Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 21:11:24 GMT Server: Apache/1.2.4 FrontPage/3.0.3 Connection: close Content-Type: text/html
A world of incredible resources and geography; friendly, wonderfully
diverse people; and an abundance of opportunities.
RATED THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO LIVE |
For the fourth time this decade, Canada has been ranked number 1 by the United Nations Human Development Index as the best country in the world to live in. The UN makes this assessment, taking into account a number of factors including health, education, good physical environment, freedom of action, mobility and income. In fact, people view Canada as a country having significant economic wealth; a peaceful, tolerant and culturally diverse society; a generous social welfare system; an enviable quality of life and friendly people. Freedom in Canada is considered a fundamental right and is jealously guarded. |
QUALITY OF LIFE |
Canadians' quality of life ranks among the highest in the world. Canadians enjoy impressive economic wealth and a comparatively higher standard of living than most industrialized nations, a fact which is acknowledged even by our prosperous American neighbours to the south. |
CANADA HAS ECONOMIC WEALTH |
The World Bank in 1986 has found that the average Canadian is virtually a Millionaire. Based on a new system of wealth measurement that calculates the value of, the countries resources, productive assets and human resources the World Bank found that Canadians are worth $960,000 Can (or about $704,000 U.S.). |
CANADA HAS THE BEST SOCIAL SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD |
Canada is known for the generous social assistance programs which it offers to those who cannot look after themselves due to some unforeseen hardship. Canada places value on the necessities of life and the Canadian government guarantees that everyone will have food to eat, a place to live and medical attention. Among the many social services offered in Canada are: health care, welfare, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, family allowance, widows/orphans benefits, legal aid, government loans, free primary and secondary education, subsidized universities, financial and informational assistance for business, home purchasing incentive programs and investments programs. |
CANADA HAS THE BEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM |
In Canada, health care is universal: that is to say that quality health care is affordable and accessible to all. Unlike the United States where quality health care is only available to those with insurance or those who have the means to pay for it, Canada offers free health care to its citizens and Permanent Residents, comprised of the most modern hospitals, the latest in medical equipment, the most skilled health care professionals, and the most accomplished scientists at the forefront of medical research and development. |
CANADA IS A "CULTURAL MOSAIC" |
Canada has been developed by and much of its success is attributable to generations of immigrants from all over the world who have settled here and who have become part of the country's "cultural mosaic". Unlike the United States which has been described as a "melting pot", whereby people are encouraged to give up their cultural identity upon immigrating to the United States, Canada fosters and encourages the maintenance and the practice of one's cultural identity and has even passed legislation promoting the practice of multiculturalism. Perhaps it is this feature that accounts for the results of a recent survey in which 1 out of every 5 people worldwide choses Canada as a place where they would choose to live, placing Canada among the three most desirable countries in the world to live in. |
CANADIANS: THE GREATEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD |
While promoting individuality and maintaining diversity, Canada is a country of unity. Canadians are tolerant of people from different racial and cultural backgrounds and celebrate these differences. Canadians are hardworking and friendly and welcome new immigrants to their country through various associations, organizations and programs. |
CANADA IS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE |
Unlike the United States, its neighbour to the south, one thing that Canadians do not share with Americans, is the level of violence in the urban centres of the United States. Canada has strict gun control laws and some of the finest police forces anywhere in the world to which Canada's low crime and homicide rates are in large part attributable. Slums and ghettoes such as those in other countries do not exist in Canada, thereby making Canada a safe and a clean place to live in, two attributes of which visitors to Canada first take notice. |
CANADA NEEDS SKILLED WORKERS |
Immigrants have always been a source of economic growth for Canada and, over the years, Canada has attracted talented people with much needed skills. Current Canadian immigration policies are designed to allow people who can contribute to Canada in a significant way to immigrate to Canada. As such, Canada can continue to grow and develop into a world leader in all fields in the future. While there are many talented people in Canada, Canadians recognize the need for new talent and the government, accordingly, tries to determine which occupations are in demand in Canada and allows people with the skills to fill those occupations to immigrate to Canada. |
CANADA HAS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES |
If you have the necessary skills, Canada has many employment opportunities. While success cannot be guaranteed, opportunity exists for those who are determined and who do not shy away from hard work and perseverance. The government has, in fact, created many agencies to assist people in finding employment. Likewise, there are also many private agencies which can help people find both employment and business opportunities. |
CANADA NEEDS ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE |
Over the years, immigration has provided investment capital and has created jobs for Canadians. In the last few years, business immigration has brought billions of dollars into this country. Canada not only welcomes those with specific job skills but also welcomes those who are industrious and hardworking entrepreneurs. Canada wants people who innovative and capable of starting businesses of any size that will contribute significantly to the country and to the economy. Among those sectors in which Canada encourages business activity are manufacturing, tourism, technology and export. The ultimate goal through this type of business development is the creation of employment opportunities for Canadians; the increase of our Gross Domestic Product; and the improvement of the overall quality of life in Canada. |
CANADA: EXCELLENT PRESCHOOL TO UNIVERSITY |
No matter which skill you wish to learn or which field of study you intend to pursue, the Canadian college and university system offers many opportunities. The pursuit of education and higher education is encouraged and is readily available. In a complex and ever-changing world, Canada has recognized the need to achieve excellence and the need for people to constantly upgrade their skills to remain competitive in an ever-changing, expanding global market. Canada's education system imparts to its students the skills and the tools that they will need to compete with the best that the world has to offer. |
CANADA: EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
Canadian public schools are staffed by highly educated teachers and are available to all children. Not only do the schools offer quality education, but they also offer a variety of extra-curricular activities and diverse disciplines so as to ensure that those receiving an education are not only well educated but well rounded as well, enabling them to function in all aspects of society. Canadian public schools are virtually violence-free and afford children the opportunity to make friends, pursue personal interests, learn about themselves and grow into highly functioning, well-adapted adults. |
CANADA HAS MANY WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITIES |
Canadian universities are renown and attract people from all over the world. Many brilliant scholars and Nobel prize winners have emerged from Canadian universities. These facts are self-evident when considering the numbers of highly educated people among the Canadian population. Canada enjoys one of the highest literacy rates in the world. |
CANADA: INCREDIBLE GROWTH POTENTIAL |
Canada is an industrialized nation with incredible growth potential. It is a member of the G7, the organization comprised of seven of the most powerful, industrialized countries in the world and is recognized as a world leader in manufacturing, export and research and development. Among the most notable innovations Canada has produced are the Canadarm, used on the United States space shuttle; the discovery of insulin, used in the treatment of diabetics; the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell, a Canadian; and even the invention of the sport of basketball. |
Canada is actively creating a skilled and educated work force which is helping Canadians to compete and to succeed in the international marketplace. Canadians are already world leaders in telecommunications, satellites, pharmaceuticals, transportation, mining, agriculture, environmental protection, service industries, banking and medicine, to name a few. A recent survey found that the general perception among members of the international community is that Canada offers more opportunities to its youth than anywhere else in the world. |
CANADA: A PLACE TO DO BUSINESS |
One of the beautiful things about Canada is that it is a country in which the opportunity exists for anyone to succeed if he or she has the desire and works hard. The country has everything to offer: abundant resources, secure banking and access to the huge and lucrative American market. Many people who have recently arrived in Canada have been able to build incredible lives for themselves and for their families, thus, sharing in the enormous wealth that this country has to offer. Canada, in fact, has some of the wealthiest people in the world. |