Kevin(31)

In the Netherlands I worked ten years as a plumber, the last five as a self-employed contractor in Arnhem. The work was good, but competition was fierce, rates were under pressure and the tax burden as self-employed was high. Canada has an enormous shortage of tradespeople — plumbers, electricians, carpenters — and salaries reflect that. Through an immigration consultant I learned about the SINP International Skilled Worker program.

The SINP has an Occupation In-Demand stream for professions Saskatchewan urgently needs. Plumbers are structurally on that list. I had to get my Dutch credentials assessed and take a language test (IELTS). My trade diploma was recognized, but I still had to obtain the Journeyman Certificate in Saskatchewan — a Canadian trade exam. I took a preparatory course at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and passed after three months.

The salary as a journeyman plumber in Regina is CAD 38-45 per hour, depending on experience and specialization. In the Netherlands I earned comparable gross as a self-employed contractor, but net you keep significantly more in Canada. Saskatchewan has low provincial taxes and the cost of living is the lowest in all of Canada. My mortgage for a detached four-bedroom house is CAD 1,200 per month.

The biggest difference from the Netherlands is the respect for tradespeople. In Canada a plumber is a respected profession — you're paid as a professional, treated as a professional and there's no stigma. Customers genuinely thank you, employers invest in your development and unions (in my case UA Local 179) negotiate good employment conditions including pension and health insurance.

Regina is not Canada's most exciting city — I'll admit that. It's flat, winters are long and the cultural offerings are limited compared to Toronto or Vancouver. But it's affordable, safe, and the people are incredibly friendly. Rider Nation (the fanatical fans of the Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL team) is a phenomenon you have to experience. On game days literally the entire city wears green.

After two years I have my PR status, my own house, a camper for summer vacation and more savings than I ever had in the Netherlands. I'm considering starting my own plumbing business — in Saskatchewan the demand is so high that I'd have ten customers tomorrow. My advice to Dutch tradespeople: you are worth gold in Canada. Literally. The demand is enormous and the system rewards hard work.