The reasons for departure

Anyone who leaves Canada again has their reasons for doing so. To be honest, it's often a number of reasons - not just one.

The reasons you give are sometimes not even the most compelling reasons for leaving. Maybe you don't even know it yourself, it's more of a feeling.

Many simply find it difficult to describe exactly why they want to leave Canada again after a few years.

Apart from homesickness or a longing for the old familiar, what are the reasons for leaving that we hear most often?

So little culture

It's all so monotonous

Not so long ago, Canada was a country of pioneers. That meant slogging and not much else. You pay little attention to civilization and culture.

For many Canadians, little has changed. It is still a struggle to survive, to keep warm and to collect things.

It is logical that there is no interest in being involved in culture.

The poverty

Poor people everywhere

Many Canadians believe that if you are poor it is simply your own fault. Those who have no house, no job and no income, have to figure it out for themselves.

You can see that on the street. There are many homeless people in Canada. The lines at the soup kitchens and food banks are enormous.

It is sometimes uncomfortable to have to observe poverty yourself.

Inadequate infrastructure

Old, broken or simply not present

It is shocking how poorly the infrastructure in Canada is maintained.

This could, of course, be much better in such a rich country. But people prefer to spend the money in a different way.

There are quite a few immigrants who really find this objectionable.

The free care

The problems are enormous

Everyone in the country will have to deal with it at some point, with Canadian healthcare.

Although "Medicare" is free, it appears that the system is in complete disarray.

Waiting times often get out of hand and availability in general is sometimes disappointing. Many facilities are old and dirty.

Some aspects of healthcare are not free at all: dentists, medicines and mental care.

The distances

When everything is far away

Anyone who moves to Canada knows that it is a very large country. The distances are often enormous.

Initially, many people do not find this a problem, but over time it starts to bother some people.

Anyone who begins to find long distances and poor accessibility objectionable could see this as a reason to do something about it. And that is not always easy within Canada.

Chauvinism

Creepy pride in Canada

It's great that Canadians are so proud of their beautiful country, but that pride could certainly be a little more realistic.

Many people think it's a strange idea that there are any other nice countries on earth. And every Canadian has been taught from an early age that Canada is the best country on earth.

Many immigrants actually find those kinds of views quite annoying, after a while.

Native Americans

You can't say that anymore

Canadians live at odds with the country's original inhabitants. There has been a kind of mutual distrust and/or envy for centuries.

As a new resident in Canada, you fall right in the middle. You may not have done anything wrong, but you will be held accountable for the abuses of that time.

How do you deal with that?

Greed

Is that really more common in Canada?

Money is not dirty. Greed brings out the best in people. Competition sharpens everyone.

You knew that Canada is a very capitalist country in advance.

And yet some are surprised that the greed system is lived out here in a very blatant way.

Not everyone can comply. Those who do not adapt can still be left undesirably snowed under.

Too American

In a sovereign country

Many Canadians are very proud that they are not American. They are, of course, a lot "better".

And yet, when it comes down to it, Canadians are very similar to their southern neighbors in many ways.

Many Europeans are concerned about this. That had not been the intention.

The fact is that American Imperialism is nowhere more clearly experienced than in Canada.

Xenophobia

Racism and intolerance

When you arrive in Canada you are a foreigner. Hopefully you will immediately adapt as best as possible.

But even if you do that sincerely, you can stumble quite a bit because of the attitude that many people have towards all those immigrants.

The intolerance breaks some people. You also see it around you. People of certain races sometimes enjoy advantages that not everyone always considers fair.

Can you handle that?

Taxes

For example, property tax and profit tax

Canada is a tax haven for some, but for many, certain taxes and levies can still be harsh.

The enormous property tax (real estate tax) in large parts of the country has already claimed many victims. Others have stumbled over the various income taxes.

And then all those "Sales Tax" surprises?

Cars anytime, anywhere

The dictatorship of the automobile

If you like cars and you might enjoy driving, Canada is the place for you.

Almost all of society revolves around the car and any other form of travel is virtually unthinkable for most Canadians.

But that does mean that life without a car is actually impossible in Canada.

The harsh climate

They really can't do anything about that

The climate in Canada is quite harsh, you probably knew that before you emigrated.

However, six months of winter is a long time and actually much longer than many can imagine.

Quite a few immigrants stumble over this simple fact. You can't blame anyone for the weather and it's unlikely that it will ever really get better.

Unhealthy life

Bad food, too little exercise, pollution

You quickly notice that there are so many overweight people in Canada. It indicates an unhealthy way of life.

Indeed, it is difficult and expensive to buy healthy food at the grocer.

Exercise is often discouraged.

The air quality is not good, especially in and around the big cities. The pollution is significant.

Friendships

People treat each other differently

If you start living somewhere later in life, it is difficult or at least different how you get friends.

The self-evidence quickly disappears. How do you deal with that?

Especially people who have lived somewhere for a long time, they already have a closed circle of friends. It can be quite difficult to deal with that.

Some immigrants complain of a kind of loneliness in that sense.

Being insincere

Say what you don't mean

You have to be polite, in Canada, so to speak, in the old-fashioned English way.

They would like to know how you are doing "how are you doing" but they don't want to know that at all.

They invite you to their house but that's never going to happen.

Everything is "lovely" even if it isn't at all.

The mock politeness can become annoying if you really no longer know where you stand.

Two weeks of vacation

Three, if you've been there for years

Workplace relationships are really different in Canada. It starts with the number of vacation days you get. Not much! Two weeks!

You also get "sick days" for when you are unable to work due to illness. Not much either, maybe five a year?

If you are still ill, use up your vacation days.

What kind of situations are these?

Canadian schools

Often not so great

Very little is learned in the public schools, the children are kept more socially entertained. There is officially no compulsory education. The lesson plan is actually several years behind.

There are very few private schools and they are often very expensive.

Going to vocational school or university quickly becomes very expensive.

All kinds of reasons

There are people who have moved to Canada even though they knew in advance that it would only be for a certain number of years. Some of that group stayed after all; others resigned more or less according to plan.

A frequently heard deeper reason is that people are moving again because of a job or a business activity. Sometimes people want to take care of a family member. Perhaps it is for the children to be able to visit another school.

There are plenty of reasons to stay or go. In general, when people do leave Canada, there are several reasons that come together.