Top 5 Provinces for a New Canadian Immigrant 2020

If you are planning to relocate to Canada, it is important that you are well-informed about the top 5 provinces for a new Canadian immigrant before you select a province to reside in.

Canada has 13 provinces in total, with three (3) territories to the north. These provinces form part of Canada, which is the world’s second-largest country, covering a vast range of territory and providing newcomers with different things when it comes to house/renting, job opportunities, languages, amenities, taxes, schools, and others.

Some of these Canadian regions offer more visa options for immigrants compared with others. Also, the intake of such programs depend on the key labor market demands of the Canadian economy.

Let’s now explore the top 5 provinces for a new Canadian immigrant.

Ontario

Entering the Express Entry system is among the fastest ways to begin your Canadian visa application. Though the average processing time for applications is six (6) months, for some of the fastest applications, it can reduce all the way down to four (4) months.

The Express Entry (EE) system handles the three federal programs that we have already discussed in another post, and they’re the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) as well as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Under Ontario’s EE system Ontario, we have three (3) streams for skilled workers that plan to live and work permanently in the province. And these streams include Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities, Ontario Express Entry French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, and the Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.

What makes Ontario a top destination for immigrants is mainly the employment prospects it offers newcomers through its EE programs.  

British Columbia (BC)

This province provides a large selection of visa options for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, students as well as temporary workers. Further, many of such visas will let you gain permanent residency in Canada and ultimately become a citizen.

The visa programs in British Columbia also allow you to qualify even if you fail to satisfy the requirements of one of the above-mentioned federal programs under the EE system. Owing to huge labor shortages in this province, especially in the technology sector, BC has reduced the average processing time for its visa program to 2–3 months.

Apart from the job opportunities, the rent in some places in BC is not that high, making it one of the top 5 provinces for a new Canadian immigrant.  

Alberta

Alberta is a large province, which is resource abundant, immigration friendly, has many job industries, such as tech jobs and those related to oil sands & energy sources. Also, rent is relatively reasonable in the major cities, which are Edmonton and Calgary. 

Though Calgary is regarded reputation by a number of people as an expensive place to reside in, the facts and figures say otherwise. Also, the unemployment rate is quite low, which means there are plenty jobs.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is also one of the top 5 provinces for a new Canadian immigrant. Though it hasn’t been traditionally regarded as a place with huge employment opportunities, in recent times, this seems to be changing as there’s a real need for labor in the market.

As a matter of fact, not too long ago, one firm in this province was so anxious to recruit workers that it gave free land to anyone that was ready to work for them.

This province will offer you a range of basic amenities including quality housing, good schools for you children, and others. It has also been quite welcoming to new immigrants.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick, like other Atlantic provinces, constitutes the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. The province is actively looking for skilled workers, who are willing to live in the area. New Brunswick is home to several industries, such as tourism, manufacturing, and others.

Irving Oil Ltd., which is among the larger energy organizations in Canada and a key employer of local and immigrant workers, is sited in this province.

Apart from this, Saint John, the largest city in New Brunswick, announced in 2018 that it was planning to attract more residents to the area. The province will offer basic social amenities, ensuring your stay in the area is a comfortable one.

On that note, we bring this post on the top 5 provinces for a new Canadian immigrant to an end.