tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post8013463959683586587..comments2023-09-22T09:03:09.417-04:00Comments on Townie Bastard: Moving to Iqaluit FAQ, v 3.0towniebastardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129158923604362272noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-74240793417004639782011-08-07T22:17:52.846-04:002011-08-07T22:17:52.846-04:00Saw a post saying you were soon updating this sect...Saw a post saying you were soon updating this section, so I'd like to get my questions in (hoping more than one is ok)! :)<br /><br />1. I might be (it's a waiting game) coming up to work with a non-government company, that will reimburse up to $1000 for the shipment of my 'stuff' to Nunavut. Canada Post seems to be charging ridiculous amounts for anything larger than letter mail...do you have any advice/pointers/etc. on shipping clothes/personal items? I'm specifically wondering about what to pack it all in (heavy-duty boxes? rubbermaid totes? something else?), and who has the best rates for shipping...<br /><br />2. Should I arrive in September/October (what it's looking like at this point), what kind of outdoor gear do I *REALLY* need to bring with me to start out? Can I get by with basics (a base layer, good coat, decent ski/snow pants, good boots, mitts, hat) to pull me through, and order the rest once I'm there and have half-decent money coming in?<br /><br />3. I know what was the 'food mail' program is now kaput - is ordering groceries from certain stores down south still an option? I think I've read about a grocery store somewhere in QC that ships grocery orders? I know there's the sealift option, but I'll be arriving too late for this season's delivery (I think???!).<br /><br /><br />Thanks so much - I've been trying to find these answers around the interwebs, but I can't seem to find a clear answer. I love your blog, and was excited to see that you are open to answering more questions from northern newbies ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225223892211352256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-90362914496302602312011-05-26T22:10:10.535-04:002011-05-26T22:10:10.535-04:00Let's see, to answer questions:
1. Electricit...Let's see, to answer questions:<br /><br />1. Electricity is not a problem. I suspect we get few blackouts up here than we did when we were back in St. John's.<br /><br />2. Water isn't a problem. Most houses and building are on water and sewer. The rest have truck water and sewer, which sounds like it's a pain, but our house is and we've never had a problem.<br /><br />3. Rentals do not include electricity, phone/internet and cable. Water and property taxes are included in the rent.<br /><br />4. Electricity honest depends on so many factors it's hard to give you a number. I will say it is subsidized so it's not as bad as you might think.<br /><br />5. One of the odd things about living up here is that after awhile you stop paying attention to the cost of things. You have to eat, so you buy it. There's not many places in town to buy groceries so it's not like you can compare much. But to give you an idea, whatever you pay a month down south, add about 50% to the cost.<br /><br />6. Gas is subsidized as well. Self-serve is $1.24/l, full service is $1.29/L. The price is normally adjusted once a year, in the fall.towniebastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03129158923604362272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-74371568617481346802011-05-26T17:59:20.108-04:002011-05-26T17:59:20.108-04:00Lots of great info on your blog! We are moving to ...Lots of great info on your blog! We are moving to Iqaluit in a few weeks.<br />Question how much do you usually spend on groceries per month? Also how much is gas per litre?<br />Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-46156447844470508172011-05-25T09:28:33.963-04:002011-05-25T09:28:33.963-04:00Excellent blog. I'm wondering about utilities....Excellent blog. I'm wondering about utilities. Is there a reliable supply of electricity? What about water? How expensive are the utilities? Do rentals usually include utilities or are they normally an additional cost? Thanks again.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17216485144964909336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-11338703626198310842011-03-14T13:42:35.394-04:002011-03-14T13:42:35.394-04:00Thanks for the post, I might be moving to Iqaluit ...Thanks for the post, I might be moving to Iqaluit in a couple of months so it's been very helpful in describing what I can expect.aliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07244733964415851711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-4787885916662820732011-03-02T20:16:29.320-05:002011-03-02T20:16:29.320-05:00Northern allowances are only paid to federal and t...Northern allowances are only paid to federal and territorial employees. You can talk to any prospective employer and see if they have any incentives, such as covering moving costs or paying for so many trips a year.towniebastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03129158923604362272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-75844361963515259322011-03-02T01:54:06.099-05:002011-03-02T01:54:06.099-05:00Hi,
Is the northern living allowance available to...Hi,<br /><br />Is the northern living allowance available to any working individual or is it just paid to gov't employees?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937852720402414834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-85486903588677024382010-11-01T23:42:22.829-04:002010-11-01T23:42:22.829-04:00Fantastic information! My husband and I are sched...Fantastic information! My husband and I are scheduled to fly into Iqaluit for November 22. Your blog has given us some great insight into what we'll be expecting...so much appreciated. We'll certainly keep tuning in...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-49372433709026539062010-10-06T23:23:34.096-04:002010-10-06T23:23:34.096-04:00great site! I will pass it on.
I have a dumb ques...great site! I will pass it on.<br /><br />I have a dumb question.<br /><br />If someone is e a CBC employee and uses one of the CBC cars, is there a parking garage for them or are they all plugged in with a block heater?tassiegoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365553520674364273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-87819774865894468892010-08-10T21:09:53.678-04:002010-08-10T21:09:53.678-04:00Thank you for this very informative blog. My husba...Thank you for this very informative blog. My husband and I are from Gander, NL and he will be finishing school in December of this year with a diploma in OH&S. I'm a registered nurse and we have been discussing a possible move to Nunavut when he's done if there are any job opportunities for him in the area. You have answered a lot of questions that we had and it is nice to get them from another Newfoundlander's point of view. I will be checking into your site again in the near future so if there's any further info you'd like to add I'll be looking forward to to reading it.<br />Thanks again and who know, maybe we'll meet up sometime next year.<br />Take care<br />Faith MullettUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519715646746172602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-34681445917588652982010-07-15T12:31:52.721-04:002010-07-15T12:31:52.721-04:00If this was a book, you could put this on the jack...If this was a book, you could put this on the jacket:<br /><br />"The single best piece of writing about moving to Iqaluit, anywhere. I direct all company visitors and new hires to it before I answer any of their questions."<br /><br />-- Kent Driscoll<br />APTN National NewsKOTNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218426092498055798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10757771.post-11320287784296480792010-07-13T16:22:01.370-04:002010-07-13T16:22:01.370-04:00We've been a bit MIA from the blog world in re...We've been a bit MIA from the blog world in recent months, but I tuned just in time for your updated FAQ list! It certainly helped us when we were moving up here!<br /><br />If I could, I would like to clarify your post on health insurance because it's basically my only area of expertise in Nunavut :) Your provincial health insurance will cover you for only 90 days once you leave the province. There is a 90 day wait period for Nunavut coverage, so if you apply right away, you shouldn't be without insurance for any length of time as your previous province will cover you. HOWEVER, because most provinces do not cover the cost of air ambulance, it is imperative to obtain private insurance (unless you are covered under your employer) for those first 3 months, or longer if you waited to apply for your Nunavut card. If there was an emergency and you required transfer to Ottawa, it would not be covered. The cost of a Sky Services transfer is around $36,000 and the GN will absolutely bill you for it. I have already seen it happen a few times with individuals who never bothered to obtain Nunavut coverage or were up here for casual work, vacations, etc. and not eligible for coverage in Nunavut. Once you have Nunavut coverage, the territory will pay for your transfer if we are unable to offer the necessary care here.<br /><br />Bottom line, it is your own responsibility to know the rules and make sure you're covered! Ignorance and the whole "health care is free in Canada" routine is such a lame, overused excuse. <br /><br />End rant. :)Jordan~Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15467034218736545947noreply@blogger.com