Since the "Lifeboat Program" for Hong Kong people in 2021, the Stream B policy was relaxed in July 2023 and the graduation restrictions were lifted within five years. Then, Hong Kong people have migrated to Canada. Canada and Hong Kong have different cultures, legal and tax systems are also different, coupled with the Canadian economic shift, the needs of life are increasingly expensive, new immigrants must face different difficulties. This article begins as a basic guide to assist new immigrants and how to solve common and unexpected problems.
According to the Canadian Department of Migration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), Ontario and British Columbia are the most popular locations for new migrants from Hong Kong. Yes, both provincial governments have provided many services to assist new immigrants. British Columbia "WelcomeBC" web page, for example, provide a very complete Chinese new immigration guide, from the early to then, the most priority to open a bank account, apply for social insurance number (SIN) and license plate, etc., to housing, tax finance, health care, education, employment, etc., all have explanation, also provide relevant government pages. In addition, the Vancouver Public Library has an online page that provides a complete information guide for new Chinese immigrants. As for Ontario, similar guide documents can be found on the official website and the "Settlement.Org".
Of course, if someone can speak themselves, it would be clearer than looking their own documents. In addition to the above guidelines and websites, both Ontario and British Columbia are popular migration destinations and have a number of organizations and organizations that provide immigration resettlement services. The staff of these organizations will help immigrants deal with difficult problems. In addition to the above "hardware", "software" such as psychological problems, social integration, social needs, etc., many organizations have corresponding projects to provide assistance. The IRCC summarizes these organizations on a website, searching through the region, zip code, and the services they need.
Many of these organizations offer Chinese-language services. For example, the familiar Hong Kong "Jiahe" and the time-honored "Immigration Service Center (China Advisory Office)" provide offline lectures from time to time. In addition to basic guidelines, there are also employment counseling, language workshops, and even limited services or activities such as medical, tax, disability and special needs.
In recent years, due to the rapid increase in the number of new Hong Kong immigrants, many new mutual aid organizations have been born, such as "Vancouver Neighborhood Association" and "Toronto Hong Kong People Community Center". In addition, there are a variety of mutual aid groups on the Internet and social media, and many early immigrants will answer all kinds of questions.
In fact, Canada is very friendly to new immigrants, regardless of its culture, system and supporting facilities. However, there are assisted channels, and whether can, whether easy access to the corresponding channel is two different things.