you're thinking of moving to Canada huh? well, what city you want to live in all depends on what you want! VAncouver is indeed beautiful, but its cost of living is crazy. i have relatives there, and they all work 2 jobs to make ends meet. they have a lot of muslims there, but some major problems. hate to say it, but FOBS galore, people with very closed minds, not willing to accept that they live in Canada. Calgary is also another beauty, and is growing fast. its a very new city so everything is nice and clean, the roads, the shopping malls, the housese. but the cost of living is going up.. not like vancouver though. i have relatives in calgary as well. the muslims have been there for a while now, but have only recently started to develop. again, alot of groups and disunity can be seen. oh ya, tablighee jamat headquarters. edmonton is nice, but i wouldn't move there, i'd prefer calgary over it anyday. it does boast the to have the first masjid in Canada, but when you look at their problems, and the lack of islamic work they do, its truely a shame. as we move east, we get into saskatoon or regina. i've driven through both cities, but unfortuneately i blinked and i missed them both. nothings going on in those two cities, so stay away! and now we move into Winnipeg.. ZINDABAD! it is indeed the coldest place on earth, but the Muslim community will warm your heart any day of teh week. we've produced people like Shaheena Siddiqi (isna and cair and social service wonderwoman), khalid iqbal ( he's the superman of the presviously mentioned groups), Jawad Shah!!! youth extrodinaire, and a whole bunch of little jems. the city isn't really growing as fast as other places, but if you want a place to raise a family, this is it! now we get into ontario and TO is basically a US wanabe city that hates the fact that they're in canada. sad, but true. but its gots TONS of muslims, and all the stuff that goes along with it, the shops, the masjids, the schools, the fighting, the groups, the name calling. oh well. then lets head up to Ottawa, the nations capitol. its a pretty quiet, clean city. alot of my friends have moved there and they love they city, but do confess that the muslim community isn't anywhere near the community in winnipeg. and then you get into quebec, and if you don't know french, stay away. its a nice place to visit though. and finally atlantic canada. other than having jamal badawi in halifax, its a good vacatoin spot. economy is down the tubes since fishing has gone under. so in conclusion. depends on what you want. if you're thinking of winnipeg, feel free to contact moi! khuram |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| jannah |
| 04/26/02 at 02:17:19 |
| [wlm] khuram you're seriously crazy! :-/ you'd choose winnipeg over ALL the cities in canada!!! I for one have heard that winnipeg is MAD cold and there's nothing to do the 9 months they have winter and all the youth grow up and move away... and the worst thing of all.......no coco puffs!!! it's a tragedy... really...;) now i have heard great things about ottawa and i have to say ottawans are mashallah good people.. i've met them here as well as in dimashq... in fact probably half of dimashq foreigners were at one time ottawans :D it's also the capital.. that's got to help with jobs and all... :) and to say nothing of montreal which is an amazingly beautiful city ma'shallah with an overabundance of arabs.. but hey it's cool ;D of course this is just comparing canadian cities.. we know that canada could never compete with american cities right!!!! [] aiite salaam |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Julie |
| 04/26/02 at 12:20:24 |
| [quote]TO is basically a US wanabe city that hates the fact that they're in cajada. sad, but true.[/quote] Not true! :P I live in Toronto, and I'm proud to be Canadian. [quote]and then you get into quebec, and if you don't know french, stay away.[/quote] Also not true. Montreal has a large Anglophone population. You can get by without French, although it's good to have some basic vocabulary along the lines of "je ne parle pas francais". [quote]now i have heard great things about ottawa and i have to say ottawans are mashallah good people[/quote] I love visiting Ottawa! :-* Basic French vocab is helpful here too. [quote]we know that canada could never compete with american cities right!!!![/quote] [i]Julie realizes that Canadians are way outnumbered on this board, and decides not to respond...[/i] Julie :) |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Murshidah |
| 04/26/02 at 16:39:50 |
| [slm] Kuram your hilarious LoL...Fob galore?! Haha Sorry to say though Canada is the best. Don't hate now! Who wouldn't love all that snow and oh my good ness SMARTIES ;D and hockey! Not to mention those underground malls in Vancouver. and 786 Plaza in the Punjabi Market ( yeh Muslim pride!) Desi town in Toronto and those gyro places in Ontario. But of course the number one reason is the Smarties lol [wlm] |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Sheen |
| 04/26/02 at 17:02:41 |
| Whoa...there's a Punjabi market there? ??? I've heard that there r serious employment issues there...i know sum ppl who have moved from canada to the US in order to find work... [wlm] |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Muslima_Canadiana |
| 05/01/02 at 19:39:52 |
| Salaams, Man Canada is DA place to live!! I'm from Manitoba (Winnipeg is where it's aaaalll at! :) ). I used to live in Toronto, but is definetly a USA-wannabee city, and you're with your 'apna mahol' which kinda get to you after a bit. I love Winnipeg. It's not HUGE, but it's getting bigger, and it's pretty nice. Sure, we've got our share of the bad weather, bugs, and the likes...but most importantly [color=Blue]WE ARE DA SLURPEE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!!![/color] :) :) :D :D yeppers. |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| deenb4dunya |
| 05/03/02 at 11:33:27 |
| [glow=red,2,300]TEXT[/glow] |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| deenb4dunya |
| 05/03/02 at 11:34:15 |
| [glow=red,2,300]TEXT[/glow] |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| deenb4dunya |
| 05/03/02 at 11:36:35 |
| aSSALAMU aLAIKUM aLL, i'D definitely have to agree with Jannah on this one....make Ottawa your home..the people are nice..jobs are easy..the community is alive:) Toronto is too big... Vanouver is too expensive... Winnipeg..everyone leaves..and the community is tiny.... Ottawa is the place to be.. ask anyone from Albany..they'll tell you ;D Deen |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Caraj |
| 05/03/02 at 13:21:14 |
| Ok Medina Family here is what we are looking for: 4 distinct seasons: Winters with snow We love winter and snow and dog sledding and snow mobiling. Nice warm summer, I love to garden and can and freeze An area with trees and some rolling hills No mountain side clifts No deserty areas No always raining (like where I live now) Doesn't need to be all that close to a big town as we have our own business and don't need to commute daily if we don't want to. As for those who asked about my horses, with the proper immunizations, and a health certificate, they can be taken up there. So what is all this about the tax thingy???? Leave it to my country to get every penny they can get their hands on, Do you have to file EVEN if you don't make any money in the US? Because I plan to do business in both countries I figured I would have to pay taxes on what I made in the US to the US but not on what I make in another country.. ::) |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Julie |
| 05/03/02 at 14:33:35 |
| Maybe you could try somewhere a few hours north of Toronto, like Orillia or Muskoka. Those areas have four seasons, plenty of snow, are beautiful in the summer, and have lakes, plenty of trees, and some hills. Lots of people have cottages in these areas, but there are also communities where people live year-round. I don't think land is too expensive. There are small cities an hour to an hour and a half away such as Barrie and Newmarket, plus Toronto is only a two hour drive. Julie :) |
| 05/03/02 at 14:34:26 |
| Julie |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| Dawn |
| 05/03/02 at 15:03:43 |
| [quote author=Caraj link=board=bebzi;num=1017893528;start=15#19 date=05/03/02 at 13:21:14]So what is all this about the tax thingy???? Leave it to my country to get every penny they can get their hands on, Do you have to file EVEN if you don't make any money in the US? Because I plan to do business in both countries I figured I would have to pay taxes on what I made in the US to the US but not on what I make in another country.. ::)[/quote] Yep, you have to file EVEN if you don't make any money in the US, even if you don't make any money in dollars, even if you don't live in the US, even if you aren't even working at all! (Of course, in the latter case, you won't have to pay anything either, but you still have to file. :P) And you are taxed on ALL of your worldwide income above the exemption -- as I said in the other post, it depends how much you make how much you will have to pay. Anything below 75K and you don't owe, etc., etc. But, you will still have to file, and filing is a pain because you have all these extra forms that have to be filled out. On the other hand, you do get an automatic 6 month filing extension. Real big comensation. :P :P :P And I don't know what special tax treaties the US has with Canada so things might even be slightly different. In all honesty, if I were you, unless you are a tax wiz, for the first year or two, I would hire a CPA who specializes in filing US taxes for citizens who live in Canada. Then, of course, in the following years, you can just immitate what was done. Having filed now from overseas two times (and I'm working on three now), it is a real pain in the you know where. :P :P :P :P :P :P >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( OK, I'm annoyed enough talking about it. I had better go read some other thread to calm down. |
| 05/03/02 at 15:06:21 |
| Dawn |
| Re: Canada ??? |
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| muqaddar |
| 05/08/02 at 13:06:25 |
| [slm] ok soon as i get some money i'm off to canada to hunt moose (plural meese?) |
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