Home  Starting Out in Canada The Canadian way of life
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The Canadian way of life |
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Page 1 of 2 Beyond the main concerns about finding a job and getting started in
Canada, one of the major fears for newcomers to the country is one
about assimilation. This is especially true for immigrants coming from
non-Western cultures who wonder what everyday life is like in Canada,
and if they will be able to fit in.
This excellent introduction to the Canadian way of life is excerpted from the government publication A Newcomer's Introduction to Canada, (also available as a PDF download from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website).
Family life and family law
Many
people in Canada find that it takes two incomes to raise a family, even
though parents are having fewer children. Most mothers have a job
outside the home, and in many families, both parents share the work of
shopping, cooking, cleaning the house and looking after the children.
Because divorce has become more common, there are many one-parent
families in Canada. Most single parents who raise their children on a
full-time basis are women. There are also same-sex couples with
children.
Marriage, divorce and the law
Canadian
law views marriage as a legal agreement or contract between a man and a
woman. Married people are considered equal partners. Marriage laws
apply to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Many unmarried
couples live together. In most provinces, unmarried heterosexual
couples who have lived together for a certain period of time have legal
status as "common-law" couples. They may call each other "husband" and
"wife," or they may simply say "my partner."
Either the wife or
the husband can ask for a divorce. This request will normally be
approved by the courts if both people have agreed to end the marriage.
Divorce will also be approved if one partner has been harmed through
cruelty, adultery or a similar injustice.
Birth control and family planning
Many
people use birth control. It is a matter of personal choice. Women can
get a prescription for birth control pills from a doctor. Family
planning information is available from government departments of health
and public health offices, as well as from local health clinics.
Abortion is legal but is only available from a doctor.
Youth and their parents
When
children arrive in Canada, they usually learn about Canadian life
quickly through schools, television, movies and music. If they need to
learn English or French, they often learn it quite quickly.
Parents
find out about Canadian life differently, as they search for housing
and work. They too may need to learn English or French, but often need
more time than their children to do so.
If you have children,
you will know that you see the world somewhat differently than they do,
because you are older and have more life experience. After immigrating
to Canada, however, you may find that these differences increase,
because you are having different experiences of Canadian life. These
differences affect the behaviour of all family members and can lead to
tension in the family between parents and their children.
Discussing
concerns with teachers, doctors, public health workers, social workers,
settlement workers, and friends and relatives who have already settled
in Canada will help you and your children understand your experiences
and make good choices about your future.
Youth and the law
Youth
in Canada who commit a crime are held accountable for their actions.
However they are not dealt with in the same way as adult offenders.
This is because they may not have an adult's understanding of their
crime. They are also more likely than adult offenders to be reformed
and become law-abiding citizens. The law for young offenders is called
the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
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