the OP PM'ed me the same question and I replied, then found this thread, here is my reply to him f or the benefit of everyone else:
Not sure what to tell you man.
I know another Canadian electrician that moved down here and after a few months trying to make it as an electrician he opened a restaurant instead. Haven't heard from him since and have no idea how it went. Knowing the statistics for the local restaurant industry there isn't much chance he's still around.
I do not envy any local electricians. Sure they suck but you get what you pay for, and I don't know if there is any chance a good electrician who charges according to his skills would be able to find work.
Usually its the guys with an engineering degree who get to bill the big bucks, and they never get their hands dirty, just hire a low paid electrician and swing by a couple times to inspect the work.
All that to say I have no idea how it would go for you.