So, how is that any different from the U.S., other than of course your total cost for the same non-treatment is only half what it is in the U.S.? And since you are cured, why are you waiting to see a surgeon? Perhaps you assume you will have something else wrong with you by the time you can see one.
What's wrong with Canada? - High immigration rate that favors unproductive children, spouses and grandparents of immigrant wage earners ("chain migration"). Canada accepts roughly 250K immigrants per year, and only 60K of those are "skilled workers". The rest? Dependents and refugees... Immigrants cost Canada roughly 23 Billion dollars per year. It doesn't sound like much, but to Canada, it's around 1.4% GDP. It's a huge amount, and painfully obvious when one visits or lives in a major city, especially Toronto. Anyone speak english around here?! Be prepared to dumb it down, to a 3rd grade level if you plan on taking a cab, ordering a meal, or generally talking to anyone on the street... - An over burdened socialized health care system rife with abuse, that costs nearly 50 cents of every provincial tax dollar collected. Wait times are extremely long. Diagnostic costs are kept down by GP's who routinely prescribe different medications until they find one that "works". Hypochondriacs flock to doctor offices and hospital emergency rooms because it's totally free. It's not uncommon to see parents clogging up emergency rooms with children who have a tummy ache or a hang nail. It's free, right?! - A gigantic social safety net (unemployment insurance, welfare, food assistance, housing), again, plagued with fraud. The Conservative Government has proposed changes to unemployment insurance for seasonal workers - labor who chose to work in construction or the resource sector, who are employed between 2 and 6 MONTHS out of the year, collect unemployment insurance for the remainder, at 90% of their salary. Even teachers collect it during summer vacation. Hey, they paid into it... - Taxes are extremely high as are Government regulations. The top bracket, depending on the province, all-in (property, provincial, federal + gas tax + vat) is well over 50%. Where does the money go? Healthcare and overpaid public servants who collect salaries and benefits that far outpace the private sector. Same as America. Teachers collect incredible salaries and pensions. Don't forget the 3 months off during the year. Recently, it made the headlines that severance was paid to 90K federal workers who resigned voluntarily or *stayed at their job*. Accumulated severance, they called it. Quite a perk. - Crime. The crime rate is picking up in major metros, where black on black shootings and murders are a regular occurrence. We get the odd Paul Bernardo, Robert Pickton, and Michael Rafferty to keep things interesting. - Economically, Canada is highly dependent on exports to its evil capitalist neighbor to the South, to fund the nations socialist utopia (ironic). Some 25% of GDP constitutes exports to the United States. When America sneezes, we catch a cold. Residential housing is in a total bubble. Canadian GDP nearly doubled since 1980. Over that same period, home prices in major cities appreciated 500-700%. We have yet to pop. Consumer debt to GDP levels are at all time highs. Household debt to GDP levels are at all time highs. Ironically, very close to the levels US households were at before their housing market imploded. When all is said and done, when the US does Greece, Canada will tag along for the ride. - Cost of living is high. As a general rule, everything but healthcare is extremely expensive. Whereas, in the US, everything BUT healthcare, is extremely cheap. Regulatory cartels are very common here, but if you asked the layman walking down the street, they wouldn't have a clue. Landline, cell phone, internet, satellite, insurance, banking, dairy (milk, cheese, butter), chicken are all run by regulatory oligopolies. More cartels probably exist, but that's all Im aware of. For instance, 4 gallons of milk costs roughly 6 dollars. The average cell phone bill here, starts around 60 bucks a month (although competition was finally allowed and prices have begun to drop). Car insurance is nuts. Rates in Ontario, are over 300 dollars a month, if you have more than 2 tickets over a 3 year period (ask me how I know...). Satellite TV for a good package, starts at around 90 dollars a month. Home prices, as mentioned, are ridiculous. The average 4 bedroom, 2,500 sq ft home in a suburb of toronto, goes for >500K. My sister bought a semi, 1,500 sq ft, circa 1940's, for 650K.... As I write, gas is around 4.80 cents a gallon. Not cheap. -