Being A Smart Canadian
SOURCE: THE STAR Four major Canadian banks have slashed their mortgage rates to 2.99 per cent – temporarily – in a bid to win more business as the housing market cools. Royal Bank of Canada was the latest to join the fray late Thursday, after Bank of Montreal fired the first salvo a day earlier [...]
Source: Winnipeg Free Press On a cold January morning in 1968, my parents, Rey and Gloria Pagtakhan, arrived at Emerson to immigrate to Canada. About 12 weeks earlier, my father sent in their immigration application from St. Louis, Missouri, where he and my mother were going to school on visas from the Philippines. Instead of [...]
The Canadian government is imposing a five year sponsorship bar on those who migrate to the country under the Spousal Sponsorship stream, after being sponsored by their spouse or partner. The new regulation, which came into force Mar. 02, was announced by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. Until now, a person immigrating to Canada [...]
Source: The Toronto Star/ Moneyville Home buyers are often advised to set aside one-to-three per cent of the purchase price of their house for closing costs. These fees are explained during the home buying process, but it is helpful to ask questions so you fully understand how these costs can affect your budget. Legal fees On [...]
The Canadian government is considering changes to the current citizenship-by-birth principle, after reports of pregnant women coming to the country to get citizenship for their newborns. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has been quoted as saying the government has been aware that pregnant women are coming to Canada as tourists for the sole purpose [...]
Source: The Toronto Star/Moneyville Paying off your mortgage early seems like great financial planning since you’re freeing up money that can be put towards savings. But discharging a mortgage early can mean a prepayment penalty because the bank loses money. If you had a two-year term and paid the mortgage in full after 16 months, the [...]
Source: Irish Central One of the most remote provinces in Canada is to seek almost 300 skilled workers in Ireland next month. The government of Saskatchewan and employers throughout the province will embark on a labour recruitment mission to Ireland in March. Premier Brad Wall and Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris will [...]
Source: Vancouver Sun Married newcomers to Canada better be in love or be prepared tough it out in the relationship for two years if they don’t want to be kicked out of the country. Citizenship and Immigration Canada is changing Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to make a sponsored spouse stay in the relationship for [...]
Nearly three-quarters of Toronto-area employers believe they have successful programs to integrate foreign-trained professionals into their workplaces, but only 49 per cent of immigrants say the places they have worked have policies that welcome new Canadians, a new study says. “While employers recognize the value of hiring new Canadians in our global economy, we’re [...]
According to a Queen’s study, people professionally trained abroad have difficulty becoming certified to work in Canada. Currently, an international doctor, nurse, teacher or engineer with English as a Second Language (ESL) must complete recertification and licensing upon coming to Canada to work in the same profession. According to Queen’s education professor Liying Cheng, [...]
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