"Canada has always been there to help people who need it." - Justin Trudeau
“Canada is the homeland of equality, justice and tolerance.” – Kim Campbell
“Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world.” – Jack Layton
“I take tips from Canada on a lot of things.” – Barack Obama
“I believe the world needs more Canada.” – Bono
Well those are NOT the real 4 Pros to living in Canada that I will be talking about, they are rather the words of appreciation by some of the most influential politicians and people, all agreeing to Canada being the land of the free, the land of milk and honey, the land of Maple trees, the land of opportunities and the land of immigrants!
Throughout my journey, I uncovered the most important advantages to Canadian living; here are, in my humble opinion, the 4 Pros that the country offers you once you settle anywhere in Canada as an immigrant:
1. Health System: Canada is well known for its free healthcare that covers the major medical needs (family doctor consults, tests and surgeries). Newly established residents in Canada get full coverage after 3 months of moving into the country, in most of the provinces.
It would be a good idea for you to get quotes from private insurance companies before moving to cover those few months until your healthcare coverage kicks in. Drug plans, dental, vision and paramedical services are covered by private insurances only, which will be your responsibility or your employer's once you start working
2. Human rights: The fact is that the start of the pandemic came with a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes, and Canada has a history of human rights abuses against its indigenous population - which is a very important topic immigrants must familiarize themselves with - nevertheless, Canada positions No. 1 for caring about human rights in the 2021 Best Countries rankings.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's apologies toward first nations and LGBTQ+ communities for past mistreatments were major factors in the development of human rights to today's status. In Canada, equality is at the base of everything: race, gender, disability, LGBTQ+, and language & culture!
3. Work opportunities: Immigrants interested in entrepreneurial projects can start their own businesses as soon as they get settled in Canada; skilled workers can apply for jobs as part of the Federal skilled worker program (all provinces & territories except Quebec - they select their own skilled workers);
and immigrants who choose the provincial nominee program, provinces - in collaboration with the federal government - will help them find jobs that meet their experiences, however, applicants would have to settle in the province that nominates them.
Realistically, regardless of the type of work or program chosen, immigrants need to give at least a 6 months before they land on a job.
4. Canadian Nature: Newcomers will get to learn and discover the nature found across Canada. There are endless adventures for every season and in every province: in Ontario, you can actually go lake surfing at Lake Huron during summer season, or go for hikes at the Sleeping Giant in Sibley Peninsula in any season. In Quebec, you can participate in sea excursions to observe the fascinating whales at Tadoussac Bay, or go birdwatching at the archipelago in the center of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The steady supply of snow in winter makes the lofty Rocky mountains in the west and the rounded Laurentian mountains in the east the perfect destinations for skiing trips for singles and for families! The bottom line is you will learn to identify nature as an essential part of Canada, and hopefully you will get to explore these Canadian spaces on your own.
Having mentioned the above 4 real Pros to Canadian living, that does not cancel the importance of other advantages. The list would go on and on: the polite nature of Canadians, the free public educational schooling systems for families, pension plans, subsidized social wellbeing, unemployment insurance, child care systems and so much more...