Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Ontario
There’s a lot to love about Canada as a place to live– whether it be the varied weather, the plentiful natural beauty, or the rich history. In Canada specifically, there are few better places to settle down and live a nourishing life than in Ontario.
It’s a popular opinion: Ontario has been voted repeatedly as one of the best places to live in Canada. It’s easy to see why, as the city provides access to the best parts of Canada.
Are you thinking of moving to Ontario yourself? There’s a lot to consider and learn about this great city. Read on and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about moving to Ontario.
Where to Live
How easy is it to find a place to live in Ontario? There are a lot of different options available in terms of housing for wannabe new residents.
If you don’t have the funds to purchase property, you can rent property all over Ontario. This will put you into a legal relationship with a landlord where you pay the monthly rent to live in a particular dwelling.
Ontario also has a large amount of cooperative housing, where you live as one member of a small community. These multiple tenants work and contribute their time to the upkeep and maintenance of the communal space.
There are also government programs in place that those with financial difficulties can apply for. If granted, one might be able to receive subsidized housing assistance. Under these programs, the Canadian government helps to provide a certain portion of a person’s rent depending on how much they are paid.
These tips and more can help to provide assistance on understanding the housing market in the Ontario region.
Consider a Settlement Agency
If you’re moving to Ontario from a different country there might be a lot more you need to adjust to then someone just moving from another part of Canada. If you’re coming from abroad, there are settlement agencies established that can help you greatly in your transition.
Settlement agencies can provide assistance on a wide variety of subjects related to one’s move to Ontario. They can help newcomers to find both housing and employment, as well as aid a family in registering their children for public education.
A settlement agency can also help to provide programs that can help newcomers in their transition as well. A number of access programs are provided including English and French classes for a better transition into Canadian society.
Skills training and foreign credential assessments are also provided at many settlement agency locations. Employees at these agencies can also provide a great deal of help in ensuring that proper information about health care and social services is passed on to those who need it.
Health Care in Ontario
You might have heard about the helpful healthcare program that Canada has. It might even play a part in why you’re interested in moving to Ontario.
The city itself has an individualized health plan known as the OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan). The province pays for many essential health services under this plan. Once arriving and settling in Ontario, one will need to apply and get approved for the program if they want their needs to be considered under the plan.
To apply, you will need to fill out an application plan either online or at the nearest ServiceOntario location. The application will request various documents you will need to gather and submit. In some instances, you might need to hand-deliver some documents to the nearest ServiceOntario location.
Once approved, you will receive an Ontario health card which you will then show a doctor or medical professional every time you need service. It can take up to three months after applying for OHIP coverage to begin. During this time, you might want to invest in private health care in order to cover yourself.
More information about the health plan can be accessed at the province’s official website.
Apply for a Driver’s License
While Ontario does have some excellent public transportation options, you’ll likely still want a car in order to get around. If you’re hoping to drive legally on the roadways, you’ll need to ensure you have a proper driver’s license.
If you’re moving from elsewhere in Canada and already have a driver’s license, you’ll be permitted to use this license for up to 60 days. After this period of time has passed, you’ll need to switch over to an official Ontario driver’s license. You simply have to apply to exchange your out-of-province license for a new one.
If you are from outside of Canada you’ll need to apply for a license and pass a test. In order to drive in Ontario, you need to be at least sixteen years of age. The test will include an eye test and a written test about the rules of the road.
Once these tests are passed you can apply for a license. A G Class license is for if one wants to drive a car or small truck, while an M Class license is for those who want to drive motorcycles, scooters, or mopeds.
Apply accordingly based on the transportation you plan to utilize.
Tips for Moving to Ontario
Every year, thousands of people make the decision to move to Canada. If you’re thinking about moving to Ontario yourself, the above tips and tricks might be very helpful.
Need more home tips and tricks? Keep scrolling our blog for more information.