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Well, there’s a new light rail line about to open in Ottawa so that’ll make two lines there and having such will likely contain the growth of sprawl a bit and help fix a bit of that sub-urbanism.
Thank you for a very informant answer. I’ve heard and read that housing is very affordable in Canada, partly due to some government/provincial programs that you guys have. What are those? .
I would not say housing is very affordable, but it's not bad. It also depends on the city. Toronto and Vancouver are pretty expensive, whereas Ottawa and Montreal are more reasonable.
There aren't really many government programs that help you to buy housing, at least nothing major that is worth mentioning. Certainly for people who have middle class salaries. Obviously we have some social housing for the poor.
“Homogenous” is not just about ethnicity. It is also about society. Yes, the major cities in Sweden do have large percentage of immigrants, 20-30 %, but these live in their own societies (“ghettos”) away from mainstream Swedish society. They rarely integrate. Furthermore, Swedish society and state is very keen on shaping the lives of Swedes and the results are that it really does not matter where you live, life is the same wherever you settle in Sweden. People are very much alike (in their ways, views etc.), all political parties are the same, all cities look alike due to similar (socialistic) urban planning and architecture and the weather is even almost the same everywhere (even though this one you cannot change). For these reasons I think that Sweden is homogenous. Maybe not statistically, but in reality.
OK, in this sense yes Canada is less homogenous. I mean, Ontario and Quebec in some ways almost feel like different countries and they are right next to each other.
But what I worry about is the bugs, do you have problems with a lot of mosquitoes and other bugs during summer (considering humidity, closeness to lakes and forest)?
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In the city there are relatively few. No more than in a place like Sweden I think. The further you get from the city the more there are, but even the wooded areas 100 km from the city where there are parks with camping, etc. aren't too bad.
Political correctness is people who fight the “good war” as they call it here. It basically means having a naive and ignorant view of the world and of society. It means pushing their agendas and understanding of respect and tolerance at the masses. This “war” is mostly fought through marking words and trying to change the language. It could be making actual political debates around phrases such as “manspreading”, “mansplaining” and the whole concept of men standing up while peeing.
But it could also be a teacher telling a crying 5 year old in pre-school that he is not allowed to cry because he is of the dominant group in society (white male) or neglecting boys to play with cars and action toys and forcing them to play with dolls to break gender barriers and stereotypes in Swedish kinder gardens. It could be not prosecuting or even talking about rapes committed by minorities in fear of being called racist or not criticising women in any way in fear of being called sexist.
It is basically the left’s version of the gun loving and climate denying alt right, but with different motives. I know you have the whole “peoplekind” thing so I’m aware that this exists in Canada as well, but is it possible to avoid or does it swallow you as it does here?
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All of this exists fairly strongly in Canada too. Especially in the Ottawa-Toronto regions. (A bit in Montreal too but not as strongly because it's Quebec.)
How bad (or good) it is depends on one's point of view.
OP - Yes, we have a lot political correctness happening in Canada but it's up to each individual's personal philosophy to determine whether or not they will allow themselves to be swallowed up by it. There's nothing wrong with speaking one's mind but also nothing wrong with making outward efforts to be polite to ALL people. It's easier to attract more friends and gain respect by offering them good old fashioned Canadian maple syrup, trust and generosity of spirit than it is to offer vinegary gripe water and complaints and bigotry.
By the way, Trudeau's peoplekind comment was sort of a Canadian insider's ironic joke and he never expected that some people would be so sensitive and naïve enough to actually take that seriously and take offense to it. I'm beginning to think Canadians have a better sense and understanding of ironic humour then most of the rest of the world's population.
Well, there’s a new light rail line about to open in Ottawa so that’ll make two lines there and having such will likely contain the growth of sprawl a bit and help fix a bit of that sub-urbanism.
That is good. Is public transport fairly affordable? Does it have decent coverage? In Sweden it is very expensive. 15-20 min by train or bus in Gothenburg costs anything between 6 and 11 CAD. In Perth Australia it is around half that price, but also around half the coverage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
I would not say housing is very affordable, but it's not bad. It also depends on the city. Toronto and Vancouver are pretty expensive, whereas Ottawa and Montreal are more reasonable.
There aren't really many government programs that help you to buy housing, at least nothing major that is worth mentioning. Certainly for people who have middle class salaries. Obviously we have some social housing for the poor.
What would a decent house fairly close to the city cost? Would two middle class salaries be enought? Would one? Another thing I can't understand i regards to North America is your social system, especially concerning vacation and child care. So you only have two weeks of vacation per year in Canada? That is nothing. In Europe 4-6 weeks is normal almost everywhere. Then there is having children. As you guys have expensive child care and almost no parental leave compared to us, how do you do? One parent stays at home? Does that work out in economic terms?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
OK, in this sense yes Canada is less homogenous. I mean, Ontario and Quebec in some ways almost feel like different countries and they are right next to each other.
Yes, that is what I'm talking about. I have the same experiences from Australia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
Yes you have all of this too and it's fairly affordable. Not as much as in the U.S., but it's still fine.
Great! One beer is like 10-12 CAD and a movie ticket is like 22 CAD here in Perth, so would be nice to be somewhere were one can go out without having to spend too much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
In the city there are relatively few. No more than in a place like Sweden I think. The further you get from the city the more there are, but even the wooded areas 100 km from the city where there are parks with camping, etc. aren't too bad.
This is actually a big concern for me. I see that you have real summers but if there are mosquitoes everywhere during those months that would really ruin it for me. I have spent 3 weeks I Calgary during July a few years ago and I don’t recall any bugs bothering me. It should be roughly the same in Ottawa? I’ve also spent time in NYC and Florida during summer months without any concern, so I guess I’ll be fine.
The thing is though, that in northern Sweden it is really really bad. Around 60 % of the area of the country contains just about 10 % of the population. The bugs are one of the main reasons.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
All of this exists fairly strongly in Canada too. Especially in the Ottawa-Toronto regions. (A bit in Montreal too but not as strongly because it's Quebec.)
How bad (or good) it is depends on one's point of view.
Why would it be less in Quebec? I really cannot understand why not re-acting to sex crimes or violence out of fear would be good from any point of view. Or forcing children to play with certain toys etc..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoisite
OP - Yes, we have a lot political correctness happening in Canada but it's up to each individual's personal philosophy to determine whether or not they will allow themselves to be swallowed up by it. There's nothing wrong with speaking one's mind but also nothing wrong with making outward efforts to be polite to ALL people. It's easier to attract more friends and gain respect by offering them good old fashioned Canadian maple syrup, trust and generosity of spirit than it is to offer vinegary gripe water and complaints and bigotry.
By the way, Trudeau's peoplekind comment was sort of a Canadian insider's ironic joke and he never expected that some people would be so sensitive and naïve enough to actually take that seriously and take offense to it. I'm beginning to think Canadians have a better sense and understanding of ironic humour then most of the rest of the world's population.
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Yes I've read a lot of jokes about Canadians saying "I'm sorry" all the time. Of course we should all be polite and respect one another, but that for me is not what PC is about. But if I can live my life peacefully in Canada that would be great.
That is good. Is public transport fairly affordable? Does it have decent coverage? In Sweden it is very expensive. 15-20 min by train or bus in Gothenburg costs anything between 6 and 11 CAD. In Perth Australia it is around half that price, but also around half the coverage.
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A monthly unlimited pass in Ottawa is about 115 Canadian dollars. Single trips to anywhere the city are 3-4 dollars I think. There are no fare zones. Ottawa's system covers about half the population of Perth's but has 100 million annual passengers vs. 135 million for Perth. So Ottawa's system gets more use which likely means it has somewhat better coverage.
Ottawa's system is probably less extensive than Goteborg's though.
Most people still have cars in Ottawa as it is more practical for grocery shopping, kids' activities, etc.
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