I Hope Innocent Is Being Facetious

And writing a satarical piece because if he is serious than his ineptness as a journalist is showing. IMHO he failed to mention the access to medical care, access to a social assistance program second to none, freedom to express himself and be critical of the government providing these programs, etc. etc.

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.