Quiz

Check your answers below.

1. Easy Question:

Which level of government is responsible for healthcare and education in Canada?

a) federal       b) provincial       c) municipal

2. Easy Question:

Which level of government collects taxes in Canada?

a) federal        b) provincial       c) both

3. More Difficult:

What is the biggest problem with the healthcare system in Canada?

a) long wait times   b) medication costs     c) lack of doctors

4. More Difficult:

When it comes to finding a job after graduating, Canadian colleges are:

a) a better choice than Canadian universities    b) an equally good choice as Canadian universities      c) a worse choice than Canadian universities

5. Difficult:

In Canada, when is okay to argue with a police officer?

a) never      b) only when you know you are 100% right           c) it’s okay to negotiate with police in Canada

6. Difficult:

What type of business legal structure allows you to pay less taxes and write off expenses?

a) sole ownership        b) corporation         c) partnership       d) non-profit      e) co-operative

______________

Check your answers:

GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS:

Immigrants who learn how to use Canadian systems adapt to their new life much faster. The secret to succeeding in Canada is learning about the issues that affect immigrants on every level: healthcare, education, work, food quality, taxation, etc.

Canada has 3 levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal. Provincial governments have a lot of power – to the point that Canada sometimes doesn’t feel like one country but more like 13 different countries. To read how it affects immigrants, click HERE.

Most people in Canada believe in ‘Peace, order and good government’ (compare to American belief in ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness’. Canadians are different from Americans – you can really offend a Canadian by mistaking them for an American!)

Canadian society believes in the rule of law. Not all our laws are good ones, but we follow them until we change them. For example, if you own a house, the law says you must shovel the snow in front of your house. If you don’t, you can be fined. If you want to cut a tree in front of your house (on your property), you must get the city government to allow you to. Another example of a law that not everybody agrees with is that people over 80 years old are allowed to drive.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS:

Each province has a different healthcare system but all of them have some problems in common, specifically very long wait times in emergency rooms, to see specialists and have surgeries. To read How to Use Canadian Healthcare Systems Effectively, click HERE.

Many new immigrants experience the symptoms of Culture Shock without knowing it. Culture Shock has 5 stages and the second stage is often misdiagnosed with depression. If you are feeling sad, homesick and depressed, click HERE.

Dealing with winter can be a challenge for some immigrants who come from warmer and sunnier countries. It is important to know about Vitamin D deficiency that happens because of lack of sun, how it affects your health in winter and how to deal with it. To read more, click HERE.

TAXATION SYSTEMS:

People living in Canada pay a lot of taxes. Federal government collects sales, income tax and other taxes and so do the provincial governments. To learn about taxes in Canada, please click HERE.

EDUCATION SYSTEMS:

In Canada, the responsibility of educating a child rests on the parents. Choosing a good daycare, elementary and secondary school is parents responsibility. It is very important to know that some public schools provide better quality education than others. Post-secondary education (college, university, trade apprenticeship) is the next stage. However, some Canadian colleges are an equal or even better choice than university when it comes to finding a job after completing one. To read more about Canadian education systems, click HERE.

Canadian school system reflects the cultural values of Canadian society, so you need to understand those values. Then you can see how the system is benefiting your child.

BUSINESS OWNERSHIP SYSTEM:

There are several types of business ownership types in Canada: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation and cooperative. If you are thinking of starting a business in Canada, you will need to consider the type of legal structure that’s best for you. Incorporating your business is definitely an option to consider in Canada – it has a lot of benefits when it comes to paying less taxes and writing off expenses. Any business, no matter how small, can be incorporated in Canada. Depending on a type of business you are starting, you will also need to look at the difference between non-profit and for-profit. However, the most important aspect of a successful business is marketing. To read more on the topic, click HERE.

MULTICULTURALISM IN CANADA:

Multiculturalism policy was adopted by the Canadian government during the 1970s and 1980s. Many immigrants come to Canada because of it. USA has been described as a ‘melting pot’ – after you immigrated to America, you become American. In Canada, it’s different – you can keep your own cultural identity together with your new Canadian identity. In Canada, you become bi-cultural.  However, multiculturalism at home vs. multiculturalism at work are two different things and it is important to know how they work in Canada. To read more about it, click “Multiculturalism – what it really means.’

FRAUD AND SCAMS IN CANADA:

Fraud and scams exist in Canada just like in every other country. Some types of scams target immigrants specifically, while some could affect anyone living in the country. New immigrants need to be careful in Canada just as they would be careful in their first countries, sometimes even more. Not all people around you are honest. Because English is not your first language, do not sign any papers or agree to anything you don’t understand. Be careful not to answer ‘yes’ if the meaning is not completely clear. Also, know about the Legal Aid and always ask for more help and advice – this is a new country and the systems are different. To learn how to protect yourself and your family, click HERE.

CANADIAN CULTURE:

Canadian people are known to be very polite. There’s a joke: “How do you know a person is Canadian? You step on their foot and they says ‘Sorry’.  Children in Canada are taught to be very polite and adults talk politely to their children. Don’t be surprised when your little son or daughter will start crying because “mommy didn’t say sorry to me”. They’ve been taught this.

Canadians usually follow rules, laws and instructions. Here’s another joke that reflects this: “How do you get 400 Canadians out of the big swimming pool? You say: ‘Please, get out of the swimming pool.” And everyone will listen. And get out of the pool.

Canadians are also famous for their orderly line-ups. To read more about Canadian society and culture, click on “Canadian Culture“.

CANADIAN HOLIDAYS:

It’s good to learn about Canadian holidays and how they are celebrated because your children growing up in Canada will most likely consider Thanksgiving and other holidays to be ‘their’ holidays. If you want your family to stay strong and united, it makes sense to learn about Canadian celebrations. Adults also need to know which holidays are considered ‘statutory’ or ‘paid’. To read more about it, click HERE.

JUSTICE SYSTEM:

To read about the justice system, click HERE. (citizenship test preparation)

POLICE IN CANADA:

The worst mistake anyone could make is to try to argue with a police officer. The best thing you can do is to know your rights but be perfectly polite in your communication. To read about how to interact with police in Canada, click HERE.