Small cities in Quebec and New Brunswick are being ranked as this year’s most affordable places for housing in Canada by University Magazine, a student-operated publication.
Six communities in the francophone province of Quebec and four in New Brunswick were deemed by the publication to be The Best Canadian Cities For Affordable Housing 2024.
Those communities are:
- Thetford Mines, Quebec
- Edmunston, New Brunswick
- Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec
- Tracadie, New Brunswick
- Sainte-Marie, Quebec
- Montmagny, Quebec
- Miramichi, New Brunswick
- Saint-Georges, Quebec
- Bathurst, New Brunswick
- Rimouski, Quebec
Foreign nationals hoping to come to Canada as international students will be interested to know that all of the New Brunswick communities on that list are served by either New Brunswick Community College campuses or its equivalent, French-language Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick campuses, and some also offer university programs.
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The Quebec communities on the list either have or are near provincial community colleges and, in some cases, universities.
The student-run publication describes its top pick on the list, Thetford Mines, as offering a blend of historical charm and natural beauty, in south-central Quebec along the Becancour River in the Appalachian Mountains. The average price of a home there is $172,189.
All of the communities in the list have home prices ranging from that to $282,364 with most under $200,000.
Bathurst Offers Homes At An Average Price Of $179,592
The northern New Brunswick community of Bathurst, dubbed the Snowmobile Capital of Canada, has an extensive network of groomed trails leading all throughout the province and homes with an average price of $179,592.
“Canada has diverse landscapes, cultures and communities, each offering unique living experiences and opportunities,” notes University Magazine. “From the bustling streets of its major cities to the serene settings of its small towns, Canada presents a myriad of options for those seeking a place to call home.”
Canada leads the English-speaking western countries as a destination for international study.
In its Top Trends in International Education for 2024 and Beyond report, the Canadian educational technology company , reveals ApplyBoard highlighted Canada’s enviable position as a favourite destination for international study late last year.
“Canada processed nearly 740,000 student visa applications in 2022, shattering the previous year’s record by 34 per cent … (and) 2023 is also poised for yet another all-time high,” noted the report.
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“Canada processed more than 660,000 applications through the first nine months of the calendar year.”
And Immigration Minister Marc Miller is bullish on improving programs to help international students study in Canada.
“International students are talented, bright and deserving of a positive experience as they pursue their studies in Canada,” he said.
“We will continue to improve Canada’s International Student Program by protecting students and weeding out those who try to take advantage of them. Whether an international student stays and works after graduation or returns home, we want their time as a student in Canada to have been beneficial to their growth and aspirations.”
Canada is also a top work destination in the world because it offers lots of jobs, a great healthcare system and top-quality public education, reports Givetastic, a group gifting website.
“After conducting our thorough research, Canada came out on top! According to Google search volume, the United States’ biggest neighbour is the most popular country to emigrate to for work,” notes Givetastic.
Canada Ranked As A Top Work Destination
“Canada is a great option for people looking to emigrate. It offers ample employment opportunities, free healthcare and an excellent education system. What’s not to love?”
The United States ranked seventh on the list of most popular work destinations. Canada also beat out Germany, in the second spot, Qatar in third, and the United Kingdom in fourth.
Through its two-tier immigration system, Canada allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) of the 10 Canadian provinces.
Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can apply for permanent residency online and their profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.
Through a network of PNPs, almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
Canada also offers options for those wishing to come here to work.
Temporary workers come to Canada via a number of channels, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for those who require a Labour Market Impact Assessment and the International Mobility Program for those who do not.
A positive LMIA confirms there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job at hand and that no Canadian worker is available to do the job.
The IMP allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers without the need for an LMIA. It includes intra-company transferees, those entering Canada as part of trade treaties, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and those who qualify for an open work permit.
The TFWP is made up of high-skilled workers, low-skilled worker and, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.
The Global Talent Stream also falls under the TFWP, through which employers can access two-week processing for a list of technology occupations.
With Canadian experience, candidates in Canada on a work permit can often qualify for permanent residence.
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