Why You Should Seriously Consider Moving to Ontario

Most people choose to move to Canada in search of new job opportunities, 70% of which relocate to provinces such as Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario.

These provinces offer a high quality of living, thousands of job opportunities and attractive salaries, but in this article, we’ll be focusing on all things Ontario.

Ontario is predominantly known as Canada’s tech hub and has therefore dedicated Tech draws to help facilitate the selection process and assist in finding the best international talent in the IT sector. In the most recent draw, held on 15th September 2022, Ontario invited 3250 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residency.

Ontario is considered to be one of the best provinces to live in Canada. According to Business Insider, Toronto (Ontario’s capital) has been voted as one of the top 10 most liveable cities in the world, and it yet another reason why you should make moving to Canada one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2020.

Although the cost of living in Ontario can be higher than others, the lucrative salaries offered more than make up for higher expenses and if you know which cities are most affordable you won’t feel the pinch at all. In fact, 6 of the top 10 most affordable Canadian cities to live in 2020 are in Ontario.

According to the latest Labour Force Survey released on January 10, 2020, the province has also recently seen an increase in job creation, with 25,000 new jobs created in December 2019 alone, particularly in the construction and administration sectors. You will also find that at least 4 of the top 20 In-demand jobs in Canada for 2020 features on Ontario’s list of in-demand occupations, making it a great destination for those in search of new job opportunities.

One of these in-demand occupations falls in the medical sector. Ontario urgently needs nurses aides and, according to Neuvoo.ca, with the right qualifications and work experience, you could stand to earn an average of $37,323 per year.

Besides greater employment and earning potential, Ontario also offers a vibrant cultural scene, beautiful national parks and hiking trails to explore, as well as glorious coastlines and sights to take in, one of which includes the infamous, Niagara falls.

Two other fantastic benefits that are available to all Canadian citizens are free public healthcare and education, making it a great place for young professionals and families to relocate to.

Ready to find out how we can help you get permanent residence in Ontario? Simply click the link below or keep reading to find out what your best options are to relocate to one of Canada’s most amazing provinces.

Top 3 Reasons Why Ontario is the Place for You

There are many wonderful locations to consider when contemplating whether Canada is the right place for you, particularly in Ontario. To help narrow your choices, we’ve chosen the top 3 reasons why you should apply for permanent residence in Ontario.

1. Great Job Opportunities with Better Salaries

As mentioned earlier, Ontario has at least 4 of the top In-Demand Jobs for 2020 on its list, which means that you have a fantastic chance of getting a job offer in Canada. These top occupations are as follows:

Top 10 Occupations In-Demand in Ontario for 2020
Occupation	Provincial Average Annual Salary(CAD)
Nurses Aides	$37,323
Home Support Workers	$30,224
Contractor (Residential and commercial installers and servicers)	$63,375
Transport Truck Driver	$39,980
Heavy equipment operators (not crane)	$43,388
Construction trades helpers and labourers	$35,100
General farmworkers	$30,225
Nursery and greenhouse workers	$27,300
Harvesting labourers	$27,300
Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers	$36,387

2. Affordable Cost of Living

When you know where to live, Ontario can be very affordable. According to Expatistan.com, the cost of living for a family of 4 in Thunder Bay, Ontario averages at $4,158 and $2,015 for a single person Other cities that offer an affordable cost of living include Guelph, Ontario; Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario; Kingston, Ontario; London, Ontario and Montreal, Ontario. To give you some idea of what you could be looking at in terms of rent, you could easily find a 1 bedroom apartment for $1,180 in London, Ontario, which is a lot cheaper than say Toronto, Ontario, where you can expect to pay about $2,300 per month on rent.

3. High Quality of Life

Canada is renowned for its exceptional quality of life. With benefits such as free universal healthcare and tuition for public schooling up until grade 12, you will be left with extra money for your children’s university tuition, save up for that something special you’ve been dreaming about or have a little extra tucked away for unforeseen circumstances.

With permanent residency, you are eligible to apply for an Ontario Health Card, which you will need to provide when you visit your GP (General Practitioner) or if you need to be admitted to hospital. It is important to note that not all services are covered however most employers offer extra health coverage.

Ontario has plenty of fantastic schools to choose from, where your children will receive a world-class education. It also has some of the country’s top universities and post-secondary institutions, including the University of Toronto, McMaster University and the University of Waterloo.

Overall, whether you are a young professional in search of great opportunities or are looking for a new place for your family to call home, Ontario is the place for you.

How Do I Immigrate to Ontario?

There are various ways to immigrate to Ontario, but the best way is through the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program.

What is the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program?

The Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) has various streams, each aimed at targeting experienced foreign workers who would like to relocate to Ontario. There are 3 main streams, each giving newcomers the opportunity to get permanent residence in Canada.

• Employer Job Offer Category
• Human Capital Category;
• Ontario’s Express Entry; and<
• Business Category.

Each stream has subcategories:

OINP
Category	Stream	Accepting Applications
Employer Job Category (full-time job offer in Ontario)	Foreign Worker Stream (for skilled applicants who want to live and work in Ontario) International Student Stream(for recent graduates in Ontario) In-Demand Skills Stream	Closed at this time Closed at this time Currently accepting applications
Human Capital Category (international graduates)	Masters Graduate Stream PhD Graduate Stream	Closed at this time Currently accepting applications
Express Entry	French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream (for French-speaking skilled applicants who want to live and work in Ontario) Human Capital Priorities Stream(for skilled applicants who want to live and work in Ontario) Skilled Trades Stream(for skilled applicants in an eligible trade who want to live and work in Ontario)	Currently accepting applications Currently accepting applications Currently accepting applications
Business Category	Entrepreneur Stream (for outside Canada who wants to live and work in Ontario)	Currently accepting applications

Tech draws are a relatively new way to immigrate to Canada if you are skilled in the IT sector.

This means that the province actively searches for suitable applicants in each Express Entry draw, which usually happens every 2 weeks.

Targeted occupations include:

• Software engineers;
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers;
• Computer engineers;
• Web designers and developers;
• Database analysts and data administrators; and
• Computer and information systems managers.

How does it Work?

Step 1: Choose Your Stream

Select the stream that fits your personal needs and make sure that you meet all of the requirements of the stream as well as the general admission requirement for Canada.

Step 2: Expression of Interest

In order to apply for a provincial nomination, you will need to submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) in your chosen stream. Application processing times vary from stream to stream but can be processed anywhere between 30 to 90 days. You will then receive an NOI (Notification of Interest) to let you know if you have been successful.

Step 3: Apply for permanent residence

Once your application has been submitted and assessed, successful applicants will then need to submit an application for permanent residence to the Government of Canada.

What Do I Need?

Before applying, it is a good idea to make sure that you have all your necessary documents needed to complete your expression of interest.

Below is the general required supporting documentation for the OINP:

• Identity Document;
• Status documents in Canada;
• Job offer documents(if applicable);
• Residency in Ontario documents(Human Capital Category only);
• Academic certificate, diploma, degree and transcripts;
• Employment history (reference letter from employer including start and end date, position and duties as well as salary);
• Immigration history and status;
• Language ability (approved test results);
• Documents demonstrating settlement funds;
• Documents to support human capital, (Entrepreneur Stream only);
• Investment documents (Entrepreneur Stream only).

How We Help

Navigating the Canadian immigration system can be a bit tedious, with a copious amount of forms and documents to complete and strict submission dates, we wouldn’t blame you if you felt apathetic about getting started on your application. But that’s what we’re here for. At sober Immigration, we take the stress and hassle out of planning to relocate abroad. Our accredited RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) are ready to evaluate your eligibility, review all documentation and submit all documentation on your behalf. Using an RCIC not only gives you the best possible chance of receiving an ITA but will make the entire process simple and stress-free.