Recently, Dave Frattini, Managing Partner of Prepare for Canada and Rentals for Newcomers, sat down with Robin Ingle, CEO of Ingle International Insurance, to discuss the importance of Travel Medical Health insurance for immigrants arriving in Canada.
In their discussion, Ingle, whose mother was an immigrant, explained the Canadian healthcare system, how Travel Medical Health insurance for immigrants works, and why it’s important for newcomers. He emphasized the social-based nature of Canada’s healthcare system and the need for newcomers to buy medical insurance to avoid unexpected expenses
Ingle is an acclaimed specialist in special risk insurance.
Myths About Healthcare in Canada
Ingle provided valuable insights for immigrants on Travel Medical Health insurance and why it’s important to understand coverage levels and policy information. This can help newcomers who do not have provincial health insurance when they first arrive avoid unexpected and high medical costs.
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Their discussion explains why newcomers to Canada (and international students) should prepare for healthcare and insurance costs before arriving in Canada. Ingle also dispelled myths about Travel Medical Health insurance.
Watch the video for an overview of the importance of travel medical health insurance.
PfC:You’ve been helping newcomers with insurance for over 50 years. Can you share your company’s history and why you’re passionate about it?
Robin Ingle (RI): I come from an immigrant family. Two hundred years ago, my father’s family moved from Pennsylvania to Canada, and my mother moved from Finland to Canada for a better life with her family. That’s how they met.
After World War II, when Canada started receiving an influx of immigrants, my parents focused on health insurance for newcomers. That was before there was a social health care system in Canada. They concentrated on helping people in the way that Prepare for Canada helps newcomers acclimate to Canada, find housing, and the biggest part, health insurance.
Today, we work worldwide. Providing services and coverage to new newcomers is in our DNA.
Emergency room visits can cost anywhere from $2,000 – $5,000.
PfC: Before we discuss the importance of insurance for newcomers, can you give an overview of the Canadian healthcare system and how it works?
RI: There are misunderstandings about the Canadian healthcare system. It is a social system, but it only applies to permanent residents in Canada who are part of a provincial government health insurance plan. If you do not have PR status, you’re considered a non-resident. If you are getting your permanent residency but haven’t applied for your provincial health plan, you’re considered a non-resident until you join the provincial plan.
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In Canada, the costs of healthcare services for non-residents are high. Visiting a clinic can cost anywhere between $100 and $200. Going to a hospital and emergency room can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. If you have to stay in the hospital on an inpatient basis, it can be $3,000 or more per day.
Major hospitals charge $17,000 or more for a day’s stay in an intensive care unit. This is very expensive for people outside the provincial government health system.
An important thing that people need to understand is that healthcare providers in Canada are private. The provincial government is the biggest payer and manager of the government health system. A private doctor bills the government, and the government pays the largest portion of their bills (only a small amount of patients are non-residents). The government pays the physicians and the hospitals. So it’s a slightly different system than in the UK or Europe.
PfC: Why should newcomers buy Travel Medical Health insurance?
RI: The cost is not high. For example, for a family, you will pay insurance for three months. You might pay upwards of $500 for three months to cover the waiting period before you get onto a provincial health plan. That would cover inpatient hospitalization, outpatient care, and emergency visits to a clinic.
Most newcomers who have come through the immigration process are healthy, so the cost is reasonable and in line with the type of risk.
Travel Medical Health insurance can protect immigrants in the case of an accident.
PfC: You stated that newcomers don’t have provincial coverage until they obtain their health card. It’s important to stress that any medical incident can be costly without provincial or private healthcare.
RI: You need to be prepared. You pay a small amount for the coverage and know you and your family will be covered if something happens, like an accident.
A while ago, my sister fell and broke her hip and had to go to the hospital. That was an accident. You could get the flu, or a bee sting and need to go to the hospital because of an anaphylactic shock. Insurance covers hospital visits under these plans.
There may be a 48-hour waiting period for coverage if buying insurance after arriving in Canada.
PfC: When should newcomers purchase Travel Medical Insurance?
RI: People can purchase insurance before or after they arrive. However, depending on the coverage, there is a 48-hour waiting period when you arrive. This means you can’t claim for a sickness within 48 hours of buying it.
PfC: Who should purchase Travel Medical Health insurance?
RI: Newcomers do not want to begin their lives here with extra bills. Health insurance coverage is worth a small amount of money for anybody not covered under a provincial government health plan.
Also, Canadians returning from working, studying, or living outside Canada for more than 183 days must reapply for their provincial government health plan, depending on the province. And they have to wait up to three months to get that coverage. So insurance is not just for newcomers. It’s also for those who have been out of the system for some time.
PfC: Who is eligible for Travel Medical Health insurance?
RI: Anybody coming into Canada who is a non-resident, a newcomer, or anybody applying for permanent residency. Or anyone going through the immigration process as a refugee. Anybody in these categories considered a newcomer can apply.
First and second-generation Canadians who are already citizens often buy coverage when their families visit. They often don’t think about this because they’re now Canadian citizens. They don’t realize how much medical costs can be for visitors or grandparents visiting.
You also have new rules, like the Super Visa, where you can bring an older relative over for a period of time if you’re a new Canadian. So, you need Super Visa visitor insurance. You need a minimum coverage of $100,000 for 12 months. There are different categories, but anybody visiting who’s not covered should get coverage.
PfC: Are there groups that are not eligible for Travel Medical Health?
RI: There are no ineligible groups. If you do not have coverage under a provincial government plan, you should get it. And, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you need to ask questions because the plans may not cover that medical condition.
If you’re (a visitor) taking medication for a pre-existing heart condition, for example, and go to the hospital and try to buy the coverage, you will not be eligible for most plans.
PfC: What should newcomers look for in a Travel Medical Health Insurance policy?
RI: Often, newcomers or Canadians bring relatives over and must buy visitor insurance or provide coverage before they enter a provincial health plan. They’ll buy the cheapest product, which means less coverage. I advise that they buy the mid-level coverage. With low coverage, you can get $100,000 or $50,000 worth, but that can disappear quickly. If you’re in the hospital for even a few days, it can cost $50,000, and the low-coverage insurance won’t cover anything else.
Choose between $350,000 and $500,000 worth of coverage. Make sure you’re covered for the full period you need. Ask for additional coverage if you need it.
Visitors to Canada Health Insurance is what newcomers should look for.
PfC: We’ve talked about “travel medical health insurance,” which often goes by different names. What should newcomers look for to ensure their travel medical health needs are covered?
RI: Here, it’s called Visitor to Canada insurance. Be sure you read the information provided and understand what is covered. Financial literacy is important, especially with insurance and financial products.
Ensure the insurance covers you and your family for doctor visits and hospitalization if needed. If you need medication for an emergency, ensure it is covered. For newcomers, that would be Super Visa insurance.
PfC: Could you expand on the difference between travel medical health insurance and travel insurance?
RI: Travel insurance in Canada draws a good distinction between the two.
Travel insurance in the Canadian market is traditionally for a Canadian citizen travelling outside of their home province in Canada. Travel insurance within Canada covers the difference between what the province and the insurance will cover. So, it’s a different level of coverage.
Also, when people leave their country of origin or their original country of residence, they often buy local coverage, which may not have the same level of coverage they will need in the Canadian market. So make sure you compare the products. We’ll provide background information if anybody has questions.
PfC: Can you explain the relationship between Ingle Insurance and Aha, your broker of choice for Prepare for Canada?
RI: Aha is a great property and casualty organization providing automobile, home, and business insurance access. We like how they do business, and we use their platform to compare products. We fit well because we have access to our products, and all major companies to get the right product to fit the individual’s needs. That makes a big difference. Plus, Aha provides information to help individuals understand what kind of coverage they need and how to get it. We do exactly the same thing.
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
Settling in an Ontario city can be expensive for newcomers and international students. However, cities in Ontario remain by far the most popular with immigrants to Canada, so let’s look at the 10 best Ontario cities to live in.
First, rent prices in Ontario cities, particularly those in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), are among the highest in the country, except for Vancouver.
The unemployment rate in Ontario in June was 6.8 percent, up from 0.3 percent from May. Nationally, it is 6.4 percent.
Ontario’s Quality of Life Matters to Newcomers
However, city life in Ontario, Canada’s largest and most populated province, is about more than rent prices. Quality of life and job opportunities are also crucial to newcomers when choosing the best city in Ontario to live in.
Recently, The Globe and Mail published research* listing the most livable cities in Canada for immigrants.
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The Globe, one of Canada’s premier news outlets, collected data from 439 Canadian cities with a population of at least 10,000 in partnership with Environics Analytics Group Ltd.
Criteria to Assess Best Cities in Ontario
ECONOMY: Jobs, earnings, taxes, and economic stability.
DEMOGRAPHICS: Population, stability, diversity, languages spoken.
HEALTHCARE: Ease of access and satisfaction with care.
SAFETY: Crime rates and feeling of safety.
EDUCATION: Residents’ academic qualifications and availability of schools and universities.
COMMUNITY: Social spaces, events, volunteering opportunities, and the sense of connection residents feel.
AMENITIES: Number of recreational places, shopping options, and other facilities, plus cannabis stores, gyms, movie theatres, and essential services such as childcare, grocery stores, libraries, and parks.
TRANSPORTATION: Public transit, ease of getting around, and proximity to airports and public transportation.
WEATHER: Extreme conditions, overall climate, humidity and coldness.
Housing was rated as one of THE most important concerns of newcomers to Canada. As the Globe pointed out:
“As housing costs have marched steadily upward in Canada, discussing real estate prices has become as common as chatting about the weather. And so often, the conversation about where to live focuses on one number: The cost of buying a home.”
Burlington is Ontario’s Most Livable City
Unsurprisingly, Globe research determined that Burlington, at the western end of the GTA, is Ontario’s most livable city (it was also ranked as the fifth most livable in Canada).
Burlington’s geographic location makes it the perfect commuter city. For work or play, people can travel by road or rail to Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, and the Niagara region.
While Burlington rent prices are not cheap, a one-bedroom apartment there is over $300 cheaper per month than in Toronto. Also, Burlington scored extremely high regarding amenities.
In a recent Point2 research study**, Burlington was rated as the top Ontario city among the country’s 10 best for juggling professional and personal life. According to the Point2 study, “Burlington enjoys a balanced mix of positive health perceptions, with 93 percent of its residents reporting high levels of life satisfaction.”
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
*Prepare for Canada did not use AI-generated content in writing this story; all sources are cited and credited where possible.
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
The much-anticipated Men’s ICC T20 World Cup of Cricket kicks off June 1 in the West Indies and the USA, with Canada making its tournament debut.
The excitement is intense for Canadian cricket fans, particularly those in the large Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and West Indian diasporas.
England is the defending champion in a powerhouse field that has grown to 20 teams, including Canada.
The ICC T20 is the shorter version of a regular cricket match.
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India, always a favourite, is in Group A, with rivals Pakistan, the USA, Canada, and Ireland.
India’s First ICC T20 World Cup Match is in New York
India opens the tournament against Ireland on 5 June in New York. Four days later, they will play against Pakistan in New York.
Televised coverage starts with the tourney opener between the USA and Canada in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Sunday, June 2.
The ICC T20 final occurs in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday, June 29.
Canada Making its ICC T20 Debut
As hosts of the ICC T20, the West Indies and the USA gained automatic entry.
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Like Canada, the USA plays in the tournament for the first time.
England, Pakistan, New Zealand, India, Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, and Sri Lanka earned their 2024 spots by placing in the top eight of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan and Bangladesh qualified as the two highest teams in the T20I rankings.
Regional qualifiers determined all the other spots in this year’s tournament:
Ireland and Scotland qualified via the European section.
Papua New Guinea gained entry as the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier.
Canada, making its T20 tournament debut, gained entry through the Americas Qualifier.
Nepal and Oman are the Asian qualifiers.
Namibia and Uganda are the African Qualifiers.
Teams in Groups Stage:
Group A – India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, USA
Group B – England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman
Group C – New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea
Group D – South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal
The top two teams in each group advance to the Super 8s stage.
Then, the top two in each Super 8s pool advance to the semi-finals.
1. India – India, led by Rohit Sharma, is a perennial favourite. Their powerhouse lineup includes Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah. Their youth, experience and skill may be unmatched in this tournament. They’ll definitely be determined to regain the title from England.
2. England: The 2022 winners will be all in to defend their title. With a lineup that features Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, and Liam Livingstone, they are formidable opponents. They play an aggressive style and can adapt to their opponent and circumstances. A repeat is definitely possible.
3. Australia: Another serious contender that could win it with power hitters and superb bowlers. The Aussies, led by Mitchell Marsh, field a strong lineup that includes David Warner, Pat Cummins, and the superb Glenn Maxwell. The team from Down Under will be in it to win it to the end.
4. New Zealand: Led by captain Kane Williamson and with a lineup that includes Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Jimmy Neesham, Finn Allen, and Devon Conway, the Kiwis have experience and young talent galore. This balanced and tough team could prove a surprise at this T20.
5. South Africa: Aiden Markram leads this squad that includes Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, and David Miller. Like New Zealand, this South African team has a unique blend of experience and youth that can cause trouble for any opponent.
International Students Strengthen Canada
Canada failed to qualify for the eight previous ICC T20 World Cup tournaments.
Amjad Bajwa, the president of Cricket Canada, told CBC News that he credits the Canadian team’s recent successes to the rapid growth in international students and immigrants from South Asia and other cricket-loving regions of the world.
“It’s still a game of immigrants because a lot of these students are coming,” he said.
How to Watch the ICC T20 World Cup in Canada
In Canada, fans can watch all the matches via the Willow TV app. For viewers hoping to watch the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in Canada for FREE, streaming is available via the Disney+ Hotstar app. Gaining access to the app may require a VPN to overcome regional limitations.
ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Schedule
Date
Teams
Time (Eastern Standard Time)
Sat, June 1
USA vs Canada -Grand Prairie, Texas
8:30 pm
Sun, June 2
West Indies vs Papua New Guinea, Providence
Namibia vs Oman, Bridgetown Barbados
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Mon, June 3
Sri Lanka vs South Africa- Long Island, New York
Afghanistan vs Uganda – Providence, Guyana
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Tues, June 4
England vs Scotland – Bridgetown, Barbados
Netherlands vs Nepal – Grand Prairie, Texas
10:30 am
11:30 am
Wed, June 5
Indiavs Ireland – Long Island, New York
Papua New Guinea vs Uganda – Providence, Guyana
Australia vs Oman – Bridgetown, Barbados
10:30 am
7:30 pm
8:30 pm
Thurs, June 6
USA vs Pakistan – Grand Prairie, Texas
Namibia vs Scotland – Bridgetown, Barbados
11:30 am
3:00 pm
Fri, June 7
Canada vs Ireland – Long Island, New York
New Zealand vs Afghanistan – Providence, Guyana
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh – Grand Prairie, Texas (8.30 pm)
10:30 am
7:30 pm
8:30 pm
Sat, June 8
Netherlands vs South Africa – Long Island, New York
Australia vs England – Bridgetown, Barbados
West Indies vs Uganda – Providence, Guyana
10:30 am
1:00 pm
8:30 pm
Sun, June 9
India vs Pakistan – Long Island, New York
Oman vs Scotland – North Sound, Antigua
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Mon, June 10
South Africa vs Bangladesh – Long Island, New York
10:30 am
Tues, June 11
South Africa vs Bangladesh – Long Island, New York
Sri Lanka vs Nepal – Lauderhill, Florida
Australia vs Namibia – North Sound, Antigua
10:30 am
7:30 pm
8:30 pm
Wed, June 12
USA vs India – Long Island, New York
West Indies vs New Zealand – Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Thurs, June 13
Bangladesh vs Netherlands – Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
England vs Oman – North Sound, Antigua
Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea – Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago
10:30 am
3:00 pm
8:30 pm
Fri, June 14
USA vs Ireland – Lauderhill, Florida
South Africa vs Nepal – Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
New Zealand vs Uganda – Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago
10:30 am
7:30 pm
8:30 pm
Sat, June 15
India vs Canada – Lauderhill, Florida
Namibia vs England – North Sound, Antigua
Australia vs Scotland – Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
10:30 am
1:00 pm
8:30 pm
Sun, June 16
Pakistan vs Ireland – Lauderhill, Florida
Bangladesh vs Nepal – Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Sri Lanka vs Netherlands – Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
10:30 am
7:30 pm
8:30 pm
Mon, June 17
New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea – Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago
West Indies vs Afghanistan – Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Wed, June 19
T20 World Cup – full Super 8s fixtures
Group 1 – Group A winners (A1), Group B runners-up (B2), Group C winners (C1), Group D runners-up (D2)
Group 2 – Group A runners-up (A2), Group B winners (B1), Group C runners-up (C2), Group D winners (D1)
Wed, June 19
TBD
TBD
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Thurs, June 20
TBD
TBD
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Fri, June 21
TBD
TBD
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Sat, June 22
TBD
TBD
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Sun, June 23
TBD
TBD
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Mon, June 24
TBD
TBD
10:30 am
8:30 pm
Wed, June 26
TBD
8:30 pm
Thurs, June 27
TBD
10:30 am
Sat, June 29
ICC T20 FINAL, Bridgetown, Barbados
10:30 am
*Prepare for Canada did not use AI-generated content in writing this story; all sources are cited and credited where possible.
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
New Brunswick—most notably the Fredericton Capital Region—appears to be the best destination for newcomers arriving in Canada with the goal of home ownership
A recent study by Zoocasa and MoneySense.ca shows that in 2024, newcomers looking to buy a home will find the most outstanding value in Atlantic Canadian housing markets like Greater Fredericton.
The 2024 edition of Where to Buy Real Estate in Canada1 ranks real estate markets with the best prices, value, growth, and livability.
According to the Zoocasa rankings, the following Canadian cities now offer home buyers the greatest value:
Greater Moncton, New Brunswick, with a benchmark 2023 home price of $328,383 following a 3-year price growth of 69 percent
Saint John, New Brunswick, with a benchmark 2023 home price of $286,592 following a 3-year price growth of 48 percent
Sault St. Marie’s benchmark 2023 home price is $283,192, following a 58 percent price growth over three years.
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Fredericton was ranked a close fourth behind Sault St. Marie with a benchmark 2023 home price of $282,192.
Three New Brunswick Cities in the Top 4
That’s three New Brunswick cities in the top four in the Zoocasa study.
Saint John is New Brunswick’s largest city (130,000 population). Fredericton is the capital, and Moncton is an important urban centre with a population of 140,000.
In the Zoocasa study, the high-priced cities of Greater Vancouver (home price $1,177,483), Mississauga ($1,088,217), and Oakville-Milton ($1,289,633) ranked the lowest in terms of value and buying conditions.
No bargains there. Definitely.
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Recently, The Globe and Mail published research2 listing the most livable cities in Canada, including the most livable cities for immigrants.
Information was gathered from 439 Canadian cities with a population greater than 10,000.
In Atlantic Canada, New Brunswick led the list as the province with the most livable cities in that region. Nine cities from the province were among the top 10 most livable cities in Atlantic Canada. Fredericton was rated the most livable city in Atlantic Canada.
Over the past few years, Fredericton, New Brunswick, has been named among Canada’s Best Top Ten Small Cities by bestcities.org and was declared Canada’s Second Best City to Live and Work In by Maclean’s magazine.
More recently, it has been named Canada’s third greenest city, with high scores for being walkable and pedestrian-friendly.
Often described as a “hidden gem,” Fredericton features well-planned urban design, colonial architecture, rich art and cultural landscape, and a lower cost of living.
Greater Fredericton is the area’s name, which includes the City of Fredericton and its surroundings. Most of Greater Fredericton is located along the Saint John River.
Fredericton Rated the Most Livable City
In a newly released survey[3] from Point2, Fredericton ranked highest regarding liveability.
According to the survey, successful work-life balance (liveability) involves low stress, an average commute time of under 15 minutes, and a low percentage of people holding multiple jobs.
Researchers for Point2, a leading real estate listings website, examined data regarding Canada’s 100 largest cities to discover where work-life fusion feels “effortless.”
They used 30 metrics that included Work Intensity, Health & Wellbeing, and Liveability, and also focused on work hours, available healthcare professionals, commuting challenges and opportunities to relax.
They also looked at after-tax income, rent, and utilities.
Fredericton came second (to St. John’s, Newfoundland) in the survey’s Best Cities for Work-Life Balance in Atlantic Canada category.
How Affordable is New Brunswick?
Waterloo Row neighborhood is located in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Current Fredericton real estate statistics show an average July house price of $345,256.
Moncton’s median list price of homes was $385,619 in July 2024.
The median list price of homes in Saint John was $365,724 in July 2024.
Compare that to the benchmark cost of a house in Toronto($1,097,300 ) and Vancouver ($1,197,700) in July.
The difference compared to the cost in Fredericton is substantial!
Nationally, Canadian real estate prices hit their peak in March 2022.
At that time, a typical home cost $855,800, a hike of 54.8 percent since interest rate cuts started in March 2020.
Since then, home prices have fallen in most markets because of rising interest rates. The benchmark price in July 2024 was $724,800.
However, that July price is still 32.0 percent higher than where it started in 2020.
Newcomers and Home Ownership in Canada
Research by Ipsos Public Affairs[4] suggests that newcomers are more committed to the goal of home ownership than domestic Canadians.
Newcomers are also buying homes faster than ever, and the Ipsos Public Affairs study shows that many immigrants to Canada are homebuyers within the first five years of arriving.
The Ipsos study supports the 2019 Royal LePage research[5] findings, which revealed that although 75 percent of newcomers arrive in Canada with savings to buy a home, the average time immigrants wait to purchase a home is three years.
The 2019 Royal LePage study also said that a newcomer to Canada buys one in five homes sold nationally.
The Canadian government is on target to settle (and likely exceed) 485,000 newcomers in 2024 and another 500,000 in 2025.
According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, international immigration added 3,908 people to New Brunswick’s population in the fourth quarter of 2023. This was an increase of 32.2 percent from the same period in 2022.
Summary:
New Brunswick’s affordable housing market attracts immigrants and promotes economic growth.
Fredericton and many other NB cities are rated among the most livable in Canada
New Brunswick’s population growth is driven mostly by interprovincial migration.
New Brunswick aims to attract skilled immigrants for economic growth.
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
For prospective newcomers researching landing cities in Canada, it’s vital to assess what city will best meet your needs. Knowing what a city offers can help you pick the one that is right for you, so let’s discover 10 of the most livable cities for immigrants.
Looking only at rent prices, cities like Saskatoon and Regina in Saskatchewan have the cheapest rents among Canada’s large and mid-sized cities. In Alberta, Edmonton and Lethbridge have the cheapest rents, as do Winnipeg in Manitoba and Windsor, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines in Ontario.
Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver are popular but not cheap. In fact, they are by far, the most expensive cities in Canada to rent.
But livability for newcomers to Canada is about much more than rent. For example, it’s important to consider job market opportunities and the cost of living (inflation). Another thing for newcomers to consider is available settlement services to help you adapt to life in Canada.
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Many experts consider picking the right Canadian city to live in as the best job strategy for immigrants.
Recently, The Globe and Mail published research* listing the most livable cities in Canada for immigrants.
Information was gathered from 439 Canadian cities with a population greater than 10,000. The ranking is based on newcomers who landed in Canada within the last five years.
Categories and Criteria to Judge Most Liveable Cities in Canada
The following categories and criteria were used to judge the most liveable cities in Canada for newcomers. Unsurprisingly, housing was rated as one of the top concerns.
CATEGORY
CRITERIA
HOUSING
Affordability, ease of finding a home, property taxes, percentage of income spent on housing
ECONOMY
Jobs, earnings, taxes, and economic stability
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population, stability, diversity, languages spoken
HEALTHCARE
Ease of access and satisfaction with care
SAFETY
Crime rates and feeling of safety
EDUCATION
Residents’ academic qualifications and availability of schools and universities
COMMUNITY
Social spaces, events, volunteering opportunities, and the sense of connection residents feel
AMENITIES
Number of recreational places, shopping options, and other facilities, plus cannabis stores, gyms, movie theatres, and essential services such as childcare, grocery stores, libraries, and parks
TRANSPORTATION
Public transit, ease of getting around, and proximity to airports and public transportation
WEATHER
Extreme conditions, overall climate, humidity, and coldness.
Important criteria to assess when researching cities in Canada.
Top 10 Most Livable Cities in Canada for Newcomers
Among the top 10 cities in Canada for newcomers, rent prices and home prices** vary.
1. Pitt Meadows, British Columbia
Rent: 1 bedroom $2,205/month
Average House Price: $962,362
2. Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia waterfront
Rent: 1 bedroom $2,111/month
Average House Price: $1,286,600
3. Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Forks Winnipeg is a popular tourist attraction.
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
*Prepare for Canada did not use AI-generated content in writing this story, and all sources are cited and credited where possible.
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
