Well so far the Canadians have proved a model of efficiency.
Take for instance our Social Insurance Number. In the US getting my Social Security Number was a palaver that took 11 weeks, saw me without a bank account, phoneless and unable to be paid in anything other than cash. It turned me into a 'kooky grandmother' in essence. Here we went down to the bright, airy and spacious Canada Center, filled in 6 questions and were given a number on the spot. Done. No having to carry cash for miles and miles, no suspicion, no distant processing centers with long wait times - just a big smile and a 'Welcome to Canada'
Flushed with success we headed to Ikea for a French Press, a Day Bed, a guest bed, a mattress and other 'sundry items'. We paid them at 2pm - at 5pm there was a man standing in our living room with a mattress perched atop his head asking where we wanted the stuff. And same day delivery was cheaper.
And finally the people at Bell called, in person, to check that we had a computer at home ahead of an internet install this morning. "We know that you've just moved in so we wanted to make sure we didn't have to bring a tester?"
As I said - efficient and personable. We'll see how the bank goes today and how the car goes on Monday