How to get a job in Canada quickly and other news

Who will be given citizenship on a priority basis, how much do immigrants earn? The most important events from December 5 to 11.

A scandal broke out in the country between the Canadian government and the YouTube platform. This year, Canada approved a new bill. Among other things, it forces YouTube to place on the user's home page the content that the government regulator considers a priority, but not the content interesting to the user. This worries both bloggers and viewers.

From December 20, Canada will start moving towards a plastic ban. The blacklist includes bags, disposable cutlery and containers, plastic straws, and coffee stirrers. For now, they will be removed from shop windows and other visible places, and a complete ban is planned for December 2023.

Cost of living in Canada

The key interest rate in Canada increased once again. Now it is 4.25%. According to the latest data, the inflation rate in the country is declining but still remains high — about 7%.

With rising rates and high prices, many Canadians are choosing to rent housing rather than buy it. In the Atlantic provinces, the cost of renting increased by 32% in a year. Now renting a two-bedroom apartment in large cities costs from 940 to 2,500 Canadian dollars per month. The cheapest cities are Quebec and Montreal, and the most expensive ones are Toronto and Vancouver.

Expensive housing is one of the reasons why Canadians leave Toronto for Calgary, a city in the province of Alberta. In addition to affordable housing, there are high wages, many opportunities for outdoor activities, and friendly residents.

The study showed that food prices in Canada in 2022 grew by 10% compared to last year. In 2023, the average family of four is projected to spend 1,360 Canadian dollars per month on groceries.

But families will be able to save on a pediatric dentist. Canadian authorities will allocate between $260 and $650 CAD per child for dental visits if the total family income is less than $90,000 CAD.

Despite the high cost of living, Canada remains a sought-after country for immigration. In the best Canadian cities ranking, Toronto goes first. It is followed by Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa. All these cities are included in the top 100 best places in the world.

Simplification of employment and licensing

Nova Scotia lacks teachers, especially methodists, speech therapists, and school psychologists. The provincial authorities have to cooperate with the Ministry of Immigration to attract specialists from abroad. However, it's not easy for a teacher to get a job because they need to get a license.

Saskatchewan is already solving this issue. The province will simplify employment for those whose occupation requires a license. Regulators will now have 50 days to issue a license to a newcomer or indicate what steps they need to take to become eligible to work.

Canada will speed up and simplify the recognition of foreign medical degrees. New projects will help foreigners get a license to work in Canada faster and find employment in the healthcare sector.

One more employment opportunity. The Canadian Armed Forces began to recruit not only citizens but also immigrants with permanent resident status. Moreover, applications for Canadian citizenship from the military will be considered first. The army especially needs pilots, logistics officers, foot soldiers, and other experienced specialists.

Where immigrants settle

Quebec announced its immigration levels plan for 2023. The province is ready to invite 52,500 people. Moreover, the authorities expect that 79% of economic immigrants will know French. Quebec is the only region that sets its immigration goals independently of the federal government.

Another province claiming independence is Alberta. It passed a law, according to which the provincial government doesn't have to obey the federal authorities and can adjust federal laws at its discretion.

The Immigrant Today team digitized statistics on immigration programs. It shows under which programs and to which provinces immigrants move. In 2022, most people settled in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.

The Conference Board of Canada found that after graduation, most international students stay in the province they initially came to. The highest graduate retention rates were found in Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta. And among those who decide to move, the majority seek to settle in Ontario.

Education in Canada

Canada became the most educated country in the world, thanks to immigrants. More than half of the country's working-age population are immigrants with master's and Ph.D. degrees. Moreover, many of those who came to Canada over the past 5 years receive above-average wages.

Which Canadian universities are better? The US News portal published its annual World Best Universities Ranking. The top 100 includes three Canadian institutions: the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and McGill University. If you want to study in Canada, book a consultation with our specialist.