Sample Unit

Introduction

Only an immigrant to Canada would be astonished that it takes nearly aweek to drive across this vast country, and only an immigrant would besurprised to discover that most of the 33 million residents of Canada livewithin a few hundred kilometres of the American border. Canadians takesuch facts for granted.

Also, only immigrants would be surprised at how easy it is to leave Canadaand cross that boundary to the United States, which is often called thelongest undefended border in the world. Of course, border security hasincreased since September 11, 2001 and identification, such as a PermanentResident Card or passport, is required. But it’s still fairly easy—bordercrossings in many countries aren’t quite so straightforward.

Immigrants might be shocked at the variety of government servicesavailable in Canada. There are many government departments, and theservices they offer often differ from province to province.

The aim of this book is to simplify the newcomer’s first year in Canada. Itanswers many questions and addresses some of the dilemmas that mayconfront newcomers to this incredible country. This book is more than justthe result of research, however; it is based on my wife Sabrina’s and myown experiences as immigrants, as well as many stories that we have beenprivileged to hear. This book was originally written a year after wemigrated. What you now have in your hands is the product of many yearsof experience.

I moved here in November of 1998, three months after Sabrina and our twokids came to pave the way. The problems Sabrina had to face were verydifferent from mine; I simply followed along. However, I have used ourcollective experience, and the experiences of many other immigrants, in thewriting of this book.

We were raised in Bombay, which is now called Mumbai, on the west coastof India. Although we loved it and still have many relatives and friendsthere, we wanted to explore the world. In 1992, we moved to the MiddleEast, where we lived until we moved to Canada in 1998.

xiIntroduction

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xii Introduction

I have worked in advertising and marketing for 22 years. This field, inwhich my wife and I believe I excel, is really nothing more than finding an ideal match between a product and a consumer.

In much the same way, this book is also a match between a product and theconsumer. The product is the information we have gathered on how to settlein Canada. The consumer is you, the new immigrant or the potentialimmigrant.

There are many, many surprises you will face once you land in Canada.Take the health care system, for example. We had heard that Canada wasvery generous with its health care services. This is appealing when you’reapproaching middle age, as I am, and it played a role in our decision tochoose Canada as the country in which we wanted to live.

To my surprise, I learned that in Canada, like everywhere else, you only get what you pay for. Just one month after we arrived, my rambunctious 14-year-old son, Dan, took a tumble while rollerblading and ended up witha sprained wrist. We hustled him off to the hospital, expecting the country’shealth care system to cover the expenses. Judging from the reception wereceived, it seemed that the hospital staff thought we had just arrived fromthe planet Mars. As it turned out, we weren’t covered by the MedicalServices Plan of BC.

The Medical Services Plan is the all-encompassing health care plan thatBritish Columbia’s residents support with monthly payments. Since the plandoesn’t actually activate until three months after the applicant applies, wehad to cover all the medical expenses for Dan’s wrist. Our bill for that smallaccident was $500; this was much less than it would have been in manyother countries, but was still substantial.

My first word of advice for immigrants is to contact your provincial healthcare supplier immediately upon your arrival in Canada—the first day, ifpossible. And obtain private medical insurance for the period before yourprovincial health plan kicks in. Medical services in Canada, which varyfrom province to province, will be covered at length in Chapter 6—MedicalCoverage.

My lawyer in Dubai helped my family get to the shores of this country. Butwhen I arrived, I still didn’t know how to rent an apartment, get a job, buy a car, get a credit card, obtain car insurance, or open a bank account.

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xiiiIntroduction

While the answers to those questions are free for the asking in Canada, youhave to know whom to ask. There were several books on the subject writtenby provincial governments, but none written by an immigrant—someonewho has experienced the challenges of walking the same road. This bookcompiles answers in an easy-to-read, practical format.

Arrival Survival Canada will cover survival basics for new immigrants: howto select a place to live, find work, and get health care coverage. It will alsoexplain a little bit of the history of Canada and some of the strange customsCanadians have. Take, for instance, the Polar Bear Swim: people in manyCanadian cities celebrate the first day of the New Year with a loud andlively party on the shore of a very cold body of water into which hundredsof rum-soaked citizens plunge themselves.

The book will also cover some basics of Canadian law—your rights, yourresponsibilities, and the best course to follow in the event of, say, a minortraffic accident or a break-in at your house.

It will include information on settling in this country, on the various taxstructures, on registering your child for school, on taking night schoolcourses, on obtaining financial assistance from the government, on Canadapension plans, and much more.

It is based on my own challenging and sometimes frustrating experiences asa newcomer. If it helps you to eliminate the stress from your experiences,then I’ll be happy.

As well, the book shares the personal stories of many other immigrants inCanada, from Senator Mobina Jaffer, to Olympic wrestler Daniel Igali, toimmigrants from all walks of life.

After writing this book, I wanted to continue to help immigrants in theirfirst several years of life in Canada by providing lots of information,resources, and profiles of successful immigrants in Canada to serve asinspiration. In April 2004 Sabrina and I started a monthly magazine calledCanadian Immigrant (www.CanadianImmigrant.ca). The magazine has grownfrom 7,000 copies to 80,000 copies per issue and continues to help numerousimmigrants succeed.

In November 2006, I was invited by RCI (Radio Canada International—oneof the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio stations) to participate ina new show for immigrants called The Link. The show allowed me to answer

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xiv Introduction

questions from potential Canadian immigrants from all over the world. I have included some of these throughout each chapter.

I am constantly asked one question: “What makes immigrants succeed?” In my opinion, there are five major conditions for success:

Learn the language. Let’s face it, if you don’t learn English all your skillswill be hidden away like a gem in a cave. If you moved to Germany orJapan, you would make a conscious decision to learn your new country’slanguage. Why then do some immigrants settle for less than the best thatCanada has to offer by refusing to learn English? I encourage immigrants to make a real effort to learn English and to speak it at least three to fourhours a day.

Stay positive. I have seen the same situation so often that it has becomepredictable: a new immigrant meets with resistance and barriers in job-finding and then sits with friends from the same ethnic community whomoan about life in Canada. Before you know it, the negativity seeps into the newcomer’s being. If this starts happening to you, think about why youwere excited about moving to Canada, and focus on all the great things you want to accomplish here.

Embrace Canada. Remember your dreams about coming to Canada? Well,they have come true. Now go out and enjoy all that is Canadian. The veryact of going out and discovering the sights of the city you have adopted will make you value and enjoy the beauty of Canada and its people.

Have a Plan B. Some people think that in order for immigrants to succeed,they need to start at the bottom. I do not agree with this, but believe youshould have a Plan B for your life in Canada. Plan B means having flexibilityin what you intend to do in Canada. That very flexibility changed me froman advertising professional to a publisher! I should add, however, that inorder to have a Plan B, you must have a Plan A!

Stay clear of ethnic silos. I do understand that moving to a new countrycan be very scary. A lot of immigrants tend to move into an ethniccommunity that matches their own background. While this may becomfortable, I personally believe your true growth in a new country willcome from moving out of your comfort zone. When you have friends of all nationalities, you will learn a lot more. Usually, when your friends arefrom your own country, many of your discussions centre on the past and life “back home.” You need to look at the future and at Canada, your newhome!

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xvIntroduction

This book will not attempt to cover every angle of every possible question a newcomer might have—what book could? I hope it will go a long waytoward helping newcomers deal with some of those early problems.

And when you have survived your first few weeks in Canada and havefigured out the basics, you’ll realize there is still much to learn.

In closing, I will say those three words you will hear very often:

Welcome to Canada!

Naeem “Nick” Noorani

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Chapter 1

Welcome to Canada

In This Chapter

• What do you mean by “multicultural”?• Canada is how big? • It gets how cold?• What is a Governor General?

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2 CHAPTER 1 Welcome to Canada

Canadians are proud that their country embraces many cultures. It is, infact, one of the most ethnically and racially diverse countries in the world.You and your unique background will add to the mmoossaaiicc that makes thisland of about 33 million people truly mmuullttiiccuullttuurraall.

Percentage of Immigrants From Each of the Top Ten SourceCountries (1997)

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Percentage of Immigrants From Each of the Top Ten SourceCountries (2006)

China, People’sRepublic of 18,526

India 19,615

Philippines 10,872

Pakistan 11,239

United States 5,030

France 2,858Colombia 571

Korea, Republic of 4,001United Kingdom 4,657

Iran 7,486

China, People’sRepublic of 33,080

India 30,753

Philippines 12,332

Pakistan 12,332

United States 10,943

France 4,915Colombia 5,813

Korea, Republic of 6,178United Kingdom 6,542

Iran 7,073


Canada, often called a “nation of immigrants,” has always been a land ofethnic diversity, from as early as the 1880s when Chinese men came to workon the transnational railway connecting Canada’s east and west. Somepeople say that Canada is a unique country that was created not throughwar and bloodshed, but through the creation of the railway. While it wouldbe inaccurate and simplistic to suggest that its people have lived side byside in perfect harmony through the years, they have lived in relative peace.Also, most have prospered: Canada ranks near the top of the UnitedNations’ list of the best countries in which to live, and it ranks high in theworld in terms of GGrroossss DDoommeessttiicc PPrroodduucctt per capita.

3CHAPTER 1 Welcome to Canada

Canada is sometimes referred to as the Great White North, aphrase that was popularized in a movie about two not-so-clever

brothers with an obsession for beer, called Strange Brew. Canadiansuse this term affectionately when talking about their country.

Source: United Nations Development Programme

As the country grows through immigration, Canadians of every ethnicityand background are finding places for themselves and learning to enjoy and celebrate their diversity. Under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, allare encouraged to practise their traditions, customs, and religious beliefs aslong as they respect Canadian law.

2006 Human Development Index Ranking—The Best Countries in Which to Live

1. Iceland

2. Norway

3. Australia

4. CCaannaaddaa

5. Ireland

6. Sweden

7. Switzerland

8. Japan

9. Netherlands

10. France



In the BeginningNative Canadians are descendants of Canada’s original immigrants whoprobably came here from Siberia during the last ice age, and have lived herefor thousands of years. These individuals are a diverse group, with manytribes who have their own languages and cultures derived from theirunique histories and regional differences. It is believed that the name“Canada” is derived from the word “Kanata,” which in the Huron-Iroquoislanguage means “village” or “settlement.”

Traditionally, these people relied on hunting and gathering in order tosurvive, although by the time the first European settlers arrived, they hadbegun to develop agriculture as well. In addition, many native groupstraded with each other, and when the Europeans arrived, they joined in. Inexchange for fish and tools, the Native Canadians gave these newcomersanimal furs, which were highly valued in Europe.

The majority of Europeans who came to what is now Canada were fromBritain and France. These British and French settlers needed the NativeCanadians to help them with exploration, trade, and their initial survival,but also often warred with them, creating difficult relationships among thegroups. Competition among the Europeans also led the Native Canadians,at various times, to join either the British or the French in their fighting with one another.

Canada’s Aboriginal people are known by many names, and thiscan be confusing. The term “First Nations” encompasses many

Aboriginal people, but does not include the Inuit (those living inCanada’s northern regions) or the Metis (those of mixed Aboriginaland European descent).

Europeans began to move into North America in the 15th and 16thcenturies, although there were no permanent British or French settlementsin Canada until the 17th century. The French set up villages inNewfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, and the British establishedcolonies all along the Atlantic coast.

When these settlers first arrived, Canada was considered an unimportantrural region, with its only value coming from the rich furs of its many



beavers, foxes, wolves, and other small mammals. Fur trading posts, most of which were developed by the Hudson’s Bay Company (still a populardepartment store across Canada today), were created across the country,beginning in the east and eventually spreading across the north and intowhat is now British Columbia.

Relations between the English and the French had been difficult in Europe,and this did not change when the groups settled in North America. Theyoften fought over land, the fur trade with First Nations people, and religiousdifferences.

In 1756, the Seven Years’ War broke out between the English and the Frencharound the world. This set the British and French in Canada fighting againsteach other. The British side won, and the French no longer had anysignificant power in Canada. In spite of this, a strong French influence is feltthroughout Canada, although there is still tension between many Canadiansof English and French descent.

The Dominion of Canada was formed in 1867 when Ontario, Quebec, NovaScotia, and New Brunswick joined together under a new Canadianconstitution, then called the British North America Act. The anniversary ofthe country’s creation is celebrated each year on July 1, a national holidayknown as Canada Day. It is generally marked by fireworks and othercelebrations in communities across the country. Although Canada has beenself-governing within the British Empire since 1867, it wasn’t granted fullindependence until 1931 by the Statute of Westminster.

Size and PopulationCanada is a massive country. It takes the average driver more than sevendays to drive across it on transcontinental Highway 1 or 101, all the wayfrom Vancouver to Halifax; it takes about seven hours to fly across it. The country encompasses nearly 10 million square kilometres of land andthere is a distance of more than 7,000 kilometres between its westernmostprovincial capital and its easternmost capital. Only the Russian Federationspans more territory than Canada.

Canada is divided into ten provinces and three tteerrrriittoorriieess. But it also hasfive unofficial but distinct regions: the West Coast of British Columbia; thePrairies, made up of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba; Central Canada,which is Ontario and Quebec; Atlantic Canada, which is composed of NewBrunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and



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Labrador; and the North, which consists of the Yukon, the NorthwestTerritories, and Nunavut.

About 33 million people live in this country, with about 80 percent livingwithin 250 kilometres of the American border, including all the inhabitantsof Canada’s three largest cities and their suburbs: Toronto (with about 5.1 million), Montreal (with about 3.6 million) and Vancouver (with about 2 million). Ottawa, located in Ontario near the Quebec border, is the nation’scapital.

Canada’s population is heavily concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, as ismuch of its industry. These two provinces produce more than three-quartersof all the manufactured goods made in the country.

Canada has two official languages, English and French. An official policy ofbbiilliinngguuaalliissmm guarantees everyone the right to communicate in either ofthose two languages when dealing with the ffeeddeerraall ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt. Thisexplains why all federal signs and documents are printed in both languages.At last count, 59 percent of all Canadians listed English as their firstlanguage; 23 percent listed French; and 18 percent listed another language.

Long regarded as a land of natural resources, Canada has developed a muchmore diverse economy over the past few decades. Now, in addition to suchtraditional industries as forestry, mining, energy, agriculture, and fishing,Canada is well known for its high technology industries such ascommunications, and its growing tourism industry.

QQ:: WWhhyy ddoo ssoo mmaannyy CCaannaaddiiaannss lliivvee nneeaarr tthhee UUSS bboorrddeerr??

AA:: There are two main reasons why the Canadian population livesclose to the border. The first is the fact that the US is Canada’s numberone trade partner and Canadians living close to the border are able toconduct business or cross over and shop in the US fairly easily. Theother reason is that the weather does tend to be a bit harsher in morenorthern areas. Cities like Vancouver are known for their mild winterscompared to places like Edmonton.



CurrencyThe dollar is the basic unit of currency in Canada. The most common paperbills are the 5-dollar, 10-dollar, and 20-dollar, but 50-dollar and 100-dollarbills are also used. Canadian coins include the penny (1 cent), nickel (5cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), loonie (1-dollar coin), and thetoonie (2-dollar coin).

ClimateTemperatures are measured using the Celsius (or Centigrade) thermometer.

With such a large area of land, which is bordered by three oceans and theGreat Lakes, Canada’s climate varies dramatically across the country. But all regions enjoy (or endure) four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn,and winter. The coldest regions of the country are in the north and centralregions; January and February in those areas can produce subfreezingtemperatures and blinding blizzards. Summer in most parts of Canada can get very warm and can also bring lots of mosquitoes, so depending on where you are in the country, you might want to carry sunscreen as well as insect repellent.

Summer days in Canada can be very hot, and are often quiteuncomfortable when the air is humid rather than dry. In 1965,

Canadian meteorologists created a new measurement, called thehumidex, which reflects how the combination of high temperaturesand humidity feels to the average person. The highest humidexreading in Canada was recorded in a town near Winnipeg, Manitoba,on July 25, 2007, when the humidex reached 53 degrees Celsius.Fortunately, readings this high are quite rare!

While the climate across the country varies, the following description of thefour seasons in Canada might help you prepare for some of the seasonaldifferences.

Spring (officially lasting from March 21 to June 21) is frequently rainy withdaytime temperatures getting warm, while nights remain cool. In centraland southern Canada, the first flowers usually bloom in March, with leaves



forming on the trees in February or March on the West Coast and about twomonths later in the rest of Canada.

Summer (June 21 to September 21) is the hot season. In southern Canada,daytime temperatures normally stay above 20 degrees Celsius, and cansometimes rise above 30 degrees. Toronto and Montreal can get extremelyhot and humid in the summer.

Autumn (September 21 to December 21) in Canada is also called fall and canbe beautiful and balmy. As the temperature drops, leaves on the trees beginto turn colour from green to gold, red, and yellow. Central and EasternCanada, which boast thousands of kilometres of maple tree forests, offer a brilliant show of fall colours, attracting tourists from around the world.However, in the later weeks of autumn, rain and sleet can become common.In many parts of the country, snow begins to fall and accumulate inNovember and December.

Winter (December 21 to March 21) can be a challenge. During the wintermonths of December, January, February, and March, the temperature usuallystays below freezing (zero degrees Celsius) day and night, except on theWest Coast, where freezing temperatures are rare. Temperatures in someparts of the country drop under 25 degrees below freezing. In Vancouver

Balwant Sanghera: Teaching Up NorthA native of Punjab, India, BalwantSanghera came to Canada in 1955, wherehe studied to become a teacher. In 1968, he moved to Hudson’s Hope in northernBC to teach elementary classes. “One dayit was 50 below zero,” he remembers. “For someone from Punjab, who had never seen snow, it was such a big change.”

Despite the chilly weather, Sanghera stayed up north for about fiveyears before moving south to Lillooet and then Richmond, where hecontinued his 36-year educational career. Sanghera is now active inthe community, promoting multiculturalism, and was recentlyawarded the Order of BC, a top provincial honour.

—Margaret Jetelina



and Victoria, snow will sometimes accumulate, while in many other parts of Canada snow generally stays on the ground from late December to themiddle of March. In the winter, the wind chill factor can make the coldtemperatures feel considerably colder. Caution is advised when venturingoutdoors—but more about that later.

How We Are GovernedCanada has three levels of government: the federal government, tenpprroovviinncciiaall and three tteerrrriittoorriiaall ggoovveerrnnmmeennttss, and hundreds of mmuunniicciippaallggoovveerrnnmmeennttss. As a citizen, you will be allowed, and encouraged, to voteduring elections for all these levels of government.

The Federal GovernmentThe federal government is responsible for such national matters as foreignpolicy, national defence, trade and commerce, criminal justice, socialbenefits, the banking and monetary system, fisheries, postal services,aeronautics, shipping, railways, telecommunications, and atomic energy.

The federal government shares responsibility with the provinces on suchmatters as immigration, agriculture, and health. The federal governmentconsists of three branches: executive, legislative, and jjuuddiicciiaarryy.

The executive branch consists of the GGoovveerrnnoorr GGeenneerraall (the officialrepresentative of the British monarchy), the PPrriimmee MMiinniisstteerr (the leader of the political party that elects the most Members of Parliament during a federal election), and the CCaabbiinneett (members of the governing party,appointed to the position of ministers within various federal departmentsby the Prime Minister). Government departments are also part of theexecutive body.

The legislative branch is the Parliament, which consists of two chambers:the House of Commons and the Senate.

The House of Commons (or the Lower House) is composed of 308 Membersof Parliament (MPs), who are elected during federal elections to representeach federal riding in Canada. Elections can be called by the ruling party at any time, but no party can remain in power for longer than five yearsbetween elections. MPs have the primary responsibility for proposing,debating, and voting on the laws that govern the country.



Adrienne Clarkson: FirstModern-Day ImmigrantGovernor GeneralIn October 1999, Adrienne Clarkson, a well-known broadcaster in Canada and a refugee from Hong Kong, becameCanada’s 26th Governor General. She held this term until 2005.

“Canada, when I came in the 1940s, was a very ‘white’ place. It really was not the kind of place it is now,” Clarkson says. “It was not a place that would celebrate a Chinese immigrant as a top official, forexample.” But her family did find support among their neighboursduring the difficulties of settling in. “We were helped by a lot ofpeople very directly at first, and not through any immigrationagency—there weren’t any because everyone was an immigrant,” she says.

Clarkson was the first non-white person and second woman to hold the position of Governor General. Her successor is anotherwoman and immigrant—Haitian-born Michaëlle Jean took over theroyal role in September 2005.


The Senate (or the Upper House) is made up of 105 Senators appointed bythe Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators reviewand suggest changes to any proposed lleeggiissllaattiioonn, giving such proposals “a sober second thought” before they become law.

The judiciary body includes the Supreme Court of Canada, Canada’shighest court, made up of appointed senior judges.

Provincial and Territorial GovernmentsThe provincial governments are responsible for education, property andcivil rights, the administration of justice, the hospital system, nnaattuurraallrreessoouurrcceess within their province’s borders, social security, health, andmunicipal institutions. The provinces also share many powers andresponsibilities with the federal government.

The structure of the provincial governments is similar to that of the federalgovernment, except that the provinces do not have a senate.



The provincial executive body includes the Lieutenant-Governor, a representative for the Queen. The leader of the party with the mostmembers elected during a provincial election assumes the role of PPrreemmiieerr.

In each province, the elected members sit in a legislature located in theprovince’s capital city to debate laws and issues. The elected officials arecalled Members of the Legislature (MLAs) or Members of ProvincialParliament (MPPs), except in Quebec, where they sit in the NationalAssembly. The ruling party must call an election within five years of theprevious election.

The governments of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut alsohave elected legislative assemblies, but have fewer powers andresponsibilities than the provinces.

Municipal GovernmentsMunicipal governments are directed by elected mayors, councillors, andparks board commissioners who usually hold weekly public meetings todebate and form policy on such matters as building bylaws, police, the

Mobina Jaffer: From Refugee to SenatorSenator Mobina Jaffer’s origins are inUganda and India. She came to Canadafrom England, where she first fled as a refugee from Uganda in 1972.

It was in Canada that she fulfilled herlongtime dreams of getting into politics.

“I love politics,” she says. “My father was a member of parliamentin Uganda, and I just loved the work.”

She began volunteering with the National Women’s LiberalCommission and then ran as a candidate in two federal elections. Shelost both times, but her work with the Liberal Party of Canada caughtthen–Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s attention, and she was appointedas a senator in 2001. She was the first Indian, first Muslim woman,and first African to be appointed to the Senate of Canada.

“I feel very blessed that Canada has given me this opportunity,”Jaffer says.




distribution of water, sewage, garbage collection, transit, fire services, andparks.

In most districts, the operation of schools is guided by elected schooltrustees who set policy in their school districts and decide how to spendtheir budgets.

QQ:: WWhhaatt iiss tthhee ddiiffffeerreennccee bbeettwweeeenn aa pprroovviinnccee aanndd aa tteerrrriittoorryy??

AA:: Although the territories cover 40 percent of Canada’s landmass,only 3 percent of the population lives in this area. This has led to some distinct differences between provinces and territories. Theprovinces own provincial land, while the federal government ownsterritorial land. In territories, the federal government may getinvolved in matters such as education which are traditionally a provincial responsibility. The way territories are run is changingrapidly and Nunavut is an example of how the territories are slowlybeing permitted to make decisions in self-governance.

The Structure of Canada’s Court System

Source: Canada, Department of Justice, Canada’s System of Justice (Ottawa: Supply andServices, 1988), 20.

Supreme Courtof Canada

Federal Court of Canada(Appeal Division)

Superior Court of Province(Court of Appeal)

Federal Court of Canada(Trial Division)

Superior (Trial) Court of Province(or Court of Queen’s Bench)

County orDistrict Court

Provincial Court



Learning More About CanadaIt is often said that the best way to learn about your new country is to getinvolved in it. Read Canadian newspapers, watch the television news, andparticipate in—or at least attend—community functions and meetings.These could be church gatherings, farmers’ markets, gardening classes,athletic events, charity bazaars, or anything else that catches your fancy. You can also get involved in local politics and volunteering. Who knows—maybe you could end up on PPaarrlliiaammeenntt HHiillll in Ottawa too.

Key Words

bbiilliinngguuaall:: having or using two languages (n. bilingualism)

CCaabbiinneett ((uussuuaallllyy ““tthhee CCaabbiinneett””)):: the most important leaders ofdepartments or senior ministers in the government, who have regularmeetings with the President/Prime Minister

ffeeddeerraall ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt:: the governing body connected with the nationalgovernment rather than the local government of an individual state orprovince

GGoovveerrnnoorr GGeenneerraall:: the representative of the Crown in Canada and otherCommonwealth countries which regard the Queen as the head of state

GGrroossss DDoommeessttiicc PPrroodduucctt:: (abbr. GDP) the total value of all the goods andservices produced by a country in one year

jjuuddiicciiaarryy:: the group of judges in a country or province

lleeggiissllaattiioonn:: a law or a group of laws

mmoossaaiicc:: something made up of many diverse parts

mmuullttiiccuullttuurraall:: for or including people from several different races, religions,languages, or traditions

mmuunniicciippaall ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt:: the governing body of a town or city

nnaattuurraall rreessoouurrccee:: something from nature that has value to a country, such as minerals or oil

PPaarrlliiaammeenntt HHiillll:: the hill in Ottawa on which the Parliament Buildingsstand; the federal government of Canada

pprreemmiieerr:: the first minister of a province or territory



PPrriimmee MMiinniisstteerr:: the leader of the government in countries that have a parliament, e.g. Canada

pprroovviinncciiaall ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt:: the governing body of a province

tteerrrriittoorriiaall ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt:: the governing body of a territory

tteerrrriittoorryy:: an area of land

Note: Entries taken or adapted from the Oxford ESL Dictionary

Creating Your Canadian Experience

At the end of every chapter you will find a section called Creating YourCanadian Experience. This section asks questions to help you make theinformation in the book specific to you. Some of them require Internetresearch and others might ask you to go out into your community to findanswers. Answering these questions will help you to create your Canadianexperience.

1. Use a mapping website, such as www.mapquest.ca or maps.google.ca to find out the distance from your new home to the following cities:

a. Ottawa, ON: _________________________________________________

b. Victoria, BC: _________________________________________________

c. St. John’s, NF: ________________________________________________

d. The city you moved from: _____________________________________

2. Research on the Internet to find out what the top three industries are inyour province. Tip: type the name of your province and “Top Industry” into a searchengine.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________



3. Research the weather in your new Canadian city and compare it to thecity you moved from. Websites such as www.theweathernetwork.comcan be helpful for finding this information.

CanadianJan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

City

Average

Temperature

Average

Precipitation

City YouJan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Moved From

Average

Temperature

Average

Precipitation

4. Who is the current Prime Minister and what party is he or she from?

________________________________________________________________

5. Find out the name of your local Member of Parliament and the party heor she represents.

________________________________________________________________

6. Go to the website www.cic.gc.ca and find the name of the current federalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration.

________________________________________________________________

7. Who is the Premier of your province and what party is he or she from?

________________________________________________________________



8. Find the name of the current provincial minister who handles immigra-tion issues. Tip: type the name of your province and “immigration minister” into asearch engine.

________________________________________________________________

9. What is the name of your city’s mayor?

________________________________________________________________


Date post:	15-Dec-2015
Category:	Documents
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