Canada is a beautiful and safe country — one that embraces newcomers from all over the world.
While relocating to a new country can be very exciting, there is also a lot to do in preparation and once you arrive. To make the transition as smooth as possible, consider the following tips.
To start your job search, you can register with the Government of Canada Job Bank. You can use the Job Bank to build your resume, search for a position and browse career planning tools. Looking for opportunities to network with people in your field of interest can also be a good way to meet people in your industry and find a new job. If you haven’t yet, set up a LinkedIn profile to connect with other people in your field.
2) Find a place to live
Before arriving in Canada, you can secure a place to stay in a hotel, hostel or short-term vacation rental using sites like Airbnb or VRBO. When you’ve had time to explore your new surroundings and you’re ready to rent or buy a home of your own, you can reach out to a real estate agent for professional advice or search on your own online. You can use websites and apps like realtor.ca or Zillow to find a property.
While it is possible to set up an international bank account before coming to Canada, you will still need to open a chequing account for everyday banking once you arrive. Luckily, the process of opening a bank account in Canada is easy and convenient and Canadian banks are reliable and secure. Check out the Scotiabank StartRight® program for special newcomer banking solutions, credit cards and more.
4) Get a phone
To ensure you can easily communicate with a prospective employer, landlord or new friends, it’s important to set up your mobile plan when you arrive in Canada. The most commonly used cellphone providers with the widest coverage in Canada include Rogers, Telus and Bell. There are also smaller companies such as Freedom, Virgin, and Chatr.
5) Apply for health insurance
Canada’s public healthcare system is funded through taxes. As a permanent resident, you can apply for healthcare insurance. While most provinces and territories grant access to health coverage upon arrival, British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec have a 90-day waiting period. If you immigrate to a province with a waiting period, you can apply for private coverage to fill the gap. Private health insurance is also used to cover healthcare costs outside of what the public system will pay for.
6) Find a family doctor or dentist
Once in Canada, you will want to find a family doctor in case you experience a non-urgent injury or require medication. You’ll need a prescription from a doctor to obtain many medications. It’s important to know that public healthcare insurance doesn’t cover most prescription medication or dental services. Instead, many Canadians have private health insurance to help cover this cost. Many employers provide private insurance to their employees, and there are also provincial and territorial medication programs, but you must meet eligibility requirements. For help finding a family doctor or dentist, you can refer to the Government of Canada website.
If you arrive in Canada with school-age children, you’ll need to contact your local school board to enroll them in elementary or high school. During the enrollment process, you’ll need your child’s birth certificate, proof of guardianship or custody, proof of residency and immunization record (to ensure your child’s vaccinations are up to date).
8) Find transportation
If you move to a major Canadian city or town, you can take advantage of public transportation, like the bus, subway or train. But if you immigrate to a more rural area, you might consider buying a vehicle to get around. Scotiabank offers the StartRight auto finance program, which is a loan created especially for newcomers. With the StartRight loan, you may be able to qualify with no Canadian credit history, get a new car or one that’s up to four years old and take up to five years to repay your loan. To apply, you need to provide Proof of Permanent Residence of Foreign Worker status and your arrival date, and you must have less than three years of residency in Canada.
9) Get involved in the community
If you don’t have friends or family members in Canada, getting involved with your community will help you meet new people. Most neighbourhoods have a nearby community center, libraries and recreation centres for your whole family to enjoy. Playing sports or joining a club is another great way to meet like-minded people. You can also sign up for Canada Connect, which is a program that matches newcomers with long-time community members. You can meet online or in person to gain a better understanding of the community and connect with other people.
Settling in Canada as a newcomer
Immigrating to Canada, or any new country, can feel a bit overwhelming. You’ll be confronted with a new city or town, new people and a new climate (make sure you prepare yourself for your first Canadian winter!). To smoothly transition to life in Canada, consider these tips and try to embrace this new and exciting experience. Canada is a country known for its kindness, multiculturalism and diverse cultural heritages. It’s a wonderful place to live.
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LONGUEUIL, Que. – People in a part of Longueuil, Que., were being asked to stay indoors with their doors and windows closed on Thursday morning after a train derailed, spilling an unknown quantity of hydrogen peroxide.
Police from the city just east of Montreal said it didn’t appear anyone was hurt, although a CN rail official told a news conference that three employees had been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
The derailment happened at around 9 a.m. in the LeMoyne area, near the intersection of St-Louis and St-Georges streets. Mathieu Gaudreault, a spokesman for CN rail, said about eight cars derailed at the Southwark rail facility, including four that toppled over.
“As of this morning, the information we have is it’s hydrogen peroxide that was in the rail car and created the fumes we saw,” he said, adding that there was no risk of fire.
François Boucher, a spokesman for the Longueuil police department, said police were asking people in the area, including students at nearby schools, to stay indoors while experts ensure the air is safe to breathe.
“It is as a preventive measure that we encourage people to really avoid exposing themselves unnecessarily,” he told reporters near the scene.
Police and fire officials were on site, as well as CN railworkers, and a large security perimeter was erected.
Officers were asking people to avoid the sector, and the normally busy Highway 116 was closed in the area. The confinement notice includes everyone within 800 metres of the derailment, officials said, who added that it would be lifted once a team with expertise in dangerous materials has given the green light.
In addition to closing doors and windows, people in the area covered by the notice are asked to close heating, ventilation and air exchange systems, and to stay as far from windows as possible.
Gaudreault said it wasn’t yet clear what caused the derailment. The possibilities include a problem with the track, a problem with a manoeuvre, or a mechanical issue, he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s Liberal party is promising to improve cellphone service and invest in major highways if the party is elected to govern on Nov. 26.
Party leader Zach Churchill says a Liberal government would spend $60 million on building 87 new cellphone towers, which would be in addition to the $66 million the previous Progressive Conservative government committed to similar projects last year.
As well, Churchill confirmed the Liberals want to improve the province’s controlled access highways by adding exits along Highway 104 across the top of the mainland, and building a bypass along Highway 101 near Digby.
Churchill says the Liberals would add $40 million to the province’s $500 million capital budget for highways.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the three major political parties were expected to spend much of today preparing for a televised debate that will be broadcast tonight at 6 p.m. local time.
Churchill will face off against Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston and NDP Leader Claudia Chender during a 90-minute debate that will be carried live on CBC TV and streamed online.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – A group of hotel service workers in Toronto is set to hold a rally today outside the Fairmont Royal York to demand salary increases as hotel costs in the city skyrocket during Taylor Swift’s concerts.
Unite Here Local 75, the union representing 8,000 hospitality workers in the Greater Toronto Area, says Royal York employees have not seen a salary increase since 2021, and have been negotiating a new contract with the hotel since 2022.
The rally comes as the megastar begins her series of six sold-out concerts in Toronto, with the last show scheduled for Nov. 23.
During show weekends, some hotel rooms and short-term rentals in Toronto are priced up to 10 times more than other weekends, with some advertised for as much as $2,000 per night.
The union says hotel workers who will be serving Swifties during her Toronto stops are bargaining for raises to keep up with the rising cost of living.
The union represents hospitality workers including food service employees, room attendants and bell persons.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
