To be sure, there are pros and cons to each country.

1) I did not speak of muni bond *FUNDS* – I mentioned muni bonds. I would never recommend buying a bond fund (muni or other) with interest rates where they are. While one must be very careful in selecting munis in the USA, and of course they are not FDIC guaranteed, the interest IS non-taxable (just as their mortgage interest is). The after-tax return of a well-diversified portfolio of laddered munis has proven to be a very wise investment. Obviously, there is more risk than buying CIDC insured investments like GICs (but still considered a low-risk investment). As to your warning of the effect of rising interest rates on the munis, that applies across the board to interest-rate sensitive investments. So what? With a laddered strategy, and the previous superior performance, it’s still a winning approach. Constantly maturing bonds will be rolled into higher-yielding bonds or other investments. As long as they don’t default, and interest gets paid, it’s a winner (for particular types of investors).
2) The health insurance rates I quoted are not misleading. They are a fact. I don’t pretend to be an expert on such things, and was only offering what I know from my American family and friends. As to what any specific individual or family would pay – I couldn’t really say. But even $10k/year would be worth it. Don’t forget they have lower sales taxes and much lower income taxes. Those differences alone will more than compensate you for the seemingly higher premiums. And btw, the people I am referring to are neither poor nor wealthy. Middle class to upper middle class.
3) When you say “(your private insurance company can choose to screw you, and trust me, they have more lawyers than you do” it sounds more like paranoia than reality. They cannot “choose to screw you”. You have a policy. A legal contract. And while I’m sure some have had problems making claims (it’s inevitable with such a large data pool), I’ve never heard from any of the people I know having had problems with their claims. They use their policies very much the same way our group insurance policies work. Can Great West Life “choose to screw you” on your claims? No.
4) I never said, nor do I think, the USA is “utopian”. (For example, higher crime rates are a real negative in certain parts of the USA). When you make things like that up, it weakens your arguments.

But I do agree that Quebec has a sometimes idiotic regulatory system which serves no purpose other than to limit our options. And Revenu Quebec is completely pointless. But to start trotting out words like “fascist” is frankly stupid, but not surprising from someone who thinks the United States is utopia.

Well, Peoples Trust has been around since 2008, they also fund those prepaid mastercards.
What’s the next highest rate available in Quebec?
AcceleRate Financial — 2%, nothing on website about excluding Quebec.

@slickvguy: according to Ally’s CSR they are working on getting Ally in Quebec.

I am finding it increasing difficult to live in this province due to non-stop and ever-growing government interference in our lives. Government is out of control here. It’s like “the Borg”. The govt is controlling our behavior, choices, and therefore our freedom itself, and the citizens are not powerful enough to stop or change it (aside from the very large corporations or a handful of very wealthy people). More and more we are becoming slaves to the govt., as we creep slowly but surely toward the fascist side of the spectrum. And the worst part is that people gladly and willingly accept this. They are blind to it, because they are so used to living this way from cradle to grave. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the USA over the past year, and while the USA certainly has it’s fair share of negatives and I still have great love for Canada, when you return to Canada (Quebec), you really see how little freedom we have and how much govt. interferes versus in the USA. From communication services (cell phone, land line, TV, Internet) to just about anything you can think of, we are paying higher prices, higher taxes, for lower service. Healthcare here is a disaster as well (which you’ll only find out when you get sick and need help). My friend pays $500/month for UNLIMITED healthcare coverage, and unlike here where you die waiting, when she needs tests or procedures performed, she has IMMEDIATE access to the doctors/services/equipment. Hell, I pay almost that amount just for my so-called “group insurance”, which just covers dental and prescriptions. (Michael Moore is a lying azz. For the average citizen, America has the best healthcare system in the world by far). If you’re poor, Canada’s is great. But most of us aren’t poor (or rich).

e.g. Yesterday, I had to pay $800 for professional liability insurance which is a)useless, and b)forced upon me by the govt. It is useless because it will never cover a claim as it only covers a very few things. $800 taken right out of my pocket because of the govt. Year after year. By the time I retire, it’ll cost me probably $50K of my nestegg. Ditto for the ridiculously high licensing fees.

Sorry for the rambling, but it’s all connected, and leads me back to my original point – that the govt is far too powerful, getting larger year after year, and injects itself into just about everything to the great cost and detriment of the citizens. Govt should be here to serve us in a limited and as-needed basis. Not to take care of everything our whole lives.

So, enjoy your 2% savings accounts fellows – because I’m earning a whopping .65% on my savings, which is costing me many thousands of dollars a year in lost interest income. Oh, and that USA friend of mine – she has a municipal bond portfolio where she a)is earning over 4% on average, and b)pays NO TAXES on the interest income whatsoever (munis are exempt). Contrast that with the brilliant TFSA where we get to save $50 a year in taxes on interest. Hurray!