Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Why Canada better than the US — and why it isn’t

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Johannes Schmitt-Tegge -


Fewer weapons. Fewer murders. Far more comprehensive healthcare coverage. The indescribable beauty of its natural scenery. It would be easy to say that Canada is a “better” version of the United States, a more peaceful and relaxed version of the often vain and contradictory world power to its south. But there’s more to the story.


The 150th anniversary of Canada’s founding on July 1, 1867, provides an opportunity to take a glance at both sides of the border.


Since Donald Trump was elected US president, many Americans have flirted with the idea of starting a new life in the land of its northern neighbour. When Trump unexpectedly won in November, the number of Google searches for “Canada immigration,” “Canada,” and ‘‘moving to Canada” surged. The Canadian government’s immigration information website crashed.


And there are indeed a number of facts to back up the claim that life is better in Canada. Life expectancy is higher. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Canadians on average live to be 82, while in the US the overall average is 79.


Healthcare is less expensive. Healthcare-related costs were approximately $4,860 per Canadian in 2016, according to Canadian Institute for Health Information. In the US healthcare costs per person exceeded $10,000 in 2016. When it comes to education, Canada compares favourably to its neighbour as well as to the rest of the world. In the most recent Pisa study, Canadian students scored an average of 522 points in reading, comprehension, mathematics and natural sciences, exceeding the OECD average of 497 points. In the US, students scored an average of 492 points. The cost of high school education also favours Canada.


OECD data showed that the cost per student in 2012 in Canada was $22,400 versus $27,070 in the US.


But happiness is difficult to measure, and bare statistics about health and education do not necessarily tell the whole story about how satisfied people actually are with their lives.


Those who are drawn to a dynamic business culture and the incomparable mass culture emanating from the US in film, music, art, literature, fashion and in sports could miss a lot in Canada.


Yet, many top actors, including Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves and Michael J Fox and musicians, including Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, and Bryan Adams are originally from Canada. In winter sports such as ice hockey, speed skating and curling, Canadians enjoy vaunted success. Culturally, the two nations are closely intertwined with each other.


That Canada is usually considered a far more peaceful nation is due to the vast difference in the weapons culture between the two countries. Pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns are part of the self-identity of many Americans. With 89 weapons for every 100 residents, the US leads all global statistics. In Canada, it is 31 weapons per 100 residents.


The murder rate in the US is 5.2 per 100,000 people, while in Canada that number is 1.5 per 100,000 residents.


But there are also valid reasons to prefer life in the US versus Canada, such as the higher per capita income — about $56,100 in the US compared with $43,300 in Canada, according to the World Bank. And lower unemployment — 4.4 per cent in the US versus 6.5 per cent in Canada.


Sometimes statistics can be interpreted different ways. For instance the higher divorce rate in the US could be read as an indicator of a plague of bad relationships, or that US residents are more likely to free themselves from unhappy circumstances to make a new start.


Nevertheless, Canada’s reputation is on the rise. The Reputation Institute, a market research group, ranked 70 different countries, and Canada placed second behind Sweden.


The US landed in 28th place. At least in this survey, the red Maple leaf seem to have an advantage over the Stars and Stripes.


 — dpa


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