A prosperous life in Canada, which is friendly to foreigners, has long been successfully implemented by fellow Russians and advanced neighbors in the CIS. The country is developing and prospering without stopping, every year taking first positions in the rankings of the best places to live. The main advantage of the state in the eyes of immigrants is high salaries for everyone and a loyal attitude towards visitors. But before you go pack your things for a quick move, you should make sure that Canada is suitable for this from all sides.
Canadians have a lot of work, but only for those who are good at English or at least able to express himself clearly in it. Without knowing the language, maple-leafs have nothing to do. If English speech is present among other qualities, then you can more than count on working in your specialty, especially if it is related to technology and vehicles.
There is a list showing the most in-demand professions in 2019:
- auto mechanics - your skills must be confirmed with a specialized document on education, as well as the presence of 3 years of experience;
- truck drivers - you will need an appropriate driving license valid on Canadian lands, experience from 6 to 18 months;
- service employees of hotels, inns – work experience is also required;
- cashiers – diploma, experience;
- kitchen helpers, assistant cooks;
- nannies;
- kindergarten teachers – special education relevant in the country, experience;
- medical personnel – international diploma, several years of experience;
- aircraft construction specialists - engineers with higher education, design experience of 5 years or more, knowledge of not only spoken but also technical English, the state is willing to immediately provide a preferential visa with a view to permanent residence, covering the whole family.
Since the beginning of 2015, the government has further simplified the length of service requirements for skilled immigrant workers. Now in many cases one year is enough labor activity by profession for 10 recent years work.
Salaries and taxes
The current average salary in Canada is not much lower and is about 4 thousand US dollars before paying all taxes. And they are quite big here and are growing every year. However, compared to other developed countries, the tax policy of the northerners is considered lenient. Therefore, Canadians regularly report their income, after which they transfer up to 53% of their earnings to the state without delay. As a result, Canadian workers receive an average of about 2 thousand US dollars per month.
Of course, taxes depend on the type of work, the amount of profit, as well as on the specific province, since the Kingdom practices free self-government. There are:
- personal income tax;
- sales fees;
- accruals for net profit;
- interest on property;
- excise taxes;
- payroll taxes.
Ordinary citizens are concerned only with those that relate to property, inheritance, and salary. The remaining fees are intended for taxation of production and business activities. Therefore, ordinary workers only have to pay about 29% in income taxes. If the total profit for the entire year did not exceed 6.5 thousand dollars, no tax is charged at all.
The state provides a kind of cashbacks that allow you to return a small percentage of contributions at the end of the year. If you purchase the necessary interior items, household appliances, and other essential goods, and then attach the receipts to your tax return, you can offset 4-5% of expenses from all purchases. So it’s better not to throw away checks in Canada.
Welfare level
The Canadian kingdom is known for its lack of glaring social inequality. The standard of living is very high, prices are reasonable, the minimum wage is never lower than 1.5 thousand US dollars. The average full-fledged family with 2 children easily gets by with three hundred local dollars a week.
Statistics speak well about the well-being of the hockey power:
- 70% of residents own their own homes;
- almost the entire population owns modern household appliances and high-quality furniture;
- more than half of Canadians drive private cars;
- The country holds first place in the number of computer and digital equipment per capita.
At the same time, in cities and provinces several layers of society coexist comfortably with different levels security. Therefore, housing of any price range is always available. Likewise, entertainment activities are very accessible to both locals and tourists.
The northern regions are considered the most expensive - British Columbia, Alberta. The most pleasant “tariffs” are demonstrated by Manitoba and Quebec.
Prices
The high standard of living in Canada is due not only to high earnings, but also to noticeably affordable food prices. Although for Russians the cost of the consumer basket may seem frightening, but against the background of incomes and pricing in other countries, this figure is lost.
The biggest expense for everyone in Canada is transportation costs. Northern state, with wildlife, because its population in some places is quite low, the distances are large. Hence the increased cost of hotel services.
If we talk about tourist travel, then if you eat only in cafeterias, and even if you stay in a non-profit hotel, you need to be prepared to part with 50 dollars every day. Mostly responsible for this is the 7% tax on any expenses, be it food, transport or services. Living in Canada is cheaper than traveling there.
Canadian education sector
An undoubted advantage is the ratio of the cost of education to its quality. Tuition fees here are much lower than in famous American or British universities, but the diplomas obtained are valued just as highly. There is no public education system, but the quality of teaching is as deep and the graduates are as coveted around the world as those from Oxford or Yale. Teaching programs are similar to their American and English counterparts.
The authorities of the kingdom are very interested in foreign students, so since 2015 it has become a little easier to obtain a Canadian student visa. Sami educational institutions constantly launch special programs for applicants from abroad.
The main difficulty for Russians who decide to study with Canadians is the discrepancy in the study of basic disciplines. To avoid this difficulty, parents introduce their children to Canadian education as early as the senior year. high school. Then it will be easier to enter a university, and some benefits will appear, including a simplified receipt of a student loan.
Higher education institutions are divided into:
- universities (83 institutions);
- technical institutes (90 institutions);
- colleges (100 institutions).
The cost is set by the region, but in general, it is equal to Moscow prices, and often turns out to be cheaper. There are no scholarships, but there is financial support for immigrants on a competitive basis.
Medical support
The quality of medical care is at the proper level, however, it is not possible to talk about complete free medicine. Funding for the work of Canadian doctors depends on insurance contributions, so without health insurance it is difficult to get the necessary medical care, even in emergency cases (very expensive). The cost of insurance is determined by the region of residence - residents of the province of Saskatchewan get it almost for nothing, but residents of British Columbia will have to shell out about $130 monthly for a family of 3 people. True, even for those receiving the minimum wage this is not much.
Health insurance often does not include:
- emergency medical services;
- visiting dentists;
- massage, beauty treatments;
- appointment with homeopathic doctors.
Immigrants have the right to receive their health card - this is the name of the plastic health insurance card - after 3 months of permanent residence. Until then, you will have to avoid getting sick or buy a commercial social insurance package.
Cost of housing and real estate
The burning issue of housing for Russians in the Canadian kingdom is being resolved freely. Prices vary, but there are more than enough offers to suit every budget. Each province takes care of the real estate market itself, setting its own prices and taxes, but all prices are within reach. Of course, the most expensive property is in the centers and large cities, and more affordable in the periphery.
The cost of a standard detached house in the suburbs of Toronto is not inferior to the cost of a luxury apartment. At the same time, prestigious condominiums from the city center can cost more than a decent house near the city. On average, apartment prices are often lower than in the Russian capital. The category and value of housing depends on the number of bedrooms (1 bedroom = Russian two-room apartment). So, a 2-bedroom house on the Montreal market will cost 300 thousand Canadian dollars, the same house in Vancouver will cost 250 thousand Canadian dollars.
Renting housing is no less affordable for Russians - from 400 to 1200 local dollars. The offered apartments always have a separate bathroom, usually without furniture, with the exception of studio apartments, which have kitchen equipment. You are required to make an advance payment and pay for utilities yourself: about 100-200 k.d. monthly.
There is a peculiarity of renting one-room housing: only single people or couples without children can rent such a room, since state legislation obliges children to be provided with a separate room with a place to sleep. For violation of the rule, a fine is levied on both sides - the tenant and the landlord.
Maple State real estate is highly valued by investors as a promising investment. Housing is only comfortable, without division into “poor” and “rich” inhabitants. By the way, the latter is typical of how people live in Canada in general. Namely, it is equally comfortable at any income level. Snobbery is not typical for Canadians.
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Introduction
For my course work, I chose a country like Canada. Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the G8. Canada is one of the world's leading trading countries. In terms of foreign trade turnover, it ranks sixth in the world, and in terms of per capita turnover it is ahead of all other large countries in the world. 25% of Canada's marketable output is exported, and in industries such as the pulp and paper industry, sawmilling and the aluminum industry, export volume exceeds half of production. Peculiarities geographical location Canada has determined the orientation of its foreign trade towards two countries: the USA, as a market for raw materials and semi-finished products, and the UK, as the main consumer of agricultural products and some types of industrial raw materials. In terms of the scale of foreign economic relations with the United States, Canada has no equal; it ranks first in US imports. Many Canadian goods are imported into the United States under special bilateral duty-free trade agreements, and some raw materials and fuels are exported from Canada to the United States under limited quotas. In addition to the United States, Canada is developing trade with other partners, especially the Common Market countries and Japan.
In his course work I consider: features of Canada's external economy, foreign economic relations, trade relations and Russian-Canadian relations.
1. Canadian Economy
1.1 General information
The Canadian Federation was established in 1867 by a decision of the English Parliament - the British Act North America, which, together with subsequent amendments and additions, is still integral part Constitution of Canada.
In April 1982, Canada adopted the Constitutional Act, which adjusted and significantly supplemented the country's fundamental law, excluding any participation of the British Parliament in the Canadian constitutional process.
The head of state formally remains queen of england, represented in the country by the Governor General (since September 2005 - Mikael Jean), who is appointed from among Canadian citizens on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Legislative power belongs to a bicameral parliament. Executive power is exercised by the government headed by the Prime Minister, which is usually formed by the leader political party, which received the largest number of seats in parliament in the elections. Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations and the Community of Francophonie.
Official languages are English and French.
Area – 9.97 million square meters. km.
Administrative division: ten provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan) and three territories (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon).
Population - according to Statistics Canada, in 2007 the country's population was 33 million people, of which about 61% were English-Canadians, about 24% were French-Canadians, and 15% were other ethnic groups. Indigenous people– Indians (about 800 thousand) and Eskimos (56 thousand). Immigrants from Russia – about 350 thousand.
Capital – Ottawa (1.3 million people); the largest cities are Toronto (5.6 million people), Montreal (3.5 million people), Vancouver (about 2 million people).
1.2 Features of the Canadian economy
Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Eight (G8). Canada is a market economy with slightly more government intervention than the United States, but much less than most European countries. Canada has always had a lower level of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita than its southern neighbor (though wealth is more evenly distributed) but higher than that of industrialized Western European countries. Since the 1990s, thanks to the government reform and government management based on the principle of economic liberalism, public debt changes from 68.4% of GDP in 1994 to 38.7% in 2004 due to a “series” of budget surpluses. For the past ten years, following a period of economic excitement, the Canadian economy has been growing rapidly with low unemployment and large federal budget surpluses. At the same time as the deficit fell, the share of federal government spending in GDP changed from 19 to 12%, and total government spending fell by about 10% from 1992 to 2004. Canada today is very similar to the United States in terms of its market orientation in economic system, its productive forces and its high standard of living. While in January 2008 the state unemployment rate was the lowest since 1974, at 5.8%, provincial unemployment rates ranged from 3.2% to 12.2%.
The impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors transformed an almost entirely agricultural state into a predominantly industrial one with a predominantly urban population. Like other modern industrialized countries, the Canadian economy is dominated by the service sector, employing three-quarters of Canadians. However, Canada differs from other industrialized countries in the importance of extractive industries to its economy, particularly its oil and forestry industries.
Canada is an active energy supplier. Canada has gas fields on the east coast and large gas and oil reserves located primarily in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Thanks to the large expanses of tar sands in the Athabasca region, Canada ranks eighth among oil producing countries (2006). British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have abundant sources of cheap, renewable hydropower. Canada is the world leader in uranium mining.
Canada is one of the world's most important suppliers of agricultural products, mainly through the western provinces - the largest suppliers of wheat and cereals, coordinated by the Canadian Wheat Board. Canada ranks second in the world in diamond production, is the largest producer of zinc and a leader in the production of many others. natural resources: gold, nickel, aluminum and lead. Many towns, not to mention all the towns in the northern regions of the country where farming is difficult, exist because of a nearby mine or source of timber. Canada also has a significant industrial sector, concentrated mainly in southern Ontario, where there are a number of auto assembly plants that fulfill orders from American automobile giants, and in Quebec with its aerospace complex. Canada is one of the world leaders in telecommunications, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.
Partly because of its more developed mining industry, Canada is heavily dependent on international trade, especially trade with the United States. The conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement with them in 1989 and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, which Mexico joined, led to an impressive increase in Canada's trade and economic integration with the United States. Having experienced an economic slowdown in 2001 that was not technically considered a recession because it lasted less than six months, Canada has not had a recession since 1991 and has the overall best economic performance in the G8.
The currency of Canada is the Canadian dollar (CAD). Common bills are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. Canadian coins are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 cents, as well as 1 dollar (“loonie”) and 2 dollars (“tooney”).
Canada is one of the leading industrialized countries of the West. As of the third quarter of 2008, Canada's GDP was CAD 1,639.5 billion. dollars (in 2007 - 1537.6 billion Canadian dollars), 1304 billion dollars, GDP growth - 0.3% (in 2007 - 2.7%), state budget surplus - 0.8 billion can. dollars (in 2007 – 9.6 billion Canadian dollars).
Unemployment rate (as of December 2008) – 6.6% (in 2007 – 5.9%), inflation (as of November 2008) – 2.0% (in 2007 – 2 .2%).
The automotive industry, as well as the developed production of machinery and equipment (construction, mining, agricultural) make a major contribution to the economy. The Canadian economy has a pronounced export orientation, the share of exports in GDP in 2008 was 34.6%. The trade balance is positive – CAD 37.5 billion. dollars Balance of payments – 25.1 billion kan. Doll.
In 2008, 78.3% of merchandise exports came from the United States. Exports to the UK, Japan, China and Mexico were 2.6%, 2.2%, 2.2% and 1.2% respectively. Canada imports goods from the US (52.7%), China (9.4%), Mexico (3.8%), Japan (3.5%) and the UK (2.8%). Russia's share in Canada's foreign trade is insignificant.
The volume of accumulated foreign direct investment in the Canadian economy in 2008 amounted to 516.3 billion Canadian dollars. dollars, and Canadian direct investment abroad - 555.0 billion can. dollars (in 2007 – 500.9 and 514.5 billion Canadian dollars, respectively).
In the foreign economic sphere, the priority remains the line of comprehensive trade liberalization and active participation in international and regional integration associations.
One of the impetuses to achieve the current state were the reforms of the mid-1980s. The result of reforms in the Canadian economy was its overall recovery and significant improvement in public finances. The main achievements of neoconservative and liberal reformers are as follows:
· denationalization of the economy, large-scale privatization and liberalization of the most important sectors of the mining industry and infrastructure (the role of the state in the Canadian economy was large before, almost all key sectors were under state control (mining industry, infrastructure;
· deregulation, elimination of direct subsidies in agriculture and in transport;
Foreign economic relations and international trade agreements
Characterizing Canada's foreign trade, we can note the extreme importance of foreign economic relations for the development of the country. In terms of its level of involvement in international trade, Canada ranks first in the G7.
Canada's foreign trade strategy is based on the country's participation both in the process of globalization of the world economy (participation in the G7, WTO) and on the regional orientation of development (most of the foreign trade is with the United States).
On December 17, 1992, the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) Agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico was signed and entered into force on January 1, 1994.
The goals in the purely economic sphere were the following:
increasing national competitiveness, taking advantage of “economies of scale”,
reduction of transaction costs,
stimulating the influx of foreign direct investment, gaining greater access for national producers to financial, labor, and material resources, gaining access to a larger market at the expense of neighboring countries,
strengthening our position in the global market,
1. formation of a favorable foreign policy environment,
2. jointly confronting the challenges of globalization, etc.
Structure of Canada's exports and imports
Canada is one of the world's leading trading countries. In terms of foreign trade turnover, it ranks sixth in the world, and in terms of per capita turnover it is ahead of all other large countries in the world. 25% of Canada's marketable output is exported, and in industries such as pulp and paper, sawmills and aluminum, exports exceed half of production. The peculiarities of Canada's geographical location determined the orientation of its foreign trade towards two countries: the USA, as a market for raw materials and semi-finished products, and the UK, as the main consumer of agricultural products and some types of industrial raw materials. In terms of the scale of foreign economic relations with the United States, Canada has no equal; it ranks first in US imports. Many Canadian goods are imported into the United States under special bilateral duty-free trade agreements, and some raw materials and fuels are exported from Canada to the United States under limited quotas. In addition to the United States, Canada is developing trade with other partners, especially the Common Market countries and Japan.
Table No. 3 Exports and imports by Canada's main trading partners
| Export | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| USA | 328,9833 | 350,5763 | 368,2789 | 361,4421 | 355,743 | 369,8911 |
| Japan | 9,7995 | 9,8464 | 10,1728 | 10,2805 | 10,027 | 11,872 |
| United Kingdom | 7,6953 | 9,364 | 9,3605 | 11,2849 | 14,1579 | 14,2069 |
| EU | 16,4234 | 17,5338 | 18,6438 | 20,9088 | 24,3805 | 25,3904 |
| OECD | 12,7541 | 14,1891 | 14,5456 | 16,8079 | 19,7462 | 21,0787 |
| Other countries | 23,4664 | 27,4962 | 29,2085 | 33,2268 | 39,0721 | 47,4177 |
| Import | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| USA | 240,3563 | 250,0383 | 259,3329 | 265,0202 | 269,8287 | 280,7731 |
| Japan | 10,6455 | 10,0945 | 11,2131 | 11,8578 | 11,9752 | 11,6694 |
| United Kingdom | 9,183 | 9,46 | 9,0665 | 9,5543 | 10,0172 | 11,3212 |
| EU | 26,001 | 27,007 | 29,4873 | 32,5706 | 32,4094 | 35,3779 |
| OECD | 19,6969 | 22,2836 | 24,2821 | 23,7067 | 25,0593 | 27,4069 |
| Other countries | 36,8268 | 44,2744 | 54,4559 | 61,636 | 65,939 | 76,4395 |
| Balance | 56,412.6 | 65,848.0 | 62,372.2 | 49,605.5 | 47,898.0 | 46,868.9 |
| USA | 88,627.0 | 100,538.0 | 108,946.0 | 96,421.9 | 85,914.3 | 89,118.0 |
| Japan | -846.0 | -248.1 | -1,040.3 | -1,577.3 | -1,948.2 | 202.6 |
| United Kingdom | -1,487.7 | -96.0 | 294.0 | 1,730.6 | 4,140.7 | 2,885.7 |
| EU | -9,577.6 | -9,473.2 | -10,843.5 | -11,661.8 | -8,028.9 | -9,987.5 |
| OECD | -6,942.8 | -8,094.5 | -9,736.5 | -6,898.8 | -5,313.1 | -6,328.2 |
| Other countries | -13,360.4 | -16,778.2 | -25,247.4 | -28,409.2 | -26,866.9 | -29,021.8 |
Export
The structure of Canadian exports is as follows:
As shown in the diagram, energy plays a large role in the export of goods - 26%, which is 125.79 million dollars, industrial goods - 23% - 111.5 million. dollars, machinery and equipment – 19% – 92.99 mil. dollars, automotive products – 12% – 61.08 mil. dollars Despite the fact that Canada ranks first in timber exports and second in wheat exports. only 8% of the total exports are from agricultural products, which is 40.85 mil. dollars
Diagram No. 3 Commodity structure of exports
Table No. 4 Change in the commodity structure of exports from 2004 to 2008.
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Export | 429,0058 | 450,1499 | 453,7324 | 463,0514 | 489,8568 |
| 30,6745 | 30,0968 | 31,2103 | 34,3703 | 40,8575 | |
| Energy | 68,1058 | 86,9624 | 86,7889 | 91,6473 | 125,7922 |
| Forest | 39,4174 | 36,4478 | 33,3314 | 29,2632 | 25,6592 |
| Industrial products | 77,9533 | 83,9636 | 93,9055 | 104,4209 | 111,5115 |
| Machinery and equipment | 91,1061 | 93,0051 | 93,2715 | 93,4283 | 92,9944 |
| Automotive products | 90,3887 | 87,9945 | 82,2983 | 77,3044 | 61,0826 |
| Spare parts for equipment and machines | 17,2674 | 17,1477 | 17,8105 | 18,7367 | 18,1702 |
| 7,985 | 8,2882 | 8,7324 | 8,1759 | 8,1927 | |
| 6,1076 | 6,2436 | 6,3836 | 5,7044 | 5,5967 |
Diagram No. 4. Change in exports from 2004 to 2008
As can be seen from diagram No. 4, exports of goods and services grew every year. So from 2004 to 2008 it grew by 60 million dollars. The average growth rate was 4.5%. The highest growth rate was in 2008 and amounted to 5.7%.
Today, the United States is Canada's largest foreign trade partner. During the period of NAFTA, the growth of mutual trade was observed almost constantly. The only exception is the period 2001–2002. due to the economic turmoil that occurred in the United States after September 11. Thus, for Canada, foreign economic relations with the United States are extremely important, since the main consumer of Canadian goods and services is the US market. In this regard, it is important to note that NAFTA stimulated significant progress in productivity and specialization in the Canadian economy and contributed to improvements in economic scale, product quality, and price competitiveness. The result has been an increase in the overall competitiveness of Canadian exports of both goods and services.
The main result of this was a boom in Canada's foreign trade. Canadian exports have doubled since 1989. At the same time, its growth rate per year was 10% - on average four times more than the growth rate of the country's GDP. (For comparison, the total volume of export trade in the world in the period under comparison grew approximately twice as fast as the total volume of GDP produced in the countries of the world.)
Moreover, it is important to note that in the mid-1990s. export growth was the main driver of business activity, and with the rise in domestic demand in 1997–2000. it allowed Canada to take, together with the United States, a leading position in terms of economic development rates in the Group of Seven.
Thus, in 2001, the share of finished products in Canadian exports was 71%, and in imports - 85.7%. In general, over the past period the share of machinery and equipment increased from 28% to 45%. At the same time, the share of commodities fell from 60 to 35%.
Canada exports to the USA:
About 80% of cars produced.
65% of light industry products,
55% rubber;
50% electrical equipment;
50% steel and industrial equipment:
about half of the pulp and paper industry's output.
Canada is also the largest supplier of crude oil to the United States, with about half of all Canadian oil and gas going to the United States
As a consequence of these circumstances, many have noted that since the signing of NAFTA, Canada has become more vulnerable rather than resilient. In addition, the acceleration and deepening of economic integration between Canada and the United States increasingly raises the question of the prospect of their political integration, in other words, the possibility of Canada being absorbed by the United States. However, in the foreseeable future such a development of events seems unlikely.
Exports are also distributed to the following countries: Great Britain - 2.6%, China - 2.2%, Japan - 2.1%, Mexico - 1.2% and other countries - 13.6%
This chart also shows that the United States is the main trading partner.
According to estimates from Statistics Canada, Russian-Canadian trade turnover in 2008 amounted to 3665.9 million dollars. Hereinafter, US dollars, including exports - 2160.0 million dollars, imports - 1505.9 million. dollars. Positive balance – 654.1 million dollars.
Compared to 2007, trade turnover between the two countries increased by 49.0%, with exports increasing by 54.8% and imports by 41.5%.
Import
Imports of goods in 2008 amounted to 442.98 million. dollars USA.
The commodity structure of imports was distributed as follows: 28% of all imports are machinery and equipment, which amounts to 122.6 million. USD, 21% for industrial goods – 91.6 mil. USD, 16% automotive products - 71.96 million USD, 21% - energy - 53.07 million USD. dollars
Table No. 5 Change in the commodity structure of imports from 2004 to 2008
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Import | 363,1578 | 387,804 | 404,2526 | 415,0057 | 442,9879 |
| Agricultural and fishery products | 21,3987 | 22,0401 | 23,4541 | 25,4962 | 28,511 |
| Energy | 24,7817 | 33,6688 | 34,6284 | 36,5689 | 53,0719 |
| Forest | 3,1718 | 3,134 | 3,0839 | 2,995 | 2,8693 |
| Industrial products (metals) | 73,5109 | 78,5784 | 84,0156 | 85,1323 | 91,5738 |
| Machinery and equipment | 104,0914 | 110,9216 | 114,6557 | 116,6321 | 122,6283 |
| Automotive products | 77,3678 | 78,3837 | 79,8498 | 80,002 | 71,959 |
| Other consumer goods (clothing, shoes) | 47,7191 | 49,488 | 52,0217 | 54,7939 | 57,5223 |
| Trade special operations | 4,9671 | 4,6496 | 4,7713 | 5,1921 | 6,0007 |
| Unallocated indicators | 6,1494 | 6,9399 | 7,7722 | 8,1929 | 8,8516 |
Imports from 2004 to 2008 increased from 363.18 to 442.98 million dollars, that is, by 60 million. dollars The average import growth rate is 5%. From 2004 to 2005 and 2007 to 2008 there was the highest growth rate of about 6%.
In the import of goods, the USA also takes first place with 53%, Canada also purchases products from China - 9%, Mexico - 4%, Great Britain - 3%, Japan - 3%. And for the rest of the countries 28%, Russia does not play a significant role in Canada’s imports.
Canada has one of the highest life expectancy rates, is ahead of Japan in terms of education, and for several years in a row has been named by the UN as the best place in the world to live based on a combination of the most important criteria (real income of the population, ecology, culture and art, education, crime rate, etc.) .d.). A calm country with a high standard of living annually lures the best young professionals from all over the world. It is too boring for the Russian character, but many years of constancy in everything still attracts our compatriots who crave peace.
Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia (9.9 million sq. km). However, the population of 32.3 million people (about five times less than Russia) makes Canada one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Occupying approximately half of the North American continent, Canada has a strong and thriving economy, with a per capita GDP of approximately C$38,382. For eight years, prices in the Canadian real estate market continued to rise. Between 1999 and 2006 they grew by 74% (49% in real terms). Moreover, the most significant increase in the price index for primary and secondary real estate since 1990 was observed in the period from December 2005 to December 2006. Western provinces occupied a leading place in terms of growth in real estate prices. Thus, in Alberta, real estate prices increased by 29.5%, which in monetary terms averaged 282,686 Canadian dollars in 2006 - compared to 249,365 Canadian dollars in 2005. The most expensive in terms of real estate prices remains British Columbia, where the average price on the secondary real estate market is 387,062 Canadian dollars.
The housing boom has been driven by three main factors: a strong economy, high immigration and low mortgage rates. As long as Canada's economy remains strong, the country continues to attract immigrants. Between 2001 and 2006, Canada's population increased by 5.4%, with international migration accounting for two-thirds of the increase. The most economically prosperous province, Alberta attracts the largest number of immigrants, followed by Ontario and British Columbia. Most migrants first rent housing and then buy houses.
At the beginning of 2007, expert forecasts spoke of a further increase in real estate prices in Canada, both taking into account general global trends and due to economic growth in the country, rising incomes and an increase in the number of jobs increasing the demand for real estate. However, already at the beginning of 2007, experts began to talk about the fact that the real estate market was becoming more balanced - demand was falling and supply was growing - and expected that this would lead to a more moderate increase in real estate prices. In 2008-2009, real estate prices in Canada fell further. At the same time, experts predict a resumption of growth in real estate prices after the global economy emerges from the crisis.
Taxation in Canada
Income tax. In general, income is taxed at the federal and regional levels. In all provinces except Quebec, the Canadian government collects taxes on behalf of the regional or territorial government. Typically (but not always), provincial income calculations are consistent with federal laws. The amounts and procedure for taxation are adjusted annually in accordance with legal requirements. Generally, non-Canadian citizens who have rental income from Canadian real estate are subject to tax at 25% of their total income. This amount is retained by the tenant or property manager.
It is generally accepted that for non-Canadian citizens, payment of this 25% withholding tax is the final tax liability to Canada. However, in accordance with Article 216 of the Income Tax Law, persons who are not citizens of this country and receive rental income have the right to choose another scheme - to file an income tax return. By choosing this option, a person who is not a citizen of this country is subject to tax on net rental income in the amount established by the state. Non-citizens who elect to comply with Section 216 are also required to pay an additional 48% tax on their federal tax liability. However, they are not required to pay regional taxes.
Deductible expenses include allowance for depreciation (Cost of Capital Improvements, CCA*), advertising, insurance, interest, maintenance, management, government and legal fees, administrative expenses, property taxes, travel expenses, payment of utilities, etc. Rented buildings may be classified into different classes depending on their design and time of acquisition. Most buildings acquired after 1987 are class 1 and fall in value by 4%. Furniture and property depreciate by 20%. Capital gains tax. Half of the income is subject to capital gains tax. Capital gains are calculated by subtracting expenses incurred from the sale and purchase of real estate, capital investments, and expenses such as investments in home renovations or home improvements. Accordingly, when calculating the taxable base in this case, the basic cost and expenses are subtracted from the total amount of capital gains, and then the amounts are divided in half.
Real estate tax. Property taxes are collected by local governments. Tax amounts depend on the city or municipality in which the property is located and the assessed value of the property. When paying taxes, property taxes can be deducted from rental income. For comparison, we present the current housing tax rate as a percentage of the market value of a detached one-story home and a typical apartment building in different cities.
Buying real estate in Canada
In fact, there are no special restrictions for foreigners buying real estate in Canada. The process is quite simple:
- A real estate representative or agent, preferably in conjunction with an attorney, assists the buyer in making an Offer to Purchase to the seller. Along with the offer, the seller will usually receive a deposit, usually no more than 10% of the purchase price. The seller, in turn, has the right to reject the offer or make a counter offer.
- The buyer and seller agree on the price.
- A copy of the signed agreement is sent to the lawyer, who reviews all the terms of the sale and sets a closing date. The lawyer must be informed how the purchaser, or purchasers purchasing the property jointly (if any), will be registered in title to the property.
- At the time of closing, all conditions specified in the Offer to Purchase must be satisfied within the stated time frame.
- It is necessary to have up-to-date data on land surveying work.
- An attorney carefully reviews the title to the property to make sure the seller has an unencumbered title. The lawyer is also obliged to monitor the implementation of all state regulations and compliance with other legal requirements.
- The attorney drafts an Adjustment Agreement, which confirms the sale price, the amount the buyer must pay the seller, and the ratio (balance of payments) of the down payment and adjustments. A bank-guaranteed check for payment for all listed services must be issued to the trusted lawyer.
- Finally, the lawyer transfers the money to the seller, registers the house in the buyer's name and issues the house documents and keys to the new owner. Full transaction costs include all costs associated with the purchase and subsequent resale of real estate - fees for lawyers, notaries, agents, registration fees, payments for taxes, etc. Transfer Tax Property transfer taxes (title transfer tax or purchase tax in some provinces) are assessed at 0.5-2% of the total price of the property. Alberta and the rural provinces of Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have not implemented these taxes. The costs of obtaining legal assistance depend on various aspects, in some cases their amount can reach 10% of the value of the property.
New and extensively renovated homes are subject to a 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the purchase price. GST is usually included in the quoted selling price. New home buyers can apply for a partial GST rebate if the property they purchase becomes their primary residence. The more expensive the house, the greater the GST discount. A certificate of the legal and financial status of an apartment association can cost about 100 Canadian dollars. In Quebec, such a fee is not charged.
Legal/Notary Fees and Fees Lawyers (notaries in Quebec) review the Offer to Purchase, review the title deed, draft the mortgage deed, the mortgage deed, and ensure that the final details of the transaction are followed. Legal fees are negotiable (typically a minimum fee of C$500), depending on the area, the complexity of the sales process and the value of the property. Each party pays its own lawyer. Costs include payments made by the attorney on behalf of the buyer, such as registration fees (electronic registration costs CAD 70.70 per document, handwritten registration costs CAD 60.70 per document), copying services, etc. . Real Estate Agent Fees The real estate agent fee may vary depending on the agreement - from 3 to 7% of the property value plus 6% GST. Typically, realtors charge 7% on the first C$100,000 of the sale price and 3% on the balance. Real estate agents' services are usually paid for by the buyer, but in some cases two agents are involved - on the seller's side and on the buyer's side.
Renting real estate in Canada
In 2006, across Canada's 28 largest regions, the average rental price for a two-bedroom apartment increased by 3.2%. The list was topped by the provinces of Alberta (with price increases of 13.3%) and British Columbia (4.8%). Growth in average rental prices has been rather sluggish compared to house price growth. Between 1999 and 2006, the average rental price of a two-bedroom apartment rose by just 20%, while house prices rose by 75%. The vacancy rate for apartments in 2006 was 2.6%, down slightly from 2.7% in 2005 but still significantly better than the 4.3% average seen in the 1990s.
Increased net migration has created demand for rental housing. However, increased demand for home ownership, supported by low mortgage rates, has suppressed demand for rentals. Despite the widening gap between average rent growth and house price growth, Canada has so far managed to maintain its high incomes. Research conducted by Global Property Guide shows that apartments with an area of 100 sq. m in Montreal and Ottawa bring the highest income, amounting to approximately 7.18%. Homes and apartments in Vancouver provide the lowest returns, about 3.10%.
The original rental terms can be freely set by agreement in all provinces except a few, such as Quebec, where the original rental terms can be appealed if the same landlord's rent for the same property was lower in the previous 12 months. In all provinces, 3 months or 90 days prior written notice must be provided in the event of a rent increase. The exceptions are Nova Scotia, where notice must be given 4 months in advance, and Quebec, where the conditions for providing notice are specified in the contract.
In four provinces, rent increases are subject to set rules, with the maximum allowable increase being determined annually. In British Columbia, the maximum allowable rent increase in 2006 was set at the rate of inflation + 2%. In Quebec, the landlord is required to tell the tenant what the minimum rent for the property was in the last 12 months.
The new tenant has the right to challenge the proposed rent and apply to the Regie du Logement (Housing Council) to determine the amount of the fee. During the contract period, the amount of the annuity may be adjusted if the terms of the contract so provide, but either party has the right to apply to the Regie du Logement to make changes. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the amount of the rent will be set government agencies in accordance with the amount of rent previously established for this apartment. For example, in 2005, for residential premises for which heating costs were borne by the tenant, the state recommended an increase in rent by 0.8%. If the landlord provides heating services using electricity, he is allowed to raise the rent by 1.1%, if the house is heated with gas - by 0.5%, if with liquid fuel - by 2.0%. In some provinces, such as Ontario, under certain circumstances, a tenant may apply to the local government to obtain a rent reduction.
The circumstances may be the following: the landlord does not make any repairs or improve living conditions, does not provide services that are a condition for increasing the rent; the amount of municipal tax is reduced; the provision of utilities or housing amenities is reduced or discontinued without the landlord reducing the rent.
Landlords can request a security deposit of between half and one full month's rent in all provinces except Quebec, where guaranteed deposits are prohibited, and Ontario, where landlords can request the last month's rent instead. In British Columbia, a landlord may require an additional amount of half a month's rent as a security deposit for those with pets. Most regions have a set interest rate or have an interest scheme that determines how much interest must be paid. In some provinces, the security deposit is not withheld by landlords, but local authorities involved in real estate. When the lease term expires, the original security deposit paid, less any mutually agreed upon deductions, is returned to the tenant.
If the landlord and tenant cannot agree on deductions, they must appear to discuss the issue before a mediator or judge arrives to resolve the issue. In most provinces, the security deposit must be returned within a few weeks of the end of the rental period. In British Columbia and Manitoba the security deposit must be returned within 15 days, in Newfoundland within 14 days and in Saskatchewan within 7 days. If the landlord does not do this, he will have to deal with a judge or arbitrator who will order him to pay a fine, usually in an amount equal to the amount of the security deposit. Landlord and Tenant Rights, Possibility of Eviction The contract cannot be terminated by the landlord during a fixed-term lease (usually one year), except in special cases (such as non-payment of rent by the tenant, illegal activity of the tenant, etc.).
In most provinces, landlords and tenants can agree as part of the lease agreement that after a set (fixed) date, the lease will end and the tenant must move out. However, this rarely happens. In most cases, despite the originally established terms, the lease agreement is changed towards uncertain terms - “from month to month” or “from year to year”. Tenants may terminate the lease agreement by giving written notice to the landlord. The notice must be provided 1 to 3 months in advance, depending on the province. If a tenant terminates a fixed-term lease, he must pay the landlord all direct costs associated with finding a new tenant (newspaper advertisements, credit checks, etc.). He is also obliged to pay the entire amount lost by the landlord as a result of the tenant's premature departure. At the same time, the landlord is obligated to reduce the amount of damages recovered and cannot deliberately delay re-letting the property in order to recover damages from its previous tenant.
In no province can landlords evict a tenant at any time they wish without showing grounds or special reasons set out in the law - for example, if the landlord intends to renovate the property or use it as their own residence. However, in Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland, a landlord cannot evict a tenant, even to use the property as his or her children's or relatives' place of residence. Once the eviction notice is given, the tenant will be given time to vacate the property.
The period given to the tenant to evict is determined in accordance with the reason for the eviction. For example, in British Columbia, the tenant is given 5 days to pay the rent arrears if he has not paid it on time, otherwise the tenant will be required to vacate the premises within 5 days after 5 days have passed. last day payment deadline. If the tenant violates the terms of the lease, he must be given one month's notice to vacate, and if the landlord intends to move back into the rental property, he must give the tenant two months' notice to vacate. In British Columbia, if the landlord wishes to return to his property, he is obliged to pay the tenant an amount equal to one month's rent as compensation. In most provinces (such as Ontario), if a tenant fails to pay rent, an eviction notice can be given to them as soon as the rent is behind. And in other provinces there is a grace period, ranging from 4 days, as in Manitoba, to 30 days in some Maritimes provinces. The notice of nonpayment of rent must state the amount the tenant owes, the date the tenant must move out, and state that the tenant has the right to disagree with the notice.
Procedures and paperwork play a very significant role in eviction cases. If the landlord has a valid reason for terminating the agreement, but makes even one small error in the documents, the provincial or regional court may reject this notice and require the documents in question to be submitted again. Thus, the eviction process can take a very long time.
Rules regarding smoking in the home and keeping pets may vary from region to region. In most provinces and territories, a landlord can refuse to rent to tenants who smoke or have pets. In some provinces (e.g. Ontario), a landlord cannot prohibit smoking or pets unless he can convincingly demonstrate that the pets/smoking causes unreasonable damage to the property or is a nuisance to neighbors. Granting of sublease/lease The tenant must obtain written permission from the lessor for the right to sublease. But the landlord should not refuse to issue such permission without specific reasons. However, the landlord is protected from the risk because he can insist on credit checks on prospective tenants, get reviews from landlords, etc. and may reject any prospective tenant with whom it deems it to be financially risky.
Low or no security deposits are offset by the fact that Canadian courts and rental authorities are very effective at collecting payment from defaulting tenants. In some provinces, if the tenant fails to challenge the original eviction notice within a certain time (usually no more than two weeks), the notice is considered accepted and the landlord has the right to seek a default judgment. The landlord does not have to appear before a judge or arbitrator, he is only required to prove that his notice was given in accordance with all the rules. A tenant can be evicted from the rental premises within a month, but, as a rule, the eviction process takes approximately 2-3 months.
Disputes between the landlord and the tenant are resolved by local judicial authorities or through the judicial/arbitration system. Hearings conducted by arbitrators are usually closed, as are written court decisions. The small claims court, like the judicial arbitration system, operates under clear rules that allow parties to represent themselves in court without resorting to lawyers. Accordingly, there are not so many law firms specializing in issues related to rental legislation.
Decisions made by a local judge or arbitrator may be appealed to a higher court. However, it is a rare case that the decision of a local court judge/arbitrator is appealed, since legal representation in such courts is quite expensive. Legislation Each province has its own landlord and tenant law. Previous court decisions are reviewed where the legal system is uniform. Quebec has its own court system based on the civil code, but does not deal with common law judgments. Moreover, arbitrators are generally independent of the decisions made by other arbitrators, but they may act in accordance with the guidelines of the applicable regulations - the official interpretation of local laws relating to lease matters.
The Canadian Human Rights Code prohibits landlords from refusing to provide rental housing to tenants because of their race, ancestry, colour, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, age, marital status, handicap or disability. social security. Therefore, during the tenant selection process, the landlord has no right to ask the future tenant questions that could be perceived as discriminatory; for example, you cannot ask about sexual orientation or ask whether the tenants are planning to have another child.
Based on materials from the article “Canada in the global real estate market”, Portfolio Investor Magazine, No. 4, 2008