Living and Working in Canada
When you have determined your motives in wanting to come to Canada, it's important to identify the realities of what lies ahead. It's wonderful to have great expectations, but it's imperative that you become well informed on certain aspects of Canadian life. There is plenty of opportunity, but no country is perfect.
Addressing Myths and Truths
Health care is free
What's that about there being no such thing as a free lunch? It's true in Canada that when you visit your family doctor you don't pay any money to the doctor directly. But the health care system is funded by the taxes Canadian residents pay. Canadian health spending is estimated to have reached almost 121 billion dollars in 2003. That's a little over $4,000 per person.
Multiculturalism has eliminated racism
Canada's Multiculturalism Act is indicative of a progressive society. Immigrants are 50 per cent more likely to be self-employed than other Canadians are and immigration accounts for 70 per cent of all labour force growth. In addi tion, they don't use public services and social assistance as much. Despite these statistics there are people who believe that immigrants drain the welfare and social systems. Yet paradoxically, immigrants are sometimes accused of stealing jobs from long-time Canadians. Canada is known for ega litarian values and for being a `cultural mosaic' rather than a 'melting pot', but that does not mean that racism is non existent. However, in most cases Canadians know that Canada needs more people to continue to grow (the birth rate has been in decline for several years) and to prosper. In fact, Canada is a land of immigrants and it's been said that the people who have been here the longest are just immigrants with seniority.
High-level skills lead to a high-level job
For the most part this is true. And the higher the level of skill and expertise you have the better your chances of getting into Canada. For example, engineering, financial, science and health professionals score high points on immigration appli cations. Unfortunately, however, immigration does not take into account whether your certification or accreditation stands up in Canada. You could face years of further study in Canada - at your own expense - to be recognised the profession you were in in your homeland
Seeing the Up Side
On the other hand, you may have heard a few discouraging things about Canada that are far from the truth, such as myths about bears in the streets, everyone living in igloos and it being cold all the time. In time you will learn more about Canada and, in turn, learn that the above is false. For example, there is ready access to natural spaces where, yes, there are bears, but in the majority of cities the most aggressive wildlife you would encounter would be racoons ravaging garbage cans. Housing in Canada comes in all shapes and sizes and igloos exist only in the far north. Finally, with 90 per cent of Canada's population living 100 miles from the US border, most Canadians enjoy warm sum mers in addition to the cold winters - and in some parts of Canada, like the West Coast, the winters are actually quite mild.
