Living in Canada

Canada - Facts

  • Canada ranks 4th in the United Nations' Human Development Index (pdf file). The HDI measures life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income of nations. Canada ranks behind Norway, Sweden and Australia. In the same index, the USA ranks 8th, the UK 12th, France 16th and China 94th.
  • Everyone who intends to live in Canada must have the appropriate visa from the Canadian Government.
  • English and French are the joint official languages of the Canada.
  • At provincial level, English is the official language of all of Canada's provinces, except for:
    • Quebec, where the official language is French.
    • New Brunswick where English and French are the joint official languages.
  • Outside of Quebec, only a small proportions of Canadians are able to speak French fluently.
  • The majority of Canada's 32.8 million people live in Ontario or Quebec. 39 percent of Canada's people live in Ontario and 23 percent in Quebec.
  • The main religion of Canada is Christianity - accounting for 72 percent of the population. The majority of Canada's Christians are Roman Catholic, found in greatest numbers in Quebec. 16 percent of Canadian people have no religion and 2 percent are Muslim. Around 12 percent are of other religions or would not declare their religion in the 2001 Census.
  • Since the nineteen-sixties, immigration has transformed Canada's population from overwhelmingly of British or French heritage to one accommodating people from many other countries - mainly Asian.
    • In the 2001 Census, visible minorities made up 13.4 percent of Canada's people.
    • Over one-third of Toronto's people are visible minorities.
    • The highest numbers of minorities live in British Columbia, making up 21.6 percent of the people, and Ontario, 19.1 percent of the people.
    • The lowest numbers of minorities live in Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and New Brunswick where around one percent of the people are visible minorities.
    • Visible minorities live in Canada's major cities to a greater extent than in the smaller cities. For example over one third of the people of Toronto, Ontario are from visible minorities while Kingston, Ontario has 4.7 percent minorities.
    • Chinese languages are the third most widely spoken in Canada, behind English and French.
  • The cost of living in Canada is lower than in most other developed countries.
  • In most areas of Canada - not but Vancouver - houses are available at a reasonable cost.
  • Lower house prices can be found outside the cities.
  • Relative to Canadian Salaries, Canadian house prices are generally affordable.
  • 57 percent of Canadian households are made up of detached houses.
    • The lowest proportions of detached houses are in Quebec (46 percent,) British Columbia (55 percent) and Ontario (58 percent).
    • The highest proportions of detached houses are in Saskatchewan (76 percent,) Newfoundland & Labrador (75 percent) and New Brunswick (73 percent).
  • Driving is on the right side of the road.
  • Electrical goods from countries with supplies at 230 volts will not work in Canada. Canada's electricity is 120 volts, 60 hertz.
  • Huge mineral reserves, forests and prairie grasslands, combined with its proximity to the markets of the United States, ensure Canada's wealth. Canada is the United States biggest oil supplier.
  • Canadians pay income taxes to both the Federal Government and the Government of the province they live in. Income tax rates vary from province to province - See Canada's Income Tax Rates.
  • The Federal Government levies a goods and services tax (similar to VAT). GST is charged at 6 percent.
  • Most provinces charge a sales tax, paid in addition to GST. The provincial sales tax is zero in Alberta, so 6 percent is paid to the Federal Government and no more. Provincial sales taxes are highest in Ontario, where 8 percent TST is added to 6 percent GST, and Prince Edward Island, where 10.6 percent PST is added to 6 percent GST.
  • Most parts of Canada - apart from British Columbia's Pacific coast - have continental style climates with hot summers and cold, snowy winters.
  • Canada has huge forests and it is the world's largest supplier of wood products.
  • There are 10 public holidays in Canada each year. Further provincial public holidays add an extra day in most provinces. Newfoundland has 6 additional holidays.
Courtesy of Canada Information