Aurora Boreal - espetáculo visto da varanda de casa

Road Trip Toronto - Yellowknife (Algumas Fotos)

Landing

Como estamos morando e trabalhando nos EUA, nao via muito sentido em continuar a escrever aqui. No entanto, recentemente, eventos fora de nosso controle fizeram com que nossa estadia por aqui se torne praticamente impossivel. De qualquer forma, ja tinhamos nos programado para fazermos o landing no fim de semana de feriado aqui nos EUA (Memorial Day).

E foi isso que fizemos. Ligamos para amigos em Toronto e avisamos que iriamos passar 3 dias por la. Na sexta-feira, 22/5, pegamos o carro e encaramos mais de 10 horas de viagem (contando engarrafamentos, estrada fechada por meia hora e uma hora para fazer a imigracao na ponte Queenston-Lewinston, uma das tres pontes que liga o estado de NY a provincia de ON).

O processo de landing foi extremamente simples e agradavel. Os oficias de imigracao e aduana canadenses foram muito simpaticos e me ajudaram a esclarecer muitas duvidas. Minha principal alegria foi de saber que podia incluir os 2 carros que compramos nos EUA em nossos Goods To Follow e nao iremos pagar tarifas de importacao para traze-los. Entreguei a lista de itens que irei levar em um caminhao e obtive uma copia carimbada e uma especie de nota fiscal do caixa mostrando que temos o direito de trazer nossas coisas livres de impostos.

Ficamos 3 dias em Toronto e tudo foi muito agradavel, reencontramos nossos amigos que fizemos no Brasil e aproveitamos para fazermos novas amizades. A Nicolinha adorou e me perguntou se todo o mundo no Canada falava portugues (afinal so em uma festinha de crianca que fomos, deviam ter mais de 25 casais de brasileiros). O que achei mais engracado e que as criancas, brincando entre elas, falavam o tempo todo em ingles.

Na segunda conseguimos dar entrada nos SIN cards (mais um processo extremamente simples e rapido) e ja temos os numeros. Ja estamos aptos a trabalhar. Consegui tambem fazer uma entrevista por telefone e recebi um e-mail para uma outra vaga. Vamos ver no que da. Enfim, gostamos muito do que vimos. As proximas semanas prometem ser corridas para resolvermos nossa situacao aqui e irmos para o Canada.

Abracos.

Quase 8 semanas...

Tomei coragem e resolvi relatar um pouquinho essas quase 8 semanas de EUA.

Chegamos aqui comigo ja empregado e com a Gabriele tambem fazendo um trabalho para o fundo de investimentos do meu cunhado, por isso tivemos sorte em nao estarmos gastando nossas economias nesse comeco que, mesmo assim, e muito dificil e estressante. O custo de vida e alto e, por enquanto, estamos saindo no zero a zero ou tendo de completar o orcamento um pouquinho todos os meses.

Ao chegarmos, fomos direto para a casa de uns amigos da familia em NJ e nos hospedamos por la. Ja no segundo dia, eu estava trabalhando, tendo de pegar o trem de 6 horas da manha para chegar na Penn Station em NY as 7:30. A area e excelente, mas nao da para aguentar 1 hora e meia de ida e mais 1 hora e meia de volta todos os dias.

A Nicole ja foi entrando no Kindergarten (ela ainda nao tinha 5 anos, por isso tivemos de correr atras de uma autorizacao especial do estado de NJ, em NY ela ja podia estudar) e se adaptou bem a escola. O mais engracado foi que eles nao conseguiram se adaptar a ela, ja que ela e bem extrovertida e a professora de ESL ficou desesperada com ela que nao parava de falar portugues.

Comecamos a procurar casa com uns corretores (cobravam um mes de aluguel caso alugassemos atraves deles) e atraves do Craiglist. Acabamos alugando pelo Craiglist um apartamento no segundo andar de uma casa (2 quartos e 1 banheiro) em West Harrison, a cerca de 30 minutos de trem de NY. Estamos tendo algumas brigas com nossa landlady por causa de detalhes como instalacao da maquina de lavar, mas gostamos muito do nosso apartamento. Tambem nao precisamos de um co-signer, ja que ela ligou para meu empregador e aceitou-o como referencia.

A Nicole foi, entao, para a nova escola onde tudo tem sido mais facil, ja que a escola tem mais imigrantes e as professoras sabem lidar melhor com ela. Posso dizer que para ela tudo tem sido tranquilo. Ela fez 5 anos na semana passada e fomos ver Lion King na Broadway e ela (e a Gabriele diga-se de passagem) adorou.

Para compra do carro usamos nossa amiga como co-signer, caso contrario, nao teriamos conseguido financiar. Alias credito e um problema mesmo, a unica empresa que me deu credito ate agora foi a Amex gracas ao cartao gold do Brasil, por isso, utilizem esse cartao no Brasil.

Estamos gostando muito, compramos nosso laptop na Best Buy, compramos nossos Iphones (alias recomendo baixar na App Store ou na internet o pandora.com) e ja somos associados do Costco. Mobiliamos nossa casa com moveis comprados de conhecidos brasileiros e o restante estamos comprando na Ikea.

Enfim, nos sentimos 100% seguros por aqui (o maior risco e atropelar algum animal na estrada) e so posso reclamar do custo de seguro saude por aqui (US$ 500 por mes) para uma familia de 3 (algo que no Canada se paga atraves de impostos, mas sei que por la existe uma espera maior para realizar exames, pelo menos e o que ouco falar). Vamos ver se o plano do Obama de universalizar Health Care vai para frente.

Mais uma vez repito aos amigos no Canada ou no Brasil que todos estao convidados a virem nos visitar por aqui.

Abracos.

Chegamos

Pessoal,

Chegamos...nos EUA! Já deveria ter mudado o nome do blog, mas confesso que dá uma preguiça absurda...

Enfim, mudamos nosso destino (pelo menos por enquanto) e, após uma cansativa viagem de 12 horas, com parada no Panamá, chegamos a NY.

Tudo foi muito tranquilo, desde a e-dpv (declaração de porte de valores) com a receita federal até a imigração, onde fomos muito bem recebidos.

Agora é correria para colocar a Nicole na escola, comprar celular, obter crédito, etc.

Quando tivermos mais novidades, avisaremos.

Abraços.

Fim do processo...bem, deste processo

Acabamos de receber nossos passaportes via DHL. Estamos super felizes, mas é que para nós ainda corre outro processo.

Estou tirando o visto H1B americano, visto de trabalho com direito a 3 anos, renováveis por mais 3, e que dá o direito de pedir um green card mais para frente. Estou indo trabalhar no mercado financeiro, que é tudo o que sempre quis, e, por isso, tive de tomar a decisão de transformar o Canadá em um plano B.

Nossa idéia é irmos para NY no fim de setembro e, em abril/maio de 2009 fazer o landing no Canadá. Isso nos daria mais 2 anos, aproximadamente, para decidirmos nossa vida.

Bom, acho que isso conclui nosso processo e, provavelmente, iremos postar algo daqui para frente ao iniciarmos nossa nova vida. Acredito que devamos mudar o nome do blog para Projeto North America, acho que seria mais apropriado.

Abraços.

Pedidos de Passaporte e outros detalhes

Ontem recebemos o pedido de passaportes. Vieram os colantes para colocar na capa dos passaportes e informações sobre taxas. Os C$ 490 por adulto estão cotados, em reais, a R$ 850. Estamos debatendo como enviar os passaportes para SP de maneira segura e como garantir o retorno dos mesmos.

Obviamente ficamos muito felizes, mas a essa altura do campeonato, como o pessoal do Rio já sabe, estamos em um processo de imigração para os EUA, uma vez que tenho uma oferta de emprego em NY que, para mim, é tudo o que poderia querer, na área que gosto e em uma cidade que adoro.

Nossa decisão foi continuar com o processo do Canadá e obter o visto de trabalho dos EUA (visto já aprovado por lá, estou recebendo a petição do empregador aqui e marquei entrevista no consulado para 2/9, que foi o mais cedo que consegui). Se tudo correr bem, acredito que no dia 21/9 embarcaremos para lá.

Enfim a idéia é tentar, e, lá para abril ou maio de 2009 fazer o processo de landing no Canadá e ganhar mais um tempo para decidir se ficamos nos EUA ou vamos para o Canadá. Pode ser, caso tudo esteja muito bem, que nem façamos o landing (a carta que recebi diz, que nesse caso, a taxa de permanent residency seria reembolsável, mas não tenho certeza). Bom, a vida vai seguindo, já vendi um dos carros e estamos vendendo algumas coisas de casa. Acredito que o pedido de demissão venha após a entrevista no consulado e os vistos americanos no passaporte.

Abraços.

De Saco Cheio!!

Desculpem, mas estou cansado desse país. Não aguento mais. Vejam as notícias abaixo. Não sei se estou de saco cheio do país ou de O Globo, já nem sei mais. Aos que me conhecem há pouco tempo sei que pareço um cara calmo, mas na realidade já estou de saco cheio disso aqui. Não vejo a hora de ir embora. Aos que ficam, lamento. E a p.... da CPMF vai voltar!

Gesto solidário
A conversa no jantar logo descambou para o tema violência, como é costume no Rio. G. falou do assalto sofrido pelo filho de um amigo.
O rapaz saía da PUC às 22h quando foi rendido por três bandidos armados. O grupo seguiu para a Região dos Lagos - mais precisamente para Iguaba Grande. O rapaz passou maus bocados. Foi levado para uma favela e obrigado a ficar de cueca. Os bandidos disseram que iam matá-lo e mandaram que corresse.
Saiu em disparada, conseguiu uma carona e foi à delegacia. Explicou para o delegado que tinha que dar queixa por causa do carro, mas pediu pelo amor de Deus que não avisasse a seus pais, que são paranóicos com segurança.
O delegado concordou e o jovem pediu dinheiro emprestado para pegar um táxi e ir de Iguaba até sua casa na Barra. Prometeu que voltaria para devolver o dinheiro, até em dobro.
Os policiais que estavam de plantão com o delegado não concordaram. De maneira solícita, ofereceram:
- Não, imagina, que é isso, nós levamos você até lá.
Já eram mais de 4h da manhã. Encantado com a generosidade, exausto com a via-crúcis e traumatizado com o episódio, ele concordou de pronto.
Nesse momento, viu que o delegado mexia discretamente com a cabeça, indicando para ele não aceitar de jeito nenhum a oferta. Ele gelou. Deu uma desculpa, pediu para usar o telefone e ligou para o pai, que veio voando buscar o filho - nem trocou o pijama.
O estudante conta que mais do que o assalto em si, o que mais o atemorizou foi a polícia. Se não fosse o gesto solidário do delegado, mostrando que não dava para confiar nem em seus subordinados, ele nem tem idéia do que poderia ter acontecido.
Seu pai quer mudar de país.

No Engenhão
Não é com ele
Agora há pouco, antes de começar o jogo do Botafogo contra Corinthians, no Engenhão, um cabo chamado Ramos pegava ingressos com cambistas, na entrada oeste do estádio.
Ao ser abordado por um torcedor que denunciando conflito entre as torcidas dentro do estádio, o homem da lei saiu-se com um "não é comigo".

Barbaridades cariocas
Os donos da rua
Contribuição à série "a privatização de nossas ruas":
Semana passada, um coleguinha recém-formado foi à Hélio Alonso, ali em Botafogo, apanhar um documento. Estacionou perto da faculdade, e foi abordado por um flanelinha dos cascudos, que exigiu R$ 2 pelo espaço público.
O jovem argumentou que ficaria 15 minutos no máximo.
- Então é um real - decretou o dono da rua.
Quando o dono do carro voltou, encontrou no capô a palavra "Muquirana", escrita com um instrumento contundente que fez graves danos na pintura. O conserto vai sair caro.

Pedido de Exames Médicos

Dessa vez o pedido chegou! Ainda não tivemos tempo para enviar a documentação solicitada, mas o pedido veio assim mesmo. Marcamos a consulta para o dia 27/5 e o processo está agora quase no fim. O pedido foi enviado pelo consulado no dia 08/05.

Atualizando o timeline do post anterior:

15/05/2008: Recebimento do pedido de exames médicos.

Abraços.

Pedidos de Exames Médicos...Quase!!!

Recebi hoje uma ligação do Consulado bem como um e-mail avisando que precisamos enviar meus antecedentes criminais do estado de New Jersey (estudei lá de 1994 a 1998, mas confesso que achei que a documentação do FBI seria suficiente) e de Minas Gerais (a Gabriele estudou lá uns anos).

Bem, acho que isso pode animar aqueles que iniciaram o processo na mesma época que nós. Nosso timeline:

13/12/2006 - Início do Processo
13/08/2007 - Pedido de Documentos
28/04/2008 - Pedido de mais 2 antecedentes criminais.

Não sei se o consulado vai aguardar o envio destes documentos ou se já vai enviar o pedido de exames médicos (parece que houve um caso parecido onde eles fizeram isso). Enfim, vamos ver.

Ao mesmo tempo, como a vida não pára, surgiu uma outra oportunidade, na área onde sempre quis trabalhar, mas em outro país. Por isso estamos correndo com outro processo em paralelo. Estou pirando de vez!! Parece que estes processos não terminam nunca. Em breve espero poder dar mais informações.

Teatro em Toronto

Uma das razões por que pretendo ficar em Toronto é a vida cultural da cidade. Tenho lido que Toronto perde somente para Nova York e Londres no que diz respeito ao número de produções teatrais. Gosto principalmente das peças low budget (ao contrário de Phantom of the Opera, Cats, etc.). O site blogto.com é bastante informativo a este respeito, contendo críticas semanais a peças em cartaz na cidade.

Deixo abaixo alguns links de teatros da cidade sendo que os leitores do blog elegeram o Factory Theatre como o melhor (excluindo os big budget).

Factory Theatre
The Tarragon
Buddies in Bad Times
Berkeley Theatre
Young Centre

E os big budget:

Princess of Wales
Royal Alexandra
Canon
Sony Centre
Elgin and Winter Garden

Uma Boa Época para ser Geólogo no Canadá

Duvida? Então veja a reportagem abaixo. Com o boom de commodities pelo mundo poucos países tem ganho tanto quanto o Canadá (o Brasil também está se dando bem). A reportagem também cita soldadores e profissionais técnicos responsáveis, por exemplo, por colocação de dutos.

Miners Top MBAs as Metal Boom Makes Geologists Scarce (Update2)
By Rob Delaney and Stewart Bailey

March 13 (Bloomberg) -- Brittan Jones passed up a $100,000- a-year job at a mining company last December when he finished his degree in geology. The 24-year-old Canadian said he's confident he'll get a better offer.
``I'm lucky to have graduated when metal prices are so high,'' said Jones, who has traveled to the Arctic Circle, British Columbia and the U.S. on mining internships. ``There's a lot you can do with this degree.''
Mining companies such as Barrick Gold Corp., Teck Cominco Ltd., BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group are paying geology grads 44 percent more than three years ago, giving them higher salaries than the average Master of Business Administration in the U.S. Demand from developing nations including China helped gold, copper and silver prices more than double in that time. Gold reached a record $1,001.50 an ounce today in New York.
``There is a chronic shortage of skilled people, and wages have skyrocketed,'' said Bart Melek, commodity strategist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto. ``There's no relief in sight.''
Wall Street firms have fired more than 30,000 in the last seven months as prices of mortgage-related assets slumped.
Salaries for geology undergraduates in Canada, home to three of the world's largest gold producers, jumped to an average C$90,000 ($91,776) from C$62,500 in 2004, according to Norman Duke, a professor at the University of Western Ontario, who has been a consultant for companies including Teck Cominco.
Cameco Corp., the world's largest uranium producer, Teck Cominco, the second-largest zinc producer, and Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, the largest maker of the crop fertilizer, are also based in Canada.
More Than MBAs
Geologists' pay tops the average for new U.S. MBAs, which, according to an August 2007 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, was $86,696. Those with mining skills are also catching up with Harvard University MBAs, whose average starting salary rose 15 percent over three years to $115,000 in 2007, according to the university. Tuition for the two-year program is $87,600.
This year there will be about 1,200 geology grads in Canada to fill 9,000 positions in the country's mining industry, said Ryan Montpellier, executive director of the government's Mining Industry Resources Council. In the U.S., the number of jobs open to geologists will rise 22 percent in the decade ending in 2016, about double the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Expecting Higher Offer
Instead of taking a permanent, full-time position, Brittan Jones started a research project after completing his four-year course at Canada's provincially funded Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba. Tuition for his undergraduate honors degree was about C$15,000 for the program.
In June, he will start a four-month contract managing a British Columbia drilling program. Jones said he is betting the additional experience will result in a more lucrative job than the position offered by a private Manitoba exploration company in December.
Demand for his skills is unlikely to drop. Mining companies announced 1,100 new projects last year with a total value of $308 billion, 50 percent more than a year earlier, Magnus Ericcson, an analyst at Stockholm-based Raw Materials Group, said in an interview.
The lure of higher salaries may push the annual number of graduates within the next three years to 1,800, still only a fifth of the people required, Montpellier said.
Mining companies pared hiring in the 1990s, when a decline in global demand for metals slashed prices and forced cutbacks in exploration. Now, the industry needs to expand its workforce while replacing employees who are set to retire.
Retiring Workers
Teck Cominco estimates that as many as half its workers in British Columbia will retire over the next five years. Mining companies across the world are in a similar position, said Peter Kukielski, chief operating officer of the Vancouver-based company.
``The industry has been understaffed for years,'' said Greg Wilkins, chief executive officer of Toronto-based Barrick. ``The mining industry has generally not been very attractive for graduates, so there is a lack of skilled people.''
The shortage of mining expertise is particularly acute in Canada, Australia and the U.S., said Frances McGuire, chief executive officer of Major Drilling Group International Inc. The Moncton, New Brunswick-based company, the world's second-largest mineral-drilling contractor, needs about 200 experienced rig operators, who earn as much as $120,000 a year.
In Australia, employment in mining has jumped by almost two- thirds in five years. The Minerals Council of Australia estimates the national industry will need an extra 70,000 workers by 2015.
`Huge Demand'
``There is huge demand for skilled engineers, geologists, pipefitters, welders, technical people, right across the natural- resources industry,'' said Kinross Gold Chief Executive Officer Tye Burt. ``Everyone is enjoying high wages in our industry at the moment, and with commodity prices being high and demand strong it's hard to see that changing soon.''
Kinross, the largest gold producer in Brazil and the second- largest in Chile, is offering more responsibility to younger staff and stock options further down the management chain to retain and attract staff, Burt said.
The rising demand for their labor has given graduates unprecedented bargaining power, said John Humphreys, head of the geology and geological-engineering department at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.
``We used to tell graduates to hang in there, that something would come along,'' Humphreys said. ``Now we're counseling our students on how to deal with multiple offers.''

Enquanto o pedido de exame médico não chega...

Este período de espera é bastante desanimador. Ficamos praticamente sem novidades para compartilharmos e, portanto, desanimados a escrever algo. Na verdade, tenho acompanhado os processos do pessoal aqui do Rio e tudo indica que iremos receber o pedido de exames entre abril e maio. Vamos aguardar.

Enquanto isso gostaria de compartilhar algumas notícias de economia que tenho lido e que acredito que nos afetem como imigrantes.

Hoje o Banco Central do Canadá cortou os juros em 50 pontos bases, de 4% ao ano para 3,5% a.a. (O mais engraçado é ler os comentários dos leitores do Globe and Mail reclamando. Ah se eles soubessem o que é a SELIC). Isto se deve ao fato dos EUA terem cortado os juros por lá, o núcleo de inflação canadense estar bem comportado (abaixo de 2% a.a.) e para estimular a economia por lá que já dá sinais de estar emperrando. Como futuro imigrante espero poder comprar dólares canadenses um pouco mais baratos (graças ao diferencial de juros entre Brasil e Canadá já que ambas as moedas estão valorizadas pelos preços de commodities) e que a medida estimule a economia principalmente após o segundo semestre, facilitando a procura por emprego.

Outra notícia interessante é sobre o perfil dos imigrantes que por lá chegam. A competição só tende a ficar mais intensa. Um terço dos que por lá chegam tem diploma universitário (contra um quarto da população em geral) e metade dos PhDs são imigrantes. Como os que estão por lá sabem melhor do que eu isso não significa que estes estejam trabalhando em suas áreas.

Por outro lado, chama a atenção também uma notícia sobre o número de imigrantes que trabalham (principalmente em Ontário e BC) utilizando alguma língua que não o inglês. A reportagem fala de cerca de 20% das pessoas. São imigrantes que vivem no Canadá, mas não falam a língua oficial. Fico imaginando a vida terrível dessas pessoas. Têm trabalho, mas não irão se desenvolver.

BOAS FESTAS !!!!

São os Votos de André, Gabriele e Nicole.

Sites Úteis !!!!

Oi, Pessoal!!!!!

Desculpe pela demora deste post, pois minha vida está uma correria, mas por outro lado é bom, porque assim não sinto muito a demora da carta. Por sinal, que demora....
Como prometido, aqui vão alguns sites de Homestay.

http://www.safehomestay.com/location.html

http://www.blueguesthouse.com/

http://www.alisaguesthouse.net/go.htm

http://cguesthouse.homestead.com/index.html

Ah, aqui também vai um site bem legal de passagens aéreas... Nele vocês verão os preços das passagens pelos dias, assim podendo fazer uma cotação melhor.

http://www.skyscanner.net/pt/eur/?redirecturl=1

Abraços.

Sistema de Saúde

Acabei de assistir ao filme Sicko do diretor Michael Moore que mostra o quão ruim é o sistema de saúde nos EUA e o compara às realidades do Canadá, França, Inglaterra e Cuba.

Recomendo a todos que assistam ao filme e, para nós que desejamos imigrar para o Canadá, serve como porta de entrada para tirarmos algumas dúvidas sobre o assunto que talvez esteja entre as 3 principais preocupações dos potenciais imigrantes.

Recomendo, ainda, que visitem o site do filme Sicko, mais especificamente a página http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/canadian-waiting-room/ com dados e depoimentos sobre o sistema de saúde no Canadá.

Não sou de esquerda, muito pelo contrário, sou 100% a favor do capitalismo. No entanto, acredito que o governo só deveria ter as seguintes funções: prover segurança, educação e saúde, além de agências regulatórias e justiça. Dito isso, acredito ser justo que meus impostos sejam direcionados para estes fins. Portanto, sou a favor do sistema de saúde universal grátis (pago por impostos, não existe almoço grátis). Simpatizo com o Michael Moore, mas obviamente sei de suas tendências e temos sempre de tomar cuidado com pontos de vista que podem ser facilmente manipulados.

Enfim, gostei do que vi (apesar de ficar claro que os sistemas de saúde europeus são superiores)e, principalmente, do que li em depoimentos no site e outros sites que pesquisei, além de dados estatísticos que mostram que o Canadá certamente não se encontra em má situação. Deixo o espaço aberto para aqueles que vivem no Canadá e queiram se manifestar.

4° Encontro !!!!

Oi, pessoal!!!

Queria dizer que foi ótimo o nosso encontro, o lugar era super agradável, comida gostosa e não preciso nem falar sobre as pessoas....Realmente foi ótimo!!!
Ah, comemoramos também o aniversário da Andréa e o aniversário da Carla e conhecemos a Carolina, o Fábio e a Juliana.
Agora vamos aguardar o próximo que, provavelmente, será no início de janeiro.

Bjs.

Atualização do Consulado !!!!

Oi, Pessoal!!!
Faz tempo que não escrevo, mas são as correrias da vida, pois essa não pode parar enquanto esperamos os pedidos dos exames ...
Bom, acho que todo mundo já deve saber, mas mesmo assim gostaria de avisar aos mais ocupados que o consulado já atualizou o tempo de processo no final do mês passado, passando 80% dos casos que eram finalizados em 17 meses para 18 meses (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/02a-skilled-fed.asp).
Outra coisa que constatamos foi que o de Quebec demora, praticamente, a metade do tempo do Federal (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/02b-skilled-que.asp). Se tivéssemos visto isso antes, talvez tivéssemos feito por lá, mas agora não adianta lamentar, só nos resta esperar.
P.S.: Nicolinha fez 04 aninhos no último dia 06, então queria deixar um PARABÉNS e falar que nós a amamos muito.
TE AMAMOS FILHA!!!!
Bjs

Transferência de AMEX

Para aqueles que querem efetuar a transferência do cartão American Express para o Canadá segue abaixo o link a ser acessado. É possível fazer a transferência on-line, mas acho que só para os cartões Platinum e Gold. Fiquei na dúvida quanto a comprovação de renda, uma vez que tenho a expectativa de ficar uns 6 meses procurando emprego. Não sei se será impeditivo para conseguir o cartão por lá e estabelecer um histórico de crédito.

http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltransfers/global_card_transfer_en.shtml

50 Maiores Empregadores em Toronto

Segue uma lista feita pelo The Star, jornal de Toronto, com os 50 maiores empregadores da GTA (apesar de que na lista constam apenas 47).

Employer snapshots: 2008

Oct 13, 2007 04:30 AM
Following are short profiles of 47 of the GTA's Top 50 employers, in alphabetical order, according to the Toronto publisher Mediacorp.

Algorithmics
Located in a renovated warehouse in downtown Toronto, Algorithmics features an on-site fitness centre for employees. Other perks include a one-month paid sabbatical after five years with the company and tuition subsidies of up to $2,000 a year. The company also has three paid study days employees can take off every year. Algorithmics also helps new Canadians, through ESL classes and internship programs (www.algorithmics.com).

AMAPCEO
The Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario is the group that bargains on behalf of the public sector. Parental leave top-up benefits are a top focus for the organization, which gives new moms and dads up to 93 per cent for 52 weeks. Employees also get $600 every year for fitness and wellness activities. Newcomers get four weeks vacation to start. AMAPCEO also matches RSP contributions to help staff get ready for retirement. There is also a leave program allowing employees to temporarily leave to pursue professional and personal interests (www.amapceo.on.ca).

Appleby College
Located on the edge of Lake Ontario, Appleby College is a co-ed school for students from grade seven to twelve. The Oakville institution, which was first started in the 1910s, offers new employees a laptop when they get started. For those interested in taking courses at outside institutions, Appleby also pays tuition fees with no annual maximum. New mothers can also access a return-to-work program to help them transition back to office life. Employees also get free membership to on-site sports facilities. For those coming from overseas, Appleby subsidizes the costs of equivalency programs. In addition to matching RSP contributions, the college also makes extra contributions to pension plans (www.appleby.on.ca).

Bank of Montreal
Canada's oldest banking institution offers a variety of perks and benefits for employees, including their very own training institute with a health club and accommodation for overnight guests. For employees who are outstanding at their jobs, the bank offers travel awards, gift certificates and merchandise. Employees are eligible to receive up to $1,500 every two years for volunteer-related activities. The company also gives year-end bonuses and offers a share purchase plan (www4.bmo.com).

Bayer Inc.
With its headquarters in Toronto, Bayer Inc. is a global research-based company specializing in life sciences, polymers and chemicals. Employees get free memberships to on-site fitness facilities. They can also take advantage of a new employee lounge, featuring a games area and a relaxation room. As for vacation, new employees annually get three weeks and two personal days off. Staff also get discounts on computer equipment and auto leases. Bayer also matches RSP contributions. Customized health benefit plans are also available for employees (www.bayer.ca).

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
With more than 500 lawyers across the world, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is no stranger to the top employers list. After all, the law firm has had a lot of time to become one of the best, with 150 years of history behind it. The firm holds a national training awareness week for staff in January and oversees a country-wide scholarship program for first-year law students. It also helps low-income clients and non-profit organizations by providing pro bono legal services. Their Christmas parties feature musicals and short films directed by employees (www.blakes.com).
Capital One Services, Inc.
A Fortune 500 company, Capital One Services, Inc. is best known for being the predominant issuers of MasterCards. They are also well known for how they treat their employees, including offering generous parental top-up payments that go up to 100 per cent for 26 weeks. Employees who adopt also get $5,000 to help cover related expenses. As for retirement planning, Capital One Services matches RSP contributions. They also help those who are interested in further education with unlimited tuition subsidies. If staff members also successfully refer someone who gets hired, they are rewarded with a $5,000 bonus. Employees also get free fruit, vegetables and nuts at the office every day and they are given a transit subsidy as an encouragement to take public transit (www.capitalone.ca).

Catholic Children's Aid Society
For nearly a hundred years, the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto has been looking after the interests of children and families. At the society, staff can take advantage of tuition subsidies, in-house training programs and a special education leave. They also are eligible for generous top-up payments. Unlike many other companies, maternity leave can also be extended up to 3 years (www.ccas.toronto.on.ca).

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
As the self-regulating body of the province's medical community, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario helps employees with everything from tuition subsidies to parental leave top-up payments. New moms and dads can get up to 75 per cent in top-up payments for 26 weeks. Tuition subsides can run up to $3,000. Holiday benefits are also generous, starting off at three weeks for new employees. Christmas season also comes with some time off. The college also prides itself on being an enlightened employee with more than 65 per cent of management being women (www.cpso.on.ca).

Compass Group Canada
Founded 10 years ago, Compass Group Canada is a food services and facilities management company. New mothers and fathers get up to 80 per cent for 17 weeks in top-up payments. This company also offers this to adoptive parents. As for benefits, employers get discounts on auto lease and home insurance rates as well as computer purchases. The company also helps those planning for retirement, matching their RSP contributions. For staff that want to pursue a MBA, there is a formal program that allows them to leave for a year (www.compass-canada.com).

Deloitte & Touche LLP
As one of the top professional services firms in Canada, Deloitte & Touche LLP is known for its accounting and auditing, tax, and management consulting services. It is also known for its international experience programs that let employees work around the world at other Deloitte locations. The company also takes care of new mothers, providing them with top-up payments up to 100 per cent of their salary for 17 weeks. Work-life-balance is also an important theme at Deloitte, with employees getting a $1,000 subsidy. Other perks include weekend trips, movie tickets and house cleaning services for outstanding job performance. If an employee successfully refers a friend to work at Deloitte, they are eligible for up to $12,000 in bonuses (www.deloitte.com).

Durham Regional Police Service
New moms receive generous top-up payments, up to 75 per cent for 52 weeks. New dads receive up to 75 per cent for 35 weeks. An on-site gym is free. Officers earn eight hours off after every month of work (www.drps.ca).

Ernst & Young LLP
From tax, to corporate finance, to auditing, Ernst & Young LLP has made a name for itself as a professional services leader over the years. The company has also taken an active role in helping employees' families, from providing adoption assistance bonuses to helping arrange for emergency daycare providers. The company also operates with an international conscience, recently helping an employee volunteer in Guyana. It not only helped provide the individual with a five-week leave but also provided financial assistance on the trip. The company also provides $1,000 to subsidize gym memberships or buy home workout equipment (www.ey.com).

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Nearly two decades ago the Toronto-based hotel operator set the worldwide standard for environmental hotel practices and drew up a Green Partnership Guide, now required reading for hotel management courses around the world. Whether it's providing discounted hotel rates for employees around the world or offering in-house training for staff, Fairmont also has developed a reputation for taking care of its employees. Employee perks include a pension plan and maternity leave top-ups that can run up to 70 per cent of wages for 17 weeks. The company also has an online site where employees can check out job opportunities at Fairmont properties throughout the world (www.fairmont.com).

Fidelity Canada
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Fidelity Investments Canada Ltd. oversees about $43 billion in mutual fund and corporate pension plan assets. It also offers employees everything from tuition subsidies to matching RSP contributions. New moms can also get up to 100 per cent in top-up payments for 17 weeks. Fitness buffs can get annual subsidies to ensure they stay in shape. During the winter, staff can go skating at Nathan Phillips Square, which is only a few seconds away (www.fidelity.ca).

Gay Lea
Owned by more than 1,200 Ontario farmers, Gay Lea Foods Co-Operative manufactures everything from milk to butter to whipped cream. The organization also works to be a corporate citizen, helping co-operatives in El Salvador financially and by sending staff to the country. Closer to home, the co-operative provides tuition subsidies, matching RSP contributions and coverage for retired employees. It also offers $2,500 in adoption subsidies and top-up payments for new mothers at 100 per cent of their salary for 17 weeks (www.gaylea.com).

Hatch Ltd.
With offices all around the world, Hatch Ltd. provides customers with a variety of services including process and detail engineering, construction management and business consulting. For its employees, the company provides subsidized memberships to an on-site gym, a flexible health benefit plan and matching RSP contributions. Other perks include maternity top-ups for new mothers and scholarships for employees' children. If an employee recommends a successful recruit, they get a $4,000 referral bonus (www.hatch.ca).

Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co.
When it comes to employee perks, Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. has a few tricks up its sleeve. One includes a lakeside resort north of Kingston for employees and their families to enjoy. The other is a discount on everything from laptops to televisions. To boot, the company is also a green leader, helping recycle more than 340 million kilograms of used computer and ink cartridges in the past 10 years. The company's other perks include parental leave top-up payments up to 100 per cent for 17 weeks. HP also matches RSP contributions (www.hp.ca).

Hill & Knowlton Canada
Don't be surprised to find a beer cart travelling through these offices at week's end. This is one of the many perks at one of Canada's leading public relations agencies. Another includes two educational grants, at $7,500, for staff that want to keep studying. In terms of vacation, employees get three weeks off to start and four paid personal days. Staff are also encouraged to give back to the community by volunteering media expertise to non-profit groups. (www.hillandknowlton.ca).

IBM Canada
Headquartered in Markham, IBM Canada has been operating in Canada since 1917.
The computer giant offers a daycare facility for young children and free access to an on-site gym. There are a variety of classes held at the latter. IBM also provides 95 per cent in maternity leave top-up payments. For those interested in further education, there's in-house training and educational grants for study at an external institution. The more socially aware can also take advantage of paid time off to volunteer in Canada or around the world (www.ibm.com/ca).

I Love Rewards Inc.
When it comes to interacting with the CEO, there might be no better place to do it than at I Love Rewards Inc. The company, which offers web-based services, has a CEO book club where staff not only get a free book but they also get to chat to the CEO about it. Vacation time is also a bit generous at I Love Rewards, as new employees start off with four weeks of paid vacation. And unlike other organizations, where it might take a while to go up to 5 weeks, it only takes 3 years at I Love Rewards. In the spirit of helping out in the community, staff get five days to help out with a charity. Share purchase and profit-sharing plans are available to all (www.iloverewards.com).

KPMG LLP
From subsidizing the cost of elder care to helping support child care, it's no surprise KPMG LLP is one of the GTA's top employers. The accounting and professional services firm also offers a $700 fitness subsidy and a flexible health benefits plan for retirees. In addition to getting three weeks vacation, employees also get seven paid personal days off. For staff who have adopted children, KPMG provides benefits and financial grants. Volunteerism is looked on favourably at KPMG where a special reception is held to recognize staff efforts. Employees also get time off for volunteer work (www.kpmg.ca).

Law Society of Upper Canada
The list of benefits at the Law Society of Upper Canada is generous to say the least. If employees find that their loved ones have fallen sick, they will receive up to 70 per cent in leave top-up payments for eight weeks. This unusual benefit goes along with other familiar ones, including tuition subsidies, a traditional pension plan and a flexible health benefits plan. The governing body for law professionals in Ontario also offers new dads and moms up to 93 per cent of their salary for 17 weeks. This also applies to adoptive parents. In the spirit of charity, the society also uses its cafeteria to provide meals to Toronto's homeless (www.lsuc.on.ca)

Manulife Financial Corp.
The financial services organization pays its employees out of its pocket if they decide to volunteer for the United Way for a 15-week term. The corporation also offers several other perks, including a pension plan, extended health coverage during retirement, and subsidized home and auto insurance rates. The organization also prides itself on being an employment equity leader as women employees hold almost half the management jobs (www.manulife.ca)

Mars Canada Inc.
Located in Caledon, Mars Canada Inc. manufacturers everything from pet-care products to candy bars. But just because it's a sugar-rich place doesn't mean it is not healthy. A wellness coordinator visits the offices weekly and also provides one-on-one personal training. Staff can also get free memberships to the on-site gym. As for new moms, they can get generous top-up payments up to 100 per cent of their full salary for 13 weeks. In terms of vacations, employees start off at three weeks. And if you want a quick $1,500, refer a new recruit successfully and the money could be yours (www.mars.com).

Marsh Canada Ltd.
If you enjoy leaving early before a long weekend or reduced summer work hours, Marsh Canada Limited might be the place for you. It is designed to give employees of the insurance brokerage more personal time particularly during the summer. Staff can also use five personal paid days any time of the year in addition to their weeks of paid vacation. Other perks of working at Marsh include discounts on home and auto insurance rates. For employees who are interested in further education, Marsh will cover their full tuition costs. The organization also has a share purchase program that is available to employees (www.marsh.ca).

Microsoft Canada
If you want to volunteer with your favourite charity anywhere in the world, you might consider working for Microsoft Canada. After all, the organization, which provides software, marketing, consulting and local support, will pay you five days worth of wages to just take off and help make the world a better place. Other perks include matching RSP contributions and maternity top-up payments up to 75 per cent for 17 weeks. Employees can also get $500 annually for any clubs or sports teams they set up. For the snack-prone, Microsoft has a traveling snack cart that is wheeled through every day. Staff can also take part in share purchase and profit-sharing plans (www.microsoft.ca).

Mintz & Partners LLP
Aspiring accountants can take up to three weeks of paid leave off to finish their CA designation. The medium-sized accounting firm also offers matching RSP contributions and provides up to 95 per cent in parent leave top-up payments for 26 weeks. This applies for adoptive parents as well. For employees who need a new laptop, Mintz offers discounts. Volunteerism is also encouraged, with two days set aside each year for that purpose (www.mintzca.com).

Michener Institute
When it comes to parental leave top-up payments, the Michener Institute is among the best. The organization offers up to 85 per cent of the employee's salary for 52 weeks. Administrators do this for adoptive parents as well. The post-secondary institution is also generous with vacation. It gives employees three weeks of paid vacation along with a Christmas holiday. Staff also get three personal days off during the year. And to stay in shape, there are free memberships at the on-site gym (www.michener.ca).

Mount Sinai Hospital
Aside from being one of Toronto's most well-respected medical institutions, Mount Sinai Hospital is also one of the GTA's most generous employers. The 472-bed patient care, teaching and research hospital provides up to $5,000 in educational grants per degree. Employees also get fitness club subsidies and can access physiotherapy and fitness instruction whenever they need. Staff who are not able to find quick daycare for their children can access a close by daycare up to 20 times a year. New parents also get generous parental leave top-ups (www.mtsinai.on.ca).

Nycomed Canada Inc.
At Nycomed Canada Inc., don't be surprised to get your company news through a monthly podcast. The research-based pharmaceutical company has found this innovative solution is a way to keep their workforce increasingly engaged. The other way is through perks such as maternity top-up payments of up to 100 per cent of one's full salary for 20 weeks. There is also a program for compassionate leave, where staff receive their full salary for eight weeks. The organization also offers $5,000 in educational grants. Nycomed also has a succession-planning program that helps employees transition into management (www.nycomed.ca).

Oliver Bonacini
As the operator of five hot restaurants in the GTA, Oliver Bonacini Restaurants can offer its employees opportunities few others can. This includes excursions to New York for chefs and paid travel for employees who want to tour different winemaking regions around the world. At Oliver Bonacini Restaurants, employees also get widespread on-site training and matching RSP contributions. They also get a free dinner for two after their first orientation. As for vacations, new employees start with three weeks (www.oliverbonacini.com)

Ontario Power Generation
Ongoing education is a big theme at Ontario Power Generation Inc., where employees can access everything from apprenticeship programs to subsidies for professional accreditation. They can also get in-house and online training, mentoring and tuition subsidies. Along with further education benefits, some employees also get year-end bonuses and all employees can access a health-benefits plan that extends into their retirement years. New moms also get maternity top-ups that come to 93 per cent of their full salary over 20 weeks (www.opg.com)

OPTrust
Above-average maternity pay – the most generous of all the GTA employers surveyed – is just part of many benefits that OPTrust, manager of Canada's largest pension fund, offers to keep its employees happy. While new dads get up to 93 per cent of their salary for 37 weeks, new moms get 93 per cent for 52 weeks. Another perk includes $7,500 a year in tuition support for those who wish to take courses or complete a degree. The courses do not necessarily have to be always connected to OPTrust's line of work. Staff can also get discounted gym memberships (www.optrust.com).

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
With countless incentives, it's no wonder PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is one of the top employers in the GTA. Employees get 24 days off to prepare for their Chartered Accountancy exams. Aside from the three weeks' vacation, employees also get nine extra paid days off. The company can help arrange for flexible working hours and locations for families. The firm also helps spouses of new Canadian employees with career development. PWC also has an innovative program allowing staff to work on aid projects in the developing world. The emphasis on volunteerism is also big: PWC donates $10,000 on behalf of the volunteer of the year. The organization also has maternity top-up benefits, matching RSP contributions and a health-benefits plan extending into retirement. Staff can get up to $1,200 for fitness programs (www.pwc.com/ca).

Procter & Gamble Inc.
Diversity is a key theme as visible minority employees are offered student internships and leadership opportunities. So is education. The organization, which manufactures and markets consumer products, also gives about $30,000 in scholarships to children of employees and retirees. Employees also get the usual slew of benefits, including maternity top-up payments, an employee pension plan, health benefits for retirees and matching RSP contributions. In terms of vacation, employees also get four personal paid days off in addition to their regular vacation (www.pgcanada.ca).

Regional Municipality of York
Employees get transit subsidies and top-up payments for parental leave of up to 75 per cent for 12 weeks. The municipality, which services 830,000 residents, also has a formal leave of absence program. One employee recently volunteered with the United Way with the municipality paying for their wages (www.region.york.on.ca).

Russell Investments Canada Ltd.
Employees get four weeks vacation right from the beginning. They get earlier long weekends due to earlier closes. They get monthly contributions to their pension plans at Russell, which is an investment manager services provider. They also get $8,000 in annual educational grants if they wish. And after 10 years on the job, they are eligible for an eight-week paid sabbatical (www.russell.com/ca).

Sapient Canada
Sapient Canada, a data warehousing, and information technology governance and advisory services specialist, is also a socially conscientious business. It recently helped the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research redesign their website on its own dime. The company, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based Sapient Corp., provides new moms (including adoptive parents) with top-up payments up to 100 per cent of their full salary for 17 weeks. Employees also get matching RSP contributions and subsidized tuition fees. They also get discounts on computer equipment and Internet service courtesy of working for a technology specialist (www.sapient.com).

SAS Institute (Canada) Inc.
The company has just opened a new, green, head office in downtown Toronto and now it's been named one of the GTA's top employers. The institute, which develops data warehousing and specialized business decision support software, provides its employees with perks from matching RSP contributions to free memberships at an on-site gym. Staff also get an equipment allowance for home fitness. In addition to their three-week vacation, employees can also take four paid days to volunteer at a local organization. For those who are into music, SAS also has an in-house band, the "SASations" (www.sas.com/canada).

Scotiabank Group
As one of the leading commercial banks in Canada, Scotiabank Group makes a point of helping female employees make it into management through the `Advancement of Women' initiative. The bank also provides an on-site daycare and flexible work options to help young families. Further education is also an important commitment at Scotiabank Group, where there are tuition subsidies and in house training. There is no annual maximum (www.scotiabank.com).

Swiss Re
This leading re-insurance company offers employees everything from year-end bonuses to low-interest home loans. Staff can purchase shares and take part in profit-sharing plans at the organization, a division of European-based Swiss Re Group. The company also matches RSP contributions, offers a pension plan, and a health plan that extends into retirement. Staff also have the opportunity to work overseas at the parent company (www.swissre.com).

TD Bank Financial Group
Staff get low-interest home loans, have subsidized tuition fees, and matching RSP contributions. They also get year-end bonuses and discounts on banking services. Flexibility is also a key theme at the organization, with employees being able to negotiate alternative working hours or telecommuting. TD is also showing its socially conscious side by working with Ryerson University to help better integrate internationally educated professionals (www.td.com).

Toronto Central CCAC
Non-profit organization Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre made it to our list with its generous starting vacation times and its top-up maternity benefits. New employees at the centre, which offers in-home health and social support services, also start off with four weeks of vacation. New moms get maternity top-up payments of 75 per cent for 25 weeks. The organization, located in downtown Toronto, also offers employees the option of job-sharing or telecommuting (www.toronto.ccac-ont.ca).

Toronto Hydro Corp.
When it comes to maternal leave, Toronto Hydro Corp. is the standout. It offers parents up to 95 per cent of their salaries in top-up payments for 52 weeks. This extends to adoptive parents. New dads get 95 per cent of their salaries covered for 37 weeks. Toronto Hydro, which services 676,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers, offers unlimited annual tuition payment and a health-benefits package extending to retirement. Toronto Hydro also shows its proud socially responsible side, with its 50-year-old employee charitable foundation (www.torontohydro.com).

Toronto International Film Festival Group
If you want free passes to the Toronto film festival, you might want to consider working for the Toronto International Film Festival Group. The company, a charitable, cultural and educational organization devoted to celebrating excellence in film, gives staff access to film screenings, lectures and DVD lending privileges. It also offers matching RSP contributions, education tuition subsidies and top-up payments for parental leave (www.tiffg.ca).

University Health Network
As one of the top employers in the GTA, the University Health Network makes a point of paying attention to its employees' families. Whether it's providing on-site daycare or giving scholarships to employees' children, the organization hopes its benefits will help attract and retain employees. Maternity top-ups can run up 93 per cent. Paternity top-ups go up to 85 per cent for 10 weeks. The University Health Network also subsidizes employee adoption costs (www.uhn.on.ca).