Okaies my dad's FINALLY leaving the navy after 20 grueling years (missed most of my birthdays

....more cake for me then..tehe) and he's faced with the task of buying a house.
When he leaves he is given a BIG FAT CHECK of about 45,000, which some will be spent on our life-time promised trip, touring america.
Anyway he has been looking into the housing market with my mother since chrisrmas time and has announced that they are seriously looking at a place in Canada...
I was just wondering wether anyone has had any experiences of Canada and would either recommend it or indefidently slate it...