Hehe, well thanks the compliments Ristik.
However I will contend that despite the shiney exterior, the government programs here are kinda lousy, they are covered in FAR to much red tape.
For instance, this is from experience:
A person with no home, no food, and only the clothing in their backpack, has a minimum 1 month waiting list for welfare application because of all the meetings they MUST go to and different papers they have to get processed in succession.
I know this because I had to go on welfare once when I was unemployed and if it wasn't for some VERY good friends helping me out, I wouldn't be here right now or I'd be in jail cause I'd try to steal something to survive. Most places don't even have something close to shelters and those that do are horribly over crowded.
This is just one example, probably the harshest one too mind you. But as a person who has had to deal with several of the government programs and branches, its a real pain in the ass to deal with anything the government here offers.
The taxes are somewhat high, which doesn't help when our economy is just now recovering from a huge slump and our exchange rate with the US, who we do alot of trading with, is very bad.
The only thing that the government actually offers is medi-care, which is actually provincially controlled, not federally. Its a nice thing to have, but I'd rather have something to eat and a roof over my head most of the time.
Canada's standard of living high? That explains why I'm always broke.
Actually you are right about that, Canada does have one of the highest qualities of living in the world.
Otherwise Canada is a very nice place to live, I know I love it despite all the problems.
Oh yeah, and about the drinking age, thats something thats been argued about whether it should be changed or not for years. Though we do have better beer, imho.
[Edited by Ura on 11-10-00 at 02:00 AM]