Welcome to Canada

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Welcome to Canada What you should know

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada's economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.

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? Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, 2013

Cat. no. Ci4-60/1-2013E-PDF ISBN 978-1-100-21642-3 C&I -1235-03-2013

Table of contents

1. Important things to do before and after you arrive in Canada..................11 Before you arrive in Canada................................................................. 11 In your first two weeks in Canada.......................................................... 14 In your first two months in Canada......................................................... 15

2. Canada: A brief overview................................................................17 Geography and climate...................................................................... 17 Cities, provinces and regions................................................................ 18 The Canadian people......................................................................... 21

Founding peoples......................................................................... 21 Carrying on the tradition................................................................ 21 Language....................................................................................... 22 Economy........................................................................................ 22 Government.................................................................................... 23 Federal state.............................................................................. 23 Parliamentary democracy............................................................... 24 Constitutional monarchy................................................................ 25

3. Sources of information...................................................................27 Immigrant-serving organizations............................................................ 27 The telephone directory (the "phone book")............................................ 28 City maps....................................................................................... 28 Government information sources........................................................... 29

Government websites.................................................................... 29 Government telephone information numbers........................................ 31 Government service offices............................................................. 31 Accessing government information and services.................................... 31 Consumer information........................................................................ 31 Libraries........................................................................................ 32 Guidebooks for newcomers.................................................................. 33

4. Your rights and freedoms in Canada..................................................35 Diversity and its limits....................................................................... 36 Equality of women and men................................................................. 36 Defending Canada............................................................................. 37

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5. Canadian law and justice................................................................39 Public law and private law.................................................................. 39 Courts........................................................................................... 39 Legal representation......................................................................... 40 Police........................................................................................... 41 Family violence................................................................................ 42 Child abuse and neglect..................................................................... 42 The age of majority and the age of consent.............................................. 42 Human trafficking............................................................................. 43 Senior abuse................................................................................... 43 Family law...................................................................................... 44

Marriage.................................................................................... 44 Divorce..................................................................................... 45 Labour laws.................................................................................... 45 Animal protection............................................................................. 45

6. Important documents....................................................................47 Permanent resident card..................................................................... 47 Social Insurance Number..................................................................... 47 Health card.................................................................................... 49

Applying for a government health insurance card................................... 49 Waiting period for receiving public health insurance............................... 50 Health coverage for protected persons or refugee claimants..................... 50

7. Improving your English and/or French...............................................53 Canada: A country with official bilingualism.............................................. 53 The importance of language skills.......................................................... 53 Taxpayer-funded language classes......................................................... 55 Registering for taxpayer-funded language classes....................................... 56 Private language classes..................................................................... 57 Language proficiency tests and certificates.............................................. 57

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Welcome to Canada

8. Employment and income................................................................59 Key sources of information on working in Canada....................................... 59 Foreign credential recognition.............................................................. 60 Workplace language skills.................................................................... 62 Searching and applying for jobs............................................................ 62

Searching for jobs........................................................................ 62 Applying for jobs.......................................................................... 63 Other resources............................................................................... 63 Volunteering, internships and bridging to work programs.............................. 64 Mentorship opportunities.................................................................... 64 Starting a business............................................................................ 66 Employees' rights............................................................................. 66 Employment Insurance....................................................................... 68 Other financial support programs.......................................................... 68 Child care...................................................................................... 69 Pensions........................................................................................ 70 Canada Pension Plan..................................................................... 70 Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement............................. 71 International social security agreements............................................. 71

9. Education...................................................................................73 Elementary and secondary education...................................................... 76

Overview of elementary and secondary education.................................. 76 School boards.............................................................................. 77 Additional information and enrolling students....................................... 77 Adult secondary education.............................................................. 80 Post-secondary education.................................................................... 80 Universities................................................................................ 80 University, colleges and institutes..................................................... 81 Choosing a program of study and applying to post-secondary institutions...... 81 Credential recognition................................................................... 83 Costs and financial assistance.......................................................... 83 Part-time and distance education..................................................... 85

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10. Housing....................................................................................87 Temporary accommodation.................................................................. 87 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation............................................... 88

Types of housing in Canada............................................................. 88 Renting your first home in Canada......................................................... 89

Tenants and landlords.................................................................... 89 Finding a place to rent.................................................................. 91 Moving in and signing a lease........................................................... 92 Paying the rent............................................................................ 93 Rent increases............................................................................. 93 Moving out................................................................................. 93 Buying your first home in Canada.......................................................... 94 Looking for a home....................................................................... 94 Making an offer........................................................................... 94 Financing your home..................................................................... 95 Down payments and mortgage loan insurance....................................... 96 Credit score and history................................................................. 96 Home inspection.......................................................................... 96 Other forms of housing....................................................................... 96 Government-assisted housing .......................................................... 96 Co-op housing............................................................................. 97 Post-secondary student housing........................................................ 97 Emergency housing....................................................................... 97 Housing for seniors....................................................................... 97

11. Health care in Canada..................................................................99 Canada's universal health-care system.................................................... 99 Supplementary health insurance..........................................................101 Getting a health card........................................................................101 Finding a doctor and dentist...............................................................101

Doctors....................................................................................101 Dentists....................................................................................101 Emergency help..............................................................................102 Vaccinations for adults and children......................................................102 Medical surveillance.........................................................................103 Pregnancy and maternity benefits.........................................................103 Access to prescription drugs...............................................................103 Mental health and addiction services.....................................................103

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Welcome to Canada

12. Money and finances................................................................... 105 Money..........................................................................................105

Currency..................................................................................105 Exchanging foreign money into Canadian money...................................106 Sending money...........................................................................106 Cost of living.............................................................................106 Tipping....................................................................................106 Taxation.......................................................................................107 Income tax................................................................................107 Tax-free savings..........................................................................108 Other taxes...............................................................................108 Further information on taxation......................................................108 Banking........................................................................................109 Opening a bank account................................................................109 Main types of bank accounts...........................................................110 Debit cards................................................................................110 Cheques...................................................................................111 Credit and loans..............................................................................112 Credit cards..............................................................................112 Choosing a credit card..................................................................112 Applying for a credit card..............................................................114 Personal bank loans.....................................................................115 Lines of credit............................................................................115 Credit reports and scores...............................................................115

13. Transportation......................................................................... 117 Travelling around Canada...................................................................117

Airplane...................................................................................117 Train.......................................................................................117 Bus.........................................................................................118 Ferry.......................................................................................118 Car.........................................................................................118 Urban transportation........................................................................119 Public transportation (public transit)................................................119 Transportation for people with physical disabilities...............................119 Taxis.......................................................................................121 Walking and cycling.....................................................................121 Driving in Canada............................................................................122

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Driving licences..........................................................................122 Car insurance.............................................................................124 Driving laws and rules...................................................................124 Buying or leasing a car..................................................................125 Safety......................................................................................125

14. Communications and media......................................................... 127 Telephone.....................................................................................127

Making a telephone call................................................................127 Telephone service.......................................................................128 Postal services................................................................................129 Internet........................................................................................130 Television and radio.........................................................................130 Newspapers and magazines................................................................131

15. Community connections............................................................. 133 Connecting with others.....................................................................133

Immigrant-serving organizations......................................................133 Volunteering..............................................................................133 Community centres......................................................................134 Sports teams and sports centres......................................................134 Joining associations or social clubs...................................................135 Getting involved in your child's school...............................................135 Places of worship........................................................................135 Your neighbourhood.....................................................................135

Becoming a Canadian citizen............................................................ 137

Acknowledgment................................................................................... 138

Photo credits....................................................................................... 139

Notes................................................................................................. 143

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Welcome to Canada

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