With a population of over 15 million, Ontario is the most populous province in Canada and a popular travel destination for foreign visitors.

This province is well-known for having the greatest housing market in Canada, the greatest number of job opportunities, and the most flexibility to live any way one pleases. It is also home to the largest immigrant population in Canada.

 

Find Out If You Qualify for Immigration to Canada

Find out more about arriving in Ontario and setting down as a new immigrant to Canada here.

Housing: Ontario boasts the largest housing market in the nation, with over 5.4 million houses spread throughout the province.

Note: As in any Canadian province, factors like your preferred settlement area and family size might affect the cost of housing and the sorts of properties that are available in Ontario.

 

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom housing unit in Ontario's three largest Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) by population—Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton—is as follows, according to the most recent National Rent Report published by rentals.ca (for August 2023).

 

One-bedroom: $2,592 in Toronto, $1,951 in Ottawa, and $1,855 in Hamilton

Two-bedroom prices in Hamilton ($2,271), Ottawa ($2,358), and Toronto ($3,370)

 

Transportation At least 80% of people dwell in each of the three main CMAs in Ontario, which are located less than 500 meters from a "public transit access point."

While there are differences across cities in Ontario when it comes to public transit, one example is the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) system. In the meanwhile, the OC Regional Transit Commission operates the Ottawa-Carleton (OC) Transpo system for citizens of Ottawa, while Hamilton has its own specialized Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) system.

 

Even though public transit is widely available in Ontario, over four out of five people live there and commute primarily by car, van, or truck.

Because of this, it's critical that visitors to Ontario comprehend the following information regarding driving in this province:

 

Newcomers over 16 may use their driver's license from their home country during their first 60 days as residents of Ontario.
Newcomers to Ontario must obtain an Ontario driver's license from the provincial government at the conclusion of these 60 days.

 

Employment

The following are the top three industries in Ontario in terms of employment:

Trade careers: Wholesale and retail merchants Physicians, nurses, and social workers providing healthcare and social assistance
Manufacturing: Lab Technicians, Mechanical Engineers
Visit the Employment Ontario page of the provincial government to find out more about how to find a job in Ontario.

 

Healthcare

A universal healthcare approach is used to finance public healthcare in Canada. This indicates that resident taxes, including those in Ontario, are amassed to assist in funding healthcare services across the nation.

 

Only two Canadian provinces and territories, including Ontario, do not impose waiting periods on new residents before granting them access to provincial healthcare benefits. Rather, free healthcare is available to any newcomer to Ontario with a valid health card.

Here's more information about how to apply for an Ontario health card.

 

Generally speaking, OHIP (the Ontario Health Insurance Plan) provides free access to public health services for those with health cards. However, the beneficiary will have to pay out of pocket for some prescriptions and procedures. For citizens of Ontario, this is the point at which private health insurance becomes essential.

 

Education

The children of immigrants to Ontario start attending school in the province when they turn six years old.

Note: There are over 400,000 licensed child care spaces in Ontario.

From the age of six until the completion of high school, parents in Ontario are able to send their child or children to school for free thanks to the public school system. A parent who want to send their child to a private school must pay the tuition out of pocket. This province also offers a variety of private schools and boarding schools.

 

With more than 500 Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) spread out across the province, Ontario offers international students a wide range of post-secondary alternatives. A large number of these post-secondary programs can help immigrants get their degrees and get a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

 

After a holder of a PGWP completes a year of work experience in Canada, they become eligible for many more immigration options leading to permanent residence in Canada than they would have otherwise.

Taxation

The old Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST, 5%) and the Retail Sales Tax (RST, 8%) have been replaced by the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Ontario. Consequently, Ontario's HST rate is 13%. Each eligible resident's personal income determines the different income taxes that apply in this province, and all working residents of Ontario pay taxes according to their income bracket. Here's more details about income taxes in Ontario.

 

Ontario's services for newcomers

Both privately and through the provincial government, Ontario offers newcomer assistance. These settlement services are offered to immigrants before to their arrival in Ontario, throughout their transfer within the province, and following their move into their new residence.

 

211 Ontario is a frequently utilized site for individuals seeking settlement services in Ontario. You can reach 211 Ontario over the phone at 211-1-211 or online at www.211ontario.ca.

 

Please click this link to view a list of settlement agencies located in Ontario that can be sorted by region. Additionally, a comprehensive list of all government-funded services for newcomer settlement is accessible here, and it may be categorized by province and service type.