Life of Russians in Canada: reviews, pros and cons, features of immigration

How can a Russian get to Canada?

What are the chances of emigrating from Russia?

You can’t just go to Canada and stay there.
You must submit an application to the consulate and ask for immigration permission. In this case, all applications will be assessed according to a special system called Express Entry. Each of your factors is assessed on a point scale. Entry is only allowed if you can reach a certain number. You can get a good grade for:

• Age from 20 to 29 years.
• Excellent exam performance in French or English.
• Master's or specialist's diploma.
• Experience working in the country.
• Education received in Canada.

Your husband or wife is assessed using the same parameters, but they are awarded fewer points.

Visa options

For people who decide to visit this country, there are three options, differing in length of stay. The most common is a one-time temporary resident. It is handed out most often. Allows you to simply travel around the country or visit relatives and friends. You can study using it, but the courses last no more than 6 months.

Tourists often need transit. This is a visa that is issued if you simply need to cross into Canada. For example, you want to travel through this country to the USA. Transit is no less easy to obtain.

The third option is a student permit. If you entered a university and officially registered there, you can try out at the consulate. For those arriving by invitation, the so-called guest room is opened.

There is also a business option - for businessmen together with workers - for hired employees.

The rarest option is a temporary resident permit. It is received, for example, by the spouse of a Canadian citizen who cannot obtain citizenship or another visa.

Is there a problem with illegal migration?

In 2021, the Canadian Prime Minister signed an order to abolish the visa regime with Mexico. At the same time, the United States, on the contrary, tightened its immigration policy. All this forced illegal immigrants from Mexico to rush north, and the problem of illegal relocation became urgent.

Migrants from other countries also meet here. In total, official estimates range from 35 to 120 thousand people living in Canada illegally.

However, they have a hard time. Once an application for temporary asylum is rejected, an arrest warrant is issued without warning. As a result, people are quickly deported to their homeland, permanently barring their legal entry.

How to go to work in Canada

Finding a job in Canada, first of all, is associated with enormous competition, not only with local residents, but also with applicants from different countries. By the way, if you look at the ethnic composition of the population of Canada, a little more than 30% of the inhabitants are Canadians, about 20% are English, 15.5% French, 14.4% Scots, 13.8% Irish, 9.8% Germans and even the Chinese are represented by 4.5%. The total population of Canada in 2021 is 37.7 million. At the same time, the unemployment rate in the country is about 8.5% .

Like most developed and prosperous countries, the Canadian government is interested primarily in employing its own citizens. Therefore, working in Canada for foreigners, including Russians and Ukrainians, requires a thorough analysis of the local labor market and an understanding of the requirements for foreign workers. The main task of the applicant is to find an employer who will agree to fill the job with a foreigner. After all, this will require the new employee to obtain a work permit in Canada and go through other bureaucratic procedures.

Employment in Canada. Tips and features.

1. Look to large, developed Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Unemployment here is much lower, and the chances of finding a job are greater.
2. Improve your English language skills to a high level. In some regions, such as Quebec, knowledge of French will be required. Working in Canada without knowing the language is an almost impossible task.
3. Look for exclusively legal employment options. Working illegally in Canada, even if knowledge of the language is not critical, is a huge risk, and deportation with a subsequent ban on entry into the country is guaranteed.
4. Soberly assess your qualifications, experience and skills. Basically, Canada requires specialists with a serious amount of knowledge and skills.
5. The level of education is of great importance. It is best to have a diploma from one of the Canadian, American or British universities.

The ideal and at the same time the most realistic option for employment in Canada are special programs for foreign workers. More details about the requirements for foreign specialists to participate in programs can be found in the article on how to emigrate to Canada. In particular, the following immigration programs are described there:

Federal Skilled Worker

Canadian Experience Class

Federal Skilled Trades

In addition to the obvious conditions for finding a job in Canada related to education, qualifications, experience and other competitive advantages, to obtain a work permit, usually temporary, a foreigner will need:

• demonstrate a willingness to leave Canadian territory after the expiration of the work permit;
• provide proof of sufficient funds to live in Canada for the first time;
• obtain a certificate of no criminal record in your country;
• not pose a threat to the security of Canada;
• undergo a medical examination, that is, have no serious illnesses and, in principle, be in good health;
• if necessary, fulfill other conditions and provide additional documents as required by Canadian authorities.

Representatives of some professions do not require a work permit in Canada, for example:

• Professional athletes and coaches.
• Organizers of international events in Canada.
• Journalists and reporters.
• Artists.
• Diplomatic workers.
• Military personnel of other states.
• Businessmen.
• Religious figures.

Comprehensive information about the requirements and conditions of immigration to Canada, including employment for foreigners, can be obtained on the official government portal - cic.gc.ca.

How migrants adapt

Even if a person has studied the orders and local customs for a long time, he will not feel too comfortable for the first 5 years. Perhaps some traditions will seem alien and unpleasant to him. The language issue stands apart.

To obtain an immigration permit, you must pass one of the exams with excellent marks. But even in this case, you will not perfectly understand the locals with their dialect and some catchphrases. Therefore, it is best to enroll in free language courses.

The state happily supports legal migrants and regularly launches several programs. There are both short and full-time courses - you can study all day or go to evening school. There are courses for residents, tourists, students or schoolchildren.

Employment options

Who gets paid the most?

If you like the life of Russians in Canada, start choosing your future profession. One of the highest paid is an economic development manager. On average, they receive up to 115 thousand dollars.

In second place are utility managers. These specialists work for the state, are engaged in the proper organization of electricity and water supply, and the design of various schemes. Salary is around 112 thousand dollars.

In third place are petroleum engineers. In principle, the mining industry makes a lot of money in Canada. But people working with oil have the highest salaries - about 100 thousand dollars. Pharmacists are also located in the same area.

Professions in demand

As soon as a shortage of specialists is discovered in a certain area, most people begin to move into that area. And after a couple of years, there is an oversupply on the market.

So far for 2021 the list is as follows:

• Veterinarians, general practitioners, family doctors.
• Nutritionists, cardiologists, opticians, dentists, physiotherapists.
• Nurses, orderlies and pharmacists.
• Aerospace, mining, civil engineers.
• Geologists, oil workers, chemists, electronics engineers.
• Plumbers, roofers, tilers, masons.
• Lawyers, notaries.
• Physicists, astronomers, meteorologists, geographers.
• Programmers.
• Teachers, social workers.

The state's attitude towards entrepreneurship

If you don’t want to work “for someone else,” you can try to open your own small business. In this case, it is easier to get a visa - all countries are only happy about the influx of new finances into the country’s economy.

Important

The Government of Canada supports the development of small businesses through government programs and grants, and does not allow small firms to die under the yoke of large corporations.

The following positive factors are characteristic:

• Quite low prices per plot (6 million Canadian dollars for 3 hectares).
• Very cheap prices for using electricity (on average 40 dollars per day, +3 dollars for every 50 kW).
• The presence of a huge number of government programs.
• Opportunity to attract investors.

Diasporas in Canada

Of great importance in the process of adaptation to new conditions can be the understanding that you are not alone here, that there are at least a couple of people nearby who can provide support not so much materially as morally. It is for this purpose that emigrants prefer to unite into entire communities, which serve as a kind of oasis of their native culture, traditions, as well as a reliable shoulder for newcomers.

Russian diaspora

The main problem that migrants face is the language environment. Each region in this country has its own linguistic traditions, although there are two official languages.

And although the Russian diaspora in Canada is represented by a large number of migrants, you rarely see Russian speech here. Moreover, the Russians did not show much interest in uniting into one large community, which resulted in the existence of several small associations.

Numerous videos that can be found on the Internet tell about the life of Russians in Canada. Viewing several of them will not only be interesting, but also useful for all those who face a difficult stage of integration into local society.

Most often they are formed on the basis of an Orthodox church in a specific territory. The main communities include the following:

• Russian Montreal;
• Russian Ottawa;
• Russian-speaking community of Canada;
• Russian Humanitarian House;
• Russian Winnipeg.

Within the framework of such associations, you can not only receive legal assistance, but also teach your child, who was already born on Canadian soil, the Russian language, and take part in cultural events.

Answering the question of how Russians live in Canada, we can say that at the initial stage, like newlyweds on their honeymoon, that is, they like everything. After three months, this state turns into rejection and rejection of everything Canadian, accompanied by a burning homesickness. After a year, migrants usually get involved and begin to lead a lifestyle that is more typical for a given region.

What Russians don’t like about Canada is the lack of warmth. You can make friends and acquaintances, but you still can’t find people to whom you can pour out your soul, as a Russian person is used to doing.

Ukrainian communities

Today, the Canadian state is the third power in the world in terms of population with Ukrainian roots. There are just over a million Ukrainians here. Speaking about which city is the center of concentration of Ukrainians in North America, we can generally distinguish three main provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta.

Despite the fact that most Ukrainians live in the eastern regions of Canada, their concentration, and, accordingly, their cultural and social significance is higher in the West.

In general, the residence of the Ukrainian community in Canada can be represented as follows (data for 2011):

Life in Canada became especially attractive for Ukrainians after the outbreak of the political crisis and hostilities in Ukraine. Moreover, the Canadian government has expressed its readiness to assist in every possible way those who decide to settle on its territory, although the visa regime for Ukrainians to this country has not yet been abolished.

Belarusians in Canada

As for immigrants from Belarus, their number on Canadian territory is very small. Moreover, most Canadians have never heard of such a country. This is due to the fact that residents of the republic most often choose the nearby Russian Federation, Ukraine and Poland as a country for emigration.

Very few people dare to travel long distances. Nevertheless, the Belarusian diaspora exists in Canada. It was concentrated mainly in Toronto and Montreal, and the center that united former citizens of Belarus was the Orthodox Church, on the basis of which all kinds of events and meetings of former compatriots take place.

Canadian salaries

Minimum level

Every country that cares about its residents has such a thing as a “minimum wage.” Since in Canada it is customary to receive a salary per hour of work, the government regulates the level of payment per unit of time.

The minimum possible payment is about 10 Canadian dollars. However, in many regions the rate is increasing. The larger the settlement where you work, the more you will pay. The highest salary is in the regions of Ontario and Alberta, $15 per hour. Residents of the so-called province of Saskatchewan receive the least - 10 dollars and 7 cents.

On average, a Canadian works about 40 hours a week, that is, he receives a minimum of $400 for 7 days.

Net average income per capita after taxes

If the pros and cons of living in Canada suit you, pay attention to the indicator of financial solvency of the average resident.

In this country, the net income per person in a family is approximately CAD 40,000 per year. This amount is slightly less than the average for other OECD countries. However, the value is not entirely accurate because Canada has a large gap between the poor and the rich.

There are approximately 20% of both low-income and high-income families in the country. However, the finances of the rich part of the population differ from the poor by almost 5 times.

Economic situation of the country

Canada is a state with a post-industrial economy and a GDP per capita of more than 51 thousand dollars per year. The unemployment rate has been slowly declining and averaged 5.9% by province at the end of spring 2021. Areas that rely on commodity export industries have higher unemployment due to the decline in extractive industries activity around the world.

The country is experiencing an increase in hidden unemployment and an uneven distribution of the number of forcedly unemployed citizens. Competition in the labor market is quite high.

On the other hand, employers are less likely to fire workers, preferring to transfer them to shorter working hours with a slight increase in hourly wages. In addition, Canada has an unemployment insurance system.

The economy is among the highly developed. This means that in Canada, first of all, there is a high demand for qualified and experienced specialists in knowledge-intensive fields. Separate immigration programs have been created and operate for them.

To determine your eligibility, you can visit the official portal of the Canadian government.

Features of education in Canada

Differences in the local education system

This is interesting

An equally important factor in choosing a country of residence is the presence of a developed education system. At the age of 4 years, you can send your child to kindergarten. Since it is impossible to leave one child under 12 years old here, parents either stay at home or use government institutions.

School starts from the age of 5-6 years and ends at the age of 15-16 years. There are both private and government organizations. Only residents of the country can study in public schools for free. For foreign citizens the cost is from 10 to 15 thousand dollars.

After completing secondary education, the child goes to college. Training lasts from 1 to 4 years, depending on the chosen specialty. In 1 year you will have to pay an average of $13,000.

Higher education is considered more prestigious. But it also lasts longer. A bachelor's degree takes approximately 3-4 years. After this, you can devote 2-3 years to a master's degree. It takes 4 years to become a doctor.

Tuition price: about 15-20 thousand dollars per year, depending on the region.

Teaching, as in Russia, is conducted without bias towards any one specialization. However, all teachers try to encourage children to work on team projects and creative work. All fundamental sciences are taught at an elementary level; the university must teach something deeper.

What are the types of scholarships and grants?

To qualify for a scholarship or grant, you must go to a higher or secondary specialized educational institution immediately after school. Foreigners can apply for Vanier CGS if their university participates in the program and they demonstrate excellent academic performance and scientific potential. They pay about 50 thousand a year.

Students pursuing a career in science can look forward to participating in the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program. They are paid about $70,000 a year. In this case, the scholarship is awarded for a period of 2 years.

Under the Trudeau Foundation Awards program, you can receive $20,000 a month for scientific activities. Among non-governmental programs, Mitacs Accelerate is also allocated - 15,000 for a project with a commercial component.

Moving to Canada: pros and cons. Should you move in 2021?

Cons of living in Canada in 2021

High competition in the labor market

Competition is incredibly high in almost every sector of life. If you are in Russia/Ukraine/Belarus, etc. If you have good work experience and a list of achievements, then don’t think that you will be in hot demand. For some reason, many people have this misconception. The same applies to academic titles, even Doctor of Science. To find a good job, you have to work hard. A lot will depend on a combination of perseverance and luck.

One of the effective ways to find a job for entry-level positions is the so-called “foot-in-the-door” (literally translated as “foot in the door”). In other words, if you see a vacancy that is attractive to you, do not send your resume online, but simply go directly to this company with your resume, and there is a very high probability that you will not be denied an interview. If they refuse, then there is a very high probability that your resume will be considered. Many are skeptical about this method, but in vain. Imagine that you need an employee for a certain position. Once you post an ad on the Internet, you receive about 200 potential candidates per day. All resumes will need to be studied in detail, the best ones selected, and an interview conducted. You will simply save the employer a lot of work. The fact that you almost immediately arrived at the advertisement is a sign that you are striving to get this position, and this is exactly what they are looking for in you.

We recommend that you read our large article “Working in Canada: salaries, best professions and how to get a job.”

High cost of living

Of course, if you already have a stable job, this is not such a disadvantage for you, but potential immigrants should keep this in mind. On average, a Canadian citizen has almost $1000-2000 per month in mandatory expenses alone. This amount includes apartment rent, utility bills, Internet and communications, as well as medical costs (insurance is strictly required for everyone) and car (if you have a car) insurance. Groceries, travel, services – everything will be more expensive. Count on a budget of $1,800 per month per person (this is the bare minimum, keep in mind that you will only have enough money for groceries and essential expenses, provided that you share an apartment with several people). Before moving to Canada, be sure to consider your budget. Don't forget, moving to Canada is a very important step.

Read more about the cost of living in Canada in our article: “How much does it cost to live in Canada for a month.”

Availability of drugs

Yes, oddly enough, it is not difficult to get drugs: marijuana, ecstasy, mushrooms, cocaine. If you ask a schoolchild if he knows where to get it, then with a high degree of probability he will recommend the person from whom or through whom you can buy it. On average, a Canadian schoolchild tries weed between the ages of 12 and 15. At big concerts, young people are not shy about accepting whatever comes their way. As a rule, alcohol is not sold at large events, so the guys are looking for additional ways to influence the level of fun. By the way, this does not lead to an increase in the crime rate, except perhaps an increase in the level of applications to hospitals due to various side effects. The police don't really fight it, especially with marijuana. We will touch on this topic later. The following pictures are not uncommon: while walking along the tourist street of Vancouver Granville Street, you can calmly pass by police officers in the city center, and five meters later you will hear from a random passer-by: “Weed, mushrooms?” (“Grass, mushrooms?”), as if he were selling whites. Moving to Canada with children requires a different approach. So when traveling to Canada with your child, be prepared to have a conversation about drugs. Unfortunately, in Canadian schools, and indeed in general, they are very common.

Moreover, on October 17, 2021, marijuana was officially legalized in Canada. Thus, Canada became only the second country in the world after Uruguay in which the legal sale of cannabis is permitted at the federal level. Time will tell whether this drug situation will improve or worsen. Read more in our article “Marijuana is legalized in Canada. What do you need to know? A recent survey found that more young people in Canada are driving while high.

Poor quality medicine

The medical system is very confusing and quite inconvenient. Let's start with the fact that if you have not taken out or paid for insurance, then get ready to pay a huge amount of money. Let's say a regular examination by a doctor will cost $200, and a basic operation (for example, cutting out an appendix) will cost about $8,000. But insurance will not provide you with timely treatment. In 2021, the Fraser Institute conducted a study that found Canadians had to wait an average of 19.8 weeks for treatment.

Secondly, the queues for tests are simply huge. We will try to briefly describe the system. First, you go to a general practitioner (or family doctor), who may refer you for tests or to specialists of a more narrow profile. The average time for examining a patient is 10 minutes, because... Doctors have a quota on how many patients they need to see per year, which directly affects their income. At the same time, in order to send you for tests, you need to be persistent and sometimes almost convince the doctor that you need this test. We were told about one case in which a 50-year-old man experienced severe stomach pain. When he went to the doctor for the first time, he was only prescribed a preventative medicine. The pain remained and this man visited the doctor again, but the doctor again prescribed the same remedy. And this time nothing happened, and only the third time (18 days were lost) did the doctor decide to send this person for tests. In his report to the government, the doctor must justify why he sent the patient for tests, because if the doctor prescribes tests for everything, the health insurance system will simply collapse. And so, having achieved an FGDS analysis (swallowing a light bulb), this man stood in line... A six-month queue. Yes, those are the crazy lines. The worst ending to the story is that this pain was caused by a cancerous tumor. Of course, we started treatment immediately, but 7 months were lost simply because of the system. Unfortunately, the medical system in Canada is not the most advanced.

You can also read the opinions of Russian-speaking immigrants, as well as their stories related to medicine in Canada. Some cases are very scary.

But it is worth noting that the Canadian medical system has handled the recent coronavirus pandemic extremely well. Hospitals have withstood the strain, ventilators have been purchased in abundance, and vaccination is progressing at an excellent pace.

Expensive real estate in big cities

In Canada's two main cities, Vancouver and Toronto, the real estate market is incredibly overheated for a combination of reasons: convenient location, influx of immigrants and the ability for foreigners to easily buy real estate as an investment, which simply outbid local buyers (however, they began to combat this by introducing a tax on 15 % on the cost if you are a foreigner). In 2020-2021, the pandemic caused unrealistic demand and prices increased by more than 30-40% across Canada, even in not the most popular cities.

Expensive and not the best quality mobile communications and Internet

Due to the monopoly of the two main telecommunications providers, Bell and Rogers, this sector is not developing at all in Canada. Unlimited mobile Internet sounds like something supernatural (and it's very expensive). On average, a Canadian pays about $60 per month for mobile communications (you are limited to 2-4 GB of Internet usage), and $80 for Internet and cable TV (up to 25 Mb/s). Small companies try to compete, but consumers rarely switch to them. Read more in our article “Why is the Internet so expensive in Canada?”

Life gets more expensive every year

Every year it becomes more difficult for the Canadian middle class to live in Canada. At the moment, this only applies to the big Canadian cities of Vancouver and Toronto, where the middle class simply cannot afford the cost of living. But after the Liberals are re-elected in 2021, all experts agree that many aspects of Canadian life will become much more expensive due to some items in the Liberal electoral platform, especially those related to environmental protection.

Pros of living in Canada in 2021

Higher standard of living

When you arrive here, this is the first thing you realize. You don’t have to describe it, just imagine that almost every area of ​​life, compared to the CIS countries, is simply better and more developed.

Immigration opportunities under the Liberals in 2021

The Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau has been actively making it clear that Canada is committed to welcoming highly skilled immigrants, with many programs opening in every province. The Express Entry point system was launched, by collecting points in which you can immediately move to permanent residence in Canada. One of the most sensational is the Atlantic Pilot Program, in which the requirements for language knowledge and education are simplified as much as possible. Therefore, over the past decade, now is one of the best times to immigrate to Canada. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Canada has announced a new immigration plan from 2021 to 2024, where it is planned to accept 1.2 million new immigrants! We talked in more detail about the methods of immigration to Canada in 2021 here.

Low level of corruption

In 2021, Canada was ranked 9th on the list of least corrupt countries. And this seems to be true. If you offer a bribe to a police officer, spend the night in the police station, you will be accused of bribing an official, and you don’t know how it will end for you. Bribe to a teacher? The same. People are content with their salary and will not take risks that could ruin their entire career. Of course, a correctly proposed bribe, on a particularly large scale (for example, a bribe to a teacher in the amount of $50,000 for an assessment), can work, but if in the CIS countries it would be accepted with a probability of 95%, then here this figure will be 10% and this is incredibly pleasing. Case in point: the mayor of Toronto received a ticket for jaywalking. It sounds unrealistic, but it is true and he paid for it. And most importantly, the policeman who did this calmly continued to work, without any fear for his place.

Of course, in this regard, everything is not ideal, but at least it is impossible to imagine a situation where a policeman, doctor or teacher would take a bribe.

Nature and ecology

This is a separate topic for discussion. The Government of Canada supports the environmental situation in every possible way. One of the problems you will face in Canada is which bin should I throw my trash in?

As a rule, each bin is intended for one or another type of waste: plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, etc. All this is aimed at recycling, which greatly helps to maintain a good environmental situation. This will irritate you at first, but over time you will understand the importance of it and you will also start distributing your garbage waste. The nature in any province is incredibly beautiful, and it is protected accordingly. There are so many different places here that you couldn’t visit in 10 years. We've collected the best places in British Columbia in our Tourism section, so if you're interested, stop by and see how many places Canada has to offer.

In their electoral program, the Liberals were particularly concerned with environmental issues.

Crime rate and safety

Despite the fact that the crime rate in Canada in 2019 rose for the first time in 10 years, this level is nevertheless one of the lowest in the world. Walking or returning home in the dark is not so scary. Canadians, seeing something suspicious (sometimes it reaches the point of absurdity, but still), first of all call 911 and services arrive at the scene in a matter of minutes.

Infrastructure

Roads, buildings, parking lots, sports facilities - everything is at a high level. As was said above: “You don’t need to describe it, just imagine that every area of ​​life, compared to the CIS countries, is simply better.”

Favorable conditions for doing business

The Canadian government encourages small and medium-sized businesses. It is ready to help with a minimum loan rate, and in some cases even help with financing free of charge. Opening a business in Canada will not be difficult. If your business structure does not involve any special processes, then you will simply need to follow 5-6 easy steps to obtain a business license.

What’s also important is that you won’t be pressured by payments. From the moment you start your business, you are given a year to bring the company to a positive level, and only after a year you can start paying off your loan. If for some reason you are not yet ready to pay, then you can send an explanatory letter about why this is happening, and you may be given additional time. In this regard, business immigration to Canada is also gaining momentum.

Healthy eating

Many Canadians are conscious of their diet and therefore almost any supermarket will offer organic and non-organic products.

Gender equality

In 2021, the third gender was officially legalized in Canada. The first baby was also registered, whose parents decided not to choose the sex of the child, but for him to decide for himself at a conscious age what he wants to be. A third type of toilet is being actively installed—neutral. Canada is one of the most advanced countries in terms of gender equality.

Moving to Canada: Neutral points

Climate

In general, the Canadian climate is quite cold. Most of the year it is cold, and in the summer there is unbearable heat. The exception is Vancouver. Due to the fact that the city is surrounded by mountains, winter temperatures hardly drop below zero, with summer peaks around 30 degrees Celsius. Read more about the climate in Vancouver at this link.

Mentality

Canadians have a completely different mentality. They are very polite, friendly, tolerant, and in work terms, first of all, professional, but all this is supported by a considerable note of hypocrisy. If they tell you: “Your English is very good!”, you don’t have to believe it, because... They tell you this purely out of politeness. The same neighbor with whom you rode in the elevator and had a friendly conversation may on the same day complain to the police that your music is playing loudly. And don’t judge, it’s just in their mentality, it can’t be changed. This behavior makes the service sector much better and life in general more pleasant.

Tolerance

Canadians are very tolerant people. Are you an immigrant who doesn't speak English well? It's okay, Canadians will try to understand you. Are you walking with pink hair, dressed in old home clothes on the main street? Please, absolutely no one will pay attention to you.

Same-sex marriage

Whether this is good or bad is up to you to decide. Canada is a free country where your opinion is respected, be it “build a sidewalk here” (and it will be built in a matter of weeks if the reason is justified), or “my partner and my same-sex partner want to get married.” Therefore, same-sex couples on the street are not uncommon, and if this is unacceptable to you, then perhaps moving to Canada is not for you.

Marijuana

When you hear this word, what countries first come to mind? Holland? Jamaica? In North America, British Columbia is the unofficial capital of cannabis. It is this mixture that is grown in the best quality and in large volumes. Moreover, cannabis was legalized in 2021. What can we say, there is even a special place called the British Columbia Marijuana Party, where you can bring your weed and smoke through various devices for only $5 per hour. The issue with the police was settled simply: “We will not pose any danger to the public. One case and you can close us immediately.” Indeed, the place has been operating for more than 5 years and recently another similar establishment was opened. Now there are no obstacles at all to opening such an establishment. Therefore, if you are an ardent opponent of weed, then moving to Canada is not for you.

For those who are interested in the topic of marijuana in Canada, you can read the popular telegram channel - Marikanada.

Obtaining a driver's license

It's quite confusing, but the system makes sense. Let's start with the fact that if you have 2 years of driving experience in your country, you can exchange this license for a full Canadian one. You will need to pass a theory and practical test.

And now about the newcomers. If you don't have driving experience, you'll have to work hard. First you will need to pass the theory, after which you are given the license category “L”, which stands for “learner” (student). You are only allowed to drive if you have a 25 year old (or older) fully licensed driver sitting in the passenger seat next to you in the same car. However, you are prohibited from traveling on highways and highways. After a year, if you have no serious violations, you have the right to take a practical exam, and if you pass it, you will receive an “N” category for two years, which stands for “new driver.” With this category you can drive yourself, without supervision, however, you can only carry a maximum of one passenger. Exception: if there is a person in the car over 25 years of age with a full license, you can carry up to 5 passengers. And only after two years of experience you will again need to take a practical test, and only then you will receive your full license. Yes, it takes a long time, but this scheme provides a decent level of driver training. Thus, the level of accidents on roads in Canada is very low.

You can read more about obtaining a license and the entire procedure in our article: Driving license in British Columbia

Pension

The basic pension in Canada is quite low, but you can live on it, provided you already have housing paid off. However, the government maintains a large number of pension funds that you can put money into without being taxed. You can invest the same money, receive interest from it, and if you don’t use it before retirement, you don’t need to pay tax. Read more in our material “Pension in Canada”.

Multiculturalism

Canada is a country of immigrants. The best thing is that when you come here, you don't feel like an outcast. The problem of the language barrier will disappear almost immediately as soon as you hear a variety of accents. Many people’s English is not perfect; for some it irritates, but for others it makes them happy and liberating. You will not be embarrassed to speak, because... You are not expected to have perfect English. Canadians are very tolerant of this. Due to this feature, moving to Canada is much easier.

Taxes

Taxes in Canada, as in any developed country, are high, but among developed countries Canada ranks one of the lowest in terms of percentage. It all depends on your income level. The higher the income, the higher the tax. Comparison summary for 2021:

The data changes every year, using these official sources you can track everything yourself. For 2021 tax updates for all provinces, click here.

Education system

School education is quite unusual. Integrals, logarithms? Spit, Canadian children only start learning the multiplication tables in the 6th grade. But in high school the heat begins, and few can pull them off. This was done for an interesting purpose. The service sector is an area that will always require workers, mostly low-budget ones. As a rule, students who have difficulty graduating from school are unable to enroll in a normal college/university and begin to work in the service sector. Over time, this life suits them, and Canada gets the workers it needs. If your child is smart and purposeful, then it will not be difficult for him to complete the school program and subsequently university, and Canada also needs such personnel. If you are concerned about your child's future in Canada, it is recommended to use the services of a tutor for additional lessons.

Prices for meals

Cost of basic food products

It is impossible to understand what the standard of living is in Canada unless you take into account the approximate cost of living in this country. Without data on the cost of food, it is impossible to calculate whether you can live here peacefully.

Prices for basic food items are as follows (in Canadian dollars):

• A liter of milk - 2.22.
• Loaf of bread - 2.79.
• 1 kg of white rice - 3.90.
• 12 chicken eggs - 3.30.
• 1 kg of local cheese - 11.76.
• 1 kg chicken breast - 12.85.
• 1 kg of beef shank - 13.91.
• 1 kg of apples - 3.87.
• 1 kg of bananas - 1.73.
• 1 kg of oranges - 3.76.
• 1 kg tomato - 3.68.
• 1 kg of potatoes - 2.47.
• 1 kg of onion - 2.45.
• A bunch of lettuce - 2.24.
• One and a half liters of drinking water - 2.23.
• Average bottle of wine - 15.
• Local beer (half a liter) - 2.83.
• Imported beer (0.33 liters) - 3.49.
• 20 middle class cigarettes - 13.

Main expenses

Statistics for 2021 show that most Canadians spend the most on taxes: almost 40 per cent of total household income. The remaining funds are evenly distributed among the main expenditure items of the family budget.

About 1-2 thousand dollars are spent on housing per month. You can live on a student campus, but it will cost more - 3-7 thousand. If you do not buy your own car and often travel around the city, it is profitable to buy a pass for a year - $141.

The average Canadian spends approximately $900 a month on food. They pay $60 a month for internet. Communication - approximately 20 dollars. Since this is a cold country, people spend most of their time not on the streets, but in cafes and restaurants with an average price tag of 2-50 dollars.

Standard of living in Canada

Wage

You can evaluate life in Canada, or rather its level, thanks to the level of salaries. This is a country that cares about its residents and focuses its attention on the “minimum wage.” In Canada, it is customary to calculate wages based on pay per hour.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-adult-people-money-3261425/

The minimum wage for one hour must be at least $10 . But this figure will vary in each region. Usually this rate is increased. In those regions where large numbers of people live, the payment will be higher. The regions of Alberta and Ontario are considered the most favorable in terms of payment. They pay $15 an hour here. For a typical 40-hour workweek, the average salary in Canada is $600.

Income to Expenditure Ratio in Canada

If we talk about the middle class, then it is absolutely normal for them to change several houses during their life. Unlike us Russians, the attitude towards housing in this country is completely different. Home is something temporary. So, for example, a young couple got married, bought a house after a while, and after the birth they bought a larger house. If the family's income has increased, then this house will be sold and a larger one bought. When all the children grow up and move away, the house is sold and a smaller one is bought. This is the attitude of Canadians towards real estate. And purchasing a home directly depends on income.

But there are also noticeable costs. It is necessary to pay taxes, the amount of which is approximately one month's salary. The higher the salary, the higher the tax. Approximately one third of the money goes to taxes for a substantial salary. And wages and the amount of taxes may depend on which province a person lives in.

Canada is different in that there is always money here. But the costs here are also decent. And everyone decides for themselves how to live. Buy a new home every five years or live without moving, travel big or save.

Payment of utility services

Utilities make up a certain portion of the costs. How much does the average family pay for a standard house and utilities? If you don’t need to pay a loan for a house, then the average amount comes out to be quite large – about 35,000 rubles per month. Those people who live in apartments pay a little less. For a two-room apartment you need to pay about 30,000 rubles.

Those who rent housing also pay quite a lot. The cost of rent will depend on what to shoot and where to shoot. For example, a two-room apartment with all amenities and air conditioning costs $1,200 per month.

Renting and purchasing real estate in Canada

All about purchasing

Any person who is officially in the country can become the owner of an apartment or house. However, most locals do not live in multi-storey housing, but in the private sector. You can rent a home either in cash or on credit.

The cost of your own corner directly depends on the region in which the purchase is made. For example, in Montreal housing will cost in the region of 300-400 cities. In one of the most popular cities, Vancouver, you will have to pay approximately 400 thousand and above, depending on the condition of the house.

In very small provinces, prices can be below 300 thousand.

Rent and utilities

If you are not ready to spend a lot of money on housing, you can rent a room or apartment from one of the local hosts. Unfortunately, renting a cheap room in a house risks you staying with Mexican or Indian migrants. You can get along with them, but it will be uncomfortable.

The rental price is approximately $800-2000 per month, depending on the region in which you will rent an apartment. In this case, payment of utilities will be on your conscience. You will have to pay 25-40 dollars for the light. The phone will cost about the same amount.

For sewer and water you need to pay 50-60 dollars. For gas - from 60 to 120 Canadian dollars.

Where is the best place to live in Canada?

When choosing a place on the map, you should carefully study the best cities to live in Canada:

• For those who speak French, cities in Quebec are suitable. The province is the largest in the state and is famous for its picturesque landscapes, cozy rural villages, lakes, waterfalls and forests. Here you can meet migrants from Africa, the Middle East, China, and South Asia. Quebec is located near the capital region.
• Life in Toronto attracts many with activity, offering many opportunities for professional development, cultural recreation, and pleasant entertainment. Those who prefer quieter places and a slower life go further away from this city.
• Ottawa is a densely populated city surrounded by green parks and alleys on the banks of the river of the same name. It is characterized by a cozy atmosphere. City residents prefer to spend their free time with families on lawns and parks, where they can walk the dog or go for a run. This is an ideal location for a family move.
• Living in Vancouver can be daunting due to its high cost. This city is one of the richest in British Columbia. But it has a mild climate (not too hot summers and not too cold winters) and many job opportunities.
• Calgary is the largest and most popular city among migrants in the province of Alberta. Surrounded by mountains and forests, it is famous for its large number of sunny days a year and its architecture. The offices of large companies Sysco, Canadian Tire Group, and Walmart are located here.

Living in the north of Canada (Yukon Province, Nunavut and the northwestern regions) does not look like the best option due to low temperatures, as well as high prices for food and everyday goods. Over the past 20 years, this region has been heavily subsidized by the state, which has allowed it to achieve significant economic growth.

Ways to get around the country

Need for a car

This is interesting

Canada is a country where the majority of residents travel by car. Each member of the average family has their own car, so traveling by public transport is not practical. At the same time, it is not necessary to buy a car; most often, a car is simply rented.

Then once a month you need to pay 7 dollars and for each day of use - another 50. At the same time, all associated costs - gasoline, repairs, and so on - remain on the company’s shoulders.

On average, a used car will cost you 13-15 thousand dollars. But keep in mind that a considerable amount will be spent on gasoline and maintenance.

Development of public transport, popularity of bicycles

The network of means of transportation for people who do not have a car is not very well developed here. Its main problem is constant delays. Up to 50 route disruptions can occur per day, sometimes quite significant. However, a network of buses runs around the city, including a night route.

Trams and metro are also available. Suburban trains and buses run constantly. For one trip, it is enough to buy 1 ticket, even if you changed from the metro to the bus.

Bicycles are a common sight here even in winter. The state actively promotes a healthy lifestyle, popularizing environmentally friendly modes of transport.

General condition of roads and sidewalks

Unfortunately, the roads for motor transport in this country are not so smooth. A huge part of people who moved here from Russia compare the two countries. Residents of our capital even say that in the Russian Federation the situation with highway coverage is much better.

Officials say it is impossible to properly repair the coating. The reason lies in the fact that in summer it is quite hot here, but in winter there is a real severe and northern frost. As a result, the coating quickly cracks and becomes unusable.

The sidewalks are doing better; they are clean and look good, and they are regularly cleared of snow.

Social guarantees

Features of health insurance

It covers only those cases and diseases that directly threaten your life and health. That is, for example, you can cure rheumatism, heart or lung diseases for free, and take advantage of consultations about colds.

However, the list of services provided free of charge does not include a visit to the dentist. The exception is if you suffer from severe and unbearable pain. After age 65, Canadian residents can get a special insurance option that covers the cost of medications and makes almost all services free.

Social guarantees of the state in matters of insurance

In Canada, any resident of this country who is in it legally can receive so-called unemployment benefits. On average, this amount is paid to people who have lost their jobs over the next 5 months. The maximum period for which you can receive money is 60 weeks. They pay no more than 60% of the previous salary.

There are also certain social benefits for families with minor children in their care. A mother who gives birth to a child can count on assistance from the state and maternity leave of 15 weeks. She retains her job.

Pensioner income

An old-age pension is a social benefit that is not available to everyone. In order to retire here and receive support from the state, you must live in the country for a total of at least 10 years and be an official citizen of the state when applying.

The size directly depends on how long you lived in the country. If you have been in Canada for 40 years, you can receive a payment of $500. If, for example, your period of residence in this country is 14 years, then you receive 14/40 of this amount. Everything is simple, no additional calculations are needed.

Pros of Canada

Before finally deciding the immigration issue, it is advisable to visit the country you have chosen to move to. This will allow you to obtain more complete information about it, which will make it possible to better navigate in the future. You can visit a state located in the north of America by opening a tourist or business visa. These documents will provide an opportunity to preliminary assess the features of life in Canada. What are the advantages of choosing this country? Among them are the following:

1. Upon receipt of permanent residence permit (permanent residence permit), a person acquires the same rights as an ordinary citizen. The exception is some legal nuances and the inability to take part in elections. The life of Russians in Canada who have received permanent residence means free healthcare and education, as well as receiving unemployment benefits. And immigrants have all these rights on an equal basis with the indigenous population of the country. In addition, after 3 years of permanent residence status, it becomes possible to apply for citizenship and obtain a Canadian passport.
2. This country has a fairly high standard of living. Judging by the reviews about the life of Russians in Canada, there are high salaries and quite affordable prices. Both of these factors together provide quite decent purchasing power. Working in this country and receiving an average salary here, you can live very well.
3. Mentality. Judging by the reviews about the life of Russians in Canada, the people here are friendly and hospitable. Moreover, this manifests itself in relation not only to our compatriots, but also to all immigrants. The indigenous people of the country are always ready to help. And if you accidentally push someone, he will also begin to apologize to you.
4. Benefits of being a citizen. Having received a Canadian passport, you can plan a trip to most countries of the world without visas. Many people consider this opportunity a significant plus.
5. Safety. Among the features of life in Canada, there is a low crime rate. And this applies not only to the criminal sphere. Life in Canada through the eyes of Russians is the absence of ethnic hostility, which is an amazing fact due to the multinational composition of the local population.
6. Ecology. In this regard, everything is fine in the country as well. Strict control over the environmental situation is exercised on its territory. So anyone who dreams of choosing a country where they can breathe fresh air should opt for this northern state, pleasing the eye with the harsh beauty of its nature.

Features of taxation

The main tax is income tax. All residents of the country who are officially employed or running their own business are required to give a certain percentage of their total income to the state treasury. If his salary is less than 42 thousand dollars a year, then the percentage is 15.

If the income is in the range from 42 to 85 thousand, then you need to pay 22 percent to the state. If you earn more than 85, you need to pay approximately 26 percent per month. Every year, in January, a working citizen of the country is required to file a tax return, where he must indicate all his income.

Economic situation in the country

The economic situation in the country is characterized by stability. The advantages include social security and a decent level of wages. If you have a permanent job, you can obtain a residence permit under a simplified scheme. It is not difficult to find a job in Canada without intermediaries, since there is practically no unemployment in the country. The authorities are interested in attracting knowledge workers from other countries.

The average salary is 3.5 thousand dollars. There is work in the country for Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, especially specialists with a high level of qualifications.

Living and working in Canada for Russians has the following advantages:

1. High quality of life.
2. Good income.
3. Possibility of obtaining dual citizenship.
4. With a Canadian passport, you can visit more than 150 countries without a visa.
5. After receiving official status, citizens are entitled to free medical care and free education for children.

Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting high taxes and great competition even for experienced specialists. It is worth noting the high prices for accommodation in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto.

Standard of living compared to Russia

Reviews of Russians about life in Canada are varied. However, they all compare their new home country to Russia. To understand how profitable it is to move, it is enough to consider the problem from several sides.

Let's consider several main indicators (Russia - Canada):

• Corruption: “5 points below the world average” - “in first place in the TOP.”
• Availability of education: “everyone can get a higher education if they are smart enough” - “paid, but inexpensive.”
• Average salary: “39,000 rubles” - “155,000 rubles”.
• Social guarantees: both have pensions and maternity leave. In Canada, healthcare is partially free, in Russia it is completely free.

Labor market

Judging by the reviews about the life of Russian emigrants in Canada, there are quite a lot of vacancies here. However, the employer hires only those people who speak English well or are at least able to express themselves more or less normally in it. Without such a skill, it is simply impossible to find a job in the country.

Achieving a good life in Canada for Russians and a job for which a decent salary will be paid is possible only with a good knowledge of the English language. Only in this case is a specialist able to obtain a position in his profession. This is especially true in cases where it is related to vehicles and equipment.

According to Russian reviews of life in Canada, in 2021 a vacancy could always be found for immigrants in this country. And this is confirmed by the low unemployment rate. As of December 2021, it was only 5.6%.

To ensure a normal standard of living and work in Canada, the following is offered to Russians:

1. Auto mechanic. To apply for such a position, you need a document on specialized education and at least 3 years of experience.
2. A truck driver. To apply for this specialty, you will need a license to drive the appropriate cars, which are valid on Canadian territory, as well as work experience of at least 6-8 months.
3. Hotel and hotel employees. Work experience is required here.
4. Cashiers – experience and education diploma.
5. Cook assistants and kitchen helpers.
6. Nannies.
7. Medical staff. To get this job you will need to have an international diploma, as well as at least several years of experience.
8. Kindergarten teachers. Candidates for these vacancies must have specialized education that is relevant in Canada, as well as work experience.
9. Specialists in the field of aircraft construction. These are engineers with higher education, at least 5 years of design experience, and knowledge (in addition to spoken) technical English.

How Russian migrants settle down

Despite the fact that there are quite a lot of Russian citizens in Canada - 500,000 people among all residents of the country - they do not strive to find their own. Most people have different political views and immigrated for different reasons. Therefore, there are no communities or diasporas here.

In general, local societies are very fragmented. People say that no one helped them during adaptation, so they are not going to engage in charity. However, in every major city there are small, less popular gathering places. Most often people come to Orthodox churches.

Where do Russian immigrants live?

The best cities to live in Canada are suburban communities. It is better to rent a small house in the private sector and drive a rented car to work. Also look at those settlements where you can meet as many Russians as possible.

There are many of our compatriots in Toronto and Quebec. People are actively flocking to Ottawa.

Russian community in Canada

The support of compatriots can provide great moral support in the adaptation process. It is for this reason that many people prefer to settle where there are many “of their own”. Russian communities are a kind of oasis of Russian culture, traditions and support for those who have just arrived.

Immigration of representatives of the CIS countries took place unevenly and for various reasons. The migrants belong to different age groups and have different political views, which led to some alienation from each other and the absence of a single cohesive community.

Attempts to create a full-fledged Russian diaspora were made repeatedly, but were unsuccessful. Today in Canada there are several communities uniting migrants from the post-Soviet space:

• “Russian Ottawa”,
• “Russian Montreal”,
• “Russian-speaking community of Canada”,
• “Russian Winnipeg”,
• “Russian Humanitarian House”.

In such organizations, migrants can receive legal assistance, advice on opening an account and other legal issues.

Opinions about Canada

Olga:

“I dreamed of going to Canada from early childhood. And now my dream has come true - I’ve been living here for a year now. There are many advantages: multiculturalism, relaxed local society and beautiful nature. But there are also a couple of disadvantages. Personally, the unpleasant circumstance for me was that it’s really cold here.”

Oleg:

“I moved my family here 10 years ago. Before that I worked here myself, but not for long, but here I had a chance to stay. Sometimes, honestly, I miss my homeland, but I will never return. The main advantage that keeps me here is the work of officials. You tell them, they do it and write a beautiful report for themselves.”

Anna:

“I’ve been living here for five years, and all my friends are gradually moving there. I can say one thing: if you don’t know the language, you’ll quickly go back to Russia. Otherwise, if you stay late, you will be hired calmly, there will be no prejudices. But you’ll have to plow like a draft horse.”

Reviews from Russian immigrants

Anastasia, nurse

Canada has great nature, but many will find it boring. It is advisable to go there with small children or in old age.

After moving, my daughter went to study at a regular school and it turned out that she was a year ahead of the children in the program. But we did not transfer her to the senior class.

Medicine is all at a high level, but some doctors are more like businessmen. If you have severe headaches, they will not look for the cause but will prescribe a painkiller. They want to devote their time to more “complex” patients.