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Settling In Prince Edward Island
One of the first things you may wish to do when you move to Prince Edward Island is contact the
PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada which is located in Charlottetown.
The Association can help you with apartment rentals, language training,
applications for Social Insurance Numbers,
Health Care, Canada's Child
Tax Credit, help with banking, shopping and much more.
Finding a Place to Live
Prince Edward Island is a great place to live. There are numerous small communities throughout rural
PEI; two cities, namely Charlottetown and
Summerside, and 7 towns:
Alberton,
Cornwall,
Georgetown,
Kensington,
Montague,
Souris and
Stratford. Prince Edward Island is the smallest of the
Canadian provinces both in size and population.
Visit the following sites for information on apartments
rentals, real estate for sale,
buying land, and
building on PEI. There are several
storage facilities on the Island if you need to store furniture and
household items for a short or extended period of time.
You can use the
Address Locator (where by entering a civic address), you can find
information about emergency service providers, electoral information, school districts and much more. You can also visit
the
PlaceFinder where by entering in a community name you will find information about business
in the area, real estate for sale, census information and community photographs.
English Language Training
There are several facilities which provide language training on Prince Edward Island. Several of these
facilities are listed below:
Working in Prince Edward Island
In order to work in Canada you must have a Social Insurance
Number. Visit the employment page of InfoPEI for information on
career planning, employment programs and services, and a list of jobs currently available on PEI.
Another useful resource for newcomers is the Job Bank.
Paying Taxes in Canada
The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency oversees the
collection of federal and provincial taxes in Canada. The Guide
for Newcomers to Canada will help you determine your residency status and your tax obligations.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit
is paid every three months to individuals and families with low to moderate incomes to help offset the GST/HST that they
pay. You must apply to receive the credit.
If You Have Children
Prince Edward Island has an Immunization Program for
children from birth through to grade nine. Although your child is not required by law to be vaccinated, it is highly
recommended that your child be immunized against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus and diphtheria. However, if an
illness for which there is a vaccine is diagnosed in a school, those children who have not been immunized for that
disease will not be allowed to attend the school until it is safe to return to school.
If you have children under the age of 18 who live with you and you are considered a resident of Canada for
income tax purposes you can apply for the Child Tax Benefit. This is a
tax-free payment based on family income that qualifying families receive to help them with the costs of raising children.
There are numerous child care facilities on PEI which provide
after school care, play schools, day cares, and kindergarten programs.
Children who have reached their sixth birthday by January 31 are eligible to attend school. (Students
between the ages of 7 and 16 must attend school.) Parents also have the option of home
schooling their children. Students attend elementary school for Grades 1 through 6. Junior high schools educate
students in Grades 7 through 9 while Island high schools offer education for students from Grades 10 through twelve.
Almost all school-aged children in the province attend one of the 65 English language or 5 French language
public schools. Approximately 1% of children in the province attend one of
the 4 privately operated schools.
Prince Edward Island's public schools are operated by 3 elected school
boards and are funded by the provincial government. As specified in the School
Act [PDF File], school boards provide for instruction, management of personnel, facilities and the transportation
of students.
To determine which schools your child can attend, visit the Address
Locator where, by supplying your civic address, you can determine which family of schools is available for your
neighborhood. To register your child at one of these schools, contact the school directly.
There are approximately 30 students in a typical school class. Students eat their lunch in their
classroom or in the school cafeteria.
Students are not required to wear uniforms to school although most schools have a dress code concerning
what can be worn.
Students are not required to write entrance exams to enter high school.
Universities and Community Colleges
The University of Prince Edward Island, commonly referred to
as UPEI, offers a multitude of courses in Arts, Sciences, Music, Education, Nursing, and much more. The
Atlantic Veterinary College is part of the University of Prince Edward
Island. The College's modern facilities have many unique features which include state-of-the-art laboratories, high tech
classrooms, diagnostic services and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with clinics for small and large animals.
Holland College is the community college of PEI and offers specialized
courses Tourism and Hospitality, Aviation Maintenance, Welding and Metal Fabrication, and more. There are also several
private training schools which operate on PEI.
Health Care
All new residents must register with the Department of Health and Social Services in order to become
eligible for a PEI Health Card. Persons who establish permanent residence
in Prince Edward Island from elsewhere in Canada will become eligible for insured hospital and medical services on the
first day of the third month following the month of arrival.
New or returning residents must apply for health coverage by completing a registration application from
the Department. The application is reviewed to ensure that all necessary information is provided. A health card is
issued and sent to the resident within two weeks. Renewal of coverage takes place every five years and residents are
notified by mail six weeks prior to renewal.
PEI has a Patient Registry Program which provides
coordinated support to new residents in need of physicians.
Driving in PEI
When someone moves to PEI from another country, they must register as a new driver with the Department of
Transportation and Public Works.
Individuals registering as new drivers from elsewhere in Canada, the United States, Germany or Austria do
not have to register as new drivers on PEI. You will be issued a PEI license of equivalent class for the regular cost of
the license for the designated period. Written, vision and driving tests are required if your previous license has been
expired for over one year. For those moving here from Switzerland, you will be issued a PEI license of equivalent class
for the regular cost of the license for the designated period once a vision test is completed.
Once you receive your PEI license your original license is invalid. In Canada and the US, your license will
be returned to your former jurisdiction. If you are moving here from a foreign jurisdiction, your out-of-country
driver's license will be kept on file with the Registrar of the Highway Safety Division for possible subsequent return.
For more information about obtaining a PEI Driver's license visit the following site.
Information about driving laws and regulations, traffic rules, vehicle registration and inspections is also available
online.
Import Taxes and Duties
The federal Canada Customs and Revenue Agency oversees
the importation of items from other countries and the collection of taxes and duties on those items. Visit their website
for:
Importing Vehicles
Vehicles purchased in other countries may not necessarily be approved for registration and use in Canada.
Visit the Transport Canada website for current information on
bringing vehicles into Canada.
Income Security
Governments at the federal, provincial and municipal level help people who are unable to provide for
themselves and their families.
Special programs help people in different circumstances, such as:
Most of these benefits are for people in specific circumstances and must be applied for individually if
the qualifications are met.
Gun Owners
In order to bring firearms into Canada, they must be registered with the Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC).
Important information for Canadians who have been living out of the country and who are returning to Canada with firearms,
or non-residents who are moving to Canada with firearms is available on the CFC
website.
Voting in Elections or Running for Public Office
Federal Government
To vote in a federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old. To run for public
office in a federal election you must be a Canadian citizen.
Provincial Government is regulated by the Provincial
Election Act
Qualification of Candidates:
- is 18 years of age, or will attain that age on or before ordinary polling day;
- is a Canadian citizen;
- has been ordinarily resident within the meaning of section 22 or 23
- in the province for the 6 months immediately preceding the date of the writ, and
- in the polling division on the date of the writ.1996, c.12, s.20. A resident of the Town for a period of one year preceding the date of nominations.
Qualification of Electors:
- is 18 years of age, or will attain that age on or before ordinary polling day;
- is a Canadian citizen;
- has been ordinarily resident within the meaning of section 22 or 23
- in the province for the 6 months immediately preceding the date of the writ, and
- in the polling division on the date of the writ.1996, c.12, s.20.
Municipal Government is regulated by the Municipalities Act
Qualifications for Councillors:
- not less than 18 years of age;
- a Canadian citizen;
- a resident of the Town for a period of one year preceding the date of nominations.
Qualifications for Electors:
- not less than 18 years of age;
- a Canadian citizen;
- a resident of the Town for a period of six months preceding the date of Election.