Everybody Loves Canada!

This article from Maclean's talks about how the world loves Canada, "the ideal of Canada, the idea of Canada." The idea of Canada is great, isn't it? The actuality is pretty good, too. The taxes are higher and the cost of goods is outrageous. A pack of cigarettes in a vending machine cost $9.75 here. Magazines and books are 20-100% more expensive than the U.S. Ikea furniture is also around 10-30% higher than U.S. prices. Clothes, too. Children's clothes aren't taxed, but everything else is taxed 15% at purchase. But, it makes up for the affordable, universal health care system, I think. You might have to wait 3 weeks or more for an appointment with a specialist, but if you have extended health, it's covered. $100 a month in insurance costs vs. $1000 a month? Which would you pick?

From the poll on which the article is based:
If you moved to Canada, would you expect to have a better quality of life?
(% who agree)
United States 91%
Rest of world 85