One in four chances of finding work in Canada

[axe168]

i think you're wrong on that 1st pt.

together with the clamping down on migrant quota, the real estate market should see some downward pressure

Mr Chew.. I hope you are wrong..
When the Australia economy is booming.. it generates business and they need heaps of workers to fill the job markets.. they will be forced to take in more engineers, and trades ppl.. for the mining industries..

Supply of housing is always lacking for the past 10yrs, it will be the same for the next ten years.. trust me, there will be another boom

Everyone in the building industry will know the density near CBD will always be higher than the outter ring.. Now you can see the outer ring suburbz with avg lot size of 400m2.. but the inner ring about 650m2.. this means there are plenty of rooms for growth..

I bought my crappy hse last May, it is now sitting at 50-60% growth. I expect the price to be similar to GCB landed property in SG.

So.. who's right/wrong ? Place your bets..

 

[wendypoh]

This one is for Charlie and his $300 rental apartment to scam Singaporeans to migrate to Canada


Vancouver has world's least affordable housing: report

VANCOUVER (CBC) - Vancouver had the world's least affordable housing market last year, according to a report that puts the blame on urban land-use policies designed to prevent sprawl.

The Demographia International report released Monday looked at 272 metropolitan markets in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Four of the five least affordable cities in Canada were in B.C.: Vancouver, Victoria, Abbotsford and Kelowna. Toronto was the country's fifth least affordable and ranked 57th in the world.

As defined by the report, housing had been affordable in these cities as recently as the late 1990s.

The five most affordable Canadian cities were Thunder Bay and Windsor in Ontario, Moncton, N.B., Saguenay, Que., and Saint John.

The report includes an introduction by Tony Recsei, president of the Australian group, Save Our Suburbs, and calls on governments to allow more housing to be built on the fringes of urban areas.

"There is a view among urban planners that we have got to stop the expanse of the city," said American Wendell Cox, who wrote the report with Hugh Pavletich of New Zealand. "They have a pejorative term sprawl. It is a synonym, as far as they're concerned, for sin.

"It is very difficult to develop new housing on the fringe. Fringe housing on cheap land has been the secret of the expansion of home ownership," he said.

The authors made their rankings by taking the median residential house values from the third quarter of 2009 and dividing it by median annual gross household incomes. The four categories include severely unaffordable, seriously unaffordable, moderately unaffordable and affordable.

Only Vancouver and Toronto fell into the severely unaffordable market in Canada. Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary are classified as being seriously unaffordable, and Winnipeg crept from affordable to moderately unaffordable.

The most affordable major market in Canada was Ottawa.

Brent Gilmour, acting CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute, said the report oversimplifies other factors that affect housing affordability, such as regional real estate markets and economic conditions.

The report also fails to include the financial, social and environmental benefits of "smart" urban planning. They include lower infrastructure costs, reducing the need for long commutes and cities designed for people who don't or can't drive cars, he said.

"You have to look at the quality of life in a neighbourhood. The ability to walk, to bicycle. Are there parks and recreational facilities that are nearby?" Gilmour said from Toronto. "This study doesn't take into consideration any of those things."

Gilmour said major Canadian cities look at the return on investment when planning new residential areas. Conventional planning based on large subdivision blocks that require more roads, more sewers and more lighting have long-term costs that may not be reflected in the price of a house.

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Subsidized Apartments in Toronto

I do not have an agenda.

I am indifferent whether or not any Singapore resident, or any other individual continue to reside in Singapore, or chooses to emigrate, because I have nothing to gain or lose.

Contrary to the allegation that I provide false information, or to use that individual's words, "to scam Singaporean to migrate to Canada" , there is subsidized housing in Toronto, such as apartments and townhouses, where the rent is geared to the household's income. There may be a waiting list for those subsidized apartments. From speaking to individuals with relatively low income, they have told me that the monthly rent for their rental accomodation is about 30 per cent of their household income. The rent for those subsidized apartmens may include heat and hydro, or heat but does not include hydro.

I believe that the Canadian government's socialist policies provide individuals with low income, or become unemployed, with downside protection, such as employment insurance benefits (the number of weeks of benefits vary by region, based on that region's unemployment rate), social assistance (which was reduced significantly since the Conservative led by Michael Harris), and free medicare (prescription drugs are free for those receiving social assistance.

 

[jake]

Re: Subsidized Apartments in Toronto

there is subsidized housing in Toronto, such as apartments and townhouses, where the rent is geared to the household's income. There may be a waiting list for those subsidized apartments.

If this is true, can you provide the name of the organization that provides this subsidized housing that you talk so much about? A phone number or address is also needed to verify the information you provide.

Hopefully, such subsidized housing does exists in Canada, otherwise it is worse than PAP lies :p

 

[mayliewwan]

Re: Subsidized Apartments in Toronto

too lazy to go to google and type in "subsidized housing+name of city"????

If this is true, can you provide the name of the organization that provides this subsidized housing that you talk so much about? A phone number or address is also needed to verify the information you provide.

Hopefully, such subsidized housing does exists in Canada, otherwise it is worse than PAP lies :p

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Subsidized Apartments in Toronto

If this is true, can you provide the name of the organization that provides this subsidized housing that you talk so much about? A phone number or address is also needed to verify the information you provide.

Hopefully, such subsidized housing does exists in Canada, otherwise it is worse than PAP lies :p

** ** ** ** ** **

http://www.torontohousing.ca/subsidized_housing

Rent Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing
Toronto Community Housing is home to over 164,000 tenants living in communities across Toronto. Our housing portfolio includes more than 350 high-rise and low-rise apartment buildings
About 93% of tenants pay a subsidized rent or rent geared-to-income. Housing Connections manages the waiting list for RGI units. It provides consistent, fair and quality applicant access to RGI housing in Toronto and maintains a wait list for over 600 housing locations, including those at Toronto Community Housing.
If you are interested in subsidized housing, you must apply to Housing Connections.
Learn more about Our Communities.

http://www.toronto.ca/housing/social_housing/index.htm

Social Housing Unit
This unit of the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) Division is responsible for the funding and administration of social housing programs in the City of Toronto. This includes ensuring housing providers adhere to program requirements, establishing operating policies and providing them with advice and guidance. This unit also ensures that applications for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) assistance in social housing are processed through Housing Connections’ centralized waiting list. Link to “How to Apply”.
Social housing refers to non-profit or co-operative housing communities where some or all the rents are subsidized. Subsidized households pay about 30% of gross income on shelter. Social housing accounts for almost 75% of the SSHA's annual budget.
Social Housing Unit staff administer more than 90,000 units of social housing in Toronto. They ensure, on behalf of taxpayers, that owners are complying with their legislative and contractual requirements. For more information about what we do, please contact us at [email protected].

Types of Social Housing Administered by the City of Toronto
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), a non-profit corporation owned by the City of Toronto. TCHC is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by City Council.
Private non-profit housing owned and operated by community-based non-profit corporations, such as churches, seniors' organizations and ethno-cultural groups.
Co-operative housing is owned and operated by community-based non-profit co-operative corporations, whose members are residents of the co-operative. Some co-ops (federally sponsored) are administered thorough the Agency for Co-operative Housing.
Private rent supplement programs, provide Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) assistance to households in privately owned or non-profit buildings. The City pays the landlord the difference between RGI rent and the market rent for the unit.
Housing allowance programs give time limited, fixed amount assistance to households.

http://www.torontohousing.ca/

What's New
o view all »
March 1, 2010
Celebrating a financial first in Regent Park revitalization A group of Regent Park residents and local leaders joined RBC today in celebrating "financial firsts" for the community. The event marked another important milestone in the Regent Park revitalization: the opening of the first financial institution, RBC's new branch at the corner of Dundas and Parliament Streets.
February 25, 2010
Toronto Community Housing and the City of Toronto unveil emerging plan for Lawrence Heights revitalization Toronto Community Housing, along with Mayor David Miller, today unveiled the draft revitalization plan for the Lawrence Heights community.
February 23, 2010
Toronto Community Housing board confirms Keiko Nakamura as Chief Executive Officer David Mitchell, chair of the Board of Directors, Toronto Community Housing, today confirmed the appointment of Keiko Nakamura as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Nakamura has been acting in the position since May 2009.
February 22, 2010
Toronto Community Housing raises $200 million through debt offering to finance next phase of renewal and development activities Toronto Community Housing announced today that it raised $200 million from the issue of long-term debentures maturing February 2040 to finance renewal and development activities in 2010 and 2011.
February 11, 2010
Canadian Federation of Municipalities contributes almost $7 million to 15 green initiatives in Toronto Basil Stewart, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and Peter Kent, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Americas), were joined today by Mayor David Miller at the Evergreen (Don Valley) Brick Works to celebrate nearly $7 million in funding for 15 green initiatives in Toronto.

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Subsidized Housing in Toronto

Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Housing Connections

Housing Connections
176 Elm St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3M4

Telephone Service

You can contact Housing Connections by:

• Telephone: (416) 981-6111

• Fax: (416) 981-6112

• Call the automated telephone service (416) 981-6111 at any time to:
• Request an application for rent-geared-to-income housing

• Get information about buildings (including the date of the application that providers are currently housing)

• Hear a list of your housing choices or request that your list be mailed to you

• Add or remove housing choices*

• Change your contact telephone number


http://www.housingconnections.ca/information/about_hc.asp

Who are we?
Housing Connections is a subsidiary of Toronto Community Housing Corporation with its own Board of Directors.

What do we do?
We provide a one-stop housing solution for people looking for affordable housing in Toronto.

Although we are not a landlord; we provide access to the central waiting list for about 70,000 subsidized rental units in Toronto. This includes rent-geared-to-income units as well as rent supplement and housing allowance units in cooperatives, private non-profits, supportive housing, Toronto Community Housing buildings and private market buildings.

Housing Connections manages:
• and helps people apply to the central waiting list for rent-geared-to-income housing in Toronto (rent is pegged at about 30 percent of income);
• the Rent Supplement Program with private market landlords for the City of Toronto;
• the Canada-Ontario-Toronto Housing Allowance Program, providing an allowance for rent based on unit size for applicants on the waiting list for subsidized housing.

 

[Don Muthuswamy]

Re: Subsidized Housing in Toronto

Toronto Commu fnity Housing Corporation, Housing Connections

.

No doubt about your allegations but correct me if I'm wrong here, such subsidized housing is only for people who live in poverty and I don't believe that any Sinkee would want to migrate to Canada to be in this category, they could as well stay put in Singapore. If you are like earning something like C$70k++, I don't believe that you could qualify for this subsidized housing. Also, what is the quality of this accomodation? How different is it from living say in a 1 room flat?

 

[wendypoh]

Re: Subsidized Housing in Toronto

subsidized housing is only for people who live in poverty and I don't believe that any Sinkee would want to migrate to Canada to be in this category, they could as well stay put in Singapore. If you are like earning something like C$70k++, I don't believe that you could qualify for this subsidized housing. Also, what is the quality of this accomodation? How different is it from living say in a 1 room flat?

Indeed it is. Our friend Charlie has a tendency of not putting things in the right perspective. This subsidized housing he mentioned is for people who live in poverty and even then it is hard to apply for one. Ever wonder why they are so many homeless people here? Did they prefer to sleep in the streets and brave the cold?

You can never qualify for subsidized housing if you make C$70K. Not even C$24K. You need to belong to the poverty class to qualify.

Also, it is not subsidized housing in the sense they have homes to rent to you. It is actually a rent supplement where the $300 is paid directly to landlords.

Singaporean who migrate over can never enjoy these subsidized housing because most Singaporean who qualify to migrate has some savings/CPF and this savings will automatically disqualify them from applying.

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Subsidized Housing in Toronto

No doubt about your allegations but correct me if I'm wrong here, such subsidized housing is only for people who live in poverty and I don't believe that any Sinkee would want to migrate to Canada to be in this category, they could as well stay put in Singapore. If you are like earning something like C$70k++, I don't believe that you could qualify for this subsidized housing. Also, what is the quality of this accomodation? How different is it from living say in a 1 room flat?

This will be my last response.

Who is talking about wealthy Singaporeans who do not need subsidized housing? That was prove that there are subsidized housing where tenants pay rent geared to income, in the context of residents in Canada.

Given the choice, an immigrant would rather be earning $60,000 or moer a year. But there are recent immigrants or those who became unemployed who may need downward protection.

The quality of subsidized housing varies. The apartments near Queen and Parliament Streets are average, but I know of a couple who pays $300.00 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, because the husband returned to school. That apartment is in a regular high rise, with a fitness club, sauna, and 25 m heated indoor pool, where the Toronto Housing Community pays the difference between the market rent and the $300, to the landlord.

The co-ops, usually town houses, where the tenants are of average income, appear much better. I know of one family where the husband is a janitor at a school (annual income about $42,000) and his wife who is a secretary at a school (annual income about $30 to 36,000) paid rent geared to income for their 3 bedroom townhouse.

 

[Charlie9]

Re: OAS, GIS and subsidized apartment

If a person is a Canadian, or at least a resident in Canada, he or she would have heard of GIS is for low income Canadians.

I have posted about GIS in other discussions threads. It is not intended to create false hopes. Given the choice, no one wants to be receiving GIS. But at least, the Canadian social programs provide down side protection. How many countries provide OAS and GIS.

In Toronto, there are many subsidized apartments, and they refer to it as rent geared to income. It is about 30% of the individual's of family's income. I used $300 as an example, based on a senior with CPP / OAS / GIS totalling about $1,000 per month.

With respect, I do not anticipate immigrants from Singapore to Canada to rely on OAS and GIS.

I do not anticipate immigrants from Singapore to Canada, to rely on OAS and GIS, and subsidized housing.

I was referring to the social programs in Canada.

 

[wendypoh]

Re: Subsidized Housing in Toronto

The quality of subsidized housing varies. The apartments near Queen and Parliament Streets are average, but I know of a couple who pays $300.00 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, because the husband returned to school. That apartment is in a regular high rise, with a fitness club, sauna, and 25 m heated indoor pool, where the Toronto Housing Community pays the difference between the market rent and the $300, to the landlord.

Potential migrants should check this out yourself. This is the classifieds from Toronto Sun, a major newspaper in Toronto.

http://torontosun.classifiedextra.ca/

The average rent in Toronto is about $750 a month. On the high side, it is about $1300 a month. These are luxury apartments.

When you do your planning to come to Canada, budget about $750 for a one bedroom apartment. Don't budget for $300, if you do, you will be screwed by Charlie because that $300 a month apartment only exist for Charlie's friend.:p

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Allegation that an Immigrant will be Screwed by a Toronto Resident

Potential migrants should check this out yourself. This is the classifieds from Toronto Sun, a major newspaper in Toronto.

http://torontosun.classifiedextra.ca/

The average rent in Toronto is about $750 a month. On the high side, it is about $1300 a month. These are luxury apartments.

When you do your planning to come to Canada, budget about $750 for a one bedroom apartment. Don't budget for $300, if you do, you will be screwed by Charlie because that $300 a month apartment only exist for Charlie's friend.:p

I am self-employed, and do not work for any government agency or any entity involved with real property or real estate development. In addition, I do not have any conflict of interest, and I do not have any interest in any real property in Toronto.

Contrary to the allegations posted by a Wendy Poh, actual legal name or otherwise, I do not "screw" or have any intention to screw any immigrant. I have not screwed any immigrant in Toronto. For the record, throughout the period I have resided in Toronto, I rarely interact with immigrants from Singapore, other than a manager who worked at the same firm when I started (and invited me to his home for Christmas, etc.), a friend of a schoolmate when she first arrived, many years ago, and the family which started the Ole Malacca Restaurant (only because I went there to eat several times). Whatever the monthly rent charged by landlords in Toronto and/or the Toronto Community Housing, is irrelevant to me, and does not affect me. The individual who pays $300 rent for a one-bedroom apartment is not my friend, because consumer bankrupts are neither my friends nor my clients.

Contrary to the allegations posted by a Wendy Poh, actual legal name or otherwise, I do not have any agenda, and whether one Singaporean or a thousand consider and/or eventually emigrate to Canada, or any other country, it does not affect me.

However, for any individual considering emigrating from Singapore, to any "developed" country, you may wish to conduct a recce (visit during summer and winter), conduct research via the internet and other sources, walk the neighbourhood where you intend to reside, bring adequate financial resources, and perform a thorough analysis. Emigration is not for those who are not resourceful, determined, hard working, and willing to make sacrifices for their children, because moving from one country to another has very significant implications, emotional, financial, and physical. If individuals speak to me, I will offer encouragement that almost all logical and reasonable individuals seek improvements for themselves and families, and they should be selfish to take all necessary steps to improve their long-term position.

 

[Hock]

Hi Charlie9,

This Wendy Poh(maybe it's William Poh) has been spamming about the megaquake that will strike Vancouver very soon, and at the same time
claimed to live in Vancouver. When questioned about it, quickly offered a
'bailout answer" - asking for a transfer soon.

 

[wendypoh]

Re: OAS, GIS and subsidized apartment

I do not anticipate immigrants from Singapore to Canada, to rely on OAS and GIS, and subsidized housing.

Charlie is doing a great disservice to Singaporeans by posting irrelevant information for potential immigrants.

This irrelevant information includes the housing subsidy and old age income assistance among others.

When caught, he admitted that these are for low income people or people who live in poverty and acknowledged that immigrants from Singapore do not qualify for these programs.

To recap, if you do plan to come to Canada, budget $750 a month for a one bedroom apartment or $1200 for a two bedroom apartment. Don't ever think of that $300 apartment or you will be screwed.

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Individuals with an Agenda

Hi Charlie9,

This Wendy Poh(maybe it's William Poh) has been spamming about the megaquake that will strike Vancouver very soon, and at the same time
claimed to live in Vancouver. When questioned about it, quickly offered a
'bailout answer" - asking for a transfer soon.

Good Sunday, Hock,

I am not a socialist, but a capitalist. However, the Canadian policies are more socialist to assist the below average person. The Canadian income taxes are relatively high, compared to other jurisdictions, and in my opinion, appear to discourage hard workers re: highest marginal income tax rate for individuals is about 52 per cent, at exigible at a much lower taxable income.

Sincerely

 

[jake]

Re: Subsidized Housing in Toronto

Housing Connections
176 Elm St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3M4

Telephone Service

You can contact Housing Connections by:

• Telephone: (416) 981-6111

Glad you did clarify the confusion, otherwise I'll be bugging you for that $300 lubang.

Doesn't look like I qualify leh..

 

[chewed]

Mr Chew.. I hope you are wrong..
When the Australia economy is booming.. it generates business and they need heaps of workers to fill the job markets.. they will be forced to take in more engineers, and trades ppl.. for the mining industries..

Supply of housing is always lacking for the past 10yrs, it will be the same for the next ten years.. trust me, there will be another boom

Everyone in the building industry will know the density near CBD will always be higher than the outter ring.. Now you can see the outer ring suburbz with avg lot size of 400m2.. but the inner ring about 650m2.. this means there are plenty of rooms for growth..

I bought my crappy hse last May, it is now sitting at 50-60% growth. I expect the price to be similar to GCB landed property in SG.

So.. who's right/wrong ? Place your bets..

yes, i could be wrong , i could be right.

i didn't say the property mkt will shrink, i said there will be downward pressure due to the reduction of migrants in the short mid term.

there is a growing resentment of businesses paying these ah nehs & ah tiong below market wage rate to do jobs. unlike the SG govt, there will be a pressure to correct these situations

In the long run, property prices will always increase, be it anywhere in the world. I myself is looking for some land in sydney north shore.

 

[axe168]

yes, i could be wrong , i could be right.

i didn't say the property mkt will shrink, i said there will be downward pressure due to the reduction of migrants in the short mid term.

there is a growing resentment of businesses paying these ah nehs & ah tiong below market wage rate to do jobs. unlike the SG govt, there will be a pressure to correct these situations

In the long run, property prices will always increase, be it anywhere in the world. I myself is looking for some land in sydney north shore.

I'm glad that you are seeking something.. as a competent person within the industry, I must tell you.. the construction process is slow.. there are lots of OHS hurdles to jump.. many unions to fight.. heaps of neigbours/politician objections.. I will be surprised if they can produce 30-40% more housing..

Govt is giving away BIG MONEY for housing associations to take a bigger role in housing (for low income, transit, troubled youth & disabled ppl), when these ppl come into the market big time, the supply of housing will get even lesser...

Mark my words: Last year is a mini boom, there are rooms for another big boom. You can take my words to the bank... :p

 

[Aussie Prick]

Vancouver might be unafforadable but its only 1 city in Canada with other cities with affordable housing while in Australia - everything is unaffordable!