Canada: Living

Communities of Expatriates

The Number of Expatriates: There are 6 186 950 expatriates.
Blogs For Expats: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Internations Forum
For Further Information: Welcome to Canada
Immigration Authority: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Transportation Companies For Moving/Removals: Canada Moving
Allied Van Lines

Ranking of Cities

Cost of Living: Toronto is the 143rd most expensive city in the world while Vancouver 142nd according to the Mercer Index 2016.
Quality of Life: Major Canadian cities have one of the highest qualities of living in the world. Mercer's 2017 Quality of Living Survey ranks Vancouver 5th, Toronto 16th and Ottawa 18th out of 231.
Sanitary Conditions: All the large Canadian cities are ranked in the 25 best cities from the point of view of health and sanitary conditions (Calgary 1st, Ottawa 4th, Vancouver and Montreal 10th and Toronto 21st). Sanitary conditions are generally very good.
For Further Information: Quality of Living Worldwide City Rankings –Survey - Mercer
Cost of Living Worldwide City Rankings –Survey - Mercer

Renting an Apartment

Description of apartments: LOFT: A large open plan room often located in converted industrial buildings.
Apartments go from the 1 1/2 (apartment with one room and a bathroom) to the 4 1/2 (2 bedrooms, a sitting room, a kitchen + bathroom) and so on.
All these types of apartment can be offered unfurnished, half-furnished (stove and refrigerator), furnished (just all necessary furniture), heated (heating included in the monthly rate), lit (electricity included), hot water (water tank heated).
Normal Lease Term: 1 year lease, 3 months' written notice for any suspension of the lease.
An apartment can be sub-let with the agreement of the landlord; unless there is an understanding with the landlord, the main tenant stays responsible for the lease until the end.
Rental Costs: The rent is payable on the 1st of each month. Most landlords ask for 12 post dated checks, but they do not have the right to demand this. The landlord can require a cosignatory or a guarantor. A deposit is rarely required.
Agencies or Private Rentals: Most apartment rentals are agreed directly with the landlord or the manager of the building. Estate agencies can propose a tenant finding service; it is the owner of the apartment for rent who is generally liable for the fees.
Rental Agency Websites: Realtor.ca
Du Proprio
Remax Real Estate Group
Century 21
Boardwalk
Private Rentals Announcements Online: Immobilier Particulier Canada
Just Landed
Other Possibilities For Accommodation: Rooms to rent in private houses may be available. There is not necessarily a lease to sign, and they are often rented monthly. Easyroommate is a website for finding rooms and roommates.
For Further Information: The guide to buying a house for newcomers
The guide to renting a house for newcomers

School System

School Level: The school system is under provincial and territorial jurisdiction; the Canadian government plays an indirect role. School is compulsory from age 6 or 7 to age 15-16. Education is free in public schools. Some provinces offer schooling from age 4 (nursery school) to age 6 when primary school begins (for 6 years), and then secondary school (for 5 years) in preparation for post-secondary education. In Quebec, post-secondary college studies for 2 or 3 years (CEGEP : College of General and Vocational Education) are also free. Canadian universities are private institutions with a worldwide reputation.
International Schools: International school of French
Catalog of universities, colleges and schools in Canada
International school of Montreal
For Further Information: Council of Ministers of Education, Canada

Health System

Quality of Healthcare: Canada's medical care is of a high standard but is government-controlled and rationed. The public healthcare system (health insurance) in Canada is a group of ten provincial regimes and three territorial regimes financed by public money. It is a universal system which covers all medical and hospital services. These services are free. The governments of the provinces and territories finance health services with the help of the federal (national) government.
International Hospitals: The staff in Canadian hospitals generally speak English and French, but some health care professionals in the province of Quebec may speak only French.
Health Insurance: Yes.
According to the province or the territory, hospital or medical services are free or you may have to pay.
Accessibility of the Health Insurance Network to Foreigners: Canadian hospitals give medical care to all visitors, but a good insurance is necessary to cover the costs. Quick and easy access to ongoing medical care is difficult for temporary visitors who are not members of each province's government-run health care plans. Many physicians will not take new patients.
Health System Insurance Body: Links to provincial and territorial websites concerning healthcare.
Health Ministry: Health Canada

Tourism and Culture

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical: There are more than 154 historical sites listed in Canada.
Parks: 46 national and 82 historical national parks.
Montreal: the old quarter; the Cathedral-Basilica of Mary Queen of the World which is a copy of St Peter's in Rome; the Olympic park.
Cultural: Canada has more than 2900 museums. There are also many festivals and events, about 267 a year, spread over all Canadian cities.
Nature: Canada's territory is immense and overflows with natural beauty. There are more than 46 national parks and many marine conservation areas, especially in the St Lawrence river, the Great Lakes, Niagara Falls and the Montmorency Falls. For further information, consult the Parks Canada website.
UNESCO has named 18 Canadian jewels World Heritage Sites.
Religious: Canada's religious heritage is concentrated especially in Quebec where the Catholic religion had a strong foothold. Some of its churches are part of the religious heritage.
Thermal: The hot springs in the Canadian Rockies are very well-known and managed by Parks Canada.
Beach: There are many kilometers of beaches on the Pacific coast, the Atlantic coast, the Bay of Chaleur, the Gaspé Peninsula, Georgian Bay, the Thousand Islands region in the St Lawrence river, the Magdalen Islands.
Winter Sports: Due to the climate, mountain ranges, as well as the vast expanses of land and frozen lakes, you can practice downhill skiing, cross-country skiing or ski touring, snowboarding, ski-pulka, sledding or tube sliding, paraski, skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc.
To practice these winter sports you can go to the Rockies in British Columbia, or to the Laurentians and the Appalachians in Quebec.
Outdoor Activities: There are plenty of outdoor activities all year round in Canada. During winter and summer there are many festivals and events: Events in Quebec; Festivals Alberta.
Possible summer activities include: whale and beaver watching, sea and river canoeing, rafting, black bear watching, contact with wolves, quad riding, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, diving, and canoe, rowboat, motor boat or sail boat trips.
Shopping: Tourists especially want to taste and buy Canada's famous maple syrup. They also like to taste the renowned 'Smoked Meat', and 'Ribs', or 'BBQ Chicken'.

Top Highlights in the Main Cities
Parliament
National Library
Rideau Hall
Supreme Court
Château Laurier
Outaouais museums
Ottawa tulip festival
Canada Day - Parliament Hill

Top Highlights of the Country
Niagara Falls (Ontario)
Montmorency Falls(Quebec)
Château Frontenac (Quebec)
The Thousand Islands (Ontario)
The Rocher Percé in Gaspé
The Saguenay Fjord (Quebec)
CN Tower (Toronto)
Calgary Stampede (Calgary)
Georgian Bay- 30 000 islands Ontario
Rocky Mountains

Tourism Organisations: Canadian Tourism Commission
Canada Keep Exploring
Cultural Organizations: Canadian Heritage
For Further Information: Canada Border Services Agency

Individual and Civic Freedoms

Political Freedom: Widespread
Civil Liberty: 1/7
: World Ranking of Freedom of the Press According to "Reporters sans Frontières", 2021 report : 14/180
Free Access to the Internet: Widespread.
Rule of Law: Guaranteed.
Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: Guaranteed.
Women's Condition: Canada is considered to be a leader as regards women's rights. However, Canadian women today are still paid 15 to 25% less than men.
For Further Information: Canadian multiculturalism.
Conditions for women in Canada

Religion

Degree of Freedom: Freedom of worship is governed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, there is a controversy in Quebec, over arrangements judged to be unreasonable and which infringe the rights of some people to the benefit of others.
Beliefs: Catholics 39%, Protestants 24.1%, Orthodox Christians 1.7%, Non-religious 23.9%, Muslims 3.2%, Jews 1%, Buddhists 1.1%, Hindus 1.5%, Sikhs 1.4%.
Role of Religion in Society: The Catholic religion was the dominant religion for a long time in Canada. Over the last thirty years or so, its influence has greatly diminished.

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