Key Information Sources

his pamphlet lists key federal and provincial government telephone numbers and Internet addresses that may be helpful to you as a newcomer to Canada. It also lists other useful numbers, such as the Business Development Bank and various national accreditation services. You may also wish to refer to the other two pamphlets in the back pocket of your guide: Finding Help in Your Community, and Language Training.

Since Quebec looks after many aspects of its immigration program, this pamphlet does not attempt to cover services in that province. However, it does list the telephone numbers for the Ministère des relations avec les citoyens et de l'immigration that offer many services to newcomers in Quebec. If you are living in, or planning to move to, Quebec, you may wish to pick up their guide for newcomers, entitled Vivre au QUÉBEC!

Remember: When you use the telephone, speak slowly and clearly, and have a pen or pencil and some paper ready to write down information. You may be referred to another telephone number or be given other useful information.

Unless the telephone number is a toll-free number, you may have to pay long-distance rates.

How to Find Government Numbers in the Telephone Book

The main telephone numbers for federal, provincial, and municipal or regional government departments are listed in the blue pages of your local telephone book. Some are listed by department or by service. Frequently called numbers, including a central information number, are often listed at the beginning of each section.

If you need help to find a federal government program or service, call:

• Information on the Government of Canada at 1 800 622-6232
  
• TTY/TDD 1 800 465-7735

If you wish to use the Internet, the address is www.canada.gc.ca.

 
Key Federal Government Numbers

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

You may be looking for information on

• sponsorship
• citizenship applications
• immigration in general

If you wish to use the Internet, the address is www.cic.gc.ca.

If you are anywhere in Canada, call toll-free: 1 888 242-2100.

For information on the permanent resident card, call toll-free: 1 800 255-4541

 
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

You may be looking for information on:

• applying for a Social Insurance Number
• available jobs

You can find the nearest Human Resources Development Canada office in the telephone book. Look in the "Government of Canada" listings in the blue pages of your telephone book, under "Human Resources and Skills Development Canada."

If you wish to use the Internet for information, the following addresses are helpful:

www.hrsdc.gc.ca

www.hrsdc.gc.ca/career/

Job Bank: jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

www.worksearch.gc.ca

imi-imt.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

www.theworkplace.ca

www.jobsetc.ca

 
Canada Revenue Agency

You may be looking for information on:

• Personal income tax: 1 800 959-8281
• Canada Child Tax Benefit: 1 800 387-1193
• GST/HST credit: call toll free: 1 800 959-1953

If you wish to use the Internet, the address is: www.cra-arc.gc.ca

 
Health Canada

You may be looking for information on general health issues

Information line: (613) 957-2991

If you wish to use the Internet, the address is: www.hc-sc.gc.ca

KEY PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL
INFORMATION NUMBERS

In the province of Quebec, newcomers should contact the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration (MRCI). The MRCI is organized by region:

Carrefours d'Intégration - Island of Montréal

North Island
255, boulevard Crémazie Est
8^e étage
Montréal (Québec) H2M 1L5
(514) 864-9191

West Island
181, boulevard Hymus
2^e étage
Pointe-Claire (Québec) H9R 5P4
(514) 864-9191

East Island
8000, boulevard Langelier
6^e étage
Saint-Léonard (Québec) H1P 3K2
(514) 864-9191

South Island
800, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est
Place Dupuis, bureau 200
Montréal (Québec) H2L 4L8
(514) 864-9191

Direction régionale de l'Outaouais,
de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue et
du Nord-du-Québec
430, boulevard de I'Hôpital
3^e étage
Gatineau (Québec) J8V 1T7
(819) 246-3345 or 1 888 295-9095 (toll-free)

Bureau de Trois-Rivières
100, rue Laviolette
Trois-Rivières (Québec) G9A 5S9
(819) 371-6011 or 1 888 879-4294 (toll-free)

Direction régionale de l'Estrie,
de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec
202, rue Wellington Nord
Sherbrooke (Québec) J1H 5C6
(819) 820-3606 or 1 888 879-4288 (toll-free)

Direction régionale de la Capitale nationale
et de l'Est du Québec
930, chemin Ste-Foy
Québec (Québec) G1S 2L4
(418) 643-1435 or 1 888 643-1435 (toll-free)

Direction régionale de la Montérégie
2, boulevard Désaulniers, 3^e étage
Saint-Lambert (Québec) J4P 1L2
(450) 466-4461 or 1 888 287-5819 (toll-free)

Direction régionale de Laval,
des Laurentides et de Lanaudière
705, chemin du Trait-Carré
Tour C, bureau 200
Laval (Québec) H7N 1B3
(450) 972-3225 or 1 800 375-7426 (toll-free)

Bureau de Jonquière
3885, boulevard Harvey
Jonquière (Québec) G7X 9B1
(418) 695-8144

You may be looking for information on:

• public transportation
• immunization
• housing
• health clinics

Municipal governments are responsible for police and fire protection, local courts and jails, garbage and snow removal, road maintenance and public health services. You can find municipal government departments listed in the blue pages of your telephone book.

Accreditation

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 962-9725
www.cicic.ca

International Qualifications Assessment Service
Edmonton, Alberta
(780) 427-2655
www.learning.gov.ab.ca/iqas/iqas.asp

Services des équivalences
Montréal (Québec)
(514) 873-5647; 1 877 264-6164 (toll-free)

Academic Credentials Evaluation Service
North York, Ontario
(416) 736-5787

Ontario Comparative Education Service
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 978-2185

International Credential Evaluation Service
Burnaby, British Columbia
(604) 431-3402 or toll free within British Columbia
1 800 663-1663, ext. 3402
www.ola.bc.ca/ices/

World Education Services
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 972-0070 or toll free 1 866 343-0070
www.wes.org/ca

Manitoba Credentials Recognition Program
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-6300 or (204) 945-3162
www.gov.mb.ca/labour/immigrate/newcomerservices/7.html

 
Banking

Canadian Bankers Association
1-800-263-0231

If you want to use the Internet, the address is www.cba.ca

 
Housing

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
1 800 668-2642

If you want to use the Internet, the address is
cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/bureho/reho/

 
Starting a Business

Business Development Bank of Canada
1 888 463-6232

If you want to use the Internet, the address is
www.bdc.ca

 
Private Insurance

Insurance Bureau of Canada
(416) 362-2031 (in Toronto) or 1 800 387-2880
or consult the yellow pages in your telephone book.

Please Note
This pamphlet contains information that was current at the time of publication. It features information from many sources, and should not be confused with official statements of policy or programming. The Government of Canada is not responsible for information that changes between printings.

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2003
Cat. no.: Ci51-87/2-2003
ISBN 0-662-65373-4
C&I-328-07-03

Date Published: 2003-08-01