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National Bank Financial is one of Canada’s
largest and most respected investment firms.
Headquartered in Montréal, we have 86 branches
across Canada with more than 750 Investment
Advisors and we manage approximately C$96 billion
for our clients. Our parent company is National Bank
of Canada. Founded in 1859, the bank has assets
of over $152.5 billion and 441 branches, as well
as offices in 20 American cities and 120 countries
around the world.
Canada, the great western democracy that dominates more than half the North American continent, is consistently ranked by the United Nations as one of the best places in the world to live. Among the many reasons for this are its high standard of living, its tolerant society, a vibrant economy and vast beauty.
A businessperson based in Canada has free market access to the U.S. through NAFTA, while remaining within easy reach of India, Asia, South America and the EU. This means that Canadian citizenship, in the opportunities it provides and the respect it generates, is in fact, a world citizenship.
Canada is a country built and peopled by immigrants from all over the globe. Entrepreneurs, in particular, have always been among the pillars of the country’s success.
In recognition of this, the Governments of Canada and Quebec have developed programs to help entrepreneurs from other parts of the world settle in Canada and become Canadian citizens. Under the guidance of National Bank Financial, the largest and most respected operator of such programs, the mechanisms are simple.
At the core of Canada’s government programs is an investment in a 5-year interest-free government-guaranteed note. Once the government processes your application and confirms receipt of your investment, a visa is issued allowing you and your family to come and live in Canada.
At the end of the five-year investment period, your full capital is returned. After a required period of residency in Canada, you become eligible for Canadian citizenship.
As full citizens of Canada, you and your family will become entitled to all the peace of mind and the freedoms that make Canadian citizenship so highly valued. You and your children and your children’s children will also be settled in one of the best countries in the world to do business. And as Canadians,
you will have an asset that is beyond price—world citizenship.
Louis Leblanc
VICE-PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Immigrant Investor Programs
National Bank Financial
THE WORLD’S MOST VALUED CITIZENSHIP
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Canada is a country founded by immigrants. Immigration has always been pivotal to Canada’s economic success. In fact, Canada has the highest per capita rate of immigration in the world. Two million immigrants were welcomed into Canada in the last decade alone and the bright stream of people from around the world who have chosen to make a better life for themselves and their families in Canada is one of our country’s greatest assets.
An open and tolerant society, Canada has been called the least racist country in the world. Individuals born in other countries have risen to the top in every sector of Canadian society—from business to politics, to the arts.
Our rich ethnic diversity is a source of pride. Where the United States views itself as a melting-pot of world cultures, Canada considers itself a mosaic. Far from having to abandon all the cherished ways of their homeland, immigrants are encouraged to bring the best of their cultural traditions with them and share them with their fellow citizens.
THE MOSTCOUNTRY IN THE WORLD
I think we are incredibly lucky here. We have this high standard of life, no big security problems, and I like Canadian society. I like this true openness to cultures and religions, which I think is basic to us; you don’t ���������������� �������
Sonja BataBusinesswoman and Founder
of the Bata Shoe Museum
“
Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics
THE MOST WELCOMING
Imports and exports account for more than two thirds of Canada’s GDP.
After the U.S., Canada’s largest trading partners are China and Japan.
The World Economic Forum has declared Canada’s banking system the soundest in the world.
The NAFTA trade area produces $17 trillion worth of goods and services.
Women are responsible for as much as 50% of new businesses in Canada.
With the United States next door—the world’s largest economy and Canada’s largest trading partner—we believe Canada is the best place in the world to do business. Since the U.S.-Canada free trade agreement was signed, the world’s largest trading relationship has seen its trade figures triple. With the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which includes Mexico, we have joined the world’s largest trading block.
Canada has always been strong on business. There are no wealth taxes or inheritance taxes and our government is committed to reducing corporate and income taxes. There are also many government programs in place that provide expert and financial help to the business community.
Canada has a large, educated work force and a pro-business government. The country is rich in natural resources, abundant sources of energy and sophisticated communications and transportation networks. Immigrant entrepreneurs looking to put their skills and talents to work will find themselves surrounded by opportunity.
THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD
TO DO BUSINESS
SINCE THE PROGRAM’S BEGINNING IN 1986, NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL
HAS HELPED MORE INVESTORS COME TO CANADA THAN ANY OTHER FIRM BY FAR,
AND SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED OVER $1 BILLION FOR THEM IN THE PROCESS.”
Louis Leblanc
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“
Fundamental FreedomsFreedom of religion, expression, peaceful assembly and association.
Legal RightsThe right to life, liberty and personal security. Freedom from unreasonable search or seizure. The right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.
Mobility RightsThe right to live and work in any province.
Equality RightsEvery individual is equal before and under the law regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
A WORLD OF
Canada is one of the world’s great liberal democra- cies and is based on the British parliamentary model. Every citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote—to have his or her say in how our country should be run. A model for the world, Canada is active in helping bring democracy and democratic values to other countries.
Canada is a federation made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories. As a large country with a small popula- tion and great regional difference in geography and perspective, we have developed a unique style of government based on respect for alternative views and compromise. Our three levels of elected government— federal, provincial and municipal--divide the responsibilities of governing among them.
Canada has an independent judiciary and laws based on a written constitution, which includes a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that takes precedence over the other laws of the land.
With less red tape and regulation than many countries in the world, business in Canada is freer to be innovative and entrepreneurial than in many other places. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, we have fewer business start-up procedures than any of the 120 countries ranked. In addition to the Immigrant Investor Programs, our governments have enacted many laws that promote business and encourage foreign investment.
THE CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
DEMOCRATIC VALUES
Every citizen and permanent resident of Canada enjoys these rights and freedoms, among many others:
As a liberal democracy, Canada cares deeply about the welfare of its citizens. Its publicly funded health insurance system is a great source of pride. Known as medicare, it provides basic health care to all. Funded jointly by the federal and provincial governments, it is administered by the individual provinces in response to the needs of its local populations. For this reason it has a different character in each area. In Quebec, for example, in addition to medical care, free medication has been integrated into the province’s medicare plan. In British Columbia, reflecting the needs of its large Asian population, traditional Chinese medicine is a feature of the system, along with other complementary medical disciplines. Anyone with a permanent resident’s visa is eligible for medicare.
Universal public health care provides Canadians with a very high standard of care, on par with privately insured U.S. citizens.
The 2006 Global Competitiveness Index ranked Canada’s health and education systems number two in the world.
Life expectancy is 81.2 years at birth compared with the U.S.’s 78.1 years.
Canada invests in the best for its citizens at every stage of life. Schooling is free for citizens and permanent residents from kindergarten through high school. In Quebec, college level education is also free to Quebec residents.
While tuition is charged for Canadian universities, the cost of a high-quality university education here is considerably less than in the United States. Unlike foreign students, children of immigrant investors benefit from the same low tuition as Canadian citizens. Student loans, bursaries and scholarships are available for those needing financial help.
The excellence of our universities is acknowledged worldwide. Students, including many from the U.S., come from around the globe to study in Canada.
A WORLD OF UNIVERSAL
HEALTH CARE
A WORLD OF EXCELLENCE
EDUCATION
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A WORLD OF INTEGRITY AND EXPERIENCEOver more than 20 years, National Bank Financial has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners obtain permanent resident visas leading to Canadian citizenship and the right to live, work and travel anywhere in Canada.
A pioneer of the Government of Quebec program and its leading administrator since the program’s inception in 1986, National Bank Financial has unsurpassed experience in serving the needs of immigrant investors. We are, in fact, the first, the best known, the most successful, the largest and the most reliable team working in the field. Our knowledge and expertise carry the investor seamlessly through every stage of the application process.
YOUR GATEWAY TO WORLD CITIZENSHIPSuccessful entrepreneurs, with all their experience, energy and resources, make exceptional citizens. Canada’s two Immigrant Investor Programs have been designed to help them bring their valuable skills to Canada.
The central feature is the same for both the Government of Canada’s Immigrant Investor Program and the Government of Quebec’s Immigrant Investor Program: each requires that the applicant invest in a 5-year, zero-interest government-guaranteed note.
In both cases, the interest from the note is put to work financing new Canadian businesses, supporting existing ones and helping generate employment for Canadian citizens. At the end of 5 years, your full capital is returned and you enjoy the satisfaction of having made an important contribution to the economy of your new country and the well-being of your new fellow citizens.
NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL AND
OUR REPUTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT IS UNEQUALLED.
NO CLIENT HAS EVER LOST MONEY WITH NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL.”
Louis Leblanc
THE IMMIGRANT INVESTOR PROGRAMS
“
Canada has the highest per capita immigration rate in the world.
Immigrants account for two thirds of Canada’s population growth.
Chinese is the third most spoken language in the country.
Immigrants to Canada have a right to retain dual citizenship.
Both citizens and permanent residents can sponsor family members wishing to immigrate to Canada.
By the year 2013, 100 percent of our labour market growth will come from immigration. There is no question in anybody’s mind that we as a country are in the business of attracting immigrants.”
Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Ontario, Canada
YOUR GUARANTEESince the very beginning, National Bank Financial has worked closely with the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec, Canada’s largest province, to develop and fine-tune the Immigrant Investor Programs. Our high standing with both governments and our long years of experience are your best guarantee of achieving what you and so many others desire—world citizenship in Canada.
“
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IMMIGRATION FACTS
Canada has a robust, highly diversified, mixed economy that has made it one of the world’s wealthiest nations. The second-largest country on Earth in terms of landmass, Canada is rich in natural resources. As a result, primary industries play a major role in our economy.
In British Columbia, forestry industries are very important. In fact, Canada is the world’s leading exporter of wood, pulp and paper products. In Alberta, the oil and gas industry is fuelling an economic boom, attracting entrepreneurs from all over. Mining adds substantially to the prosperity of Ontario, which exports a wide variety of chemicals and minerals.
Quebec, Canada’s biggest province, is home to Hydro-Québec, the world’s largest hydroelectricity-generating company which powers the Quebec economy, and beyond, with its vast reservoirs of clean, renewable energy.
Our manufacturing industries are often in the business of transforming the products of nearby natural resources. They are responsible for most of our exports and help drive our regional economies.
WORLD-RANKED ECONOMIES,
The Government of Canada is committed to developing a shared vision and initiatives that will position Canada among the most innovative ��������������������
Industry Canada
WORLD-CLASS CITIES
“
Cars, trucks, vehicle parts and other transportation equipment make up the largest part of our manufacturing sector. And while we trade in a great deal of manufactured goods with other nations, especially the United States, trade between provinces is very strong.
A major agricultural producer and exporter, Canada also has a thriving food processing industry, producing billions of dollars of grocery products for domestic and international markets.
As with most modern economies, however, the service sector is Canada’s largest. It is responsible for fully two thirds of our gross domestic product and employs three quarters of our labour force. Most service sector businesses are concentrated in and around our cities. We have a robust financial sector, a multibillion dollar professional services sector and a thriving information economy.
With our productivity accelerating and our GDP growing by close to 3 percent annually, Canada has been shown to have one of the strongest economies among the industrialized nations over recent years.
Fiscally conservative, we have weathered the international financial crisis in much better shape than many other countries. The World Economic Forum ranked Canada’s banking system as the soundest in the world and Moody’s Investor Service named Canada first in the world for financial strength.
With the greatest growth in GDP in the G7, our low inflation and interest rates, combined with our strong currency, Canada is a very attractive destination for the immigrant investor and likely to become even more so.
THE IMF EXPECTS CANADA TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES AMONG G7 COUNTRIES IN THE YEARS TO COME.
NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL EMPLOYS THE BEST COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGIES SO THAT OUR CLIENTS GET THE BEST SERVICE ANYWHERE.”
Louis Leblanc
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“
TORONTO, City in the fast LaneToronto is Canada’s largest city and a vibrant driver of the Canadian economy. With more than 100,000 companies, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is Canada’s business and manufacturing capital. Its remarkably diverse economy creates almost unlimited entrepreneurial opportunities. Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, the GTA stretches out over approximately 7,000 square kilometres that incorporate farmland, forests and large protected areas. This results in one of the world’s lowest urban population densities. The city is consistently rated as one of the world’s most livable, as well as one of the most business-friendly.
VANCOUVER, Gateway to the Pacific RimCanada’s busy gateway to the Pacific Rim and the vast markets of Asia, Vancouver is one of the world’s most beautiful and livable cities. Home to Canada’s largest and most diversified ports and the terminus of our transcontinental highway and rail routes, it trades with over 90 different countries. It is the economic hub of British Columbia and one of the nation’s largest industrial centres, generating more than half of British Columbia’s GDP. The spectacular drama of its setting has made tourism a $15-billion-plus industry and spawned a large film industry, earning Vancouver the designation of Hollywood North.
CALGARY, A boomtown of opportunity!Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta, and the heart of the country’s fastest growing economic region. Endowed with the highest personal income in Canada, Calgary is a thriving metropolis with a strong entrepreneurial core. A major centre for the global energy industry, it also has the country’s lowest taxes. With its close proximity to the sports playground of the spectacular Canadian Rockies, it is an exceptional city in which both businesses and families can prosper and thrive.
MONTRÉAL, European style, North American EnergyMontréal is a major port and the largest city in Canada’s largest province of Quebec. While known internationally as a French-speaking city, it is home to almost 400,000 English-speakers. Strategically situated a short drive from the U.S. border on the Saint Lawrence River, its astounding economic upswing is based primarily on the emergence of a thriving knowledge economy. Montréal is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city famed for its quality of life, tolerant, pleasure-loving populace and its openness to new ventures.
WELCOME
WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S MOST
OUR NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL IMMIGRANT INVESTOR PROGRAM OFFICE
IS STAFFED WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVISORS WHO SPEAK MANY LANGUAGES,
ENSURING THAT OUR CLIENTS GET FIRST-CLASS HELP WHENEVER THEY
HAVE DECISIONS TO MAKE.”
Louis Leblanc
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DYNAMIC CITIES
“
Louis Leblanc began his career as a specialist trader on the floor of the Montréal Exchange in 1983 before directing his full attention to meeting the specialized needs of immigrant investors. He graduated with a BA in Economics from Montréal’s McGill University in 1983, where he was a Faculty Scholar.
Operating and enhancing the program, designed to help immigrant investors become Canadian citizens, is his principal occupation. He travels widely to serve clients and maintains active ties with a global network of agents.
Louis Leblanc has a world of experience with immigrant investors. He will be pleased to sit down with you and review your particular needs and objectives, without any obligation to you. If, after examining your options, you would like to proceed further, he will propose a personalized plan that
will help you fully participate in the prosperity of Canada.
VICE-PRESIDENT MANAGING DIRECTORImmigrant Investor ProgramsNational Bank Financial
LOUIS LEBLANC
CANADA IMMIGRANT INVESTOR PROGRAM
QUEBEC IMMIGRANT INVESTOR PROGRAM
IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH A CLIENT’S DOSSIER, IT HELPS
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS YOU AND TRUSTS YOUR INTEGRITY…”
Louis Leblanc “
The Immigrant Investor Program, established in 1986, is one of many innovative services offered by National Bank Financial, one of Canada’s leading investment firms. The National Bank of Canada is our parent company.
To help you establish yourself in Canada, National Bank Financial also offers transition planning services for immigrant investors and their families in addition to corporate plans. Our experience and guidance will help you make informed decisions on everything from wealth management, taxation and estate planning to the finer points of taking up residence in a new country.
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NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL SERVICES
Personal and Corporate Banking Services
Brokerage Services
Investment Banking
Wealth Protection
Off Shore Trusts
Insurance
1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 1700 Montreal (Quebec) Canada H3B 2C1
t | 514 . 879. 5576f | 514 . 879. 3655 w | www.nbf-gocanada.come | [email protected]
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Printed in Canada 08/2011
