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  • Discover The Provinces and Territories
  • Education
  • Business
  • Living

Discover the Provinces and Territories

ALBERTA

ALBERTA Alberta, A must visit for nature lovers

Albertans enjoy a very high quality of life. They enjoy the lowest overall taxes in Canada with among the highest level of services. They have the highest disposable incomes in Canada and the lowest unemployment rate in Canada.
Alberta also has:
  • a strong and vibrant economy
  • a young, skilled and productive workforce
  • affordable living costs
  • a strong commitment to innovation and knowledge-based progress
  • a highly entrepreneurial and competitive business community
  • a business-friendly province committed to responsible regulation
  • a modern and efficient infrastructure
  • an abundance of natural resources
  • a beautiful natural environment
Albertans have a big, beautiful backyard to play in. Alberta's provincial parks and protected areas provide access to some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in North America, including more dinosaur fossils than any other single spot on the planet; the world's only boreal forest songbird observatories; the largest collection of aboriginal rock art on the North American Plains; a glacier; majestic mountains and so much more.

Tax Advantage

  • Alberta has by far the lowest combined provincial and municipal tax burden among the provinces, at 53% of the national average.
  • The lowest top marginal personal income tax rate among the provinces at 39%-29% federal and 10% provincial.
  • No provincial sales tax.
  • At 9.0 cents per liter, Alberta has the lowest gasoline tax rate among the provinces, 2.5 cents per liter below Manitoba, and the second lowest general corporate income tax rate in Canada at 11.5%.
  • Businesses also benefit because Alberta has no general sales tax, capital tax or payroll tax.
  • Alberta's small business corporate income tax rate of 3% is the second lowest in Canada.
BRITISH COLOMBIA

BRITISH COLOMBIA British Columbia, The Great Outdoors of Canada

One Big Province

B.C.'s total land and freshwater area is 95 million hectares, larger than France and Germany combined. Only 30 countries are larger. British Columbia occupies about 10 per cent of Canada's land surface. Set between the Pacific Ocean in the west and the magnificent Rocky Mountains in the east, British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province. Blessed with breathtaking landscapes, BC is home to a geographical diversity that lends itself to a vast array of activities and adventures. There are mountains to climb , rivers to run, beaches to comb, forests to hike , parks to stroll and warm summer lakes to laze about on. The province generally enjoys a temperate climate but where there are mountains, there is snow. Renowned for the steep and the deep of its world-class ski terrain, BC is bustling with energy and opportunity as it prepares for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games. Always a gold medal destination for savvy travelers, BC offers not just outdoor adventure but cosmopolitan culture, world class exhibitions, uptown shopping and fabulous dining. From sophisticated cities to breathtaking scenery there is something for everyone in BC.

People of British Columbia

  • B.C.'s population was 4.405 million people as of December 2008.
  • British Columbia is home to people of many different origins, cultural traditions, languages, ethnicities, and religions.
  • B.C.'s aboriginal people are known as First Nations. There are 197 First Nations bands in the province, such as the Gitxsan, Haida, Nisga'a and Squamish.
  • The top 10 languages spoken are now (according to the 2001 Census): English, Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin), Punjabi, German, French, Tagalog, Spanish, Italian, Korean, and Dutch.
  • Each year, over 40,000 immigrants from around the world arrive in B.C.

The Great Outdoors

  • B.C. has nearly 1,000 provincial parks and protected areas, attracting about 24 million visits every year.
  • Since 2001, the provincial government has established 57 new parks, 143 conservancies, one ecological reserve and eight protected areas, and expanded more than 50 parks and six ecological reserves, protecting more than 1.9 million hectares (an area almost three times the size of Prince Edward Island.)
  • This includes 200,000 hectares of habitat for the world-famous Spirit Bear, B.C.'s official mammal.
  • Today, 14.26 per cent (or more than 13.5 million hectares) of British Columbia is protected – more than any other province in Canada. For more information about B.C.'s provincial parks, please visit: www.bcparks.ca.

Doing Business in British Columbia

  • British Columbia is Canada's gateway to the Asia-Pacific and is economically and geographically part of the northwest region of North America.
  • While forestry, mining, fishing and agriculture remain important to B.C.'s economy, there is strong growth in new industries such as eco-tourism, agric-tourism, film and high tech.
  • Our educational, transportation and telecommunications infrastructures are among the most modern in the world.
  • Small businesses make up over 98 per cent of the province's businesses, and now employ more than one million British Columbians. The Canada/British Columbia Business Service Centre has a variety of links to services for the B.C. business community. It also features an Online Small Business Workshop and Interactive Business Planner. Over the last eight years, over 100 tax cuts have been introduced. As a result, B.C. now has some of the lowest taxes in North America.

Hollywood North

  • British Columbia is the third-largest film and television production centre in North America - after New York and Los Angeles.
  • The film industry is now a $1.2 billion industry in B.C. and directly employs about 35,000 people. Indirect jobs generated by the industry fuel the construction, tourism, and small business sectors.
ONTARIO

ONTARIO Ontario, The Economics & Tourist Hub of Canada

One in three Canadians calls Ontario home. Diverse cultural backgrounds make up this vibrant province, a magnet for industry, the arts and innovation.
From its varied landscape, to thousands of lakes, to fantastic tourism spots, Ontario is a study in contrasts with much to offer.
  • The varied landscape includes the vast, rocky and mineral-rich Canadian Shield, which separates the fertile farmland in the south and the grassy lowlands of the north.
  • There are over 250,000 lakes in Ontario -- they make up about one-third of the world's fresh water.
  • In summer, temperatures can soar above 30°C (86°F), while in winter they can drop to below -40°C (-40°F).
  • Ontario's industries range from cultivating crops, to mining minerals, to manufacturing automobiles, to designing software and leading-edge technology.
  • Cultures from around the world thrive and are celebrated in Ontario with festivals such as Caribana (West Indian) and Oktoberfest (German).
  • Travelers can enjoy the many experiences Ontario has to offer, from a wilderness expedition in the north, to a "shop till you drop into your theatre seat" city excursion.
Moving to Ontario is one of the most important choices you will ever make. This section gives you information to help guide you. It includes what you need to know about housing, health care , how to find a job, enter a profession or trade , start a business or go to school.
Ontario is a land of opportunity. It is a prosperous, democratic society built by the hard work of generations of immigrants. We hope that you will decide to make Ontario your new home.
Our people are our greatest asset, and we welcome the talent and energy that newcomers bring to our province. In return, we offer opportunities and a quality of life that are second to none.
The Entry Requirements Tool will provide you with the requirements to enter Canada that apply to your personal situation. The Entry Requirements Tool is provided by the Canadian federal government through its Going to Canada portal.
Explore the Working in Canada Tool to obtain information and referrals to help you prepare to work, specific to where you live (or plan to live) in Canada.
If you want to move to Ontario, this section provides practical information on the immigration process. The Government of Canada decides who can come to Canada. This section of the website tells you how to apply to immigrate and explains the different categories (known as classes) of immigrants, family sponsorship, refugee status and similar issues.
This section also suggests things you can do to make your arrival easier. For example, you can read a guide to getting ready before you leave for Canada. It is full of useful information.
In order to make your move easier, you may also want to learn about the weather in Ontario before you arrive.
QUEBEC

QUEBEC Quebec, the heart of French Canada

The heart of French Canada, where English is considered a distant second language, Quebec (pronounced 'KebEck') is unlike anywhere else in North America. The culture, architecture, music, religion and way of life are truly unique.
The capital of the province, Quebec City, has a very noticeable European feel to it. Modern buildings are few and far between, but the impressive design of the walled city is quite overwhelming in its location on a hill on the side of the Saint Lawrence River.
In Montreal (pronounced 'Mor'E'Al) English and French are spoken side by side. Being served at a shop or restaurant, you never know which language the person will speak. Over 40% of Quebec's population lives here making it the second largest French speaking city in the world. The Bi-Lingual status of Montreal makes for a decidedly different air to other Canadian cities. Most of the downtown of this Olympic city can be accessed by underground malls that consist of over 40km of passages lined with shops and restaurants, linked by malls and the popular Paris style Metro.
Each year, Québec welcomes an average of some 45,000 immigrants from over 100 countries who actively participate in its economic, social and cultural development.
Is Québec made for you? Are you made for Québec? To answer these questions, what could be better than taking an exploratory trip to find out? If that's not possible, you should consult us for as many sources of information as possible.
An immigration project must be well planned and documented. The more you know about Québec, the better you will be able to make informed decisions and the best choices for you!
MANITOBA

MANITOBA Manitoba, A great mix of cosmopolitan sophistication and wide open territory, unforgettable place

Where is Manitoba?

Canada is divided into ten provinces and three northern territories. Manitoba is a large province located in the centre of Canada. Over one million people call Manitoba home, and nearly 700,000 of these people live in the city of Winnipeg. There are also a number of towns of various sizes – many of these towns are scattered across the southern region of the province.

Areas of Manitoba

While Manitoba is a large province, there is a lot to see and do without having to travel far.
Northern Manitoba has an incredible landscape. The area contains many clean lakes and beautiful provincial parks, and a large amount of wildlife. Many fish, birds, and wild animals live in the area, and the town of Churchill is considered the polar bear capital of the world.
Central Manitoba contains Manitoba's two biggest lakes – Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. There are also a number of small and mid-sized towns in Central Manitoba, as well as large forests and a number of smaller lakes.
Most Manitobans live in the southern area of the province. Farming and agriculture play an important role in Manitoba's economy, and most of Manitoba's farms are in the southern area of the province. The city of Winnipeg is also located in southern Manitoba. Manitoba shares a border to the south with the United States.

Did you know?

  • The province of Manitoba was established in 1870. Louis Riel established the first government in Manitoba, and negotiated the province's entry into Canadian confederation.
  • Manitoba has many francophone communities, both in the city of Winnipeg and in rural Manitoba. Many Franco-Manitobans still speak French (one of Canada's two languages) and keep francophone traditions alive in the province.
  • Manitoba is home to a number of provincial and national parks – large, beautiful natural spaces protected and cared for by the Governments of Manitoba or Canada. These parks are home to many species of plants and animals.
  • Located a 30 hour train ride north of Winnipeg, the town of Churchill is home to the only inland sea port. It is also considered the world's polar bear capital. Beluga whales are often seen near Churchill in Hudson Bay.
  • Manitoba is home to over 100,000 lakes – driving 30 minutes will almost always get you to a clean, unspoiled lake.
SASKETCHEWAN

SASKETCHEWAN Saskatchewan, wisdom, strength, beauty, peace & faith best describes the people of Saskatchewan

Canada's leading economic forecasters are projecting that the Saskatchewan economy will bounce back from a temporary setback to become one of the top performers again in 2010.
"We're not heading into a recession - we're coming out of one," Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer said. "All the independent forecasters are projecting a strong rebound for Saskatchewan's economy in 2010."
The Conference Board of Canada forecast released today predicts Saskatchewan will post economic growth of 3.7 per cent in 2010, second best in the country. On average, Canada's nine leading economic forecasters - the Conference Board, Global Insight, C4SE, TD, RBC, BMO, CIBC, Scotia bank and Laurentian - are projecting an economic growth rate for Saskatchewan of 2.8 per cent in 2010, tied with BC for the best in Canada.
Like every other Canadian province, Saskatchewan's economy is expected to shrink in 2009, but the province's economic downturn should be short-lived Gantefoer said. "After the kind of growth we've had in the last couple of years, a slowdown is not too surprising," Gantefoer said. "We'll see a dip into negative territory this year, but we have every reason to be confident that we'll be near the front of the pack again in 2010." "There is no doubt that the troubles of the potash industry have presented us with some major challenges this year. But the Saskatchewan economy has proven to be extremely resilient. "We have the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and our population is growing at its fastest pace in over 50 years. And 2010 should be an even stronger year for Saskatchewan's economy."
EDUCATION

Education System in CANADA

Education in Canada is under the complete jurisdiction of the provinces and territories and as such, there is no federal education system in Canada. In keeping with the national commitment to education, public education in Canada is free up to and including secondary school in all the provinces. However, each provincial system, while similar to the others, reflects its specific regional concerns, and historical and cultural heritage. At the post-secondary level, institutions are divided into community colleges and universities. There are significant differences between the education systems of the different provinces of Canada. Secondary schooling in Canada could go up to Grade 11, 12 or 13, depending on the province unlike in India, where Grade 12 is standard all over the country.
Post secondary education is offered by four types of educational institutions:
  1. Universities
  2. University Colleges
  3. Community Colleges/Technical Institutes
  4. Career Colleges
Universities: Canadian universities are largely public funded, and, as a result, offer consistently high quality education at lower tuition rates for international students than their counterparts in competing countries. They offer a broad range of courses and degrees from undergraduate to doctorate and also certificate and professional degrees.
University Colleges: As a component of the Canadian university system, university colleges offer students a choice of either academic oriented university degree programs or the more practical-oriented college diplomas and certificates. As a part of the Canadian college system, university colleges are distinguished by their strong student support services, small classes and strong campus environments. They also offer combined degree/diploma programs and university transfer programs.
Community colleges and technical institutes: They typically have a more vocational-related curricula, with small classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater ratio of laboratory space to class room space, and an interactive teaching style. The uniqueness of Canadian colleges lies in the combination of employer-centered curricula. These institutes have the primary function of responding to the training needs of business, industry, and public service sectors. Most colleges and technical institutes offer diplomas and certificates rather than degrees, however, more and more now grant degrees and applied degrees.
Technical/ Career College: This is a privately owned and operated school with the main objective of preparing students for the job market after a short period of instruction. The emphasis at career colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of programs. They specialize in such areas as business, computers, and secretarial skills. Although privately owned, these institutes are provincially approved and regulated, ensuring that programs standards and quality are maintained. The academic year usually starts in September and ends in May, and is normally divided into two semesters. Some institutes operate on a semester or trimester system and admit students in January and/or May as well as September. Many institutes offer a limited number of courses and special programs during the summer session.

Type of Certification

  1. Certificate is a qualification awarded upon successful completion of a program which is usually one year in length, and is offered at colleges.
  2. Diploma is the qualification awarded on the basis of one or two year's successful study, and is offered at colleges.
  3. Undergraduate/bachelor's degrees are awarded by a university after four years of full-time study, and lead to graduate level studies.
  4. Graduate/post graduate degrees lead to advanced degrees, diplomas and certificates. A pre-requisite to participate in graduate studies is a bachelors/undergraduate degree (4 years).
  5. M.B.A. programs will typically require a minimum of two to three years of relevant work experience, GMAT score of 580-600, TOEFL score of 560-600, and a 4 year degree, and are generally 2 years in duration, though a few institutes offer a fast track option.
  6. Pre-requisites to participating in a master's program is a four year bachelor's degree with high academic standing equivalent to a minimum mid-B grade in Canada (mid 70's); at least two academic letters of reference; and other qualifications as specified, i.e.., TOEFL, GRE general and/or subject test. Master's programs generally require two years to complete full time, and usually require a combination of course work and thesis.
  7. Doctorate or Ph.D. is a degree ranking above a master's degree, and generally requires four to seven years to complete full time. A combination of course work, original research, and a thesis is required. Prerequisites are typically a master's degree, although direct entry from a bachelor's degree to a Ph.D. program may be possible depending on the school and program. Minimum high-B grade in Canada (high 70's) is required; where relevant, demonstrated research competence equivalent to at least a B+ grade; at least two academic letters of reference; and other qualifications as specified, i.e.., TOEFL, GRE general and or subject test.
  8. Post-doctoral programs are much more specialized, research oriented programs. One of the most important factors in granting post-doctorate fellowships is the personal network established between the interested applicant and the faculty member within the institution.

Top Reasons to Study in CANADA

  1. A degree or diploma from Canadian educational institutions is instantly recognized around the world as being of the highest standard.
  2. Tuition fees for international students in Canada are much lower than comparable countries.
  3. Canada spends more per capita on education than any other country in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
  4. There are 100,000 international students from all parts of the world annually in Canada. Your educational experience is sure to be truly international.
  5. Canada is renowned all over the world for its tradition of hospitality and tolerance. A remarkable multicultural society ensures that you will be welcomed and made to feel at home during your stay in Canada. More than 600,000 Canadians trace their roots back to India.
  6. Canada is a world leader in software development, telecommunications, aerospace, engineering, urban transport, biotechnology, mining technology and environmental industries. As a student, you have a wealth of research and scholars to draw upon a variety of disciplines.
  7. Canada offers a wide choice of over 90 universities and 150 colleges and technical institutes, featuring virtually every program imaginable.
  8. For all that it offers, Canada has a remarkably low cost of living. Its inflation rate has remained one of the lowest in the industrialized world.
BUSINESS

Business

Canadian Economy

Canada has come a long way from the economic revolution sparked by the railway and the telegraph in the early 1800s. Over the years, a steady tide of technological progress has profoundly reshaped our economy, making possible the combustion engine, the assembly line, computer networks and professional consultants. Today, economic progress rides an electronic expressway of automation, information and instant communication. Advances in technology, the increased globalization of markets and the emergence of liberal trading regimes are fundamentally changing the way Canadians conduct their business. Long removed from an economy based almost exclusively on natural resources, Canada is rapidly moving toward a knowledge-based economy built on innovation and technology. The new economy is also a 'smarter' economy: Canada's knowledge-intensive industries are generating advances in our ability to produce high-tech machinery and equipment, and encouraging industrial innovation as a result. Canadian businesses are 'getting connected' more than ever before, exploiting advances in communications technology to reach out into the global marketplace in search of buyers for their products. Though we have always been a nation looking outward for markets, Canadian trade continues to grow beyond our borders. Indeed, with a small domestic market, the steady expansion of multilateral trade is critical to the structure of our economy and the continued prosperity of our nation.
Despite the transformations now rippling through the Canadian marketplace, the most dramatic structural change our economy has undergone is the rise of the services sector. Though our goods-producing industries account for 33% of our national economy, the Canadian services sector is much larger, employing three out of four Canadians and generating two-thirds of our gross domestic product.
What exactly makes up the Canadian services sector? It's easy to picture the physical products churned out by our manufacturing, agriculture, mining, forestry and construction industries, but the value of the services sector is less tangible. Goods need to be delivered, and this involves storage services, truck drivers, rail carriers and bicycle couriers. The actual exchange of goods often requires legal and financial services to process the transactions. Canadians also want to shop, eat out, and be entertained by movies, operas, concerts and ballets. And nearly every aspect of government activity—from health care to education to national defense—is a service provided to Canadian citizens.
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US, its principle trading partner. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with the US, which absorbs nearly 80% of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada has enjoyed solid economic growth, and prudent fiscal management has produced consecutive balanced budgets from 1997 to 2007. In 2008, growth slowed sharply as a result of the global economic downturn, US housing slump, plunging auto sector demand, and a drop in world commodity prices. Public finances, too, are set to deteriorate for the first time in a decade. Tight global credit conditions have further restrained business and housing investment, despite the conservative lending practices and strong capitalization that made Canada's major banks among the most stable in the world.

Canadian Opportunities

We request you to please visit this website on your job search endeavors: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/
LIVING

Living

We request you to please visit this website: http://www.livingin-canada.com