Immigration is a big step in anyone’s life. There is so much to consider, like will you be able to support yourself and your family, will you be able to adapt to Canadian culture without losing your own, and perhaps the biggest question of all, “Is now the right time to move to Canada?”. Well, it is, in fact.
With uncertainty looming, it is understandable to have these concerns. To try to dissuade these concerns, we’ll delve into job prospects, benefits, and immigration options to explain why now is, in fact, the right time to start your Canadian visa application and give you 13 reasons why Canada may be just the place that you are looking for in a new place to call home.
After all, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is planning to welcome 500,000 immigrants over the period of 2023-2025. Don’t miss your chance to become a member of this growing throng of immigrants starting a better life in Canada.
The following is a thorough breakdown of the reasons why the present is the right time to move to Canada.
Opportunity
Canada has a wealth of opportunities, from education to employment. With the 10th largest economy in the world and a resilient economy that creates about a million jobs a year (according to Statistics Canada), the opportunities to find work in Canada are endless. Whether you’re a truck driver, nurse, general worker or IT professional, Canada has a place for you.
Studying in Canada is another golden opportunity for immigrants. Not only will you gain a world-renowned education to take back home with you to pursue your dream career but you also have the opportunity to stay on and work in Canada after you have graduated.
You can do this through the Post Graduate Worker Permit Program (PGWPP), and once you have enough work experience you can then apply to move to Canada permanently by utilizing the Canadian Experience Class.
Border Remains Open for Temporary Workers
When the majority of countries cautiously closed their borders to all prospective immigrants and green card holders, Canada maintained its pro-immigration stance, allowing essential temporary workers in industries such as meat and food processing as well as agriculture to migrate to Canada without needing a Labor Market Assessment (LMIA).
This was largely beneficial to immigrants, IRCC, and to Canadian businesses because an LMIA usually requires employers to advertise the job in Canada for at least 3 months before offering it to international applicants.
Therefore the lack of a need for an LMIA has expedited the immigrant application and has yielded higher numbers of newcomer workers in recent years.
High Paying Jobs
Canada offers competitive salaries for both skilled and unskilled workers, particularly jobs that are in high demand. With an amazing $14 per hour wage average and an average salary of $52,600 per year and higher, you’ll have plenty of additional income to spend on your dream home, vacation, or your child’s tertiary education.
Some of the highest-paying jobs for unskilled workers include truck drivers, fisherman, and farmworkers while some of the highest paying skilled jobs include doctors, registered nurses, engineers, IT managers, and pilots. Moreover, Canada places a premium on general work as a consequence of its highly educated population that tends to steer away from low-skilled manual labor.
The gap in the labor market created by this circumstance has created the opportunity for lots of foreign workers to apply for a work immigration visa to Canada either through Express Entry or Provincial Nominee programs.
Amazing Work Benefits
Canada doesn’t only have plenty of jobs with high paying salaries but fantastic work benefits too. Getting a job in Canada usually comes with additional private health cover, life and job insurance, vehicle allowances, and training expenses.
Most people who work in Canada also enjoy shorter working hours and longer paid vacations, with most full-time employees working for an average of 36 to 40-hour weeks and two to three weeks of paid vacation every year, depending on your occupation.
Expecting parents can also look forward to spending more time with their newborns. Both mothers and fathers or “non-birthing” parents have access to paid parental leave days where they could receive between 33 and 55% of their average earnings for anywhere between 35 and 61 weeks!
Please note that all these worker benefits are afforded only Canadian permanent residents. So if you moved to Canada using either a temporary worker or visitors visa, you will not receive any of these benefits.
Healthcare
Canada is known for its healthcare system, not only because of its exceptionally high standard but because all permanent residents, citizens, and their family members do not have to pay a single Canadian dollar for it.
Canada’s universal healthcare system covers most doctor visits and emergency cover, although it does not cover the cost of prescription medication or dental care it’s more than likely that the additional healthcare cover that your employer offers will. If not, Canada also offers plenty of private healthcare plans at affordable rates.
Education
Along with Canada’s public healthcare system, the public education system won't cost you a thing. Canada is currently ranked as the third-best education system in the world and is closely monitored by the Council of Ministers Education Canada to ensure that the same level is upheld in every public school, no matter what province you live in.
Not only will your child be able to receive a fantastic education in a safe, clean and diverse environment but they will also have access to some of the world’s best universities and colleges. For example the University of Toronto, which according to QS WorldUniversity Rankings is currently ranked number 1 in Canada and according to Times Higher Education is ranked 18th globally.
Studying in Canada at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) will not only set you up for an international career but could open up doors if you want to eventually move to Canada permanently through programs such as the PGWPP.
And with Canadian education institutions' deadlines fast approaching now more than ever is the time to start your application. The sooner you apply the better your chances of getting accepted and it is recommended that you apply at least 8 to 12 months ahead of time.
Your submission deadlines vary depending on your chosen university, qualification, and province. There are generally two submission deadlines:
- Summer enrollment deadline: 15th January
- Winter enrollment deadline-1st September
Progressive Liberal Government
With ongoing racial unrest taking the world by storm Canada’s government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is extremely liberal and is pro-immigration, believing that it is the key to boosting the economy.
Canada’s labor market has been facing serious challenges, not because there aren’t enough job opportunities but rather that its core industries have been progressing so rapidly that there aren’t enough jobs to fill the demand.
In other words, there are so many jobs available in Canada that the Government is looking to fill the labor gap by employing skilled foreign workers who want to move to Canada. In 2023, Canada aims to invite 500,000 foreigners and their loved ones to apply for permanent residence.
Canada is also known to be one of the most liberal and tolerant countries in the world. Canada was the fourth country globally to legalize same-sex marriage. It is also one of the most diverse countries with over 200 different languages spoken in Canada.
While the resurgence of protectionism has made countries become more isolated and averse to Globalization and welcoming newcomers, Canada has remained steady in its’ policy to keep their borders open to people from all over the world, creating an all-inclusive and diverse community for all.
Inclusive and Supportive Communities
Canada is focused on building an all-inclusive community that is safe and welcoming to all people, no matter your race, country of origin, or religion.
The government has various immigrant programs such as The Newcomers Budget Guide, designed to help make integration into Canadian communities easier, offering advice on everything from insurance services, taxes, and mortgages to how to get a driving license, social insurance, health care and much more.
There are also various associations and online communities for people from all over the world. Here are just a few:
- Nigerian Canadian Association
- WaKenya
- Asian Canadian Communities (including, China, Japan, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, and other Asian communities)
- India Canada Association
Business Opportunities
If you are an entrepreneur at heart and are looking to start or move your business to Canada, there are various ways to go about it. Canada actively encourages innovation with some of the top business opportunities in agriculture, accommodation and food services, wholesale and retail, construction, scientific, and technical industries.
For more information on how you can bring your business venture to Canada we encourage you to take a look at the Self-Employed Visa, the Investor Visa, the Entrepreneur Visa and the Business Visitor immigration programs.
High Quality of Living
Canada is known for its high quality of living. Free world-class healthcare and education systems, low unemployment and crime rates make it the perfect place for young professionals, and families alike.
Smaller city life offers a close-knit community with all the amenities of big city life while urban life in city centers is bustling with nightlife, art, and culture. Canada is also known for high work satisfaction and a low-stress lifestyle offering the perfect work-life balance. According to the OECDs better life index only 3 % Canada's full-time employees work very long hours, which is 7% less than the OECD average of 10%.
Canadians also lead much healthier lifestyles, a fact borne from the reality that most Canadians live near picturesque backdrops, with national parks, mountain ranges, and waterfalls that take your breath away. It also has 4 distinct and beautiful seasons to enjoy.
Freedom of Religion & Multiculturalism
Canada’s diverse demographic is part of what makes it such an amazing country to live in. Canada has a wide variety of different beliefs and religions. More than two-thirds of the population is Christian, while 2.4 million Canadians are Islamic, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist.
In fact, the Islamic faith has one of the largest expat communities in Canada, making up 3.2% of the total population. Over 300,000 people belong to the Canadian Jewish community and almost 65,000 are associated with Aboriginal spirituality.
Canada is a melting pot of culture and religious beliefs and not only will you have access to various places of worship but you will be able to find communities within these organizations, making it just a little bit easier for you and your family to settle in and meet new people after immigrating to Canada.
In celebration of Multiculturalism Day, the country hosted various virtual events such as the All For One Filipino event in Toronto and Cultural Expressions Festival organized by Iranian Canadians in Fredericton.
Canada Pride
By passing the Civil Marriage Act in 2005, Canada became the fourth country globally to legalize same-sex marriage. This was however not the first time same-sex couples could get married in Canada. In fact, same-sex marriage was actually first introduced on a federal level as early as 2003 in Ontario.
Same-sex couples can also start a family in Canada and were first allowed to adopt in British Columbia in 1996 as well as nationally since 2011.
Canada also usually has a number of pride celebrations across the country. Gay Pride, the most well known and biggest event in the US, is held in all major Canadian cities and is attended by thousands of proud Canadians, including Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. One of the largest Pride celebrations worldwide is Toronto Pride which usually draws in over 1 million people.
Supportive Immigrant Communities
Canada not only welcomes foreigners with open arms but also goes to great lengths to offer help and support for those who are newly immigrating to Canada. The Canada For Me Immigration Office has a Newcomers Resource Guide that helps foreigners integrate into Canadian life. This program includes:
- Pre Landing Services – providing you with all the information that you will need before you move to Canada
- Post-Landing Services – provides you with all information that you’ll need to prepare for the touch down in Canada, including pick up from the airport, setting up bank accounts, Social Insurance and Health Cards, getting used to your local neighborhood, shopping, and grocery tips, school recommendations, household goods purchases, driving license, business registration as well as tax preparation and job search;
- Insurance Services – this includes all information regarding medical, life, education, and pension plans, insurance for new immigrants and travelers as well as travel insurance for newcomers, students, and visitors; and
- Accounting, Tax Preparation, Mortgages, and Line of Credit for Newcomers – this includes helpful tips and information about opening a business, annual income tax preparation and filing of business taxes, applications for personal credit cards and lines of credit, mortgages for newcomers and first-time homeowners
How we can Help you Move to Canada
Immigration to Canada can be both complex and confusing, but don't let that be one of your reasons why you don't get started on the application process to move to Canada today.
By using our accredited Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) you will not only optimize your chances of success in the visa application process, but you will receive expert advice on which program is best for your personal needs.
Our RCICs are registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and are legally permitted to assist you by evaluating your eligibility, reviewing all documentation, and submitting it to the Canadian government on your behalf.
FAQs
What is the Biggest Reason That Should Make People Move to Canada?
The quality of life and better opportunities for social mobility in Canada is often cited by immigrants as the main motivating driver to move to Canada.
What’s the best Place to Move to in Canada?
Ottawa, the Capital City of Canada located in Ontario is often cited as the best place to live in Canada.
What is the Quickest way to Move to Canada?
Express Entry is far and away the most accessible and quickest immigration visa program to use to immigrate to Canada.