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-- Feeling Nickeled and Dimed? You aren't alone!
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Feeling Nickeled and Dimed? You aren't alone!

I've been saying this for years:

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The high cost of becoming Canadian By INNOCENT MADAWO In a previous column, I suggested that Canadian immigration authorities warn prospective newcomers about the difficulties of securing jobs once they arrive here. If this were a game called "Settling in Canada," then finding a job would take up the first half. The second would involve adapting to the cost of living. I may sound whiny to those who grew up in this economy, but I am sure many immigrants will agree with me that some costs we have to incur just to live here are, frankly, unjustified. First, as soon as you get to Canada, you are hit by a tax regime that is among the highest in the world. Other economies, for example the U.S., would spare consumers from paying any form of tax for such things as basic food, medicine and school supplies. The new Conservative federal government is working on reducing these taxes, but not fast or adequately enough, in my view. Furthermore, when you, as a newcomer, have finally secured a job, the next thing you want to do is to move on up from that dingy basement that was your first home and into an apartment or townhouse. That often means new furniture and appliances. This is when you discover costs you never thought you would pay -- things most Canadians might take in stride but are definitely not mentioned in immigration information packages. In my case, and no doubt in most other people's experience too, Bell Canada quoted me a $55 charge to transfer my telephone line. I did not expect this because in Africa and the U.S., where I have lived, as long as you are a signed-up customer, a transfer is a free service. My friend Ndaba Njobo warned me against filling in a change-of-address form at my local postal agency. "Unlike in the U.S., here they will charge you," he said. I disregarded his warning because I thought the charge would be just a nominal fee. It turned out to be $37.10. That was not all. I bought several pieces of furniture and appliances at two different stores. I had to pay for them to deliver my purchases and have them installed. I had never experienced this anywhere I have lived. And then Idecided to get a car. Much earlier, another immigrant friend, Nqoba Ncube, told me, "Buying a car in Toronto is like committing a crime." HADN'T THOUGHT OF IT I did not give much thought to this until I bought mine and I needed to park it somewhere. At my townhouse complex, they charged me for parking as part of the rent, so that wasn't so bad. The bad part came when I had to look for parking at my workplace. I was directed to a notice board where I found several advertisements from people offering parking spaces for a fee. One guy was selling his space for $20,000! "So you won't have to worry about parking anymore. You will have it for life and you can rent it out or resell it if you want," he said. If you had $20 000, wouldn't you rather use it to put a deposit on, say, a house? I settled instead for a place where I will have to pay a $125 monthly fee for parking. I have no doubt that there are even more sinister costs and charges forced on people elsewhere in the world. It's just that nobody warns you about this vital aspect of your new life in Canada until you plunge in. The effect is frustration and a never-ending struggle to realize the dream of an affordable life

dont forget the practice of paying a delivery charge and then being expected to tip on top of that. Anywhere else i have been/lived delivery was free and no tip was expected.

also in many countries, laundry service (pick up, wash, dry delivery) is a common service for MIDDLE CLASS people. Only the very poor would be forced to do their own laundry.

In Argentina, grocery delivery was free. They would even come into your kitchen and put it away for you. And my tips were always refused.

I always tip and I tend to tip more then most but I hate doing it. Us tipping makes it easier for employers to underpay their workers. We're helping assholes rip people off.

And who decides who gets a tip? So your waitress gets one, but the kid at the cash at McDonalds doesn't? Your cab driver does, but the bus driver doesn't.

Tipping is a silly custom.

Also, I just noticed that I pay about 25% of my income on taxes! And I'm on the smallest tax bracket!

Where do you even start with this article?

- there is no tax on basic food.
- being expected to pay for your own furniture, come on. you want somebody else to pay for it? get a life
- who pays for appliances when they rent? i never have, neither have my parents.
- companies need to cover costs for services which they provide to you. Although i do agree it is high, and could be cheaper, a charge is justified.
- real estate is limited, get over it. parking is going to cost alot. this is demand and supply, compare it to any other large city.

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Originally posted by EvilTree Tipping is a silly custom. Also, I just noticed that I pay about 25% of my income on taxes! And I'm on the smallest tax bracket!

Hahaha. didn't you ever hear your parents complaining about the income taxes and what happens with all that money?

Ive decided to stop giving a tip when there is a delivery charge. Yeah it kinda fucks the driver over but if everyone starts doing this, and delivery driving becomes an undesirable job, then the companies will have to do something about it.

Tipping when there is a delivery charge is unjustified.

Coem to think of it, tipping even on a free delivery is unjustified. why should we pay people just to do their jobs?

i agree with tips, why should ppl get tips for doing their job.

so the waitress brought u food and drinks...thats her job. so u have to tip her for doing her job good??

how bout a guy that works in a factory? when u buy a product in a store, why not look where it was made and go there and tip the guy that made it for u??

i do give tips cuz i feel like i have to.

the thing that really pisses me off is the automatic tip that is added in some restaurants..sometimes up to 19%..RIDICULUS

some ppl say u have to tip in restaurants cuz the waiters are not paid enough, well thats not my problem. maybe if we stopped tipping the employer will start paying good wages.

Yes lovey, wait until you get a paycheque and look at the gross/net amounts and realize that HALF of your gross earnings has gone to taxes and EI.

Now, before you all jump on me and say I earn a fortune, I call bullshit on that - I live alone in an expensive city, there is no tax relief for me on that. I pay the cable and phone bills myself, the $1400 rent and internet - any tax relief for me? No.

The fact that HALF of my earnings go before I see it is disgusting. No wonder people aren't saving enough for their retirement.

I don't mind the cost of things here, yes, I work hard and live a full life but I am not fucking Madonna.

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Originally posted by Orko Where do you even start with this article? - there is no tax on basic food.

depends on the type of food you buy

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- being expected to pay for your own furniture, come on. you want somebody else to pay for it? get a life

i think he was inferring the delivery and install charges

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- companies need to cover costs for services which they provide to you. Although i do agree it is high, and could be cheaper, a charge is justified.

with change of adress and transfer of service its as easy as filling out a form or pressing a button. And i have to agree that ive never heard of these types of charges anywhere but here

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- real estate is limited, get over it. parking is going to cost alot. this is demand and supply, compare it to any other large city.

parking charges are extreme and yes it is supply and demand. But we pay way too high parking charges because parking spaces are disappearing faster than they can be replaced. And not many new ones are being built. Thank the car hating city council. Also, since public transport is largely inadequate, more people are forced to drive downtown and park their cars.

Now, dont even get me started on what a rip off our cell phone companies are compared to the rest of the world.

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Originally posted by English Rachel Yes lovey, wait until you get a paycheque and look at the gross/net amounts and realize that HALF of your gross earnings has gone to taxes and EI. Now, before you all jump on me and say I earn a fortune, I call bullshit on that - I live alone in an expensive city, there is no tax relief for me on that. I pay the cable and phone bills myself, the $1400 rent and internet - any tax relief for me? No. The fact that HALF of my earnings go before I see it is disgusting. No wonder people aren't saving enough for their retirement. I don't mind the cost of things here, yes, I work hard and live a full life but I am not fucking Madonna.

I bet even in england, the land of tv tax, you dont even have this much runaround

I agree that the notion of tipping is pretty ridiculous in most cases.

An example that I always find comical: a bathroom attendant with a tipping plate in the washroom at Beba. Beba is a bar. What's next? A washroom attendant in the local sports bar?

Oh I don't know about that... tax is just as bad at home BUT you don't tip as people are paid decent wages!!!

You would tip 10% for a restaurant meal but that is it. Oh and perhaps round your taxi fare up to the nearest pound. You sure as shit aren't expected to pay for your drink then throw a dollar at the person who held a glass under a tap for 30 seconds!!!

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Originally posted by Cro_Addict i do give tips cuz i feel like i have to.

i dont anymore unless the service is really good. Average service gets 5% from me so they can cover the tip out. Im sick of the throw away tipping culture we have developed.

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the thing that really pisses me off is the automatic tip that is added in some restaurants..sometimes up to 19%..RIDICULUS

I try and avoid those places and if it does happen i never pay it. What are they going to do, call the cops? screw them

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some ppl say u have to tip in restaurants cuz the waiters are not paid enough, well thats not my problem. maybe if we stopped tipping the employer will start paying good wages.

exactly my theory

and this isnt about $$ or being cheap. Its about the principal. If food prices here werent already so ridiculous it wouldnt be so bad. But we have some of the highest food costs in the world and then on top of that we have to subisdize their wages?

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Originally posted by English Rachel Oh I don't know about that... tax is just as bad at home BUT you don't tip as people are paid decent wages!!! You would tip 10% for a restaurant meal but that is it. Oh and perhaps round your taxi fare up to the nearest pound. You sure as shit aren't expected to pay for your drink then throw a dollar at the person who held a glass under a tap for 30 seconds!!!

the funny part is when you try and tip in britain and some people actually get offended as if you are treating them like a charity case.

yeah bathroom attended is soo dumb at a bar..but in windsor about 90% of the bars have one...

speaking of taxes...they are crazy in canada..lol

first u work ur taxed between 25-50%
then u take the remainder and go buy stuff and ur taxed again 14%(ON)
then u take what u have left and put in the savings account with a small interest ..
once u earn some interest..you then get taxed again on the money u made from the interest

i love the governemnt

quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 depends on the type of food you buy

unprepared food as in groceries, no tax. fast food, tax.

Do your shopping at the grocery store, and you dont have to pay taxes on 95% of the items.

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Originally posted by Orko unprepared food as in groceries, no tax. fast food, tax. Do your shopping at the grocery store, and you dont have to pay taxes on 95% of the items.

at the grocery store, on a $60 order i usually end up paying about $5 in tax. But then again im not a big raw veggie eater

quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 at the grocery store, on a $60 order i usually end up paying about $5 in tax. But then again im not a big raw veggie eater

I call bullshit:

here is a link to my first grocery bill from moving into my new place, which means buying all the sarter stuff, including prepared foods.

for a bill of $112.49 I paid $1.72 in tax. You do the math. Obviously you are not paying $5 in tax for $60 of groceries.

link

and look at the items on which i paid the tax:
-sponges
-dish soap
-foil
-kit kats
-doritos

cry me a fucking river.

1. if you feel our taxes are too high, don't move here.

Canadians enjoy substantial access to social services, basic healthcare, subsidized education, reliable municipal services, subsidized leisure options, a decent infrastructure, stable gov't, decent employment opportunity, etc. That all either costs money or are worth a premium, IMHO. Part of the reason someone probably left their country is because one or more of these things were NOT the case there.

2. Appliances (fridge and stove, at minimum) are usually provided in virtually any apt, condo or house. If not, you should find another place to live. You may have to share these appliances, but you don't have to buy your own. As for furniture, since when is free furniture to be expected? And furnished accomodation is often available.

3. If $55 to switch your phone is breaking you, how will you afford the monthly phone bill in the first place? Is the phone service where you are coming from as reliable as Bell? Will it be quickly repaired if lines are down, as it is with Bell? I can't remember the last time my phone was down at all, nevermind for any length of time.

4. the sub-$40 fee to register a change of address is for the convenience of you not having to contact EVERYONE who would otherwise require this information. A small price to pay, IMHO. But it's not REQUIRED. You are welcome to call your bank, your employer, every gov't agency you deal with, all your friends and family, etc. and relay the new information...and of course you will still forget several people. Why should this be free? How are you affording to "move up in the world" and change your address if this $40 is a hardship?

5. a car is not a right. if you can afford a car and gas, not to mention insurance and maintenance, then that $55 phone hookup and $37.10 address mentioned above is pretty neglidible, I'd argue. Since when is a parking spot $20,000 besides an owned condo space (and you have to live in most condos to buy such a space anyway)? Parking in the downtown core can *easily* be found for $100-150/month, MAX. Parking in the burbs is usually available to employees...if not, car pool or take transit.

I was waiting for complaints of job skills or education obtained overseas not being recognized here...but this article is nothing more than whining from someone looking for handouts. Where did they come from if these costs are breaking them? and do such costs outweigh the benefit of coming here in the first place?

If anything, this is an argument for immigration providing more specific information to newcomers...and that could very well be true...but "the high cost of becoming Canadian"? give me a fucking break

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Originally posted by MarkT cry me a fucking river. 1. if you feel our taxes are too high, don't move here. Canadians enjoy substantial access to social services, basic healthcare, subsidized education, reliable municipal services, subsidized leisure options, a decent infrastructure, stable gov't, decent employment opportunity, etc. That all either costs money or are worth a premium, IMHO. Part of the reason someone probably left their country is because one or more of these things were NOT the case there. 2. Appliances (fridge and stove, at minimum) are usually provided in virtually any apt, condo or house. If not, you should find another place to live. You may have to share these appliances, but you don't have to buy your own. As for furniture, since when is free furniture to be expected? And furnished accomodation is often available. 3. If $55 to switch your phone is breaking you, how will you afford the monthly phone bill in the first place? Is the phone service where you are coming from as reliable as Bell? Will it be quickly repaired if lines are down, as it is with Bell? I can't remember the last time my phone was down at all, nevermind for any length of time. 4. the sub-$40 fee to register a change of address is for the convenience of you not having to contact EVERYONE who would otherwise require this information. A small price to pay, IMHO. But it's not REQUIRED. You are welcome to call your bank, your employer, every gov't agency you deal with, all your friends and family, etc. and relay the new information...and of course you will still forget several people. Why should this be free? How are you affording to "move up in the world" and change your address if this $40 is a hardship? 5. a car is not a right. if you can afford a car and gas, not to mention insurance and maintenance, then that $55 phone hookup and $37.10 address mentioned above is pretty neglidible, I'd argue. Since when is a parking spot $20,000 besides an owned condo space (and you have to live in most condos to buy such a space anyway)? Parking in the downtown core can *easily* be found for $100-150/month, MAX. Parking in the burbs is usually available to employees...if not, car pool or take transit. I was waiting for complaints of job skills or education obtained overseas not being recognized here...but this article is nothing more than whining from someone looking for handouts. Where did they come from if these costs are breaking them? and do such costs outweigh the benefit of coming here in the first place? If anything, this is an argument for immigration providing more specific information to newcomers...and that could very well be true...but "the high cost of becoming Canadian"? give me a fucking break

Wow very nicely written may add

AHHHHH! I HATE the TA search feature. I can NEVER find the thread I'm looking for.

anyway, we had a thread on tips already. It was debated on and on and on. The debate came to the conclusion that we tip just because.

^ WTF?

2x^^

wow is right

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Originally posted by psiico111 I always tip and I tend to tip more then most but I hate doing it. Us tipping makes it easier for employers to underpay their workers. We're helping assholes rip people off. And who decides who gets a tip? So your waitress gets one, but the kid at the cash at McDonalds doesn't? Your cab driver does, but the bus driver doesn't.

This sadly is a product of our government and not necessarily employers.

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