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NEWS

“Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Renting in Canada”

Navigating the rental market in Canada can be challenging, especially for newcomers. Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant is crucial for making informed decisions. Here’s a concise guide to help you get started.  Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Rent Control Regulations  Some provinces in Canada have rent control laws designed to protect tenants from excessive rent increases. These regulations dictate:  When and how much landlords can raise rent.  The potential for significant savings if you choose a property under rent control.  If your property isn’t covered by rent control, be prepared for possible substantial rent hikes upon lease renewal.  The following table provides some detail on rent control in the applicable provinces:  Province Rent increase caps (2024, 2025) Additional restrictions Exemptions to rent control British Columbia 2024 rent increase limit: 3.5% 2025 rent increase limit: 3% Rent can be increased once every 12 months Landlords must provide 3 months’ notice Utilities and other fees can only be increased with tenant’s agreement   Manitoba 2024 rent increase guideline: 3% 2025 rent increase guideline: 1.1% economic adjustment factor Rent increase guideline applies to most rental units  Units exempt from the guideline include high-rent units and government-owned properties Ontario 2024 rent increase guideline: 2.5% 2025 rent increase guideline: 2.5% Note: Rent control policies only apply to residential buildings first built or occupied before November 15, 2018 Rent can be increased once every 12 months Proper written notice of at least 90 days required Exceptions include new buildings and most new basement apartments Prince Edward Island 2024 rent increase guideline: 3% 2025 rent increase guideline: To be set annually by the Director of Residential Tenancy Rent increases can occur once a year Landlords must provide 3 months’ notice Increase above the allowable amount requires application to Rental Office Lease Terms and Evictions  Before signing a lease, consider the following factors:  Lease Renewal: Understand whether your lease automatically renews or if you need to vacate at the end of the term.  Notice Period: Know how much notice you must give to terminate a month-to-month lease. Generally, this is one month, but in provinces like Prince Edward Island and Ontario, you may need to provide two months’ or 60 days’ notice.  Eviction Grounds: Familiarize yourself with the reasons landlords can evict you. Common grounds for eviction include:  Non-payment of rent  Property damage  Breach of lease terms  Health and safety violations  Disrupting other tenants  Landlords may also evict you for reasons outside your control, such as the need to sell the property, personal use of the unit, or if the building is deemed unsafe. They must provide written notice of eviction, and you have the right to dispute it through local tenancy boards or tribunals.  How much should I expect to spend?  The cost of renting can vary significantly depending on the property and its location. Be sure to budget accordingly.  The table below shows the median monthly rent for some major cities for bachelor, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments (source: zumper.com rent research portal).  City Bachelor/Studio apartment (median rent in Canadian dollars) 1-bedroom apartment (median rent in Canadian dollars) 2-bedroom apartment (median rent in Canadian dollars) Toronto (ON) $1,900 $2,335 $2,969 Vancouver (BC) $2,315 $2,650 $3,650 Calgary (AB) $1,599 $1,790 $2,297 Edmonton (AB) $1,154 $1,389 $1,650 Winnipeg (MB) $931 $1,325 $1,725 Montréal (QC) $1,487 $1,700 $2,195 Understanding Condo Regulations  Condominiums (condos) are a unique type of rental property in Canada, often subject to specific bylaws. When renting a condo, keep the following in mind:  Condo Bylaws: These may impose stricter rules than residential leases, including:  Restrictions on pets  Limits on the number of occupants  While the Residential Tenancies Act in Ontario prohibits such restrictions for other residential properties, they may be permissible in condos. Be aware that condo regulations can change, potentially affecting your living situation.  Avoiding Rental Scams  Unfortunately, rental scams are common and can jeopardize your finances and personal information. Here’s how scams typically operate:  Fake Landlords: Scammers pose as landlords or agents, showing you a rental unit at an attractive price. After you sign a lease and pay a deposit, you discover they are not authorized to rent the property and have disappeared with your money.  Identity Theft: Scammers might request personal information and use it to impersonate you for fraudulent activities.  To protect yourself from scams, verify the legitimacy of the landlord or leasing agent. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) suggests watching for these warning signs:  Rent significantly below market value  Requests for deposits without a formal lease  Security deposits requested to be sent to an address outside Canada  Offers for rentals without a background check  Emails directing you to websites asking for personal or financial information  Ads featuring only external photos or mismatched property images  By staying informed and vigilant, newcomers can successfully navigate the rental market in Canada.  Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“Ontario Raises Minimum Wage: Can Newcomers Afford to Live on It?”

As of October 1, the minimum wage has increased in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. These wage hikes are mostly tied to inflation. In Ontario, for example, the minimum wage went up from $16.55 an hour to $17.20. The income of someone earning minimum wage depends on how many hours they work each week. According to data from Statistics Canada in 2023, full-time employees in Ontario work an average of 39.3 hours per week. Based on this, a full-time worker earning minimum wage would make around $675.96 per week before taxes. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Most employers in Ontario pay their employees every two weeks. This means that a full-time worker on minimum wage can expect to earn about $1,351.92 per paycheck. Part-time workers will earn less. Over a year, which has 26 pay periods, a full-time worker would make approximately $35,149.92 before taxes. Using Wealthsimple’s income tax calculator, a person in Ontario earning this yearly amount would take home about $29,026 after taxes (assuming no other income or deductions like investments or retirement savings). Can you live on a full-time minimum wage job in Ontario?  This is a crucial question for many new immigrants, especially those who arrive without a job and need to support themselves quickly or show proof of income to find housing. Cost of Living for New Immigrants in Ontario Toronto has the highest immigrant population in Canada, with census data from 2021 showing that 46.6% of the city’s residents are immigrants. Many newcomers rent when they first arrive in Canada, as buying a home can be difficult right away. Here’s an estimate of the monthly costs for a single person living alone in Toronto. Keep in mind that other places in Ontario or Canada may be cheaper, and these amounts can vary:Rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,452 (as of September 2024) Monthly groceries: $526.50 Utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water): $160.44 Phone plan: $56.20 Internet: $69.70 Public transit: $3.30 per ride, or $143 for a monthly pass In total, these basic expenses add up to around $3,407.84 per month, or $40,894.08 per year. This amount is more than what a full-time minimum wage worker earns in gross pay, and over $11,000 more than their net (take-home) pay. There are ways to cut costs, such as sharing a home with others, buying groceries on sale, choosing cheaper phone or internet plans, or walking instead of paying for public transport. Newcomers in Minimum Wage Jobs Many newcomers, while waiting for their foreign qualifications to be recognized, often find themselves working in minimum-wage jobs. About 20% of jobs in Canada are regulated and need specific licenses or certificates. Each province has its own rules for these jobs, so the time it takes for newcomers to get their qualifications recognized can vary. While waiting, many newcomers end up working jobs outside their field, which often pay minimum wage or slightly more. A recent report from Statistics Canada found that between 2001 and 2021, more immigrant workers were filling low-skilled jobs that used to be filled by Canadian-born workers. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“Gateway to Opportunity: Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec Open Doors for Provincial Immigration Candidates”

Applications for provincial immigration programs are now being accepted by three Canadian provinces. This has been accomplished by British Columbia and Ontario through their own Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). In an effort to disperse the advantages of immigration throughout areas of Canada that had previously had low rates of immigration, PNPs were launched in 1998. Provincial governments in Canada and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) share authority over immigration. Each participating province and territory receives a set number of nominations from the IRCC through the PNP. The provinces then choose the economic immigration candidates who have the best chance of assimilating into the Canadian economy. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration A candidate does not automatically become a permanent residence just because their province nominated them. A candidate’s application for permanent residency will be substantially stronger if they are nominated, according to the IRCC. Indeed, candidates for Express Entry who also get a provincial nomination earn an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which practically guarantees them an ITA in the next Express Entry lottery. Because of a separate arrangement it has with the federal government that gives it control over the selection of all its candidates for economic immigration, Quebec does not have a PNP. Additionally, it establishes its own guidelines for how many new applicants it will accept annually. Results of provincial immigration, September 14–20 The Ontario Candidates in the Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate courses received invites from the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) on September 17. Of these, 194 went to PhD candidates with a score of 45 or higher, while 1,249 were sent to Master’s graduate candidates with a score of 53 or higher. On September 19, the province conducted a second draw for applicants in the OINP’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream. For 1,424 applicants in “other priority occupations,” it was a targeted draw. To be taken into consideration, they required a CRS score between 505 and 528. British Columbia The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) also held draws on September 17, inviting more than 163 candidates. The largest draw was general and selected candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled streams of the BC PNP. Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates (both streams including those eligible for Express Entry BC) required a minimum score of 128. Those in the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker stream needed a score of at least 110 to be considered. Another three draws for Skilled Workers and International Graduates targeted for candidates in specific occupations: 43 candidates in childcare occupations with a score of at least 83 29 candidates in construction occupations with a score of at least 89 29 candidates in healthcare occupations with a score of at least 99 Quebec Quebec has published the results of a provincial selection draw for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program that happened on September 5. Quebec generally posts selection draw results retroactively. The province invited 1,417 people to apply for permanent selection. They required a minimum score of 575 points. Additionally, all candidates were required to demonstrate a level 7 oral proficiency (or higher) in French according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français(Québec’s scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants) or its equivalent. Candidates may also have been considered if they had a job offer outside of the territory of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“Ontario, BC, and Quebec Invite Skilled Workers to Apply for Provincial Immigration”

Applications for provincial immigration programs are now being accepted by three Canadian provinces. In order to do this, British Columbia and Ontario both have Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). In an effort to disperse the advantages of immigration throughout areas of Canada that had previously had low rates of immigration, PNPs were launched in 1998. Provincial governments in Canada and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) share authority over immigration. Each participating province and territory receives a set number of nominations from the IRCC through the PNP. The provinces then choose the economic immigration candidates who have the best chance of assimilating into the Canadian economy. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration A candidate does not automatically become a permanent residence just because their province nominated them. A candidate’s application for permanent residency will be substantially stronger if they are nominated, according to the IRCC. Indeed, candidates for Express Entry who also get a provincial nomination earn an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which practically guarantees them an ITA in the next Express Entry lottery. Because of a separate arrangement it has with the federal government that gives it control over the selection of all its candidates for economic immigration, Quebec does not have a PNP. Additionally, it establishes its own guidelines for how many new applicants it will accept annually. Results of provincial immigration, September 14–20 The Ontario Candidates in the Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate courses received invites from the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) on September 17. Of these, 194 went to PhD candidates with a score of 45 or higher, while 1,249 were sent to Master’s graduate candidates with a score of 53 or higher. On September 19, the province conducted a second draw for applicants in the OINP’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream. For 1,424 applicants in “other priority occupations,” it was a targeted draw. They needed a CRS score in the range of 505-528 to be considered. British Columbia The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) also held draws on September 17, inviting more than 163 candidates. The largest draw was general and selected candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled streams of the BC PNP. Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates (both streams including those eligible for Express Entry BC) required a minimum score of 128. Those in the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker stream needed a score of at least 110 to be considered. Another three draws for Skilled Workers and International Graduates targeted for candidates in specific occupations: 43 candidates in childcare occupations with a score of at least 83 29 candidates in construction occupations with a score of at least 89 29 candidates in healthcare occupations with a score of at least 99 Quebec The outcomes of the September 5 provincial selection draw for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program have been made public by Quebec. Results of selection draws are usually posted by Quebec after the fact. 1,417 persons were asked to apply for permanent selection by the province. A 575 point minimum score was required. Furthermore, according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (Québec’s scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants) or its equivalent, all candidates had to show that they could speak French at a level 7 (or higher) or above. Candidates may also have been considered if they had a job offer outside of the territory of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“Ontario, BC, and Manitoba Open Doors: Provincial Nomination Invites Sent!”

In the most recent round of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, invitations have been sent out to three Canadian provinces. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the provinces share joint authority over immigration. Except for Quebec and Nunavut, every province and territory in Canada runs PNPs. Quebec and the federal government have a separate agreement that gives Quebec complete control over who it chooses as economic immigrants. A certain number of nominations are sent to each government, which they can then distribute to candidates for economic immigration. The population and labor requirements of a province are among the many variables that determine how many nominations the IRCC accepts. For instance, the most nominations are given to Ontario, which has the greatest population in Canada. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The Immigration Levels Plan for 2024–2026 states that the IRCC wants to use the PNP to bring in 110,000 new permanent residents this year. A provincial government’s nomination does not equate to an invitation from the IRCC to submit an application for permanent residence. Applications for the two distinct programs must be submitted separately. Provincial immigration figures for August 24–30 The Ontario 1,287 candidates for the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) received letters of interest from Ontario on August 22. To be considered, candidates had to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 435–435. Additionally, they mandated work experience in a targeted field that had a certain National Occupation Classification code. British Columbia On August 27, British Columbia sent out more than 158 invitations to candidates for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) who were skilled workers and international graduates (including those who applied through Express Entry into the province). The province held five targeted draws for candidates in specific occupations. The minimum score required varied for each draw. Draw results included: 40 candidates in childcare occupations with a minimum score of 83 31 candidates in construction occupations with a minimum score of 88 18 candidates in healthcare occupations with a minimum score of 99 69 candidates in tech occupations with a minimum score of 118 Less than five candidate in veterinary care occupations with a minimum score of 80 Manitoba The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program  (MPNP) held a draw on August 30 inviting 150 candiates from two PNP streams. The province invited 126 candidate from the International Education stream. No minimum score was reported. It also invited 24  candudates from the Skilled Worker Overseas stream under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative. These candidates required a minimum score of 727. Among all the letters of advice issued, 21 went to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“BREAKING: Canada Halts Work Permit Applications for Visitors Inside the Country”

The ability to apply for a work permit from within Canada has been discontinued as of August 28 for temporary residents in the country on a guest visa. The goal of the August 2020 policy was to help Canadian tourists who were stranded at home due to border closures resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic. They would not need to leave Canada in order to apply for a work permit under the scheme. Additionally, anyone who had held a work permit during the previous year but had converted to a “visitor” immigration status were qualified to “work lawfully in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.” Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The policy’s original expiration date was scheduled for February 28, 2025. However, as “part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system,” Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it is eliminating the policy immediately. Applications filed in accordance with the rules before August 28 will still be processed, according to the Department. Suppression of maladaptive behavior The IRCC claims that knowledge of “bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization” is a contributing factor in the early rollback. This is related to the department’s continuous initiatives to lower the number of temporary residents and fight pervasive immigration fraud. For instance, it was discovered that 700 Indian overseas students were enrolled in Canadian universities last year as a result of forged admission letters from DLIs. A large number of them had no idea that their letters were fake. As a result, the IRCC now mandates that DLIs confirm each and every acceptance letter within ten days of receiving an application from an overseas student. Additionally, it has limited the amount of foreign students that Canada would take in for the ensuing two year.  Significant adjustments to Canada’s temporary foreign worker thresholds A week of significant adjustments intended at lowering Canada’s numbers of temporary foreign workers coincide with the expiration of the temporary policy permitting certain tourists to apply for a work permit. By September 26, 2024, the Department of Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will no longer be reviewing applications for certain applicants under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Low-Wage stream. This announcement was made on August 26. Applicants in Census Metropolitan Areas where the unemployment rate is six percent or greater will be impacted by this. Additionally, the IRCC indicated that the maximum period of employment for workers in the Low-Wage stream would be lowered from two years to one year, and that firms in Canada would only be able to hire up to 10% of foreign workers under the TFWP. Similar to today’s announcement, many of the aforementioned adjustments are reversals of immigration rules that were put in place during the pandemic by the Canadian government in order to address the country’s labor shortage. For instance, during the pandemic, the IRCC and Employment Social Development Canada (ESDC) together implemented interim measures that extended the validity of an LMIA to 12 months and permitted Canadian workers to hire up to 30% of their staff under the TFWP’s Low-Wage stream. Following a joint press announcement by Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault last May, IRCC and ESDC started to rescind these pandemic-era restrictions. Minister Miller made the historic announcement at the same press conference that the annual Immigration Levels Plan would now include temporary resident levels, a first for Canadian immigration history. In Canada, immigration has emerged as a major issue. Much of this year has seen declarations about controlling and lowering the number of temporary immigrants living there. Minister Miller also declared this week that he intends to think about adjusting the number of permanent residents in Canada in the upcoming years. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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