7 Rights and Responsibilities of Immigrants in Canada

Moving to a different country comes with a new set of rules, new laws, new regulations, and responsibilities. Thousands of people across the world immigrate to Canada every year for better opportunities and higher quality life. With an 85% naturalization rate in Canada - it’s safe to say that many newcomers get exactly what they came here for in the first place. Find out why below!

Here are 7 fantastic rights and responsibilities of immigrants in Canada.

Your Rights in Canada as an Immigrant

Freedom of Conscience and Religion

As a proud multicultural country, Canada is focused on ensuring that all religions and beliefs are celebrated and represented in their communities. Canada’s Great Charter of Freedom protects and honors your rights to practice religion. (Hint: Remember this one when you write your Canadian citizenship test.)

For example, Sikh men in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are exempt from wearing hats so they can wear turbans, as required by their faith. The three biggest religious groups in Canada are Christians, Catholics, and Muslims - places of worship can be found across Canada.

Same Rights for Women and Men

Belgium, France, Denmark, Latvia, Luxembourg, Sweden, Canada, and Iceland are the only countries that offer full equal rights for men and women.

The report was published by the World Bank and the following factors were taken into account: Freedom of movement, equal access to job opportunities in all industries, equal pay and pension, freedom to marry whom you want, fantastic laws around parental leave, and equal access to open and run a business.

Canada actively supports and encourages women in STEM industries and women entrepreneurs through various initiatives and programs available on the government website.

Access to Healthcare, Education, and More

Immigrants in Canada have the same rights to education, health care, jobs, housing, social services, and pensions as Canadian citizens.

Healthcare in Canada:

Canada’s excellent public healthcare system known as Medicare is available to all Canadians and permanent residents at no charge. The healthcare system covers essential medical services such as medical procedures and surgeries, medical tests, doctor visits, dental surgery in the hospital, etc.

Did you know that over 335,000 immigrants work in health-related occupations in Canada?

Education in Canada:

Children of immigrants in Canada can attend any public primary and secondary school in Canada for free. Canada is ranked among the top most educated countries in the world since 2010, according to OECD.

Employment in Canada:

As far as jobs in Canada and employment opportunities are concerned it’s good to know that Canada relies heavily on immigrants to help the country's economy cope with rapid aging and retiring workforce.

Many in-demand jobs in Canada are filled by immigrants. In fact, immigrant workers in Canada have far better labor market opportunities than in Europe or the US. Thanks to immigration, Canada’s labor force continues to grow by a small amount every year. If it weren’t for immigrants, employers would have trouble finding enough qualified workers to fill available jobs. For these reasons, Canada aims to welcome more than 1-million newcomers by 2022!

Right to Equal Protection and Benefits Without Discrimination

Canada was the first country in the world to pass a Multiculturalism Act that promotes the inclusion and integration of all races, cultures, sexual orientations, and religions in the country - a truly welcoming nation. In major cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, roughly half the population consists of visible minorities.

Immigrants in Canada have a right to express their beliefs and opinions and can freely associate with anyone without censorship or fear of discrimination. Canada recently passed a law that affords the same citizenship rights to children born with the help of assisted reproduction as biological children. This is great news for same-sex families who immigrate to Canada!

Right to Vote

If you immigrate to Canada and become a Canadian citizen after passing your citizenship test, you will have the right to vote in elections, be a candidate in elections, apply for a Canadian passport, and freely enter and leave the country.

Your Responsibilities in Canada as an Immigrant

Celebrating Canada's Heritage

Show your pride for this amazing country by participating in many events and celebrations and in commemorating important moments and people in Canadian history.

The warm and sunny months of June and July are jam-packed with special celebrations such as Canada Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day and, Canadian Multiculturalism Day not to mention Royal Tours that explore Canada as a constitutional monarchy headed by Queen Elizabeth.

Protecting Canada’s Natural Environment

Immigrants in Canada have a right to clean water, clean air, and a healthy environment. At the same time, they also have a responsibility to preserve the magnificent natural environment that Canada is known for. Immigrants can do their part by not littering when they visit one of Canada’s 48 national parks, recycling and steering clear of single-use plastic.

Canada also offers resources to help businesses in Canada adopt sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprint.

Immigrate to Canada With Professional Help

Are you ready to join this proud multicultural nation to experience true liberated freedom? Canada’s rights and responsibilities extend to all new immigrants and you can be one of them with our help.

By using our accredited Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) you will not only improve your chances of success in the visa application process, but you will get expert advice on which program is best for your specific needs. Our RCICs are highly qualified and are granted permission by the ICCRC to assist you with your entire immigration process.

We take care of the fine print while you choose your dream destination in Canada for you and your loved ones. All you have to do is complete our application form to receive your eligibility assessment today. It's just that simple.