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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