Canada is a country with a reputation for fantastic hospitality, jaw-dropping scenery and the ability to deliver an enviable quality of life. Not only is it considered one of the best places to move to with a family or in retirement, there is also currently a very favourable exchange rate between the pound against the Canadian dollar. At the time of writing, £1 exchanges to around CAD$1.80.
If you were planning on relocating to Canada and bringing over savings you have accumulated in the UK, then this is good news in itself. However, when you consider that the country has survived the recent economic crisis very well (in fact, the major banks have emerged in an even better global position thanks to strong capitalisation and conservative lending), and there are a great many career prospects that could make the prospect of moving even more appealing.
In Canada, there is great demand for those with skills and experience in the service sector, particularly telecommunications, finance, insurance, and ICT. If you are able to transfer to the country within your current company, that could make the process of acquiring the correct working permit much more straightforward.
Even if you need to take a different approach to employment, Canada introduced an ambitious immigration plan in 2014 in order to boost economic growth and entice skilled workers. In particular, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) welcomed up to 8,000 new permanent residents who gained at least one year of skilled work experience when temporarily living in Canada.
The country also introduced the Provincial Nominee Program, a scheme where immigrating nominees are selected based on their ability to contribute to the province’s economic development, rather than the selection facts of the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Each province sets their own criteria to meet their own unique immigration needs.
If your relocation to Canada means selling a property in the UK and buying a new home, then that favourable exchange rate will also come in handy. Of course, as the second largest country in the world, there is a vast range of regional differences in house prices, and while cities such as Toronto and Vancouver can be very expensive places to live, it should not be too difficult to find something that fits your dream perfectly.
Once over in Canada, you may find that the cost of living, while favourable compared to many parts of Western Europe, is not exceptionally cheap. Even so, there are many other benefits that make it your money worth spending. This includes good quality childcare, one of the world’s best education and healthcare systems, some great opportunities for eventful recreation (such as sports and entertainment) and much more.
Many expats claim that this open-armed approach to immigrants makes Canada one of the easiest places to settle, with most saying that it is a great place to make friends and integrate into the community. A good currency exchange rate might just be that stepping stone to the start of a life-changing journey.
If you are considering a move to Canada, Cadogan Tate will assist you every step of the way – from your first enquiry  to unpacking at your new home, we are here to help and advise you. For more details about Cadogan Tate’s specialist international removals services from London, click here.
Information correct at time of publication.