Why I left Canada - Pizza, Taxes and Socialism

KC went shopping with the mother in law from Canada today. At the grocery store she saw the prices and fainted. After reviving her she stated that categorically every food item in the US was at least 1/2 the price it was in Canada. Milk at a grocery in the US? $1.88. In Canada? $4.99.

So I decided to do a little investigatin' and a lot of calculatin' and some assumpteratin'.

Western Pizza in good old Regina (hold the beaver jokes) Saskatchewan, Canada (pop 185,000) charges an astonishing, mind bending, delirious price of  $51.95 for an 18 inch all-dressed pizza. In addition to that - they have the rock-hard, diamond encrusted, brass coated stones to charge a $5.00 delivery charge for AAANNNYYYY pizza - not just the largest one. This makes the cost of an 18" pizza a mind numbing $56.95. Add in the generous gov't taxes to fund the working poor's adventures in life and you are out $65.50 for a pie.  A 14" "large"? That will set you back $35.95 with delivery. Over $40 with taxes. Want to see the evidence?

In the good ole' USA (capitalistic, exploit the working man USA) the same pizza would cost $21.00 at Bill's Pizza in Prescott Arizona (pop 90,000 if you count the sheep!) and you would get free delivery. For the record, the closest homes in Prescott are further from the pizza store than the farthest in Regina. And the taxes are 7%. Total cost? $22.47.

A 14" pizza, with everything, delivered in Phoenix regularly costs under $14.00. $15 with taxes.
And don't think I forgot about tipping - despite the fact Canadians never tip a delivery guy - I just negated it from both sides of the equation.

Here's where it gets good. My personal tax rate in the US is 20% lower than it is in Canada. Ergo to purchase that pie in Canada would cost me an additional 15-20% in gross pay to get the job done. Using an 18% rounding I come up with $77.29 in equivalent earnings to buy that Western Pizza dough-sicle. Lastly the US dollar is worth about 3% more than Canada, meaning all things being equal - that pie cost my Canuck bretheren about $74.97 in US funds.

Give or take - that pie is 343% more expensive in the Great White North.

Who wants a slice of that "free" health care? I'll get it with extra cheese for ya.

Part II - KC writes Western Pizza corporate head office with his cogent analysis.....

What's thin and comes in a box? No, not Michael Jackson - PIZZA!

In Phoenix, there is Pizzeria Bianco - voted a couple of years ago as the best pizza in America. New York was pissed - then they just dismissed it. I'm sure the Pizza Nazi is not too concerned.

Last week The Parlor in Phoenix was voted as having the best pizza in America. I've been to Famous Rays, Grimaldis, Totono's, Lombardis, Piece (Chicago), Giardanos (Chicago), Pizzeria Uno (Chicago) and Imos (St. Louis). I've been to Spagos (Wolfgang Puck) and Pepe's in New Haven (Clam Pizza). One of my favorites of all time is Houston Pizza in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Their all dressed is unbeleivable greek style pizza.....

There are 7 distinct varieties of pizza in the US:

1. New York Thin (must be foled in half to eat. Use a fork and die)
2. Chicago Deep Dish (a ten pound carbo bomb 4 inches thick)
3. California Style (variety of creative non traditional toppings)
4. New Haven Style (thin crust, simple toppings of cheese, sauce and garlic)
5. Greek Style (thick and spicy and oily and cut into squares. Cinnamon in the sauce...)
6. St. Louis Style (very very thin cracker type crust that isn't raised)
7. Detroit Style (sauce on top of the toppings, thinner crust like New York)

What is your favorite? What is your favorite place? Favorite toppings? Is your homemade the best ever? BTW - my wife made the pizza in the picture. I am indeed a lucky man!

I need some new places to visit when I get the "eye for pie". And don't vote for the freezer section over at the supermarket! Let the games begin.....