Why Become a Canadian Permanent Resident? That’s one question you may already be wondering, especially if you’ve done some research into what the process requires. It isn’t easy to become a permanent resident, after all.

Plus, there are other options available if you want to work or study in Canada. Short-term, temporary visas are issued to workers and students that allow them to live and work in Canada.

So why become a permanent resident? The answer is simple: you’ll have more rights.

When you become a permanent resident of Canada, you are entitled to most of the sam e rights and privileges as a Canadian citizen. Below is a list of a few of these rights:

• You are entitled to equal treatment and equal protection.
• You are entitled to certain legal rights, such as; to be presume innocent until proven guilty, to be provided with an interpreter in the courtroom, if necessary, to have a lawyer.
• You have the right to enter and exit Canada as you see fit, plus you can move freely from province to province.
• You can work and study anywhere you choose in Canada (you cannot hold some high-security government positions, however.)

While most of these rules also apply to temporary Canadian residents, there are some social service benefits that are only or primarily designed to help permanent residents and citizens of Canada.

These benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) – For families with children under the age of 18 who are considered to have a low-income, the Canadian government provides monthly tax-free payments to help cover expenses.
• Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, and Canada Pension Plan – All three of these programs are designed to provide financial support to workers after they reach retirement age – currently age 65. To be eligible, you have to meet specific residency requirements and to have contributed to the system by paying taxes in Canada. However, most permanent residents will qualify for at least partial payments from these programs.
• Universal health care – Most necessary medical expenses are covered through the Canadian universal health care program. These expenses include visits to emergency room, immunizations, yearly exams, etc.
• Free education – All children under 18 are entitled to a free education in the Canadian public school system.
• Maternity and parental leave – In Canada, working parents are given time off when a new baby is born or adopted. Women can take up to 12 months of maternity leave and receive 50 to 65% of their normal income. Partially paid parental leave is also available for up to 35 weeks. One parent can take all 35 weeks or both parents can split the allotment of time (i. e. one parent takes 20 weeks while the other takes 15 weeks). To be eligible for parental leave, you must have worked in Canada for at least 600 hours.

All of these benefits and more become available to you when you are a permanent resident of Canada.

Additionally, being a permanent resident gives you the opportunity to become a Canadian citizen after only three years of living and working in Canada.

Once you become a citizen, you can run for political office, become involved in political activities, and vote in elections. You can also maintain duel-citizenship, so you don’t have to give up citizenship in your home country just to enjoy the benefits of Canadian citizenship.

Americans and Canadians speak the same language – right?

Well, not quite and if you want to make the most of your vacation in the beautiful and rugged north, you probably want to brush up on a few local terms to feel right at home.

Of course, you will see labels and signs all over in Canada in both French and English. But, through my extensive travels I’ve learned that some Canadian words just don’t translate into American English, and vice versa.

So, here is a handy glossary of 12 Terms You Need To Know When You Visit Canada:

1. Loonies and Toonies – These cutesy words are far weightier than they sound. They mean money. Loonies are gold colored $1 coins. Where does this term come from? Well the Loon is the national bird appearing on the front of the $1 coin. The lonesome call of the Loon is a familiar sound in the Canadian wilderness.
2. Toonies -Yes, you guessed it. Toonies are the Loonies $2 cousin.
3. Tuque – The quintessential winter accessory in Canada. We hear that these winter hats are called “ski hats” or “beanies” elsewhere. But Canadians will keep their tuques, thank you very much.
4. Tim Hortons – Canada’s favorite coffee and donut shop. Located throughout the country and often referred to as “Timmies”, it’s a staple in the Canadian diet.
5. Double-double – Often heard at Tim Horton’s, this is the way the “pros” order a coffee with two creams and two sugars
6. Pop The common word for a soft drink, deriving from “soda pop”. Up here, soda is the fizzy water that’s good for getting pop stains out of clothes.
7. Washroom – A synonym for bathroom, restroom or toilet. Don’t waste precious time looking for the bathroom when all signs point to the washroom.
8. Poutine – With all the multi-cultural foods peppering Canada, be sure to try this homegrown favorite on your vacation. This dish of French fries, cheese curds and gravy originated in Quebec has won fans across the country. Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds!
9. Canuck -This is a term of endearment for “Canadian” as in the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, who can be seen on Hockey Night in Canada. Hockey Night in Canada is a must see TV event for hockey lovers…meaning most of Canada. Ask any Canadian on your vacation to hum the theme song – it’s a catchy one!
10. Runners – These are casual sports shoes, otherwise called sneakers or tennis shoes. “Runners” can join “sneakers” on my unofficial list of oddly named items.
11. Click/Kilometer – Kilometer is such a cumbersome word for measuring distance. The slang “click” is a much faster way to share how many kilometers you’ve traveled on your Canadian vacation.
12. Bill – Although you may run into a few friendly Canucks named Bill, chances are you’ll meet bill more often. In Canada, a bill is what you pay at a restaurant.

So, next time you’re in Canada, counting your loonies and toonies while enjoying your double-double after walking 10 clicks in runners and thinking about asking for the bill …you’ll feel right at home.

Travelers seeking an adventure travel vacation need look no farther than Canada. From its rocky Pacific Rim to the pristine beaches of its Atlantic coast, Canada is a nature-lovers dream travel destination. Whether your passion is hiking, kayaking, climbing, fishing, diving, surfing, or biking, Canada provides the ideal destination for any adventure travel enthusiast. Head to any of these Canadian adventure travel areas to explore the best of the great outdoors.

Banff, Alberta

Located in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national parks and arguably its most popular. Banff is a natural wonderland, with terrain varying from glaciers to dense forests. Adventure travelers hail from near and far from Banff’s world-class hiking, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, and winter sports. Take in the stunning views from atop Sunshine Meadows, Banff’s famous hiking trail that has an average elevation of 2,200 meters. Travelers seeking unique adventures can learn fly-fishing or take a cave exploring tour from one of the many adventure travel guide operators.

Nova Scotia

The second-smallest province in the country, Nova Scotia is located on Canada’s southeast Atlantic coast and draws in adventure travelers seeking its peaceful coastlines and soaring cliffs. Visitors relish in Nova Scotia’s charismatic fishing villages and picturesque bays, which lend themselves to ample opportunities for whale watching, kayaking, rafting, and fishing. If the green you crave involves 18 holes, Nova Scotia’s first-rate golf courses will not disappoint. Any traveler heading to Nova Scotia should put the beautiful Cape Breton Highlands National Park on their itinerary for stunning ocean and mountain scenery.

The Laurentians, Quebec

The Laurentians make up 22,000 square kilometers of natural beauty just north of Montreal. The area is home to some of the world’s finest resorts, including Mont Tremblant, Saint-Sauveur, Sainte-Adele and Sainte-Agathe, among others. These resorts offer everything the adventure traveler could want, including hiking, canoeing, white water rafting, climbing, and camping. For the traveler who covets a break from the wild outdoors, these resorts provide fine dining, spas, shopping, and entertainment. What’s more, the area is renowned for its striking fall foliage; take a ride up a gondola for a view of the dramatic scenery.

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is an adventure traveler’s dream, with terrain ranging from rugged, untamed beaches to untouched temperate rain forests. Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim offers extreme surfing conditions, whale watching, scuba diving, biking, kayaking, and some of the world’s finest salmon fishing. Stroll through the Island’s historic fishing villages, or experience the remarkable old-growth trees on an eco-tour through a temperate rain forest.