Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Essential
Guide to
Canada
What you need to know to make your
relocation smooth and successful.
Your Essential Guide
to Canada
What you need to know to make your
relocation smooth and successful.
2013 Edition
70 East Beaver Creek Road, Suite 201, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3B2, CANADA
canadianvisaexpert.com
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The author and publishers shall not be held liable for any damage suffered
directly or indirectly due to the use of this guide.
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Canada has emerged as a competitive world order with one of the strongest
economies, top ranked education systems and a universal healthcare system
that collectively - offer a high standard of living to the people residing there.
A diverse nation comprised of many different ethnic groups with an ongoing
new generation of immigrants who contribute their unique skills to the
economy, Canada is therefore not only financially wealthy but a culturally
rich nation as well. Amazing natural landscapes with waterfall cascades,
fun public holidays, national sports and shopping tips are among the other
topics you can look forward to in this essential guide on Canada. Enjoy!
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Disclaimer����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3
Introduction�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4
The Economy 7
Income and Salaries ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 10
Income Tax������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 14
Employment Opportunities������������������������������������������������������������� 15
Resume and CV Formats - Matching Canadian Job Requirements����� 17
Self-Employment���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19
Unemployment Benefits������������������������������������������������������������������ 21
Healthcare22
Health Insurance���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24
Life Expectancy������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 24
Education26
Public Education for Children���������������������������������������������������������� 28
Higher Academic Institutions & Universities������������������������������������� 29
Culture31
Customs and Religions������������������������������������������������������������������� 32
Language in Canada����������������������������������������������������������������������� 35
Arts����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 35
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Leisure39
Nature and Travel���������������������������������������������������������������������������40
Native Animals������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 42
Shopping��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 43
Immigration50
Immigration Programs�������������������������������������������������������������������� 51
Immigration Requirements������������������������������������������������������������� 52
Immigration Benefits���������������������������������������������������������������������� 53
Conclusion54
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Canada is ranked as the 11th largest economy in the world and, therefore, is
one of the world’s most prosperous nations. An advanced and industrialized
society, Canada’s industries span from technology to fishing and from
manufacturing to services. Resembling the U.S. economy in many ways,
Canada now outperforms the U.S. in a number of economic standards
including a lower unemployment rate.
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Indeed, Canada was among the first nations to emerge from the global
recession. This outcome can be attributed to its banking prudence, firm
federal regulations and economic policies that continue to position the
economy for long-term economic competitiveness.
Open trade is a large piece of the Canadian economic pie. Imports and
exports are crucial to the country’s GDP, growth and wealth levels. Low
tariff and non-tariff barriers make Canada’s trade policies very competitive.
The United States is its main trading partner, absorbing more than 70% of
all Canadian exports. Canadian exports include motor vehicles and parts,
industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment, chemicals,
plastics, fertilizers, wood pulp, timber, crude oil, natural gas, electricity
and aluminum. Imported goods include machinery and equipment, motor
vehicles and parts, refined petroleum products, chemicals, electricity and
durable consumer goods. Canada’s total exports exceed $462.4 billion per
year, while total imports are $461 billion per year. Open trade policies allow
investments to enter the market more easily. And these investments help
create a more rich and competitive market that is both efficient and dynamic.
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Quantified, Canada has a GDP of $1.737 trillion per year and an annual GDP
growth 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 rate
of 7.5% (December 2012) is lower than that of the United States (7.8% in
December 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 partners
are the U.S. at 74.90%, China at 3.31% and the UK at 4.1%. Canada’s gross
external 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.
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These higher income levels are more often than not directly correlated to
higher living standards, including quality education, healthcare and housing
for residents. Canadians also have a higher homeownership rate compared
to Americans, Japanese, Swedes, Danes, French and Germans. They also
tend to live in larger homes of 5 or more rooms.
So, what does all this mean? What kind of income or salary can you expect
to earn in Canada according to your skills and occupation? Of course, it
depends on a number of factors, including location, industry and unique
skills, but there are certain standards that apply across the board. Large
cities in general (like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver) usually provide
higher incomes, but those incomes are proportional to higher costs of living
in those areas. Not only is location important, but one’s occupation also
comes into play, regardless of where one lives - for example, a petroleum
engineer living in Alberta has one of the highest salaries in Canada. Gender
also 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
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The following charts provide a list of Weekly Wage Rates per sector and then
Hourly Wage Rates according to occupations. Notice that the highest paid
sectors by a considerable margin are mining and oil/gas drilling, followed by
work in utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications.
Forestry $929
Utilities $1,666
Construction $1,093
Manufacturing $962
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Bookkeeper $17
Carpenter $22
Plumber $25
Electrician $25
Architect $29
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Dentist $70
Income Tax
Canadians have to file an income tax report every year, which they can do
on their own or with the help of a bookkeeper or accountant. The amount of
income tax that an individual must pay is based on the amount of their taxable
income (income earned less expenses) for one tax year. Personal income tax
returns must be filed before April 30. Income tax can be deducted directly
from an individual’s payroll and sent to the CRA, where an individual pays
his or her estimated taxes during the year instead of waiting to settle up at
the 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 lower
the income, the lower the tax rate, as follows: 0% tax rate if total income is
between $0 and $10,822; a 15% tax rate if total income is between $10,823
and $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, of
course, be adjusted by the Canadian government, but provide a general idea
of the tax structure.
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Employment Opportunities
Canada offers many job opportunities for a variety of workers and
entrepreneurs alike. Economic growth has created many job openings
and, consequently, the Canadian government has responded by increasing
immigration to around 260,000 permanent resident visas a year for foreigner
workers from all over the world. A permanent resident visa allows an
immigrant to legally live, work and study long-term in Canada and offers the
option of applying for Canadian citizenship after as little as 3 years!
To find employment when you move to Canada, there are many resources
available for newcomers from job websites to employment agencies. Whether
you 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 their
outcomes by providing access to job related tools like job banks that help
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The following is a list of job and employment sites that can help you in your
job 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.
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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 be
passed 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
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Catch any mistakes in your resume before sending it out. Look at your
resume several times and have other people review it, too, before you send it
out. Make sure the company name, job title and date are accurate, and that
there are no typos. Customize your resume for every job opening, especially
if 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 your
personal profile. For example, if you are applying for a job that requires
attention to detail, then your resume is a great place to demonstrate your
skills in this area.
Use headings to organize the information in your resume. The most common
headings are:
●● Personal Statement
●● Highlights of Qualifications
●● Professional Experience
●● Education
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Self-Employment
Entrepreneurship, innovation and small businesses are central to Canada’s
economy. There are over one million small businesses in Canada (small is
defined as 50 employees or less) and about 100,000 new small businesses,
on average, are opened in Canada every year. New immigrants are
responsible for many of the small businesses in Canada because they are
highly motivated to succeed, have a chance at economic freedom that they
might not have had in their native country and want to work with or employ
their family members.
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Whether you want to start your own business from the beginning or purchase
an established business, either way, you can improve your chances to succeed
by conducting industry research and having your business stand out, but
still very relevant to the market. The name of your business should have
marketing potential and it should be registered right away so you can have
legal rights to the branding. Depending on where you reside or where you
open your business, you should also get all the right licenses before you
start working. If you don’t want to self-finance your own business, you can
search for a combination of funding opportunities from other sources such
as bank loans, grants and investors.
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The Canadian universal healthcare system ensures that each resident gets
reasonable 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 not
depend on one’s socio-economic background or income. Everyone gets fair
access to medical care which is at the core of Canada’s values for national
solidarity and building a strong nation.
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How much money does the Canadian government spend on healthcare costs?
That amount reached $183 billion in 2012. Total spending in Canada for
healthcare is equivalent to 10.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) which
is slightly above the average for other countries, but below the 16.0% of GDP
spent on healthcare in the United States, a country that does not provide
universal healthcare. The greater proportion of the country’s healthcare
money is allocated to hospitals followed by pharmaceutical costs and then
physician or caregiver costs.
Roles and responsibilities for Canada’s healthcare system are dutifully shared
between the federal and provincial governments. Local governments have
to qualify for their share of the federal contribution by meeting federal
requirements. Provinces are responsible for the management, organization
and delivery of health services. They have a lot of say on internal social
affairs that impact their citizens.
Private insurance is optional and available to those who want it. It is a very
minimal part of the healthcare system, but is there for those who want to
supplement or use private clinics alone.
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Aside from medical care, Canada tries to promote a healthy lifestyle. Good
health brings many benefits, including enhanced access to education and
the job market, an increase in productivity and wealth, reduced health
care costs, good social relations, and of course, a longer life. Therefore,
preventive care and early detection are important, as are regular yearly
checkups. Incorporating exercise and healthy eating into one’s lifestyle is
also encouraged.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy is an important measurement of health. Most countries
made large gains in life expectancy over the past decades because of better
living conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical care.
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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 the
nation. Of course, older people report poorer health, as do those who are
unemployed or who have less education or income, but those numbers too
are below average in comparison with other nations.
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With more than 50% of adults holding a college or university degree, Canada
stands out as one of the best-educated societies in the 21st century. And
the ratio of high school graduates versus non diploma-holders is changing
as well with a decreasing gap, partly due to changes in the labor market that
require people to have at least a high school diploma and, in many cases, a
university degree.
Canada also invites and accepts many international students into its Student
Visa program because as a nation, it wants high-quality students to fill its
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Core subjects such as language arts, reading, writing, mathematics and science
are provided throughout the school year and assume greater importance
than subjects like music, visual arts and physical education. Canadian
students benefit from a variety of classes that are often tailor-made, as each
school system is designed to meet the unique needs of its students. Many
communities also offer a wide selection of after-school or extra-curriculum
activities that enrich and supplement the student’s classroom education.
Canadian students rank among the best in the world in academic performance
in math, science and reading skills. Compared to students in the United
States, 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
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Like in the United States, there are two main types of post-secondary schools
in Canada: universities and colleges. Universities grant university degrees
such as Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and Doctoral degrees, while
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Canadian society is open and relatively free of class distinctions. Most residents
strive for equality and believe that all people deserve the same rights and
respect, 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’s
responsibility to the community. In fact, most Canadians have a stronger
allegiance to their province or local community than to the country.
There are slight custom differences between regions. The people in the
Atlantic Provinces, such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island
and Newfoundland, can be characterized in general as more reserved, more
provincial, old-fashioned and conservative. The people in Ontario tend to be
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When it comes to gift giving, Canadians usually give presents for birthdays
and 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 is
customary. 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 to
worry about what you don’t know. In Quebec, you might see a little more
formality. Table manners are generally Continental, with the fork on the left
side of the plate and the knife on the right for proper eating etiquette. Wait
to be shown to your seat and do not start eating before the host has joined
the dinner table. Do not rest your elbows on the table. Feel free to refuse
individual foods or drinks without offering an explanation. Leaving a small
amount of food on one’s plate at the end of the meal is generally acceptable.
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Body gestures are only really used to add emphasis to a message without
vulgarity or aggressive gestures. Canadians like their space and prefer to
be at arm’s length when speaking to someone, so it is better to speak with
words than non-verbal gestures. When engaging in conversation, Canadians
are not always prepared or forthcoming to discuss their personal lives. They
expect to get to know you first, even though they are trusting for the most
part. They also expect people to speak in a straightforward manner and
to be able to back up their claims with facts in order to feel comfortable.
They themselves do not make exaggerated claims and are suspicious of
something that “sounds too good to be true.”
If you are a heavy smoker and are used to smoking in your own country
in public places, you should know that the culture of smoking has taken a
smaller role in Canada. Smoking has become increasingly unpopular and is
not permitted in most public buildings. Many families do not allow smoking
in their homes and they expect other people to abstain in their home.
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Arts
Museums are a great place to find and learn more about Canada’s art and
culture. Public art institutions are created in the public interest in order to
preserve and display art. While “art” itself can have a very wide definition,
museums capture a wide spectrum of Canadian artwork. Canadians museums
acquire, preserve, research, interpret and exhibit tangible and intangible
evidence of art, society and nature. Museums provide a physical forum for
critical inquiry and investigation into the art culture.
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Sports
Sports in Canada are celebrated on a local and national level, and create a
sense of national camaraderie among fans who cheer for a common team.
These teams usually represent their hometown. There are many sports and
contests that Canadians value, the most common are in ice hockey, lacrosse,
football, basketball, soccer, curling and baseball, with ice hockey and lacrosse
being Canada’s official winter and summer sports, respectively.
With a much colder climate during the winter season, Canada has enjoyed
greater success at the Winter Olympics than at the Summer Olympics. Great
achievements in Canadian sports are recognized by Canada’s Sports Hall
of Fame, while the Lou Marsh Trophy is awarded annually to Canada’s top
athlete by a panel of journalists.
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Family Day on February 18th is a holiday for families to have a day off. Good
Friday, a religious holiday, is in March or April (it can vary each year) the Friday
before Easter Sunday and is celebrated at the same time and in much the
same way as it is in other Western countries, like in the U.S. Easter Monday is
another important religious holiday where schools, banks and government
offices are closed for religious observance. Victoria Day, observed on the
Monday before May 25th, celebrates former Queen Victoria’s birthday. Since
Canada is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which the Queen
of England heads (currently, Queen Elizabeth II), it is therefore observed.
Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st. July 1st marks the anniversary of the
formation of the union of the British North American provinces in a federation
under the name of Canada - that’s the technical explanation, but Canada Day
also means fireworks and the year’s biggest national celebration. It is akin
to America’s July 4th celebration, but on a Canadian scale.
August Civic Holiday (or August Long Weekend) is the most popular weekend
for summer travel. Expect crowds at resorts and busy highways. Labor Day
weekend is the last big travel weekend of the summer, as school starts up
again the day after Labor Day weekend. Labor Day in Canada, like in the
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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 who
have died in war and military operation to protect the Commonwealth (it
also commemorates the end of World War I).
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are on December 24th and 25th. The day
after Christmas (December 26th) is a public holiday called Boxing Day in
Canada. Several theories exist on how Boxing Day got its name. One thing
is for certain - the name comes from storage boxes, not the sport called
boxing. However, you may witness enthusiastic shoppers coming to blows
over Boxing Day bargains. Boxing Day, like the day after Thanksgiving (“Black
Friday”) in the US, is the biggest shopping day in Canada. Stores, malls and
most retailers are open and generally continue to offer sales and bargains
until New Year’s.
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Tourism peaks during the summer, when more than 28 million visitors come
to Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls is a collective name for three waterfalls
that straddle the international border between the Canadian province of
Ontario and the U.S. state of New York (the falls on the Canadian side of the
border are also known as “Horseshoe Falls” because of the shape of these
spectacular cascades).
Montreal, considered Canada’s “cultural capital” and the second largest city
in Canada (after Toronto), attracts many visitors as well, offering many great
places to visit and experience.
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You can ask locals about the best travel destinations and nature spots to
visit or you can also consider points of interest on the following list:
The Cascades at Virginia Falls are about twice the height of the cascades
in Niagara Falls and are a truly spectacular sight. If you can get to this remote
location, as the vast majority of visitors travel to the park by chartered float
plane, with a few brave souls hiking or paddling in, then you will be in for a
real treat.
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Polar Bear Capital of the World - One of nature’s many unique locations in
Canada is Churchill, Manitoba, which is the location for a large concentration
of the world’s largest land carnivore - the polar bear. In fact, there are so
many polar bears in the Churchill area that it has been nicknamed the “Polar
Bear Capital of the World!” The area around this Manitoban town also offers
some of nature’s most beautiful sights, with winter snow and ice covering
this spectacular frozen landscape.
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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 undeniably
North America’s most powerful waterfall attraction. As much as six million
cubic feet of water pours over the cliff of the falls’ three sections every
minute — that’s enough to fill nearly 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools
every minute! Tourists can watch from several locations or a take a boat
ride below these majestic cascades. Wherever you stand, the enormity of
the waterfall will surely shock you.
Native Animals
The 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, sea
otter, walrus, rattlesnake, wild horse, wolf, cougar, and Canada lynx. Canada
has multiple ecosystems, ranging from the lush forests of British Columbia
to the grassy prairies of Western Canada to the tundra of the Northern
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Shopping
If 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 can
give you more for your money.
Stores in Canada may be set up differently than what you have experienced
in other countries. For example, there are many Canadian stores that are
grouped together in large shopping malls so you can get all your shopping
done in one place (and even get a bite to eat while in the mall). Each store
has its own payment system where you pay for your purchases and most
will accept credit cards and, of course, cash. Make sure to keep your receipt
with every purchase. Your purchase receipt is not only proof that you paid
for your goods, but often has details on the company’s return policies and
exchanges. You will need this receipt if you need to return an item for a
refund or exchange. It may be a good idea as well to ask about a store’s
return policy before making a purchase, as these policies will differ for each
company and having this knowledge in advance can help you to have a
better shopping experience.
Many places in Canada also have large outdoor markets (sometimes called
“flea markets”) where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables and other
goods from local farmers and craftspeople. These “flea market” events are
great if you like organic and freshly picked fruits and vegetables. You can
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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 outside
of their home and usually in their car garage or in their driveway where
they sell household items that they would like to get rid of. These sales are
most commonly held during the months of May-September and during the
weekend, either Saturday or Sunday. A “Garage Sale” can be a great place
to find indoor or outdoor furniture items for your home. In fact, many
hidden treasures have been bought in “Garage Sales” when owners did not
realize the value of an item they got rid of (such as a signed copy of the
Constitution, which was later sold for millions). It is a great place to find
unique or practical household items that can be put to good use. Some
people, even if they do not need to buy anything, make a weekend out of
going to “Garage Sales” because there are so many interesting things to find
there. If you want to shop for second-hand items in “Garage Sales” or possibly
find a hidden treasure, check the classified section in a local newspaper or
look for “Garage Sale” signs on community bulletin boards or even posting
on trees or lamp posts in your neighborhood.
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Explore free online classifieds that people place not only in the newspaper
classified ads section but also on Craigslist which you can localize the search
according to the country of Canada and your location there, and eBay-owned
Kijiji which is strictly for Canadians. Unlike newspaper ads, it does not cost
anything to post an ad on these sites, so there are thousands of products and
services being offered on any given day. Although it is intended for private
individuals to sell their product and services, there are also many posts
by commercial businesses which offer new products at deeply discounted
prices. Craigslist even allows you to restrict your search to sellers in your
region. Like an ongoing “Garage Sale,” these are great websites to find and
sell items that are not needed anymore.
Before you go out shopping, look for online coupon codes with your favorite
retailers before you go to the store. An increasing number of Canadians
now shop online at their favorite stores. Major retailers, like Sears, Office
Depot and Best Buy, allow you to enter a coupon code for additional savings
before 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 codes
for dozens of items that are offered by Canadian retailers.
Why buy when you can trade goods? New websites are making it easier for
people to trade books, movies, music and video games. These sites have a
simple premise and are based on a system where you earn points for trading
your items on new books, movies, music or video game titles that you want.
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Don’t buy two if you don’t need more than one. There are many marketing
deals 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 more
money on a second one. If the price is right and all you need is one, don’t
bother with buying more because in most stores the checkout systems will
not be equipped to scan a single item at a higher per-unit price, so most
likely 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.
When you are ready to open a bank account where you can earn interest
on your deposit, larger banks, have lower service fees since most of their
transactions are online and they also offer significantly higher interest rates
with no monthly fees, no minimum balances and easy transfers to and from
your existing bank. On the other hand, smaller and private banks have
smaller bureaucracies and set rules so they might be a better fit for smaller
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You can be part of Canada’s move towards a greener and more environmentally-
conscious society by connecting with movements like Freecycle). It allows
members 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 a
holiday season (for example, after Christmas), even though few people take
advantage of it probably because they have done most of their shopping
already. Prices of holiday season items are at their lowest point right after
the 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 at
a much lower price. From winter gear, Valentine’s Day cards or Halloween
masks, it may be worth buying those items after the season and save them
for the year ahead.
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Be aware that you do not have to pay for extended warranties when you
purchase a computer or any other appliance. Most electronics and consumer
appliance retailers will encourage you to buy an extended warranty on an
item when you make a purchase. An extended warranty or more insurance
on the product is added insurance on your purchased item (in case it has a
problem after the manufacturer’s warranty expires) that you are not obligated
to buy. You may want to think twice about paying for an extended warranty,
especially when the independent and well-respected Consumer Reports
has published data that shows appliances almost never break down during
warranty periods, and when they do, the average cost of repair is roughly
the same as the cost of the warranty. You also may want to buy electronics
accessories at smaller stores since big retailers like Best Buy and Future Shop
often have good deals on electronics, but when it comes to accessories for
the electronics (such as cables, connectors and batteries), you can usually
get comparable quality for a lower price at your corner electronics store or
even at your local WalMart or similar store.
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
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Now may very well be one of the best times to apply for a permanent resident
visa to Canada because Canada’s economy is expanding and is experiencing
a major labor shortage, not only because more jobs are being created but
also due to many Canadian “baby boomers.” You have to go where the
opportunities are and with much of the world still struggling economically, a
variety of employment opportunities are available for eligible foreign skilled
workers who immigrate to Canada! Canada is also among the top countries
to attract and accept international students to its fine Universitites.
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Immigration Programs
Thus, there are several immigration programs available for foreign nations
to apply for, such as the:
These Canadian immigration programs were put in place to meet the needs
of Canada’s mission to become more diverse and competitive in the future.
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Immigration Requirements
To qualify for most of these visa programs, the following criteria are needed:
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Immigration Benefits
There are a number of benefits available to immigrants who have been
issued a permanent resident visa to Canada. These include the legal right to
live, work and study in Canada, which has one of the highest standards of
living found anywhere in the world; access to free basic healthcare (a waiting
period may be required) and Canada’s excellent education system; life in a
beautiful, stable, diverse democracy which protects human rights and basic
freedoms; and the option to apply for Canadian citizenship after as little as
three years!
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We can’t leave you without providing you with the words to Canada’s National
Anthem, the heart of it all, which highlights the need to guard freedom and
the glorious land up North of the Americas:
O Canada!
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