How do you Canadians survive?

I was on Facebook and saw my cousin in Ottawa Ontario posted a pic of a gas station's price, 1.51 per litre
My other cousin in Burnaby B.C. said its .15 more per litre there.
I dont wanna hear they have free health care so its a wash, they PAY dearly for health care in taxes.
How do young working people survive, even older working class people.
At 1.51 per litre, thats 5.71 per gallon
I seriously doubt I'll ever get back up there to visit, even after restrictions are lifted.
I love my family and there country is beautiful, I have TONS of memories of traveling up there, going thru Customs was relatively easy, now yah need a passport.

 

It's much worse in Europe. They love having most of their earnings managed by bureaucrats and politicians.

 

Yeah, it would suck to live in those Scandanavian countries, what with their top-of-the-list happiness ratings...

 

Mark, if you follow this link https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/ to global gas prices, you will see our gas prices are close to being in the middle of the spectrum. I agree it doesn't make paying more any less painful, especially driving our cars (8 mpg) but its a part of our global supply chain mess. We have spent years streamlining our supply chain to Just In Time arrival and we can plainly see that isn't working to well in todays environment. Its time to regroup and rethink what we are doing in many areas. I hope you make it back to see the family and make new memories soon. Jim

 

They also have the highest suicide and spousal abuse levels.

 

And income tax rates over 50% in most countries.

 

The suicide issue is an enduring myth started in the 1960's by people opposed to the Scandanavian way of life. Evidently Finland tends to be higher than other Scandanavian countries, but all in all the combined suicide rate is slightly below average.

I can't find a straight-out ranked list by country for spousal abuse / domestic violence, but that also seems unfounded based on the attached link.
https://www.endvawnow.org/uploads/browser/files/vaw_prevalence_matrix_15april_2011.pdf

 

Free college. Free health care. Lots of maternity / paternity leave. Lots of vacation.

Overall, the math tends to work out in Scandanavia's favor. Just look at US health care expenses alone:

 

Nothing is free. That's the real myth.

 

"Free" ...Money to pay for all that has to come from somewhere. As stated, nothing is free. Some people are just oblivious that they pay for it one way or the other. It makes those same people feel all warm and fuzzy when they don't directly write a check or pay for it straight out of pocket. Ignorance is bliss for some, especially when that ignorance is forced upon them.

 

When individuals puppet this or that should be, or is said to be free, especially for the big ticket items, makes me wonder where they think the money to pay for the "free" things is coming from.

Moreover, basic questions like who is making the "free money" and who get's to spend the "free money" and what are the benefits/drawbacks on an individual and/or societal basis on where to spend the "free money" are always welcome questions in my mind.

It's generally a slow pitch for me, and a teaching lesson for my children, whenever my kids say "this is free" or that "should be free".

 

Just because it's free doesn't mean it's good or readily available. Canadians come here to Kalispell Mt. for health care and they have to pay for it. This isn't something I read somewhere I have seen it. Before the border closure there were a lot of cars with Canadian plates at our medical facilities as well as Walmart, Target, etc.

Bob H.

 

100% correct, Bob. Been that way for years.

 

While 87 octane gas has gone from $2.50 to $3.30 per gallon in my area, 93 octane has been within $0.10 of $4/gallon all along. Makes it a little less painful driving the BBB at 10 mpg.

 

Trinidad is ‘bout the same price as here in the Cleveland area .84 per liter or 3.19 a gallon for pee pee

 

Do Canadians cross the border for health care? yes.
Is it in any way a significant percentage of the population? No.

A peer-reviewed study in 2002 found that only 90 out of 18,000 Canadians surveyed had done so.

A right-leaning think tank in 2016 trying to show just how superior the US system was cited a 25% increase in people doing so -- clear up to 0.15% -- not 15%, not 1.5%, but 0.15% -- of Canadian actually doing so.

Crossing the border for drugs or health care might logically be more noticeable in areas like Kalispell if the people simply aren't close to any similar facility in Canada. Dunno -- just speculating. Or said cars could be Canadian health care workers crossing the borders, which is acyually a very real thing.

 

My mother is Scandanavian. They pay some of the highest income tax anywhere, and their health care sucks.

 

Lethbridge, AB is not far from Kalispell, and is roughly the same size, so they are choosing to come to Montana instead of going to a similar sized city in their own country. I've lived here all my life, it is not Canadian health care workers, it is Canadians coming here for health care. As to your survey, that would be common sense. Canada is a very large country with very large population centers far north of the border. People in Calgary and Edmonton (largest cities in AB) are too far north for it to be convenient to travel here for their health care. Common. Sense......

 

Huh.. well, here's the thing.. folks who think Sweden is Utopia, are free to move there...

....Well, if you have a solid job offer, and can get a work permit.. and if you can get a residence permit... you can move.. and if you like 6 months of very little to no daylight..

Seems that the Swedes understand that open borders are not conducive to the financial health of a socialist society..

Who'd a thunk it?
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As far as gas prices go, I just this morning was pumping 40 bucks worth of 87 octane swill into the Burban.. and noticed that gas had gone up another dime since last week.. Funny, I then though, it could be worst, I could live in Canada.

 

The issue for healthcare here in Canada is more related to wait times to see specialists and/or "elective" surgeries. Because we have universal health care, there is no jumping the line if you can afford to pay, so you wait your turn. IF you can afford it, you can travel to the US or Mexico for some procedures, but that is a small percentage of the population as has been pointed out. Similarly, there used to be (not sure if it's the same anymore) a large number of folks from the US buying prescription drugs up here because it was cheaper.

As for gas prices, yes they are high (currently $1.64/liter for 87 octane), but that really doesn't keep people from driving (although British Columbia has the highest adoption rate of EV's in North America, and we do have a very well used public transit system in the Vancouver area). I can't believe how much some of you in the US pay for property taxes annually given the relative value of the properties, so there is give and take. My sister-in-law in California pays more than double the property tax I do, for a property value that is less than mine. So I think we are all "paying", whether it's in gas taxes, property taxes, income taxes, or paying out of pocket for medical care. I don't know enough about European jurisdictions to comment.

Keep in mind, people from all over the world are moving here (have you seen the property prices in Vancouver lately?!), so obviously many people feel there is a lot to offer. I certainly wouldn't let gas prices keep you from visiting family though, particularly given the exchange rate, it's not really that much more per tank when you work it out! If you do come to Burnaby, drop me a line and I can tour you around a bit in the Electra!