CHOOSING CANADA

People wonder whether immigration is really a worthwhile goal to pursue. However, a discussion of the benefits to be gained from immigration to Canada answers this inquiry with a resounding and fervent "Yes".

Top-Rated Quality of Life

Canada is a country of enviable qualities. It boasts a life expectancy of 79.1 years, and an adult literacy rate of 99%. For the past 6 years, the United Nations has placed Canada 1st in the world on the Human Development Index. Canadian cities themselves also receive praise. In Swiss studies rating 120 cities worldwide for their quality of life, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary ranked 1st, 4th, 7th and 12th in the world respectively. The results were based on a combination of indicators measuring the social and ecological environment.

Diverse Geographic & Climatic Options

As the 2nd largest country in the world, Canada has a climate as diverse as its people and geography. Most of the urban centers situated in the south of the country are in fact quite moderate in temperature. Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Toronto have four definite seasons with hot summers and colder winters. For example, Toronto's average temperature in January (the coldest month of the year) is -5°C. Meanwhile, Vancouver's climate is very moderate throughout the year, about +2.5° C in January.

Economic Wealth & Prosperity

Canada maintains one of the world's highest per capita GDP's, about US $ 22,000 per person. The World Bank has also ranked Canadians as the 2nd wealthiest people in the world in terms of the country's natural, financial, human and social resources. Based on Canada's total wealth, each Canadian is worth nearly $750,000. Canada has the lowest inflation rate among the Group of Seven (G-7) countries, and one of the highest rates of economic growth. Besides this, Canada's unemployment rate has been steadily declining for the past few years, reflecting the increased demand for skilled individuals. In fact, it has dropped to a mere 7% nationally in 1999. In some provinces, it is as low as 5.5%.

Abundant Employment & Business Opportunities

In Canada, good employment opportunities exist in many sectors of the economy. Financially speaking, new immigrants earn on average of $30,000-$75,000 annually. It is worth noting that Canada is acclaimed globally for its admirable record of promoting employment equity in the workplace for women and visible minorities.

Superior Health Care & Education Systems

Canada offers a universal health care system accessible to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Basic health care coverage is free of charge in most provinces.
The education system of Canada is regarded as among the best in the world. Canada has the record as the nation with the highest net enrollment in public and private post-secondary education for the 18-21 year old age group among all member countries of O.E.C.D.
The public education from the elementary level up to the secondary level is free of charge to all students in Canada. At the post-secondary level, students are expected to pay a small tuition. Tuition at Canadian universities is affordable for citizens and residents (immigrants); tuition costs range from C $2500-$4000 annually in Canada. In contrast, international students pay tuition rates that are 3-6 times higher. The average international student should expect to pay annually only for tuition C$ 8000-$10000 in Canada. Thus, it is far more advantageous to study in Canada as a permanent resident because you can save thousands of dollars in tuition. In addition, there are many scholarships, grants, and bursaries offered exclusively to permanent residents and citizens.

Tolerant, Open-Minded Citizens in a Democratic Multi-cultural Society

Canada welcomes immigrants and benefits from their knowledge, expertise, entrepreneurship, and financial resources. Recently, the U.N. named Toronto the most ethnically diverse city in the world. Canada thrives as a genuinely multi-cultural society and is proud to be a "cultural mosaic", instead of a "melting pot", as in the U.S., where an immigrant may feel pressure to assimilate into society. In contrast, the preservation of ethnic/religious identity, and cultural heritage is encouraged and respected by the Canadian government. Besides, unlike many other countries throughout the world, Canada does not treat immigrants as "second-class citizens". Immigrants are accorded almost equal status, rights, and freedoms to Canadian citizens. You will not only be accepted, but also feel genuinely welcome. You do not have to change your name to be accepted by society and your foreign accent does not matter. In fact, the current Prime Minster of Canada speaks English with a French accent. Due to the prevailing multi-cultural atmosphere, you are more likely to be promoted in your job and reach managerial ranks faster in Canada than in the U.S., especially in Toronto and Vancouver where immigrants constitute respectively 44% and 35% of the population.
Your children will feel comfortable in Canadian schools because they are likely to have a significant percentage of their classmates come from similar ethnic or religious backgrounds. Besides, many private religious/ethnic (such as Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, Jewish, and Chinese) schools exist. Furthermore, you can have access to a wide variety of foreign language TV channels, radio stations, and newspapers/magazines as well as ethnic food.

Safe, Clean, Civilized, Sophisticated & Lively

Canada offers a range of settlement options, from tranquil small towns to bustling cosmopolitan cities. However, regardless of where an immigrants chooses to live, even in big cities, you will find either country relatively safe, impeccably clean and will be impressed by the civility and chivalry of the people. The overall crime rate in either country is low, with the homicide rate in Canada estimated at less than one quarter of the rate in the U.S. For this reason, their urban cores remain lively at night with local residents and tourists strolling the downtown streets well after midnight. Two real life cases illustrate the character of the Canadian cities and people. One American film crew, after dirtying a Toronto street to make it look more like a typical U.S. street, went on a coffee break and returned a short time later only to find their set spotless again, swept by the city maintenance department. Another film crew, filming an "attack" scene, was twice interrupted by Torontonians hopping out of their cars to "rescue" the actress.
A cosmopolitan atmosphere characterizes Canada's big cities - a cultural sophistication matched only by few cities in North America such as New York City, San Francisco, and Boston. However, this is without the problems usually associated with big cites in the U.S. The livelihood you will encounter is enviable. Many retail shops downtown remain open until 9 PM everyday in Toronto and Montreal, and once or twice a week in Vancouver. Most restaurants/night clubs remain open until 1:00 -3:00 AM, with a few even as late as 6:00 AM on weekends. Some sidewalk cafes in Vancouver remain open on a 24-hour basis, all year round.
The art, music and theatre scene is vibrant and thriving. Toronto is the third most important center for theatrical productions in the English-speaking world after NYC and London. Meanwhile, Montreal is the second largest French-speaking cultural center in the world after Paris.
Sports fans and outdoor activity enthusiasts will not be disappointed in Canada. Canada has a multitude of professional sports teams from hockey to football and basketball. Canada's national sport is Rugby, with another favorite being Cricket. Cyclists would appreciate the fact that some streets have designated cycling lanes. Urban parks and community centers are abundantly available for people to enjoy various outdoor sports and recreational activities. For skiing enthusiasts, Canada's world-class resorts are easily accessible, within short driving distance from Vancouver and Calgary.
Outdoor activities are plentiful in a country with such diverse geography. Popular activities include hiking, skiing, rafting, sailing and bungy jumping. You are never far from water in New Zealand with its rivers and lakes cutting through the country.

Reasonable Cost of Living

By world standards, Canada is still a relatively inexpensive place to live. In Toronto and Vancouver, the most costly spots in the country, a studio rents monthly for C$500-$700, a one-bedroom apartment for C$600-$850, a 2-bedroom apt. For C$700-$1000, a 3-bedroom apt. or a house for C$800-$1250. A 3-bedroom condominium (apartment) is sold for C$225,000 -$350,000 on average. (C$ 1= US$ 0.67)

Close Ties to the U.S. & Australia

Canadians certainly benefit from their close proximity to the U.S. In fact, all Canadian citizens and many permanent residents can enter the United States without a visa. In terms of access to a huge and diverse U.S. market, Canada is ideal. Thanks to economic treaties such as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), Canadians enjoy the rewards and benefits of mutual economic relations.
NAFTA aims to abolish trade barriers and tariffs between Canada, the U.S. & Mexico. NAFTA allows certain Canadian citizens increased access to these countries in order to sell, trade, or invest. NAFTA eases the temporary entry of business people as professionals and intra-company transferees are exempted from having to obtain validation of a job offer. This allows many Canadian professionals to work in the U.S., eventually gaining a U.S. Green Card and citizenship if they so desire.

For more information about the Close ties to the U.S. and Australia, click here.

The Privileges of Being Canadian or a New Zealander

Obviously, Canadian citizenship and residence confer many privileges to their holders. Successful applicants are granted an immigration visa. Once they land in Canada, they will earn the status of permanent residents and will be able to settle down and work anywhere. This status is the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. Green Card. Permanent residents are granted access to almost the same medical, educational and social services offered to Canadian citizens. The Canadian federal government provides monthly financial assistance to most families with children, including the families of new migrants. Those residents who are having difficulty finding a job may resort to Canada's unemployment insurance programs for financial support. This is another example of the Canadian governments' efforts to assure the well being of its residents.
Once you have been a Canadian permanent resident for at least 3 years, you may become eligible for citizenship. Upon being granted Canadian citizenship, you can obtain a Canadian passport. Unlike other countries, Canada recognizes dual citizenship, so you can retain the citizenship of your native country. With a Canadian passport, you will not need a visitor visa to travel to many countries. More importantly, once you become a Canadian citizen, you will be allowed to participate in politics and cast your vote in local and national elections.

Benefits to Family Members & Relatives

Once you are settled in Canada, you may be able to sponsor your relatives. In most cases, you can apply to sponsor your spouse (husband/wife), fiancé(e), dependent son/daughter, father/mother, grandfather/grandmother, and (if they are under 19 and orphaned) your brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandson or granddaughter. When you sponsor your parents, they can bring with them any siblings (brothers and sisters) who are still dependent on your parents. Your relatives are then issued permanent residence visas, and the privileges and benefits of living in Canada will be offered to them. And in turn, once they have landed in the country, they may be eligible to apply to sponsor other relatives. There are many examples of immigrants in either country who came as single individuals and now have hundreds of relatives in their new country due mainly to family sponsorship.

An Investment Worth Making

An immigration application can be seen as an investment in the life and future of your family and loved ones. Let's assume that you, your spouse and sponsored relatives find good work opportunities in Canada, each earning about $36,000 annually (engineers who have recently completed a university Bachelor degree, with no experience, typically earn annually $36000 - $42000 in Canada).
Collectively, you will have the chance to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly. You can achieve all this by simply taking the first step toward gaining an immigration visa. The small fee you pay an immigration expert to handle your case is probably the best investment you'll ever make. When you delay the decision to immigrate, you are actually losing money.

Based on the above example, for every month that you remain in your native country, considering immigration but not taking action, you are losing $3000!

Furthermore, for every month you delay action, you are risking your eligibility to migrate. Immigration regulations change frequently and abruptly: just because you may qualify now does not necessarily mean that you will qualify in the future.
Finally, consider also all of the attributes that cannot be evaluated in terms of dollars. Clearly, you and your family will benefit from starting a new life in Canada. We urge you to further weigh the costs and benefits of investing in immigration for yourself. We believe you will conclude that the potential rewards you will gain as a result of this investment in your future far exceed the cost.
There is no better time than now to pursue immigration and start enjoying what Canada offers!