British Columbia Newcomers' Guide to
Resources and ServicesGovernment and CitizenshipIn this chapter: GovernmentCanada
has three levels of government: federal, provincial, and municipal. These governments
are all elected by the citizens of Canada. Federal Government (Government
of Canada)The federal government has responsibilities such as immigration,
defence, and trade with other countries. The names and telephone numbers of federal
government departments are in the Blue Pages of the telephone book under "Government
of Canada." There is also a Reference Canada toll-free number at
1-800-622-6232, where you can get information on how to contact federal government
departments and agencies. This information is available in English and French,
Canada’s two official languages. Provincial Government (Government of British
Columbia)Canada is divided into ten provinces and three territories. Each
province and territory has its own government. The responsibilities of provincial
governments include education, highways, and hospitals. The names and telephone
numbers of provincial government departments are in the Blue Pages of the telephone
book under "Government of British Columbia," or look on their website:
www.gov.bc.ca/. There
is also an Enquiry BC number to get contact information on provincial government
departments at 604 660-2421 in the Lower Mainland, 250 387-6121 in Victoria, and
at 1-800-663-7867 elsewhere in B.C. Operators at this number can transfer you
toll-free to government offices which are long-distance from your calling area. Municipal
GovernmentThe government of a city, town, or village is called a municipal
government. This level of government is responsible for fire protection, recreation,
city streets, and other local matters. The municipal government telephone numbers
are in the Blue Pages of the telephone book under "Municipalities." Regional
Districts Most municipalities belong to one of 28 regional districts in
British Columbia. These regional districts govern services such as water,
sewage and garbage disposal.
Becoming
a Canadian citizenAfter three or more years in Canada, immigrants may
apply for Canadian citizenship. Immigrants who become citizens have the same rights
as citizens who were born in Canada. The Canadian government allows dual
citizenship. This means you can be a Canadian citizen and a citizen of another
country. Citizenship requirementsNOTE: A new Citizenship Act
may soon become law. The requirements below may change under this new law. To
become a Canadian citizen: - You must be 18 years old
or older;
- You must be a permanent resident (landed immigrant);
- You
must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three of the last four years;
- You
must speak some English or French;
- You must know something about Canada’s
history, geography, and political system. You must also know your rights and responsibilities
as a citizen of Canada;
- You must have a clean record with the police and
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC);
- You must take the oath of citizenship.
Parents
must apply for children who are under 18 years old. Parents may apply for citizenship
for themselves and their children at the same time. Applying for Canadian
citizenship To
apply for Canadian citizenship, call the Citizenship & Immigration Canada
Call Centre at 604 666-2171 or 1-888-242-2100. You can also go to their website:
www.cic.gc.ca. Ask
for an "Application for Citizenship" forms package. You will need an
application form for each adult and child in your family. Complete the application
form(s), attach all the necessary documents and fees, and mail the application
to the Citizenship Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The address
is on the forms package. If you need more information on how to become a
Canadian citizen, call the Citizenship & Immigration Canada Call Centre or
a local immigrant settlement agency (see agency listing
in the chapter on "The First Few Days"). Citizenship classesYou
may want to join a citizenship class to help you prepare for the citizenship test.
For more information, call your local immigrant settlement agency, school, community
college, or library. Rights and responsibilitiesCanadian citizens
have certain rights and responsibilities. For example, voting is both a right
and a responsibility. Here are some other rights of Canadian citizens:
- You may live in any province of Canada.
- You may have a Canadian passport.
- You
may leave and return to Canada freely.
- You may own any type of property.
- You
may hold any job for which you are qualified.
Here are some important
responsibilities: - You must obey the laws of Canada.
- You
must pay taxes.
- You should respect the rights of others.
- You should
serve on a jury in a court if you are asked.
- You should respect the environment.
This means you should not litter or pollute the environment.
- You should
use Canada’s social services, such as employment insurance and social assistance,
responsibly.
Leaving
CanadaPermanent residents must live in Canada for three years, or 1,095 days
in a four-year period, before they can apply for citizenship. However, they can
leave Canada for short holidays or family visits. This is allowed if their home
is in Canada, and they plan to return. The time spent outside Canada does not
count toward those three years. Permanent residents who are outside Canada
because they have decided not to make Canada their home may lose their permanent
resident status.
Permanent
Resident CardThe Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) is a new, wallet-size,
plastic card. If you complete the Canadian immigration process and obtain permanent
resident status, but are not a Canadian citizen, you will get the PR Card by mail.
People who have already obtained permanent resident status can apply for the new
PR Card. The PR Card replaces the IMM 1000 as the document needed by Canadian
permanent residents re-entering Canada. For more information contact the Citizenship
& Immigration Canada Call Centre at 604 666-2171 or 1-888-242-2100. Website:
www.cic.gc.ca/english/pr-card/
DeportationSometimes
the Canadian government orders permanent residents to leave Canada permanently.
This is called "deportation." Here are some of the reasons why people
may be deported: - They were convicted of a serious crime
before they came to Canada, and they didn’t tell Citizenship and Immigration Canada
about it.
- They were convicted of a serious crime while in Canada.
- They
lied or used false documents to enter Canada.
- They were involved in organized
crime.
- They were engaged in terrorism.
What if the Canadian
government decides to deport someone? That person should get information about
immigration laws from a Citizenship and Immigration Canada Call Centre. There
are also lawyers who specialize in immigration laws. Look in the Yellow Pages
of the telephone book under "Lawyers," or see the contact information
in the chapter on the "Legal System." Sponsoring
a relativeIf you are a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen, you may
sponsor (help) your spouse, common-law partner, child, parent or another family
member under the legislation to come to live in Canada. To do this, you must be
18 years old or older. You must prove that you have enough money to take care
of your relative(s) while they settle in Canada. For information on which relatives
you can sponsor and the application costs, check with the Citizenship and Immigration
Canada Call Centre.
Human
rightsBritish Columbia and Canada have human rights laws that protect
people from many kinds of discrimination. It is discrimination if someone
does not give you a job or a place to live because they don’t like your age, race,
ethnic or national origin, skin colour, family or marital status, religion, disability,
sex, or sexual orientation. It is also discrimination for hotels, restaurants,
or other service businesses to refuse service to anyone on the above grounds. You
can get help if you have a problem with discrimination. If your problem is with
a bank, telecommunications or transportation company, or federal government department,
call the Canadian Human Rights
Commission. They are listed in the White Pages of the telephone book. In Vancouver,
the number is 604 666-2251. Elsewhere, the number is 1-800-999-6899. If
your problem is with a landlord, a local business or service, or a provincial
government department or agency, call a provincial human rights agency. The future
of the B.C. Human Rights Commission has not been determined at the time of printing
this book. For more information, please contact the B.C.
Human Rights Commission at 604 660-6811, 250 387-3710 or 1-800-663-0876. Or
contact the B.C. Human Rights
Tribunal at 604 775-2000 or 1-888-440-8844. MulticulturalismCanada
is a multicultural country. The government encourages people to take pride in
their language, religion, and culture. It also encourages all Canadians to treat
each other with respect. People living in Canada have a responsibility to
contribute to our society. You can start by taking part in your community. Here
are some ways you can do this: - Meet your neighbours.
- Join
in neighbourhood activities.
- Go to meetings in your community or at your
children’s school.
- Volunteer in your community.
VolunteeringVolunteering
is an important part of Canadian life. A volunteer helps people without getting
paid. Most communities need volunteers. You can help at your children’s school,
at a local hospital, or at a community agency. Look in the front pages of the
telephone book in the "Community Services" section, under "Volunteering,"
or ask at your local library.
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