Hi °C | Lo °C Keith Smith is expecting his Canadian work visa to come through in the next few weeks and he won't be waiting around once he gets the green light to emigrate with his fiancee Michelle and their 13-month-old daughter Kayleigh.
Mr Smith, from Navan, Co Meath, has run his own construction business for 10 years but has been living off "just bits and pieces" since 2009.
"I'm sick of it here. I'll live anywhere," he told the Irish Independent.
His fiancee has a job in a pharmacy but would prefer to become a full-time mother, something the couple are hoping the move to Canada will make possible.
"I know a couple of locals from Navan out there. They make pretty good wages, about CN$1,400 to $1,500 (€1,050 – €1,100) for a flat week. Not as much as I used to make here in the good times but not bad living.
"There's a fella I know out there with four kids and they are playing instruments and everything at school, you don't learn that here. You might do a few weeks on the tin whistle but that's it," Mr Smith said.
Sharon Keats, from Newfoundland company Municipal Construction Ltd, had received more than 200 applications for the 30 jobs they are looking to fill.
Workers with Municipal earn a relatively modest $22 – $25 per hour, but this adds up to a large sum once they've finished a typical 60- or 70-hour week.
This is the first time her company has recruited directly in Ireland.
"They are great people, we'd like to be able to hire more. Irish people will fit in to Newfoundland," she predicted.
Irish Independent
