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Each Canadian province and territory has it’s own individual policies, customs and lifestyle. However, we hope that the general information provided in the following pages will give you a good indication of what you should be aware of when moving to your new homeland. For more information regarding life in Canada visit www.canada.gc.ca
At approximately 10 million square kilometres, Canada is the second largest country in the world. It spans five and a half time zones and is bordered by three oceans. Canada’s width from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean is more than 7,700 kilometres and would take a good two weeks to drive across. Canada can be divided into six main geographical regions: The Atlantic Provinces, The Canadian Shield, The Great Lakes-St Lawrence Lowlands, The Interior Plains, The Cordillera and The Great White North. Much of Canada’s land has never been permanently settled and remains only partly inhabited with an average of only three people for every square kilometre. It is estimated that there is more than 14.5 hectares of forest for every person in Canada. Canada has four very distinct seasons and due to the country’s size the climate varies considerably from region to region. The warmest areas are on the US border (where most people live) and summers are longer and winters are shorter. July and August are the warmest months across the whole country, which are usually dry with temperatures reaching from mid to high 20ﾺC. There tends to be more summer rain on the west and east coasts and of course the far north has extremely long daylight hours. Canadian winters are long and cold with more than two thirds of the country having an average temperature of –18ﾺC in January. Major cities are not quite so cold but temperatures are generally below freezing. Snowfall is frequent and is especially heavy in the central regions.
Canada’s population is approximately 33 million (July 2007). Owing to immigration, Canada’s population growth rate of approximately 1 per cent per year is well above that of many developed countries. An uneven population distribution places 79% of Canadians in urban areas. Economic and climatic pressures also mean that over 80% of the population are within 250 km of the US border and 90% of Canadians live on 12% of the country’s land. The indigenous Canadians (Inuit, North American Indian and M￩tis) make up only 4.4% of the population. In recent years there has been a substantial change in the countries from which immigrants have come. An increasing proportion is from non-European countries, with those from Asia accounting for the largest share of recent arrivals. Immigrants, representing about 17.5% of the population, are not evenly dispersed with most living in just four provinces - Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta.
English and French are the official languages of Canada. However, 61% of Canadians consider English their first language and it is the principal language in most provinces and territories with the exception in the province of Quebec, where French is predominantly used. Christianity is the faith most widely professed, with Roman Catholic and Protestant the most common denominations. In 1867 the provinces now known as Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined together in Confederation to create the new country of Canada. Further provinces joined later, and Canada as we know it has only existed since 1949, when Newfoundland voted to join. The federal system of government means that powers and responsibilities are divided between the federal government and the 10 Canadian provincial governments. Canada also has territorial jurisdictions in the far north of the country. The provinces are largely self-governing and are presided over by premiers elected within each province. The form of government in Canada is a constitutional monarchy. A parliamentary system with the official head of state being Queen Elizabeth II, whose representative within Canada is the Governor General. The Canadian Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the Senate and the Parliament buildings are located in Ottawa. The House of Commons is the national legislature elected by Canadian citizens. It is made up of 301 members. Members of parliament are usually associated with a political party, although some members do sit independently. The Senate is the Upper House of Parliament. Members of the Senate are appointed by the Governor General upon recommendation by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, who is the head of the political party with the most elected representative seats in the House of Commons, leads the ruling government of Canada. The Prime Minister selects Ministers to form the Cabinet, who in effect run the country and initiate legislation. Federal elections occur once every five years and the party with the most seats from 301 constituencies becomes government. Within each constituency, the candidate with more votes than any other single candidate (not necessarily 50%) wins the seat. All Canadians aged 18 and over may vote. For further information please visit – www.canada.gc.ca Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982, forms the basis of the country’s legal system, by listing the jurisdictions over which federal and provincial governments have exclusive lawmaking authority. The Criminal Law is a federal body of law that prohibits certain kinds of conduct and actions that are considered to be an offence against society as a whole. The Civil Law governs conflict between the individual and other private parties such as contract disputes, property, wills, certain areas of family law and civil rights. In most of Canada, civil law is based on common law, which originated in England. This law is based on tradition: a legally binding judicial decision which sets a precedent which is then followed in similar cases in future. Quebec, however, is governed by le droit civil which has its roots in France and involves consultation of a written code first and then considers precedents set by earlier decisions. Canada has a comprehensive social security network for families, the elderly, aboriginal peoples and for virtually anyone in Canada who may need it. Social security is provided through both federal and provincial programs. Many young families are entitled to the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), which is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18. The Old Age Security program is one of the cornerstones of Canada's retirement income system and provides a modest pension for people at age 65 if they have lived in Canada for at least 10 years. Though Canada has a generous social security system, it comes at high cost to employees. Unemployment insurance and pension plan contributions are deducted from an employee’s pay cheque. Canada’s health system is the responsibility of the provincial governments but the federal government also contributes funds. The health system is funded through taxes and residents don’t have to "pay" directly for most health care services. Access to healthcare is guaranteed to all, however, most provinces will not cover newly landed migrants for the first three months, during which time private insurance should be taken. In most provinces, the health system does not cover the cost of prescription drugs, dental care, ambulance services and prescription eyeglasses. To access the benefits of the health system, you need to apply for your Health Insurance Card as soon as you are eligible. Application forms can be obtained from any doctor's offices, hospitals, pharmacies or the provincial ministry responsible for health. Each member of a family needs his or her own card. For more information visit - www.chp-pcs.gc.ca Canada has excellent and fully funded public and independent schools and a network of acclaimed private schools. Education is a provincial responsibility under the Canadian constitution which means there are significant differences between the education systems of the different provinces. However, standards across the country are uniformly high. French speakers have the right to be educated in French anywhere in Canada, but in Quebec all children must attend French school. Education is a priority and Canada spends more per capita on its education system than any other country in the G8. Currently just under one quarter of the population is enrolled in an education programme. Children under five can attend licensed day-cares or nursery schools to learn basic social and reading skills but these are not publicly funded. Children can attend kindergarten for one or two years at the age of four or five on a voluntary basis. All children begin Grade One at an elementary or primary school at about six years of age. The school year normally runs from September through the following June but in some instances, January intake dates are possible. From grade 8 or 9 up to grades 11, 12 or 13 (depending on the province), students attend secondary or high school. Progress from one grade to another is determined by standards set by each individual school. Secondary schools can be either academic (preparing students for university) or vocational (those not opting for post secondary education). Private schools must meet provincial guidelines, though they receive little provincial funding and fees are usually high. Fees vary considerably between schools and must be obtained from the institutions directly. From secondary school, students may attend university, college or Cegep studies. Cegep is a French acronym for College of General and Vocational Education, and is two years of general or three years of technical education between high school and university. The province of Quebec has the Cegep system. Fees for tertiary studies differ depending on the province, institution and program of study but most courses are partly subsidised through taxes. For more information visit - www.cmec.ca/educmin.stm Canadians drive on the right. The road system is very extensive and well maintained. Snowy and icy roads can be a hazard for unaccustomed drivers, so it is advisable to seek instruction in steering and braking techniques useful on snow and ice. Foreign driving licenses are valid for anywhere between 30 days and six months, depending on the province. Before this time all drivers must go to their local Driver Examination Centre for a vision, written and road test. Transport, Communication and Media A widely dispersed population across an enormous country means Canadians have to rely on transport to get anywhere. Generally the roads are very good and the bus network is the most extensive public transport system available. Air travel within the country links most of the large towns and centres with smaller regional airlines covering small specialised areas and remote regions. International air services operate out of Vancouver in the West or Montreal, Toronto and Halifax in the East. Ferries provide services for the many lakes, islands and offshore provinces which are so much a part of Canada. Telephone services are efficient and relatively inexpensive. Telephones can be installed within days by contacting Bell Canada and there is no wait for numbers or exchanges to become available. Telephones can be rented or purchased. Pay phones are common and virtually every phone takes coins in addition to billing cards and credit cards. The Canadian postal system is not particularly efficient and next-day delivery is not uncommon, even in the same region. Canada has two national newspapers, The National Post and The Globe and Mail. Most large cities offer two or more daily papers. Canadians have access to a wide range of television channels as part of their basic cable arrangement, and there are over 900 radio stations. Canada uses the AC 110 volts 60 cycle electrical system. Single detached homes are the most common building type in rural and suburban areas, accounting for over one half of all housing in Canada. Predominantly wooden, these large homes generally include three or four bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, separate toilets, bathrooms and living room. Most houses have a garden or yard and also a garage. In larger urban areas apartments or multiple-unit dwellings are more popular. Prices depend on the location, age and condition of the property, and the local housing market. When you are budgeting for your housing costs, you may have to allow as much as 35 to 50 per cent of your income. This should include the costs for such things as heating, utilities and laundry. Two-thirds of Canada’s housing is owner occupied. Mortgage down payments range from 10% through to 25% depending on whether you opt for a government insurance policy that protects the lender. Renting a house or apartment is also no problem and accommodation is advertised in newspapers and special publications. Real estate agents can also help individuals to locate properties. Homes are available either furnished or unfurnished but the latter will still include a refrigerator and stove. Some cities and provinces control how much landlords can charge for rent, thereby protecting the tenant. Rental conditions are heavily regulated and tend to favour the tenant. Leases are of no strict length of time and conditions are agreed upon between the landlord and tenant. Federal government policy allows for all Canadians to have assistance in finding affordable housing, specifically providing for loans at lower interest rates for low to mid income families or the elderly. For more information visit - www.crea.ca
Eating and drinking are central to Canadian social life. Beer and alcohol are sold in special government stores and consumed in abundance. British-style pubs are very common but Canadians like to eat while they drink, and pubs and bars alike offer snack menus right up to closing time. Bars are generally open from late morning to about 1.00 a.m. The minimum drinking age is 19 years in most provinces but 18 years in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Economy
For more information please visit - www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca Taxation To support a generous health and social security service, Canadians have to pay high income taxes. Income tax includes Federal and Provincial taxes, of which a certain percentage is first paid to the Federal government and then a percentage of that again to the Provincial government. Canada has a graduated system of income tax. There are four levels of Federal tax and the income levels these are based on change annually. Provincial taxes vary greatly between the states, for example, Alberta has a flat 10% provincial tax on income, whereas British Columbia has five levels of provincial income tax. The average home owning Canadian family can pay up to 44% of its annual income in taxes. These include a variety of taxes such as income tax, sales tax, property tax, automobile, social security, and medical taxes. Local taxes include property taxes based on the value of your property and are used to fund public schools, the local police and other services. The Excise Tax Act (the ETA) imposes the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) on most goods and services consumed in Canada, at the rate of 6%, and in the participating provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, at the rate of 14%. Importing Personal Effects Household and personal effects imported for your own use and owned and used by you previously do not attract duty or other taxes on arrival. The cost of moving can be high, and household items vary greatly in replacement value, so it is worth doing some research before deciding what to take and what to leave behind. In the case of many electrical and electronic items, differing standards may make it more worthwhile to purchase new ones. Importing Motor Vehicles The total cost of importing a car to Canada, including compliance (ensuring the vehicle meets Canadian standards) and re-registration is so high that unless your vehicle is very special it is seldom worthwhile. No import duty will be levied on a car, motorcycle or boat brought in as part of your one-time settler’s effects.For further information please visit - www.tc.gc.ca. Importing Cats and Dogs Dogs and cats will be allowed in to Canada upon proof of rabies vaccination. To bring birds or other animals in it is necessary to obtain a certificate of good health.For further information please visit - www.inspection.gc.ca  |
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Canada has one of the largest and fastest growing free-market economies in the industrialised world. In thesecond quarter of 2007 real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3.4%, down from 3.9% in teh first quarter but more than double the average pace of growth in the last three quarters of 2006.
