A Little About Canada
Canada is the second-largest country in size – but not population – in the world. Canada spans seven time zones and encompasses territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Arctic to the northern border of the United States. Canada consists of 10 provinces and three territories, and measures 7,000 km from east to west.
Canada is commonly known as a "cold" country; however, the climate and landscape are very diverse, with everything from evergreen forests, to temperate rainforests, to desert, and from mountains, to sprawling prairie and northern tundra. There are salt and fresh water beaches, and the Bay of Fundy, between the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, contains the world's highest tides. Canada contains one-seventh of the world’s fresh water supply.
Canada promotes multiculturalism, and encourages its citizens to enjoy their cultural heritage. This can be seen in the wide variety of festivals that take place across the country – Toronto's Caribana, the Calgary Stampede, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and many, many more.
Canada depends on immigration to assist in the growth of the country. The current population of Canada is 31 million people, and approximately 250,000 people immigrate to Canada each year.
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Canada’s Climate
Because Canada is such a large and geographically diverse country, the climate can vary greatly from one area to another. Overall, it can be officially described as: “temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north.” Canadians enjoy all four seasons no matter where they reside, and Canada remains known for cold, snowy winters, since so much of the country does experience these.
This allows for exciting winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and skating, plus the much-anticipated summer activities, like swimming, waterskiing, hiking, camping, boating, tennis, baseball, and golfing. People find that they do not have to travel too far to enjoy these activities.
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Taxes
Canadians pay a variety of taxes, including those levied on income and those on purchases. All residents of Canada are subject to income tax. Income taxes are used by federal and provincial governments to provide services, such as roads, schools, and healthcare. Other funds deducted from your income include a small amount towards the Canada Pension Plan (which one collects once one retires) and towards Employment Insurance (which provides money to eligible, unemployed individuals for a brief time while looking for a new job or undergoing training or for maternity leave).
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Canadian Healthcare System
Canada provides a universal publicly funded health system that covers most healthcare expenses (but not, for example, prescriptions, dental care, glasses, etc.) for citizens and permanent residents. The system is known as medicare, but more commonly known within provinces by an acronym of, or abbreviation for, the province’s own health insurance. For example, in the province of Ontario, residents refer to “OHIP” (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) not “medicare.”
One of the most important things for a new arrival to do, is to apply for a health insurance card for each family member travelling with them (including babies). To apply, a person needs a birth certificate, Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (or Permanent Residence Card), and passport. In the provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Ontario, there is a three-month waiting period before one is eligible for medicare coverage, so people settling in these provinces should obtain private insurance coverage for the first three months.
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The Educational System
Schools are run by the provinces/territories, with elementary and secondary schooling being publicly funded. All provinces have a non-denominational public school system; some, such as Ontario, also have a publicly-funded Catholic school system. There are also private schools, but these can be quite expensive. Depending on the province, education starts at junior kindergarten and continues to grade 12. Children between 6 and 16 must attend school. To register children in school, a person must bring a Record of Landing, birth or baptismal certificate, vaccination certificate, and any previous school records.
Universities and community colleges operate full classes between late August or early September to mid April or mid May. University and community college courses are not free, and the cost varies between provinces, schools, and programs.
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Entering Canada – Temporary Work Permit versus Landed Immigrant/Permanent Resident
Temporary Work Permit
Every year over 90,000 foreign workers enter Canada on a temporary basis to address shortages in Canada. In almost all cases, foreign workers must have a valid work permit to work in Canada. The following steps must be followed before a work permit can be applied for by a foreign worker
- An employer must first offer you a job.
- Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) must provide a labour market opinion (LMO) or “confirmation” of your job offer.
- After HRSDC confirms that a foreign national may fill the job, you apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a work permit. This confirmation does not guarantee your entry into Canada. You must meet all immigration requirements. In some cases, a medical examination may be required.
There are specific conditions placed on a work permit. These may include things like the type of employment and employer, and/or the location and length you are allowed to work. Work permits can be renewed through the federal government’s processing centre in Vegreville, Alberta. Renewal of a work permit will require a new LMO from HRSDC.
When in Canada on a work permit, you can apply for permanent residency. Your application must be submitted outside the country (e.g. at a visa office in a city across the Canada/US border, such as Buffalo, New York; or at an office in your country of citizenship).
Landed Immigrant/Permanent Resident
If you want to come and live in Canada as a permanent resident without a work permit, but based on your work skills or experience, see if you qualify for the Skilled Worker Program. This process can take years.
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Becoming a Canadian Citizen
An adult applying for citizenship must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a permanent resident of Canada who entered the country legally
- Have lived in Canada for three of the four years before applying for citizenship
- Speak either English or French
- Know something about Canada’s history, geography, system of government, and voting Know the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
- Apply for citizenship and pass the citizenship test
- Take the oath of citizenship
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Important Documents to Bring When Relocating to Canada
- Birth certificates and/or baptismal certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Adoption, separation, or divorce papers
- School records, diplomas, or degrees for each family member travelling with you
- Trade or professional certificates or licenses Letters of reference from employers
- A résumé or curriculum vitae
- Immunization, vaccination, dental, and other health records for each family member travelling with you
- If you drive, a driver’s license, including an International Driver’s Permit, and a reference from your automobile insurance company
- If you are importing a vehicle to Canada, car registration documents
- Photocopies of all essential and important documents in case the originals are lost.
