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YOURESSENTIALGUIDE TO CANADAWhat you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Your Essential Guide to CanadaWhat you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful. 2014 Edition Copyright ©All rights reserved. CanadianVisaExpert No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, CanadianVisaExpert. 7030 Woodbine Avenue, Suite 500, Markham, Ontario L3R 6G2, CANADA canadianvisaexpert.com -2- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

DisclaimerYour Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make yourrelocation smooth and successful is a blueprint for those who wish to enhancetheir knowledge on how to live and work legally in Canada. While it does notreplace the expertise of immigration lawyers, it does provide the individualwith the tools to know exactly what is involved in immigrating to anothercountry, specifically Canada in this case.The information contained in this guide should not be considered as legaladvice. Although the author and publisher believe the information in thisbook to be accurate on the date of its publication, the reader should beaware that immigration laws, regulations and procedures are constantlychanging. It is up to the reader to make sure that the information is accurateand up to date.The author and publishers shall not be held liable for any damage suffereddirectly or indirectly due to the use of this guide. -3- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

IntroductionMoving to a new country is exciting but can also be stressful if you are notprepared. This book will help you become more familiar with Canada andgive you the knowledge you need to live a better life there.Canada has emerged as a competitive world order with one of the strongesteconomies, top ranked education systems and a universal healthcare systemthat collectively - offer a high standard of living to the people residing there.A diverse nation comprised of many different ethnic groups with an ongoingnew generation of immigrants who contribute their unique skills to theeconomy, Canada is therefore not only financially wealthy but a culturallyrich nation as well. Amazing natural landscapes with waterfall cascades,fun public holidays, national sports and shopping tips are among the othertopics you can look forward to in this essential guide on Canada. Enjoy! -4- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

TABLE OF CONTENTSDisclaimer���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3Introduction������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4The Economy 7Income and Salaries ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 10Income Tax������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 14Employment Opportunities������������������������������������������������������������� 15Resume and CV Formats - Matching Canadian Job Requirements����� 17Self-Employment���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19Unemployment Benefits������������������������������������������������������������������ 21Healthcare22Health Insurance���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24Life Expectancy������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 24Education26Public Education for Children���������������������������������������������������������� 28Higher Academic Institutions & Universities������������������������������������� 29Culture31Customs and Religions������������������������������������������������������������������� 32Language in Canada����������������������������������������������������������������������� 35Arts����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 35 -5- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada –What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Sports�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36Public Holidays������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 37Leisure39Nature and Travel���������������������������������������������������������������������������40Native Animals������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 42Shopping��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 43Immigration50Immigration Programs�������������������������������������������������������������������� 51Immigration Requirements������������������������������������������������������������� 52Immigration Benefits���������������������������������������������������������������������� 53Conclusion54 -6- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

THE ECONOMYThe Canadian economy has become a worldwide financial force. Highlydiversified, Canada has been able to adapt to many a change and grow at avery fast rate. Canada’s growth has put more money into the hands of itsresidents in recent years than any other country. Residents enjoy a higherstandard of living compared to other nations and are some of the wealthiestpeople in the world. Immigrants especially have become an essential partthe economy, generating a tremendous amount of wealth and contributingto Canada’s economic diversity and long-term economic competitiveness.Canada is ranked as the 11th largest economy in the world and, therefore, isone of the world’s most prosperous nations. An advanced and industrializedsociety, Canada’s industries span from technology to fishing and frommanufacturing to services. Resembling the U.S. economy in many ways,Canada now outperforms the U.S. in a number of economic standardsincluding a lower unemployment rate. -7- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Canada has one of the “freest economies” in the world. Economic freedom isessential to market development and movement. It gives access to businessopportunities and makes private ownership easier. The higher the economicfreedom in a country, the more secure and transparent the economy generallyis. Steadfast regulations and capital standards are sufficient in Canada whenit comes to property rights, freedom from corruption, government spending,trade freedom, ability to invest, among other aspects that are valuable to asuccessful capitalistic system. Canada has an economy that many investors,domestic and international, prefer to invest in because they trust and valuethe market.Canada’s federal government in Ottawa (Canada’s capital city) is responsible forsupervising the economy and its democratic system. The federal governmentmandates the rule of law while providing autonomy to local authorities in theCanadian provinces and territories, very similar to Washington, D.C., in theUnited States, and its interactions with the 50 States. By doing so, Canada’sfederal government recognizes the need for provinces to make localizeddecisions that directly impact their markets, community and society.Canada’s federal government is more conservative, however, with stricterpolicies and regulations to protect the country’s economic system andfinancial institutions. Recently, when banks around the world almost wentbankrupt during the recession crisis in 2008, Canadian banks to the contrary,firmly stood their ground. Banks in Canada weathered the recession stormpartly because of conservative management styles and partly because ofstronger federal regulations. Restrictions on banks not to financially over-leverage, especially in the sub-prime real estate market, saved the Canadianeconomy from disaster. Canada’s financial institutions were affected by theglobal crisis, but did not suffer the same dire circumstances that many banksdid around the world. -8- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

One of the best indicators of Canada’s economic stability was its real estatemarket, which did not “lose its bottom” like the United States where housingprices plunged by 30% or more (depending on location) from their 2006peak prices, or in Britain where prices dropped by some 20% or more fromtheir 2007 listing prices.Indeed, Canada was among the first nations to emerge from the globalrecession. This outcome can be attributed to its banking prudence, firmfederal regulations and economic policies that continue to position theeconomy for long-term economic competitiveness.Open trade is a large piece of the Canadian economic pie. Imports andexports are crucial to the country’s GDP, growth and wealth levels. Lowtariff and non-tariff barriers make Canada’s trade policies very competitive.The United States is its main trading partner, absorbing more than 70% ofall Canadian exports. Canadian exports include motor vehicles and parts,industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment, chemicals,plastics, fertilizers, wood pulp, timber, crude oil, natural gas, electricityand aluminum. Imported goods include machinery and equipment, motorvehicles and parts, refined petroleum products, chemicals, electricity anddurable consumer goods. Canada’s total exports exceed $462.4 billion peryear, while total imports are $461 billion per year. Open trade policies allowinvestments to enter the market more easily. And these investments helpcreate a more rich and competitive market that is both efficient and dynamic.Canada’s best industries contribute to more than half of Canada’s GDP.These industries are dominated by the service industry (a service industry isa business that does work for a customer, and occasionally provides goods,but is not involved in manufacturing.) The services industry employs about75% of the Canadian workforce. Canada also has a thriving production/ -9- CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

manufacturing sector. The logging and oil industries, for example, are twoof Canada’s most important production sectors. Canada also has largemanufacturing, automobile and aircraft industries. Furthermore, with thePacific Ocean running along its West Coast and the Atlantic Ocean runningalong its East Coast, Canada boasts the 8th largest commercial fishing andseafood industry in the world. Other major Canadian industries includetransportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals,food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum andnatural gas.Quantified, Canada has a GDP of $1.737 trillion per year and an annual GDPgrowth of 2.4%. Some sectors make up larger parts of the economy’s GDP,such as agriculture at 1.9%, industry at 27.1% and the service sector at 71%.Canada’s annual inflation rate is a very low 1.6% and its unemployment rateof 7.5% (December 2012) is lower than that of the United States (7.8% inDecember 2012). The country’s main import partners are the U.S. at 49.5%,China at 10.8% and Mexico at 5.5%, while the country’s main export partnersare the U.S. at 74.90%, China at 3.31% and the UK at 4.1%. Canada’s grossexternal debt is $1.181 trillion as of June 2011. The public debt is at 33.9%of GDP. Canada also provides economic relief and aid of $4.1 billion a year.Income and SalariesIndividuals and families earn more money these days because of a strongerCanadian currency and the country’s healthy economic growth. In the pastfew years, the Canadian dollar rose by 15% against the U.S. dollar, 11% againstthe euro and 40% against the British pound. The average Canadian incomerose according to the currency which has put more money into the pocketsof Canadians compared to other people. - 10 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Families with children have a median household income of $78,800, which isexpected to increase further in the near future. A rise in income has pushedsalaries in Canada higher than those in England, the U.S. and most of Europerespectively.Disposable income (e.g., the money available to a household for spending ongoods and services) is about $27,138 a year in Canada, slightly higher thanthe global average. Household wealth (e.g., the total value of a household’sfinancial worth) is estimated at $60,344 annually and a lot higher than theglobal yearly average of $36,238. These statistics show that Canadians havemore equity and wealth compared to the rest of the world.These higher income levels are more often than not directly correlated tohigher living standards, including quality education, healthcare and housingfor residents. Canadians also have a higher homeownership rate comparedto Americans, Japanese, Swedes, Danes, French and Germans. They alsotend to live in larger homes of 5 or more rooms.So, what does all this mean? What kind of income or salary can you expectto earn in Canada according to your skills and occupation? Of course, itdepends on a number of factors, including location, industry and uniqueskills, but there are certain standards that apply across the board. Largecities in general (like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver) usually providehigher incomes, but those incomes are proportional to higher costs of livingin those areas. Not only is location important, but one’s occupation alsocomes into play, regardless of where one lives - for example, a petroleumengineer living in Alberta has one of the highest salaries in Canada. Genderalso plays a role in regards to income levels and salaries. For example,male employees tend to earn more on average, $24.82 an hour in a full-time position, versus $21.33 per hour for women. On average, part-time - 11 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

employees in Canada earn $16.24 per hour.The following charts provide a list of Weekly Wage Rates per sector and thenHourly Wage Rates according to occupations. Notice that the highest paidsectors by a considerable margin are mining and oil/gas drilling, followed bywork in utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications.Average Weekly Wages per industry in Canada (2011 Table)Industry Average Weekly WageForestry $929Mining and oil and gas extraction $1,735Utilities $1,666Construction $1,093Manufacturing $962Wholesale trade $1,057Retail trade $515Transportation and warehousing $929Information and cultural industries $1,081Finance and insurance $1,031Real estate and rentals $834Professional, scientific and technical services $1,157Management of companies $1,192Administration, waste management and services $748Education services $1,023 - 12 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada –What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Healthcare and social assistance $794Arts, entertainment and recreation $514Accommodation and food services $365Other services $699Public Administration $1,109Average Hourly Wages by Occupation in Canada (2011 Table)Profession Average Hourly RateRetail Sales/ Sales Clerk $12Data Entry Clerk $15Bookkeeper $17Accounting clerk $18Truck driver $20Carpenter $22Executive Assistance $23Plumber $25Electrician $25Social Worker $28Architect $29Registered Nurse $34Physical therapist $34Computer Engineer (not software) $35 - 13 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada –What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Lawyer $40Computer and Info System Manager $40Engineering Manager $42Dentist $70Income TaxCanadians have to file an income tax report every year, which they can doon their own or with the help of a bookkeeper or accountant. The amount ofincome tax that an individual must pay is based on the amount of their taxableincome (income earned less expenses) for one tax year. Personal income taxreturns must be filed before April 30. Income tax can be deducted directlyfrom an individual’s payroll and sent to the CRA, where an individual payshis or her estimated taxes during the year instead of waiting to settle up atthe end of the year. It can also be paid in a lump sum at the end of the year.Taxes are “progressive” and determined according to income levels. The lowerthe income, the lower the tax rate, as follows: 0% tax rate if total income isbetween $0 and $10,822; a 15% tax rate if total income is between $10,823and $42,706; a 22% tax rate if total income is between $42,707 – $85,413.A 26% tax rate if total income is between $85,414 and $132,405; and, finally,a 29% tax rate if total income will be over $132,406. These rates may, ofcourse, be adjusted by the Canadian government, but provide a general ideaof the tax structure.Certain other deductions are allowed in determining “net income”, such asdeductions for contributions to pensions or to Registered Retirement SavingsPlans, union and professional dues, child care expenses, donations and - 14 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada –What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

business investment losses. Individuals who have overpaid taxes or whowere overtaxed will receive a refund from the CRA upon filing their annualtax return.Employment OpportunitiesCanada offers many job opportunities for a variety of workers andentrepreneurs alike. Economic growth has created many job openingsand, consequently, the Canadian government has responded by increasingimmigration to around 260,000 permanent resident visas a year for foreignerworkers from all over the world. A permanent resident visa allows animmigrant to legally live, work and study long-term in Canada and offers theoption of applying for Canadian citizenship after as little as 3 years!Immigrants have a variety of employment options in Canada. Canada’slarger cities (such as Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto) offer morejob opportunities, but the coastlines have a lot to offer as well for thosewho want to work in the fishing, seafood or shipping industries. Sometimesescaping the competition of the big cities and moving to a place that’s lesspopulated is the answer to finding a job, as is the case in the provinces ofAlberta and Saskatchewan, which have some of the strongest economies ofany of Canada’s provinces and territories (due in large part to their wealth ofnatural resources).To find employment when you move to Canada, there are many resourcesavailable for newcomers from job websites to employment agencies. Whetheryou will want a full-time or part-time position in the private or public sector,there are many job openings that may correspond to your professional needs.The Canadian government also strives to assist newcomers in improving theiroutcomes by providing access to job related tools like job banks that help - 15 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

one learn how to create effective resumes, how to choose the right careerpath, skills assessment, etc. In today’s modern era, it is now possible tomore easily apply for a job over the Internet even before moving to Canadaand many foreign workers who have been issued a Canadian work visa havehad pre-arranged employment waiting for them when they arrived in Canada!The following is a list of job and employment sites that can help you in yourjob search: ●● www.jobbank.gc.ca Job bank helps you find jobs across Canada and has listings that are updated daily. You can advertise your profile to employers and receive a list of matching jobs. You can also browse job postings from Job Bank, see what education and training you need and find out if your occupation is in demand in a particular area. ●● www.monster.ca Here you may find resume samples, jobs and career resources at one of the largest job portals. ●● jobs-emplois.gc.ca is the official website for Government of Canada jobs. ●● www.workopolis.com has offices across Canada and currently offers more than 31,000 jobs. ●● www.canjobs.com has a wide selection of employment available throughout Canada (online resume builder and personalized job search). ●● www.bestjobsca.com is a portal for employment throughout Canada with a free web address to display your resume. ●● www.jobshark.ca provides a wide, searchable selection of Canadian jobs. - 16 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

●● www.allcanadianjobs.com is a job search database with thousands of Canadian jobs. ●● www.canadianrn.com has listings for nursing jobs across Canada. ●● www.hcareers.ca has information on restaurant, retail, hotel and hospitality jobs in Canada. ●● www.educationcanada.com is Canada’s largest educational e-recruitment resource network. ●● www.positionwatch.com has listings of hundreds of IT positions from many of Canada’s top employers seeking skilled technology professionals.Resume and CV Formats - MatchingCanadian Job RequirementsSo, how do you increase your chances of getting recognized by a potentialemployer and landing a job in Canada? As the saying goes, “When in Rome,do as the Romans do” so, when in Canada, try to match your skills to localjob requirements by tailoring your resume and submitting professional andrelevant cover letters.Having a good resume/CV is the first step to applying for the job you want.First, it will help you define your skills and how you want to implement them.A professional resume says a lot about you to potential employers in Canada.If your resume is not up to date or up to standards, then it will most likely bepassed over. Start by keeping your resume neat, short, and yet conclusive.A one to two page long resume in Canada is fine as long as it is clear and - 17 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

addresses specific job requirements. Mention your strengths and what youhave accomplished, whether it was paid or non-paid experience, includingvolunteer experience which might give you an edge. If your resume is onepage long, make sure to print it out before you send it so that you will seehow it looks in the hands of the person who has to read it. If you want tocontrol the page margins so that it doesn’t spread to two pages, save it as aPDF file and lock in the formatting and printing perimeters.Catch any mistakes in your resume before sending it out. Look at yourresume several times and have other people review it, too, before you send itout. Make sure the company name, job title and date are accurate, and thatthere are no typos. Customize your resume for every job opening, especiallyif you have a personal statement about your job skills at the top of the page.Rewrite and try to market yourself every time you send it out.Organize your resume so that it makes perfect sense and represents yourpersonal profile. For example, if you are applying for a job that requiresattention to detail, then your resume is a great place to demonstrate yourskills in this area.Use headings to organize the information in your resume. The most commonheadings are: ●● Personal Statement ●● Highlights of Qualifications ●● Professional Experience ●● Education - 18 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Keep in mind that many employers cross-reference your resume with youronline presence so make sure you know what will come up in a Google orInternet search when your name is entered in the search box. On the samenote, when you update your skills on your resume, make sure to update yourLinkedIn or other professional online profiles. Employers may also look foryou on other social media tools, such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Ifyou are active online, make sure to update or edit anything you don’t want apotential employer to see before you send out your resume.Self-EmploymentEntrepreneurship, innovation and small businesses are central to Canada’seconomy. There are over one million small businesses in Canada (small isdefined as 50 employees or less) and about 100,000 new small businesses,on average, are opened in Canada every year. New immigrants areresponsible for many of the small businesses in Canada because they arehighly motivated to succeed, have a chance at economic freedom that theymight not have had in their native country and want to work with or employtheir family members.Small businesses are essential to Canada’s economy because as a wholethey employ around 50% of the nation’s total workforce. Although smallbusinesses in Canada operate in the goods-producing industries, mostCanadian small businesses are actually found in the service industries. Thehighest concentration of high-growth firms are in professional, scientific ortechnical services, construction, administrative, support, waste managementand remediation services. Small businesses in Canada are responsible forgenerating on average $77 billion a year in revenues, or 25% of Canada’stotal exports making Canada wealthier and expanding the economy. - 19 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

It’s important to note that not all small businesses start from the ground up.Many small business owners purchase an already-established business inCanada from someone that is either retiring or who wants to sell the businessbecause they need the money. With the “baby boomer” generation reachingretirement age, a large number of businesses will likely change hands in thecoming years. Some of those businesses will have family members to takeover the business, but about a third will not, so they will have to either closethe business or sell it.Whether you want to start your own business from the beginning or purchasean established business, either way, you can improve your chances to succeedby conducting industry research and having your business stand out, butstill very relevant to the market. The name of your business should havemarketing potential and it should be registered right away so you can havelegal rights to the branding. Depending on where you reside or where youopen your business, you should also get all the right licenses before youstart working. If you don’t want to self-finance your own business, you cansearch for a combination of funding opportunities from other sources suchas bank loans, grants and investors.When scheduling a business meeting with investors or customers, you willfind that Canadians begin meetings with a minimal amount of small talkor relationship building. On the other hand, they tend to be informal andrelaxed even if the subjects are serious. Meetings are expected to be well-organized and on time and on schedule. When presenting information, itis important to have facts and figures to substantiate claims. While everyperson is different and unique, Canadians in general are rational and logicaland, therefore, not convinced by emotions, passion or feelings. - 20 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Unemployment BenefitsThe Canadian government provides Employment Insurance and temporaryfinancial assistance to residents who have lost their job at no fault of theirown. Unemployment insurance is issued to those who have lost their joband are looking for work or upgrading their skills. Canadians who are sick,pregnant or caring for a newborn or adopted child, as well as those whomust care for a family member with a significant risk of death, may alsobe assisted by Employment Insurance. For more information that pertainsto the these government benefits, refer to the official government site atCanada.gc.caThere are several types of Employment Insurance benefits. The mostcommon is the Employment Insurance Regular Benefits that are availableto individuals who were fired or lost their job due to shortage of work,seasonal layoffs or mass layoffs. Benefits are issued only if the personthat is unemployed is available, willing and able to work. How much doesunemployment insurance pay? You can receive unemployment benefits for14 to 45 weeks. The basic rate for calculating unemployment benefits is 55%of one’s weekly average insurable earnings. The maximum yearly insurableearnings are $45,900 or a maximum amount of $485 per week. - 21 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

HEALTHCARECanada has a universal healthcare system, often referred to as Medicare.Healthcare costs are publically funded by the federal and provincialgovernments and paid through funding from income taxes. The federalgovernment institutes the rule of law regulating the healthcare system atlarge, but does not mitigate day-to-day administration activities or collectany private information about an individual’s health, which means thathealthcare and patient records remain confidential.The Canadian universal healthcare system ensures that each resident getsreasonable access to hospitals and physicians without having to pay out-of-pocket fees. It is worth noting that by law, the quality of coverage does notdepend on one’s socio-economic background or income. Everyone gets fairaccess to medical care which is at the core of Canada’s values for nationalsolidarity and building a strong nation. - 22 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Canada’s universal healthcare system is stable and relatively cost-effectivepartly due to its management, low advertising costs and its simpleadministration. Public hospitals and physicians are required by law tooperate within their budget and although costs are increasing with time,rates are confined by pre-determined costs so that they are not arbitrary. Bymonitoring the amount of money that is spent on medical care, marketingand non-healthcare costs, Canada’s Medicare system is controlled andchecked, making it work for patients.How much money does the Canadian government spend on healthcare costs?That amount reached $183 billion in 2012. Total spending in Canada forhealthcare is equivalent to 10.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) whichis slightly above the average for other countries, but below the 16.0% of GDPspent on healthcare in the United States, a country that does not provideuniversal healthcare. The greater proportion of the country’s healthcaremoney is allocated to hospitals followed by pharmaceutical costs and thenphysician or caregiver costs.Roles and responsibilities for Canada’s healthcare system are dutifully sharedbetween the federal and provincial governments. Local governments haveto qualify for their share of the federal contribution by meeting federalrequirements. Provinces are responsible for the management, organizationand delivery of health services. They have a lot of say on internal socialaffairs that impact their citizens.Private insurance is optional and available to those who want it. It is a veryminimal part of the healthcare system, but is there for those who want tosupplement or use private clinics alone. - 23 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Health InsuranceIn Canada, a health card is issued by the Provincial Ministry of Health to eachindividual and with that, everyone receives the same level of care. Basic careis covered in full including emergency, essential care and even maternity orinfertility problems. Depending on where you live, dental and vision care maynot be covered but are often insured and offered by employers. Cosmeticsurgery and some form of elective surgery are not considered essential careand are generally not covered. These can be paid out-of-pocket or throughprivate insurers.Healthcare coverage is not affected by loss or change of jobs, as long aspremiums are up to date. There are also no lifetime limits or exclusionsfor pre-existing health conditions so you will not be turned down if you aresick, unlike private healthcare insurance plans that might charge you higherpremiums due to pre-existing conditions.Aside from medical care, Canada tries to promote a healthy lifestyle. Goodhealth brings many benefits, including enhanced access to education andthe job market, an increase in productivity and wealth, reduced healthcare costs, good social relations, and of course, a longer life. Therefore,preventive care and early detection are important, as are regular yearlycheckups. Incorporating exercise and healthy eating into one’s lifestyle isalso encouraged.Life ExpectancyLife expectancy is an important measurement of health. Most countriesmade large gains in life expectancy over the past decades because of betterliving conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical care. - 24 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Canadians, in particular, have benefited in this respect. Canadians havea longer life expectancy than most people in the world. For example, lifeexpectancy for Canadian women is 83 years and 77 years for men.To reduce disease and increase life expectancy, Canada has implementedlaws to discourage and reduce tobacco consumption across the country.Daily smokers among adults has been cut by half since 1980 partly due topublic awareness campaigns, advertising bans and increased taxation.Close to 90% of people in Canada testify that they feel in good health,which is a strong indicator of the future of their health and the health of thenation. Of course, older people report poorer health, as do those who areunemployed or who have less education or income, but those numbers tooare below average in comparison with other nations. - 25 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

EDUCATIONCanada’s public school system and public universities are among the top-ranked in the world and provide world-class education to people regardless oftheir background. Canada spends about 7% of its annual GDP on education,making it a priority and as a result, Canada has a very literate society with99% of Canadians aged 15 and higher having at least a ninth-grade educationand more than 20% of the workforce holding a post-secondary or higheracademic degree.A lot is invested on the education of children and the future generation ofCanadian leaders and workforce “torch carriers.” The Canadian governmentguarantees an education for every child free of charge, which is mandatoryby law starting at the age of four or five until the ages 15 or 16, depending onwhere you live in Canada. This type of public education is paid for throughtaxes and is administered by the provinces and territories in cooperationwith local school boards. - 26 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Both Elementary and Secondary education (Kindergarten through 12thGrade) in Canada are for the most part funded and regulated by the federal,provincial and local governments. Within the provinces, under the Ministryof Education, there are district school boards administering the educationalprograms. Curriculum is overseen by the province, giving parents and thecommunity access and influence on certain programs and education tracks.Because the Canadian government believes that an educated population ismuch more likely to create greater economic success, Canada does not onlyfocus on educating its youth, but also provides training and high schoolcourses for adults who need to improve their skills. It is considered to be inthe interest of the country to train its workforce to better compete in today’sglobal economy.With more than 50% of adults holding a college or university degree, Canadastands out as one of the best-educated societies in the 21st century. Andthe ratio of high school graduates versus non diploma-holders is changingas well with a decreasing gap, partly due to changes in the labor market thatrequire people to have at least a high school diploma and, in many cases, auniversity degree.Provincial and territorial education systems also continue to make headway inreducing the number of students who drop out of school. Fifteen years ago,one in five adult Canadians did not complete their high school education.Today, that figure has dropped to one in ten. Keep in mind that thesenumbers vary according to location and some schools have as few as 1 in100 students who dropout.Canada also invites and accepts many international students into its StudentVisa program because as a nation, it wants high-quality students to fill its - 27 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

schools and then provide higher-caliber workers for the Canadian labormarket. Canada has doubled the number of applications available forStudent Visas in provincial and territorial public post-secondary institutionsin the past decade in line with the growing market for high-tech and otheraccomplished individuals.Public Education for ChildrenElementary/primary and secondary/high school are mandatory in Canadafor all children. Kindergarten is available in every province, but the numberof hours provided vary according to funding and province. The traditionalschool year starts in September and ends in late June.Education in both English and French is available in most places acrossCanada according to the majority of its population and language-speakers,while French-immersion as a second language is available to mainly English-speaking students across Canada.Core subjects such as language arts, reading, writing, mathematics and scienceare provided throughout the school year and assume greater importancethan subjects like music, visual arts and physical education. Canadianstudents benefit from a variety of classes that are often tailor-made, as eachschool system is designed to meet the unique needs of its students. Manycommunities also offer a wide selection of after-school or extra-curriculumactivities that enrich and supplement the student’s classroom education.Canadian students rank among the best in the world in academic performancein math, science and reading skills. Compared to students in the UnitedStates, 15-year-olds in Canada are more than a year ahead in these subjects.Canada is also one of only a very few countries where the achievement of - 28 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

immigrant young people is equal to that of those that are natives/born inCanada. In most countries, immigrant students usually perform at a lowerlevel than their native-born peers because of their language gap.Originally, provinces had educational systems that were divided by religion,but most provinces today have abolished the separation. Ontario, Alberta,Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and certain cities in Saskatchewan, areexceptions and still maintain publicly funded separate district school boards,usually Catholic, but occasionally Protestant. In Quebec, the Catholic/Protestant divide was replaced with a French/English one in 1998.A small percentage, about 6% of students in Canada, attend private schoolsand boarding schools. A minority of these are elite private schools, whichare attended by the kids of the wealthy and prominent population in Canada.A far larger portion of private schools, however, are religious in nature.Higher Academic Institutions &UniversitiesCanadian universities educate more than 1.5 million students annually.These institutions also perform more than one-third of Canada’s researchand development on a variety of subjects, including medicine, internationalrelations and the economy. A $30 billion annual enterprise, these universitiesgenerate substantial economic wealth in communities across Canada. AmongG7 countries, Canada has the highest proportion of university graduates inthe workforce.Like in the United States, there are two main types of post-secondary schoolsin Canada: universities and colleges. Universities grant university degreessuch as Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and Doctoral degrees, while - 29 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

community colleges are subsidized by the government, provide diplomasor post-secondary school completion degrees. For cost-effective purposes,many students start out their higher education in a college and thentransfer to a university to receive a better degree. Because universitieshouse thousands of students, a smaller college setting can provide studentssmaller classrooms and more student-teacher face time. If a student choosesto attend a university from the very beginning, it is often because of theresources and prestige they can receive there.Provincial and local governments provide the majority of funding to publiccolleges and universities, with the remainder of funding coming from thefederal government, tuition fees, and research grants. Some collegesand universities receive more funding than others according to demand.Universities in Quebec receive the highest amount of annual funding andhave the lowest tuition fees, while universities in Atlantic area generallyreceive the least amount of funding.The major Canadian Universities with student populations of over 20,000include the University of Toronto, McGill University, University of WesternOntario, University of British Columbia, Queen’s University, University ofAlberta, Universite de Montreal, Universite de Laval, Universite de Sherbrooke,University of Saskatchewan, McMaster University, University of Ottawa,University of Calgary and Dalhousie University. Many of these universitieshave campuses and libraries that attract visitors who attend campus toursfor students who are thinking about enrolling and for those who simply wantto enjoy the scenery often found at a university. - 30 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

CULTURECanada is a culturally-diverse nation. Many immigrants are able to retaintheir cultural identities, traditions, languages and customs because of thefreedoms their ethnic communities are given in Canada.The foundation of Canada’s culture has been influenced by European culturesand traditions, especially those from Great Britain and France. Canada’sculture is also influenced by American culture, especially because of its closeproximity, trade relations and immigration between Canada and the U.S.Canada’s modern-day culture is considered progressive, diverse, andmulticultural. The federal government also has a role in influencing thesociety with programs, laws and institutions that benefit the public. Ademocratic governing body that represents the will of its people – Canada’sfederal government creates laws and policies that influence its culture,such as publicly-funded healthcare, taxation, outlawing capital punishment, - 31 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

efforts to mitigate poverty, support for cultural diversity and, most recently,legalizing same-sex marriage. These laws are first debated, voted on andfinally become part of Canada’s political and cultural life.Canadian society is open and relatively free of class distinctions. Most residentsstrive for equality and believe that all people deserve the same rights andrespect, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or cultural background.Racism and prejudices are not tolerated. Canadians are generally a tolerant,polite and community-oriented people. Although they enjoy individualism,at the same time, they place a great deal of emphasis on the individual’sresponsibility to the community. In fact, most Canadians have a strongerallegiance to their province or local community than to the country.Customs and ReligionsCanadians come from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. Thereisn’t “one typical” Canadian family. The majority of Canadians are Catholicor Protestant, but there are many other religions in the population and arepresentation of Aboriginal people as well. Canada’s religious groups aredivided into Roman Catholics 42.6%, Protestant 23.3%, other Christians 4.4%,Muslims 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8% and none affiliated 16%.Ethnicities or nationalities include people of British Isles origin 28%; Frenchorigin 23%; other European origin 15%; Amerindian 2%; Asian, African orArab 6%; and mixed backgrounds 26%.There are slight custom differences between regions. The people in theAtlantic Provinces, such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Islandand Newfoundland, can be characterized in general as more reserved, moreprovincial, old-fashioned and conservative. The people in Ontario tend to be - 32 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

more business-like and conservative. In Western Canada, such as Alberta,Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the people are open, friendly and relaxed. InBritish Colombia, the people are less conventional and more progressive.Quebec (the mainly French region of Canada) has a distinct cultural identitywhere the people are extremely religious and independent. Up North in theterritories, the people tend to have a strong pioneer spirit. Keep in mindthat these are regional generalities and that there are individual differencesamong people in each region of Canada.When approaching or greeting people in Canada, it is customary to shakehands. The handshake should be firm and accompanied by direct eye contactand a sincere smile. It is fine to greet someone by his/ her first name.Among the French Canadians, friends may greet each other with a couple ofkisses, one on each cheek.When it comes to gift giving, Canadians usually give presents for birthdaysand during the Christmas holiday. If invited to someone’s home for dinner,bring a small gift like a box of chocolates, flowers or a bottle of wine.In Quebec, for example, sending flowers in advance of a dinner party iscustomary. Do not send white lilies, though, as they are used at funerals.If invited to dinner or to a social event, you should dress for the occasion.Table manners are relaxed and non-formal in Canada, so you do not have toworry about what you don’t know. In Quebec, you might see a little moreformality. Table manners are generally Continental, with the fork on the leftside of the plate and the knife on the right for proper eating etiquette. Waitto be shown to your seat and do not start eating before the host has joinedthe dinner table. Do not rest your elbows on the table. Feel free to refuseindividual foods or drinks without offering an explanation. Leaving a smallamount of food on one’s plate at the end of the meal is generally acceptable. - 33 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

In formal gathering, the host gives the first toast unless he or she asks oneof the guests to do the honors. An honored guest should return the toastlater in the meal. Women may also give toasts at dinner parties.Communication between two people, especially in public should be politeand diplomatic. Communication styles are calm, practical and based oncommon sense rather than emotions or trying to impress the other personwith fallacies. If you come from a culture where dialogue is very direct, youmay want to soften your approach and tone of voice in order to appear morepleasant and less aggressive. Keep in mind that communication styles vary,especially between English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians.Body gestures are only really used to add emphasis to a message withoutvulgarity or aggressive gestures. Canadians like their space and prefer tobe at arm’s length when speaking to someone, so it is better to speak withwords than non-verbal gestures. When engaging in conversation, Canadiansare not always prepared or forthcoming to discuss their personal lives. Theyexpect to get to know you first, even though they are trusting for the mostpart. They also expect people to speak in a straightforward manner andto be able to back up their claims with facts in order to feel comfortable.They themselves do not make exaggerated claims and are suspicious ofsomething that “sounds too good to be true.”If you are a heavy smoker and are used to smoking in your own countryin public places, you should know that the culture of smoking has taken asmaller role in Canada. Smoking has become increasingly unpopular and isnot permitted in most public buildings. Many families do not allow smokingin their homes and they expect other people to abstain in their home. - 34 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Language in CanadaYou will hear many spoken languages in Canada, similar to what youwould find in the United States. English and French are the most preferredlanguages. Both English and French are recognized by the Constitution ofCanada as the country’s “official languages,” which means that all laws ofthe federal government are available in both English and French. Federalgovernment services are also required to be available in both languages.The five most widely-spoken non-official languages are Chinese (the homelanguage of 2.6% of Canadians), Punjabi (0.8%), Spanish (0.7%), Italian (0.6%),and Arabic (0.5%).ArtsMuseums are a great place to find and learn more about Canada’s art andculture. Public art institutions are created in the public interest in order topreserve and display art. While “art” itself can have a very wide definition,museums capture a wide spectrum of Canadian artwork. Canadians museumsacquire, preserve, research, interpret and exhibit tangible and intangibleevidence of art, society and nature. Museums provide a physical forum forcritical inquiry and investigation into the art culture.Most of Canada’s museums are not-for-profit institutions, with art exhibitsthat are regularly open to the general public. These museums showcasemany categories in the art world from modern to classic, maritime to political,and from local to international artistic items.The national gallery of Canada, located in Ottawa, Ontario, is one ofCanada’s premier art galleries. The Gallery has a large and varied collectionof paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs. It is worthwhile to visit, - 35 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

and although it focuses on Canadian art, it holds works by many notedAmerican and European artists as well.SportsSports in Canada are celebrated on a local and national level, and create asense of national camaraderie among fans who cheer for a common team.These teams usually represent their hometown. There are many sports andcontests that Canadians value, the most common are in ice hockey, lacrosse,football, basketball, soccer, curling and baseball, with ice hockey and lacrossebeing Canada’s official winter and summer sports, respectively.Ice hockey (referred to simply as “hockey”) is Canada’s most popular wintersport with the most spectators. The Canadian hockey teams and athletes arethe most successful in international hockey competitions. Lacrosse, a sportwith Native American origins, is Canada’s oldest and official summer sport.Canadian football is Canada’s second most popular and watched sport, andthe Canadian Football League’s annual championship, the Grey Cup, is thecountry’s largest annual sporting event. Soccer has the most registeredplayers of any team sport in Canada. The top ten sports that Canadiansparticipate in are golf, ice hockey, swimming, soccer, basketball, baseball,volleyball, skiing, cycling and tennis.With a much colder climate during the winter season, Canada has enjoyedgreater success at the Winter Olympics than at the Summer Olympics. Greatachievements in Canadian sports are recognized by Canada’s Sports Hallof Fame, while the Lou Marsh Trophy is awarded annually to Canada’s topathlete by a panel of journalists. - 36 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Public HolidaysDuring “public holidays,” government offices, banks and schools are closedin observance of a national or religious holiday. A list of these holidays andspecial events can easily be found online or on Canadian calendars. Thefirst public holiday on the list starts off with New Year’s Day on January 1st.Canadians celebrate New Year Eve with fireworks and exciting celebrations,and on the following day begin the rest of their new year with blessings totheir family, friends, colleagues and more.Family Day on February 18th is a holiday for families to have a day off. GoodFriday, a religious holiday, is in March or April (it can vary each year) the Fridaybefore Easter Sunday and is celebrated at the same time and in much thesame way as it is in other Western countries, like in the U.S. Easter Monday isanother important religious holiday where schools, banks and governmentoffices are closed for religious observance. Victoria Day, observed on theMonday before May 25th, celebrates former Queen Victoria’s birthday. SinceCanada is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which the Queenof England heads (currently, Queen Elizabeth II), it is therefore observed.Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st. July 1st marks the anniversary of theformation of the union of the British North American provinces in a federationunder the name of Canada - that’s the technical explanation, but Canada Dayalso means fireworks and the year’s biggest national celebration. It is akinto America’s July 4th celebration, but on a Canadian scale.August Civic Holiday (or August Long Weekend) is the most popular weekendfor summer travel. Expect crowds at resorts and busy highways. Labor Dayweekend is the last big travel weekend of the summer, as school starts upagain the day after Labor Day weekend. Labor Day in Canada, like in the - 37 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

U.S., celebrates worker solidarity, but also marks the end of the summervacation season. Most workers, public or private, are entitled to take the dayoff with regular pay. Some businesses remain open on holidays, such asmedical clinics and some stores, restaurants, and tourist attractions.Although Canadians do tend to get together on Thanksgiving weekend,the holiday is not as big a celebration in Canada as it is in the U.S.,where Thanksgiving is the year’s biggest holiday occasion. Nevertheless,Thanksgiving weekend is a popular time for Canadians to gather with family,so more people than usual are traveling on that weekend. Banks, schools,government offices and many corporations and businesses are closed.Nevertheless, service industries, including shopping malls, restaurants andtourist attractions, remain open.Remembrance Day or Veterans Day also falls on the same date as in the U.S.– November 11th is a day to remember and honor the men and women whohave died in war and military operation to protect the Commonwealth (italso commemorates the end of World War I).Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are on December 24th and 25th. The dayafter Christmas (December 26th) is a public holiday called Boxing Day inCanada. Several theories exist on how Boxing Day got its name. One thingis for certain - the name comes from storage boxes, not the sport calledboxing. However, you may witness enthusiastic shoppers coming to blowsover Boxing Day bargains. Boxing Day, like the day after Thanksgiving (“BlackFriday”) in the US, is the biggest shopping day in Canada. Stores, malls andmost retailers are open and generally continue to offer sales and bargainsuntil New Year’s. - 38 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

LEISURENiagara Falls (in Ontario), Montreal (in Quebec), and Vancouver (in BritishColumbia), are only a few places that provide great leisure getaways forlocals and visitors alike in Canada. These fascinating locations and othersattract millions of people every year.Tourism peaks during the summer, when more than 28 million visitors cometo Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls is a collective name for three waterfallsthat straddle the international border between the Canadian province ofOntario and the U.S. state of New York (the falls on the Canadian side of theborder are also known as “Horseshoe Falls” because of the shape of thesespectacular cascades).Montreal, considered Canada’s “cultural capital” and the second largest cityin Canada (after Toronto), attracts many visitors as well, offering many greatplaces to visit and experience. - 39 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Last, but not least, is Vancouver, a West Coast seaport in British Columbia,that is ranked as one of the top ten most desirable places to live in the world,and boasts a forward-thinking culture and a booming economy.Nature and TravelCanada is a vast and incredibly scenic country which has many naturalwonders, such as magnificent mountain landscapes that are complimentedby beautiful blue lakes and pristine pine forests. Each region, province andcoast is different and can offer many travel opportunities for those who lovethe outdoors and appreciate nature in all its splendor.You can ask locals about the best travel destinations and nature spots tovisit or you can also consider points of interest on the following list: The Cascades at Virginia Falls are about twice the height of the cascadesin Niagara Falls and are a truly spectacular sight. If you can get to this remotelocation, as the vast majority of visitors travel to the park by chartered floatplane, with a few brave souls hiking or paddling in, then you will be in for areal treat. Thousand Islands in Ontario is exactly what it sounds like - a stretch of1,864 islands ranging in size from over 40 square miles to smaller islandswith single residence and also uninhabited outcroppings of rocks peekingout above the water line. The range of island cottages is truly amazing froma mansion with 120-rooms to tiny huts clinging to rocky boulders. Whensummer travel peaks, the region buzzes with activities. It is a great place fora boat ride like no other with the family. - 40 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Western Brook Pond in Newfoundland has a spectacular National Parkwith dozens of thundering waterfalls cascading off 610-meter-high rockwalls. Cruise ships steer through crystal clear waters, offering visitors viewsfrom the water level, while hiking trails let others gaze from above. Polar Bear Capital of the World - One of nature’s many unique locations inCanada is Churchill, Manitoba, which is the location for a large concentrationof the world’s largest land carnivore - the polar bear. In fact, there are somany polar bears in the Churchill area that it has been nicknamed the “PolarBear Capital of the World!” The area around this Manitoban town also offerssome of nature’s most beautiful sights, with winter snow and ice coveringthis spectacular frozen landscape. Algonquin Provincial Park is Ontario’s lake country. The nation’s mostfamous painters — the Group of Seven — chose to do much of their artworkthere because of the beautiful landscape and wealth of nature. Millionsof tourists come to the park year-round to camp, paddle canoes, hike,snowshoe and ski. Its massive size means it rarely feels crowded and withthousands of paddle-in campsites, there are only a few other places thatprovide such space away from the busy city life. Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta is one of the world’s best areasfor finding dinosaur bones. Aside from the poetic terrain, you will find anexhibit style museum on dinosaurs, fossils, the geology and natural historyof the park. The Royal Tyrrell Museum, home to more than 130,000 fossilsand one of the world’s premiere showcases for “all things dinosaur” is inthat area as well. Hopewell Rocks in the Bay of Fundy is an amazing collection of rockformations rising from the shore in New Brunswick. When the water tide - 41 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

is low, visitors can actually walk among these unique rocks as if they arestrolling through a museum’s sculpture collection. When the tide is high, theonly way to get a close look at the rocks is by boat. Niagara Falls in Ontario is so well known and for a very good reason.Aside from the casinos, theme parks and souvenir shops, it is undeniablyNorth America’s most powerful waterfall attraction. As much as six millioncubic feet of water pours over the cliff of the falls’ three sections everyminute — that’s enough to fill nearly 100 Olympic-sized swimming poolsevery minute! Tourists can watch from several locations or a take a boatride below these majestic cascades. Wherever you stand, the enormity ofthe waterfall will surely shock you. Lake Louise in Alberta is a glacial lake that is located in beautiful BanffNational Park. If you are looking for emerald-green waters, mountainoussurroundings and glaciers looming over the lake’s west end, this is the spotfor you. The Chateau Lake Louise opened back in 1911 and today is amongthe most opulent hotels in the Rockies. In the winter, tourists flock to skateon the frozen lake, while in the summer they delve into it with rented canoesand also hike the dozens of surrounding trails. If all of this doesn’t soundlike a great escape and a fun family trip, then maybe shopping is your thing,so read ahead!Native AnimalsThe wildlife of Canada is diverse and includes animals such as the Arctic fox,beaver, bison, caribou, pronghorn, grizzly bear, polar bear, moose, white-tailed deer, bald eagle, Canadian goose, snowy owl, bighorn sheep, seaotter, walrus, rattlesnake, wild horse, wolf, cougar, and Canada lynx. Canadahas multiple ecosystems, ranging from the lush forests of British Columbiato the grassy prairies of Western Canada to the tundra of the Northern - 42 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Canada. With a large land mass and small population density, the wild landsof Canada provide an important habitat for many animals, both endangeredand otherwise. Canada is home to approximately 70, 000 known species ofplants and animals-and perhaps many more that have yet to be discoveredin this enormous, scenic country.ShoppingIf you need to shop for yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada,you should be aware that there are many discount and value stores that cangive you more for your money.Stores in Canada may be set up differently than what you have experiencedin other countries. For example, there are many Canadian stores that aregrouped together in large shopping malls so you can get all your shoppingdone in one place (and even get a bite to eat while in the mall). Each storehas its own payment system where you pay for your purchases and mostwill accept credit cards and, of course, cash. Make sure to keep your receiptwith every purchase. Your purchase receipt is not only proof that you paidfor your goods, but often has details on the company’s return policies andexchanges. You will need this receipt if you need to return an item for arefund or exchange. It may be a good idea as well to ask about a store’sreturn policy before making a purchase, as these policies will differ for eachcompany and having this knowledge in advance can help you to have abetter shopping experience.Many places in Canada also have large outdoor markets (sometimes called“flea markets”) where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables and othergoods from local farmers and craftspeople. These “flea market” events aregreat if you like organic and freshly picked fruits and vegetables. You can - 43 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

find out about them in advance as they are usually publicized in and aroundthe neighborhood on large signs, so watch out for them, especially duringthe summer time. Most of the “flea market” merchants only accept cash.A “Farmers’ Market” is a public event (often held on a particular day of theweek or the month) where a group of vendors come together to sell theirproducts. The most common products at these markets are fresh, organicor home-grown vegetables and fruits, homemade pastries and deserts, andother specialty food products. Homemade or handmade products suchas jewelry, clothing or artistic pieces are also commonly found for sale atFarmers’ Markets. Again, merchants there will usually only accept cash (e.g.,“cash-and-carry”).A “Garage Sale” or “Yard Sale” is very common in Canada (as in the U.S.)They are informal sales events that private individuals set up right outsideof their home and usually in their car garage or in their driveway wherethey sell household items that they would like to get rid of. These sales aremost commonly held during the months of May-September and during theweekend, either Saturday or Sunday. A “Garage Sale” can be a great placeto find indoor or outdoor furniture items for your home. In fact, manyhidden treasures have been bought in “Garage Sales” when owners did notrealize the value of an item they got rid of (such as a signed copy of theConstitution, which was later sold for millions). It is a great place to findunique or practical household items that can be put to good use. Somepeople, even if they do not need to buy anything, make a weekend out ofgoing to “Garage Sales” because there are so many interesting things to findthere. If you want to shop for second-hand items in “Garage Sales” or possiblyfind a hidden treasure, check the classified section in a local newspaper orlook for “Garage Sale” signs on community bulletin boards or even postingon trees or lamp posts in your neighborhood. - 44 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

There are many other ways you can save money when shopping in Canada.Coupon websites make savings easy. Some websites offer printable coupons;others will mail you the coupons that you request. For more coupon linksand offers, search sites like canadianshoppingdeals.com or run a search forcoupons in Canada.Explore free online classifieds that people place not only in the newspaperclassified ads section but also on Craigslist which you can localize the searchaccording to the country of Canada and your location there, and eBay-ownedKijiji which is strictly for Canadians. Unlike newspaper ads, it does not costanything to post an ad on these sites, so there are thousands of products andservices being offered on any given day. Although it is intended for privateindividuals to sell their product and services, there are also many postsby commercial businesses which offer new products at deeply discountedprices. Craigslist even allows you to restrict your search to sellers in yourregion. Like an ongoing “Garage Sale,” these are great websites to find andsell items that are not needed anymore.Before you go out shopping, look for online coupon codes with your favoriteretailers before you go to the store. An increasing number of Canadiansnow shop online at their favorite stores. Major retailers, like Sears, OfficeDepot and Best Buy, allow you to enter a coupon code for additional savingsbefore checking out. Don’t have a coupon code? Run an online search for,or go to, coupon sites to download coupons with listings of coupon codesfor dozens of items that are offered by Canadian retailers.Why buy when you can trade goods? New websites are making it easier forpeople to trade books, movies, music and video games. These sites have asimple premise and are based on a system where you earn points for tradingyour items on new books, movies, music or video game titles that you want. - 45 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

Fill up your car on Mondays and Thursdays! Statistics show that gas prices inCanada tend to be at their lowest in the morning on Mondays and Thursdays,so make those your regular days to fill up your car with gasoline. To findthe lowest price for gas in your area on any given day, run a search onlinethe day before.Don’t buy two if you don’t need more than one. There are many marketingdeals like “2 for $10” promotions in department stores and other retailers,but if you only need one item, then don’t get influenced into spending moremoney on a second one. If the price is right and all you need is one, don’tbother with buying more because in most stores the checkout systems willnot be equipped to scan a single item at a higher per-unit price, so mostlikely you will get it for the lower price ($5 in the above example of “2 for$10”), but double-check with the cashier to make sure before you checkout.If you plan on buying a house in Canada, refinance your mortgage wheninterest rates are low. If you’re paying a higher rate than you can get when thegovernment lowers the interest rate in order to stimulate the housing marketand the economy, then you should consider refinancing. Even accountingfor penalties for ending your current term early and paying new fees fora refinancing deal, you will likely come out way ahead in the long run atthe lower interest rate. In most cases, your current lender will be happy torefinance and maintain you as a client.When you are ready to open a bank account where you can earn intereston your deposit, larger banks, have lower service fees since most of theirtransactions are online and they also offer significantly higher interest rateswith no monthly fees, no minimum balances and easy transfers to and fromyour existing bank. On the other hand, smaller and private banks havesmaller bureaucracies and set rules so they might be a better fit for smaller - 46 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

loans, etc. There are many banks in Canada and some charge more for theirservices than others, so ask around, do some research and try to get thebest deal you can.You can be part of Canada’s move towards a greener and more environmentally-conscious society by connecting with movements like Freecycle). It allowsmembers to properly recycle or acquire that special something for free.There are Freecycle groups in most major cities in Canada.Buy “off-season.” It’s widely-known that the best sales are often after aholiday season (for example, after Christmas), even though few people takeadvantage of it probably because they have done most of their shoppingalready. Prices of holiday season items are at their lowest point right afterthe Canada’s Boxing Day event for example, which is an ideal time to buy.Because companies stock up for the holiday season, the leftovers are sold ata much lower price. From winter gear, Valentine’s Day cards or Halloweenmasks, it may be worth buying those items after the season and save themfor the year ahead.What is “price-matching” and how can it work to your advantage? Manyleading retailers, including Future Shop, Home Depot and Staples, will matchthe price of a competitor for the same item. So, if you saw it somewhereelse for a cheaper price, mention this to the sales clerk or manager and youjust might get the lower price. Some companies even offer an additionaldiscount to beat competitors (so you’ll buy the item from them instead oftheir competitor). If you have a preferred retailer or grocery store that is nearyou and that you want to buy from, take advantage of possible customerreward programs that issue “loyalty points” that you can accumulate aftershopping with them repeatedly and you may get more value (i.e., betterdiscounts, special promotions, etc.). In order to receive “loyalty points,” you - 47 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

usually have to fill out a form in the store and will then be issued a card thatyou’ll scan at the register when you pay for items, in order to get the pointsand any discounts (so always bring your “loyalty points” card with you whenyou go shopping).Be aware that you do not have to pay for extended warranties when youpurchase a computer or any other appliance. Most electronics and consumerappliance retailers will encourage you to buy an extended warranty on anitem when you make a purchase. An extended warranty or more insuranceon the product is added insurance on your purchased item (in case it has aproblem after the manufacturer’s warranty expires) that you are not obligatedto buy. You may want to think twice about paying for an extended warranty,especially when the independent and well-respected Consumer Reportshas published data that shows appliances almost never break down duringwarranty periods, and when they do, the average cost of repair is roughlythe same as the cost of the warranty. You also may want to buy electronicsaccessories at smaller stores since big retailers like Best Buy and Future Shopoften have good deals on electronics, but when it comes to accessories forthe electronics (such as cables, connectors and batteries), you can usuallyget comparable quality for a lower price at your corner electronics store oreven at your local WalMart or similar store.When buying computers, electronics or appliances, it pays to compare pricesbefore you decide where to buy. On some sites you can compare prices onthe same or similar products from the comfort of your home so when youare ready to make a purchase, you are prepared with the facts and figuresand can go to the store with the best price.Staying in touch with your loved ones does not have to cost a lot. Nowadays,you can make long-distance phone calls for less (or even for free) with various - 48 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

services. If you plan on calling your relatives or friends while in your home(and you have Internet service), online companies like Skype and MagicJackuse VOIP technology to offer free and excellent low-cost plans. Skype offersunlimited calling to any phone in Canada or the U.S. for just $2.95 a month(as well as free Skype-to-Skype calls around the world, including video-conferencing which allows you to see your loved ones). MagicJack (alreadyhugely popular in the U.S.) will only cost you around $40 the first year (includingthe hardware which allows you to plug a telephone into your computer forcheap or free calls over the Internet), and then approximately$20-$30 a yearthereafter. If your family members or friends also buy a MagicJack, they canget a U.S./Canada phone number and you can call each other free, even ifthey are living in another country! - 49 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.

IMMIGRATIONCanada is one of the top destinations for immigrants from around theglobe. Immigrants have helped build Canada’s economy and socialsystems throughout the years and continue to contribute today. Each year,approximately 250,000 people from all over the world immigrate to Canadato begin their new lives for a promise of a better and more secure future.Now may very well be one of the best times to apply for a permanent residentvisa to Canada because Canada’s economy is expanding and is experiencinga major labor shortage, not only because more jobs are being created butalso due to many Canadian “baby boomers.” You have to go where theopportunities are and with much of the world still struggling economically, avariety of employment opportunities are available for eligible foreign skilledworkers who immigrate to Canada! Canada is also among the top countriesto attract and accept international students to its fine Universitites. - 50 - CanadianVisaExpert eBook | Your Essential Guide to Canada – What you need to know to make your relocation smooth and successful.