Moving To Canada From The U.S. — Part 1: Differences Between Canada And The U.S.
Every time a controversial event (or presidency) takes place in the U.S., you’ll often see a big surge in Google Searches like “how to move to Canada.” Americans have been eyeing their neighbour to the north for quite some time as a potential place to lay down roots, but it’s a big leap to go from Googling to packing boxes.
Hi, I’m Paula, a rental expert at liv.rent, and I am going to share the biggest differences between these two countries so that if you are planning a big move — or even daydreaming of one — then you’ll know exactly what you’re in for if you are planning on moving to Canada.
The differences between Canada and the U.S.
The differences between Canada and the U.S. may not be obvious at first. After all, they both speak English and have plenty of Starbucks to go around, right? But there are some key differences that shape Canadian society and differentiate it from the U.S.
Government
- Starting from the top, while the U.S. is led by a president, Canada is led by a prime minister. Actually, Queen Elizabeth is the official head of state because Canada is a commonwealth nation.
- Canada has a parliamentary system whereby Members of Parliament are elected to represent a riding (or region) in Ottawa, the capital. So, people do not vote directly for a Prime Minister, but rather for local representatives from the same party as their desired Prime Ministerial candidate.
- Canada has five major political parties: Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Green Party and the Bloc Québécois from the majority French-speaking Quebec.
- In general, Canada’s entire political spectrum is to the left of the U.S. with all parties believing in the value of a public healthcare system, the value of immigration, and other social safety nets that ensure a more equitable society.
Read more: Immigrating to Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Immigration & Diversity
- In Canada, Immigration isn’t as politically charged as it is in the U.S. Canadians recognize that their economic well-being is dependent on immigration due to low birthrates and a population of only 38 million (roughly 1/10th the population of the U.S.)
- Canada prefers to call immigrants “New Canadians” recognizing their intention to stay and offering them a clear path to citizenship.
- Much of the focus is on family reunification — bringing in parents, spouses, children or siblings who live abroad.
- Newcomer centres and services for immigrants provide support to help you transition to your new life in Canada.
- 1/5th of the population is foreign-born — making for a dynamic, diverse, multi-cultural country.
Work
The biggest differences in Canadian and American working lives pertain to the benefits employees receive.
- In Canada, workplaces are legally obligated to offer a minimum of two weeks of paid vacation time. Most companies offer more than the required minimum. After a few years of employment, employees may earn more vacation time. In the U.S., by contrast, paid vacation time is not legally required.
- Maternity and Parental Leave are far more generous in Canada with most mothers typically taking a year's leave or sharing their permitted leave with their partners.
Read more: Guide on How to Study (& Work) in Canada
Healthcare
- Canada enjoys the benefits of universal healthcare. Once you are a Permanent Resident or citizen, you register provincially for public healthcare insurance and pay a nominal fee that varies from province to province; you are then eligible to receive basic healthcare anywhere in Canada. This means you can walk into a clinic or hospital and receive medical attention without being turned away.
- This government health insurance gives you access to basic medical services. However private insurance, often provided by employers, will help cover costs for prescription medicine, dental care, eyeglasses, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and ambulance services.
- There is a shortage of doctors in many parts of Canada so finding a permanent, family doctor may be a challenge. Thankfully, you can rely on the medical services provided by clinic doctors until you can secure a permanent doctor.
Education
- Costs of post-secondary educations are significantly lower in Canada than in the U.S. The average tuition in Canada is $6,653 CAD compared to $35,676 CAD for a private university in the US.
- Canada has the largest percentage of adults seeking higher education. According to the OECD, 55% of Canadians between 25–64 years have some level of college education compared to 33% of Americans.
- Canadians view education more as a right than a privilege.
Read more: Best Cities to Study in Canada for International Students
Language
- Canada has two official languages — English and French as England and France co-founded the country.
- French is spoken primarily in Quebec but there are Franco-Canadian communities in every province.
- French Immersion schools are federally funded and public. As such, Canadians across the country can choose to educate their children in these schools that promote bilingualism at no extra cost.
- All packaged products display English and French text and ingredients.
- English is still the dominant language in all provinces other than Quebec, so newcomers and Americans who come to Canada won’t have to learn French to get by unless they want to!
Measurements
- Canada uses the metric system and so measurements in kilometres, metres, kilograms, grams, and litres can be a culture shock to Americans.
- Temperature in Canada is typically given in degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit like in the U.S.
Culture
Canadian culture is challenging to define as it does vary somewhat from region to region. The West Coast (British Columbia), the Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba), Central Canada (Ontario), Quebec, the North (Yukon and Northwest Territories) and the Maritimes (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland) all contribute their own flavour and nuance to the Canadian cultural landscape. Similarly, urban Canadians and rural Canadian bring something different to the cultural discussion as well.
- In general, Canadian culture does embody artistic, culinary, literary, comedic, musical, political and social elements that are all the product of a diverse and accepting society.
- Indigenous peoples of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis have lived in Canada for thousands of years. The government is taking strides to pay for reparations, negotiate treaties, and laud their contributions to Canadian society and culture.
- Canadian culture is recognized globally, from music legends like Leonard Cohen and Neil Young to pop stars like Drake, The Weeknd and Justin Bieber. There are Canadian literary giants like Margaret Atwood and Yann Martell plus there are brilliant Canadian comedians that highlight a self-deprecating, dry sense of humour, like Kids in the Hall, Kim’s Convenience, and Schitt’s Creek.
Sport
- Hockey is Canada’s favourite professional sport. Hockey greats like Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Sidney Crosby are recognizable names across Canada and major cities with NHL franchises (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal) have their own local hockey celebrities as well.
- Basketball popularity is on the rise. The 2019 Toronto Raptors victory further boosted Canadian interest in the NBA, although Toronto has the only Canadian NBA team. However, Vancouver remembers having The Grizzlies back in the day.
- Canada also has its own football league called the CFL (Canadian Football League) with slightly different playing rules from the NFL. Famous former CFL players include The Rock and Carl Weathers.
There you have it! A brief overview of how Canada is different from the U.S. Stay tuned to the next part in this series and hit the clap for me if you want to see more stories like these.
