Canada is regularly listed amongst the top three places in the world to live and earns particularly high marks for its access to education, high life expectancy, wide-open spaces & bountiful natural resources.

It has also been recognised to have world-class cities where you can live and work, and also for cleanliness, safety, cultural activities and attractive lifestyles.

As an overseas trained doctor, Direct Medics can provide you with helpful information in assisting you and your family travel to and settle in Canada.

Direct Medics offers a detailed Welcome Pack for all overseas doctors who are successful in gaining a position in Canada through us to aid you in making a new life abroad.

Facts about Canada

Land area: 9.9 million km2
Population: 34 million
Official language: English, French
Currency: Canadian dollars (CAD$)
Time: Canada covers 6 time zones: Pacific: GMT -8
                                                        Mountain: GMT -7
                                                        Central: GMT -6
                                                        Eastern Standard Time: GMT -5
                                                        Atlantic: GMT -4
                                                        Newfoundland: GMT -3.5


Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories:

Provinces:

Alberta (AB), Capital - Toronto
British Columbia (BC), Capital - Victoria
Manitoba (MB), Capital - Winnipeg
New Brunswick (NB), Capital - Fredericton
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Capital – St Johns
Nova Scotia (NS), Capital - Halifax
Ontario (ON), Capital - Toronto
Prince Edward Island – (PE), Capital - Charlottetown
Quebec (QC), Capital – Quebec City
Saskatchewan (SK), Capital - Regina

Territories:

Northwest Territories (NT), Capital - Yellowknife
Nunavut (NU), Capital - Iqaluit
Yukon (YT), Capital - Whitehorse

Bringing your Family

In this section, you will find an array of topics designed to help you settle in Canada and important information for you and your family.

Housing

Finding appropriate housing, whether renting or buying, in Canada will be a relatively easy process depending on where you are looking to live. If you are staying short term (6 months or less) you may be better off renting. There are restrictions on Temporary residents purchasing real estate.

A full recovery of the housing market is expected in 2010, as the Canadian economy is projected to grow again by about 3%.

The best place to look for rental properties are classified sections in newspapers, rental publications and through personal contacts. Not many real estate agents cover rental properties. The rental market remained strong in 2009 and the average rental price across Canada is around $800 per month. In Toronto and major Canadian cities, the closer you are to the city centre, the higher the rent will be.

Real Estate agents mostly deal in selling properties and while the majority of Provinces have no restrictions on foreign ownership, some do limit the amount of property that a non-resident can purchase. The sales market has regained momentum and prices have been rising since the second quarter of 2009 with average house prices across the country around $325,000.

Education

The Education Index, published with the UN's Human Development Index in 2008, lists Canadian education as amongst the highest in the world, ranked fifth.

Education in Canada is generally divided into Primary, Secondary and Post Secondary. E education is compulsory up to the age of 16 in every province in Canada and includes the children of foreign nationals permanently or temporarily resident in Canada.

Studying at Canadian universities costs more for international students than for Canadian students, sometimes up to 3 times more. Applications must be made 12-18 months in advance although for less popular universities, the latest a foreign student can apply for September admission is March of the same year, as overseas applications usually take at least six months to process.

Taxation & Finance

Approximately two-thirds of the Canadian Government's income is derived from taxation, the rest from tariffs, fees, and investments and are collected by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Canadian individuals pay income taxes based on their world-wide income. If you are considered a non-resident you are still required to pay tax on your Canadian income although you may petition the CRA to change this status so that income from outside Canada is not taxed.

As a non-resident of Canada (i.e. staying in Canada for less than 183 days in the tax year), you pay tax on income you receive from sources in Canada. The type of tax you pay and the requirement to file an income tax return depend on the type of income you receive.

Most banks provide online Internet Banking and a facility to transfer funds between overseas bank accounts but you should see each bank’s website for details.

New arrivals can open an account using two Government issued pieces of identification (e.g. a passport, driver’s license) and proof of address (usually requested in the form of a utility bill). As a foreign resident you will usually also be asked to provide a reference from your employer/host university or educational institution or your previous bank.

Family Healthcare

One of the most important things you need to do as soon as you arrive in Canada is to apply for a health insurance card. Generally, in order to be eligible for health care treatment and services in Canada, you must have a permanent resident status and there is a 3-month period after the arrival in Canada before you are eligible for health care.

Restrictions can apply to those on a work permit and vary from province to province. For example, if your Work Permit is valid for at least 12 months in Manitoba, you and any family members listed on the Work Permit, are eligible for coverage as of the date it was issued.

It is not necessary to be registered with a doctor in Canada. Most doctors have a group practice and the best way to find a good one is through word of mouth.

Dental care is not covered by provincial health plans and is very costly. It is therefore advisable to purchase insurance that covers a portion or all of your dental expenses. Coverage, to an extent, may also be provided by your employer.

Pharmacies are located in many areas of major cities and will usually have all common medication in stock and provide prompt service for prescription medicines. Doctors will continue medication for prescriptions issued in Europe.


Family Support

There are numerous online resources that families can explore for further help or information. These include: 

Government of Canada Website – Includes helpful sections on department and agencies, financial benefits and current legislation. 

Child and Family Benefits - Information and useful links

911 is Australia’s primary emergency call service number. It should be used to contact Police, Fire or Ambulance services in life threatening or time critical emergency situations.


English Language Training

There are many sources of English language training for your family members who may be migrating to Canada.

The Government of Canada offers free language training across the country for adult permanent residents as part of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Program. A full list of areas providing this service can be found here. 

LangCanada – Provides a range of institutions, programs and resources across the country for learning English and French as a second-language.

Employment for Family Members

It is highly recommended that you check with Citizenship and Immigration Canada regarding the type of entry visa your family members require so that they have the right to work as they may need to apply for a different kind of visa in their own name.

The government website Job Bank has information on employment opportunities, a career navigator and a resume builder.

If your family are interested in volunteering, the Volunteering Canada website enables you to search for volunteer centres and jobs.

Travelling

You will no doubt want to travel the country and visit some of the amazing places Canada has to offer. The following is some useful travel information and advice on places to visit.

Travel Information

Canadians drive on the right-hand side of the road and the maximum speed limit on the open road is 100 km/h, with 30-80 km/h the common limit in residential areas.

An International Drivers License is required in Canada to drive if you are spending under a year in the country. If you are from a country that is considered reciprocal under the Canadian Ministry of Transportation policy, you may be eligible for an automatic license.

With regard to public transport, the national bus network is extensive. There are various bus operators in operating both regionally and nationally and you can also travel by train from the easternmost to the westernmost coasts of Canada.

Of 13 international airports in Canada, Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport is the main airport and receives the bulk of the country's air traffic of over 35 million visitors per year to the country. Air Canada is Canada's largest airline and provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide.

Places to Visit

There aisre an abundance of exciting destinations, places and icons to visit in Canada from the Niagara Falls to Banff National Park in the middle of the Canadian Rockies with secluded lakes and forests in amongst the vast expanse of the country’s natural beauty.

There are numerous tourism sites available online but a good place to start is the official Canadian tourism website which has information about the country, things to do and places to visit.