British Columbia, the third biggest region in Canada, is the westernmost region in this nation and is a dwelling place for more than one million new immigrants. This region is usually famous as among Canada’s most typically beautiful, where inhabitants and guests can discover 40 regional parks and six of Canada’s federal parks.
British Columbia is described for its mild climate setups, as this province of Canada offers four different seasons without the severe frigid weather usually discovered in other Canadian regions and territories. Thus, the article explains the arrival and residence in British Columbia as a new immigrant to Canada.
Table of Contents
Housing
British Columbia possesses one of the nation’s biggest lodging markets. Remember that in British Columbia and every other region in Canada, lodging prices and obtainable property kinds will be based on aspects that include your wanted settlement site and the extent of your household.
Based on the current National Rent Report by rentals.ca, the numbers below portray the average rent for one-bedroom and two-bedroom lodging divisions in this region’s three biggest Census Metropolitan Regions by population, encompassing Kelowna, Victoria, and Vancouver.
- Bedroom apartment: Vancouver is $3,013, Victoria is $2,054, and in Kelowna is $1,947
- Two Bedroom apartment: Vancouver is $3,918, Victoria is $2,753, and Kelowna is $2,790
Transportation
In this region’s three biggest Census Metropolitan Areas, which include Kelowna, Victoria, and Vancouver, at least 73% of residents reside lower than 500 meters from a public transit entry point. Regarding Vancouver and Victoria, that number is at least 90 percent, whereas Kelowna is 73.7 percent.
Public commuting choices in British Columbia differ by municipality; however, several cities all over the region possess public commutation choices, which include buses, sea buses, and SkyTrain. Yet, several residents in British Columbia use a car, truck, or van as their primary method of transportation. So, new immigrants to BC must know the following concerning driving in this region.
- In the next 90 days, as new immigrants in this region, new residents above the lawful driving age may use their home nation-provided driver’s certification.
- After the 90-day duration, new immigrants are required to acquire a BC driver’s license from the regional administration.
Employment
When it has to do with the primary industries in British Columbia, this region is famous for its different economic units, which have to do with the following significant donators to BC’s economy:
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- Production
- Natural resources
- Building and real estate
- Inventions and technology
- Agriculture and food manufacturing
- Television and film production
- Hospitality and tourism
The Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia is a BC-founded organization that links employers with settler’s skills, providing programs, instruments, and resources to assist new immigrants in their employment hunt.
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Healthcare
Public healthcare in Canada is financed via a universal healthcare system. On the other hand, resident surcharges are added to reimburse Canadian citizens for the healthcare service they enjoy without payment at the point of sale in BC and all over Canada. In this region, residents are required to wait for two months, with an addition of the remainder of the month after residing in the region, which was first founded to be qualified for public healthcare through the region’s Medical Services Plan.
Having become qualified for public healthcare, every new immigrant to BC can have entry-assigned medical services as long as they possess an accurate health card. A health care card commonly provides BC inhabitants entry to particular public health services without restrictions. Hence, specific therapies and drugs will require the receiver to make payments of massive amounts. This is where private health insurance becomes essential for residents of this region.
Education
From the age of six till they conclude their high school, kids in BC are required to be an aspect of the regional academic structure. BC takes pride in its excellent public academic module, with K-12 students steadily attaining high ratings globally in evaluation. Furthermore, to the general structure, this region provides a web of autonomous institutions that offer day and boarding programs. To register their kids in private schools, parents will be required to make payment of enormous sums for tuition fees.
British Columbia possesses more than 275 Designated Learning Institutions for post-secondary school seekers. Understanding that only Designated Learning Institutions in BC can approve international students and provide courses qualified for a Post Graduate Work Permit after graduation is crucial. Acquiring a postgraduate work permit after concluding specific but not all courses from several designated learning institutions in this region is feasible.
After concluding 12 months of work skills in Canada, a postgraduate work permit permits the holder to enlarge the number of Canadian PR relocation routes for which they could be qualified. This is because several of these courses grant applicants with work skills in Canada.
Taxation
In British Columbia, sales tax involves a regional sales tax and the federal Goods and Services Tax. The provincial sales tax is 7 percent, whereas the Goods and Service Tax is 5 percent. Revenue taxes in this region differ between 20 percent and 53 percent based on an individual’s tax bracket, with the marginal surcharge percentage rising as your earning and matching tax bracket increases.
New Immigrant Services in BC
New immigrant service in BC, as they perform in every region of Canada, encompasses everything from job assistance, language apprenticeship, and daycare to society and cultural occasions, lawful support, and others. In BC, settlement benefits are supervised under the BC Settlement and Integration Service Program.
Remember that qualification for new immigrant services is based mainly on the service provider. Based on your region of settlement and lawful status in Canada, you may be qualified for some benefits rather than others.
