Canadian Immigrant October 2023

Volume 20 18 Issue 5 4 | 2021 2023 c anadianimmigr ant.c a

Publications mail agreement number 40011993 | $5.95

RISING STAR Jamaican-born Canadian Mark Clennon receives critical acclaim for his feature film debut at TIFF

FUTURE OF WORK IN CANADA WHERE DOIMMIGRANTS FIT IN?

FROM SCRUBS TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Kamal Khera appointed as Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities

NAVIGATING THE SCHOLARSHIP LANDSCAPE

CONTENTS Volume 20 Issue 4, 2023

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FUSION PROFILE: Reham Teama pursues her entrepreneurial dream HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO NEWS: Canada’s population sees biggest one-year increase on record, Upcoming web conferences from Canadian Immigrant

COVER STORY Rising star: Jamaican-born Canadian musician turned actor Mark Clennon receives critical acclaim for his feature film debut at the Toronto International Film Festival

12 FEATURE

PARENTING: Shopping for children’s clothing Lower your risk of falling for a rental scam

25 LIVING

WELLNESS: Seven wellness rituals to elevate your performance

26 PROFILE

From Scrubs to the House of Commons: Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera takes immense pride in serving the community

28 MONEY AND BUSINESS

MANAGING YOUR FINANCES: Good debt vs. bad debt

Future of work in Canada: Where do immigrants fit in?

14 CAREERS AND EDUCATION

CAREER COACH: Win your dream job with a blue ocean strategy HIGHER LEARNING: Navigating the scholarship landscape Benefits of making friends at school

21 SETTLEMENT

IMMIGRATION LAW: Immigration to Canada becoming less predictable

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FUSION

People. News. Information.

REHAM TEAMA

VOLUME 20, ISSUE 4

2023

Pursuing the entrepreneurial dream

Group Publisher Sanjay Agnihotri

By Ramya Ramanathan

Editor Ramya Ramanathan rramanathan@metroland.com

woman from the middle east, even more so without any family or an existing network of friends. I dealt with loneliness and the lack of a support system/contacts through volunteering. I believe that volunteering can be a gamechanger; it helped me find employment and with building my network.

Editorial Design Safi Nomani Brand Manager Ricky Bajaj rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 416 856 6304

The lack of Canadian work experience and Canadian education were challenges in entering the job market. I eventually chose to start my own business to overcome these issues. Between 2016 to mid-2023 I worked in different sectors including insurance and then workforce development. For the last three years, I have worked as an entrepreneurship instructor for various organizations including Skills for Change, WoodGreen and ACCES Employment.

Assistant Manager Laura Jackman ljackman@metroland.com General Inquiries: info@canadianimmigrant.ca Circulation/Distribution Inquiries: ljackman@metroland.com ISSN 1910-4146 Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher

Publications mail agreement number: 40065097 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 211 Pritchard Road, Unit 4 Hamilton, Ontario, L8J 0G5 Printed on recycled paper.

Toronto Circulation 30,000 copies Vancouver Circulation 15,000 copies Calgary/Edmonton Circulation 5,000 copies Canadian Immigrant is published five times a year in print.

Canadian Immigrant welcomes submissions, but is not responsible for unsolicited material.

Canadian Immigrant is a publication of Metroland Media Group, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

Entire contents property of Canadian Immigrant.

canadianimmigrant.ca HEAD OFFICE 211 Pritchard Road, Unit 4 Hamilton, Ontario L8J 0G5 Tel: 905 273 8111

Tell us about your work.

I am a serial entrepreneur. I launched my first business in consultancy in 2019, followed by a publishing and an online bookstore business in 2021.

In 2023, a dream of the first Arabic Canadian Book Fair was born and I am the executive director and the gyptian-born Reham Teama is a global citizen founder of this nonprofit with the vision of spreading who has worked in four different continents. She Arabic culture and literature across Canada. started her career in administration, and then In the coming year, I plan to set up a pop-up gained experience in the export and sourcing field in Egypt. She then relocated to Dubai where she worked book cafe between Etobicoke and Mississauga and for multinational corporations and started her journey eventually transition to a permanent physical presence as an entrepreneur. Between 2014-2016, she worked for by the end of 2024. My vision is to provide a café that the Italian government as a trade analyst. When she provides a great ambience for book lovers to enjoy live moved to Canada eight years ago, Teama worked as book launches, access recent publications, and host a a marketing manager for an Italian newspaper and a reading corner, showcase arts and music, and much multilingual case facilitator for an insurance company. more.

E

In 2019, she decided to pursue her dream as an entrepreneur. The company she founded, Teama Publishing, has published Gender X by Zain Joseph, Other Side of the Road by Ismahen Chaabouni and Motivational Diaries by Reem Ammari.

Tell us about yourself.

I am originally from Egypt. I have followed my dreams of travelling and being an international entrepreneur. I have worked for about two decades in more than four countries in four different continents. In 2016, I moved to Canada from Dubai. After spending eight years of my life in Dubai, I felt I was chasing a mirage and I wanted to settle down.

What were a few challenges faced and how did you deal with them?

It was challenging to relocate to Canada as a single

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

What would you offer as key tips for entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurship is so rewarding but can be isolating at the same time. Try to enjoy the rewarding side of it and overcome the isolation by building a reliable network and strong team that can serve as your foundation.

What keeps you going when things are tough?

Hope. I believe and trust that hard work pays.

Being someone who focuses on the big picture, I see opportunities in every difficulty, and this helps me find success.

Any advice to offer new immigrants?

Follow your dreams, visualize it until you make it happen.

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news Canada’s population sees biggest one-year increase on record

FUSION

New data from Statistics Canada released on September 27, 2023, finds that Canada’s population grew by the highest rate in a single year since 1957, as the numbers of immigrants, temporary workers and international students surged.

Canada’s country’s population was estimated at 40,097,761 on July 1, 2023, an increase of over a million people from July 1, 2022.

International migration accounted for 98 per cent of growth.

According to StatCan, if the rate of population growth seen this

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

As of July 1, 2023, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia had the largest populations of non-permanent residents. Close to a million non-permanent residents lived in Ontario, almost half a million in Quebec and around 400,000 in British Columbia.

The estimated number of temporary residents in Canada now outnumbers the Indigenous population accounted for in the 2021 census.

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During the period, the country also saw a massive 46 per cent increase in the number of temporary residents. This is the largest year-over-year increase in the population of non-permanent residents since comparable data has been available, with the increase in work and study permits accounting for most of the change in the last year.

Alberta experienced the fastest demographic growth of all provinces and territories during that year, not only due to international migration but with people from within Canada moving to the province.

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past year remained constant in the future, it would lead to the Canadian population doubling in 25 years!

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Upcoming web conferences from Canadian Immigrant Check out upcoming offerings from the Canadian Immigrant Industry-specific Web Conference Series. Organized in partnership with Access Employment, these free, live online events bring information for internationally educated professionals in specific areas. Speakers from the industry share their expertise and advice with newcomers, in addition to responding to information requests. The next two events will provide information for engineers, technicians and technologists (Nov. 16), and for aspiring entrepreneurs on starting a business (Nov. 30) You can sign up for upcoming web conferences and access recordings from previous events at canadianimmigrant. ca/web-conference.

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COVER STORY

RISING STAR

Jamaican-born Canadian musician turned actor Mark Clennon receives critical acclaim for his feature film debut at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival

By Vivien Fellegi

M

ark Clennon recalls dancing with every fibre of his being — leaping, twisting, twirling — as a seven-yearold in Jamaica. “I was looking for something,” recalls the adult musician, actor and poet.

“And music just filled that void.”

But the ballet classes almost didn’t happen.

“Jamaica is very macho,” says Clennon. “Dance was considered not the most masculine.”

Well-meaning relatives prodded Clennon’s mother to deny him his dream. But she didn’t waver. “He’s gonna dance, I don’t care what you say,” she insisted. This would be just the first of many obstacles Clennon would have to overcome to realize his true essence.

Growing up in Jamaica was a “complicated” experience, says Clennon. His childhood was idyllic — he recalls playing cards, going to the beach and singing along with his musical family, with a saxophone player for a father and a grandmother who sang in a choir. Long before he could articulate the urge, Clennon looked to the universal language of music to express himself. By age seven Clennon was banging around the piano and “making stuff up", and his mother enrolled him in piano lessons. Around the same time, he began the

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

dance classes that would help to mold his moves and sharpen his stage presence.

But once the gay teenager hit adolescence, life in the ultra-religious country grew tougher. LGBTQ folk were unwelcome in this space, and Clennon was bullied and beaten up.

Worse, the environment turned him against himself. It would take him years to loosen the residue of “shame and guilt” which clung to his conscience. (Since that time, Jamaica has grown more progressive, says Clennon.)

When he was 15 years old, Clennon’s mother moved to Florida to study nursing, and he joined his mom after she graduated. Initially thrilled by the adventure, Clennon never fully assimilated into the U.S., a country where he saw “an undercurrent of xenophobia,” At the age of 21, he struck out for Toronto, a city where he saw opportunities in the entertainment field.

Encountering people from all walks of life, Clennon instantly felt at home in his adopted land. The ubiquitous Jamaican restaurants and festivals also helped him feel at home.

“Something really struck a chord with me,” he says. “I felt like I belonged.”

But he still struggled to find balance between his Jamaican self and the new, Canadian elements in his being.

“There’s this ambiguity and in-between space that you have to live in,” he says. In Canada, he didn’t understand certain aspects of North American pop culture. But when he visited Jamaica, he also felt out of place. “The dialect might not sound as authentic, or I didn’t know the trendy new songs” he says.

Clennon poured this feeling of alienation into his works, including the aptly named record Foreign, as well as a book of poetry with the same title. Over the years, his everevolving sound reflected this duality, veering from North American pop to a more Jamaican sound with dancehall, reggae and R&B influences.

Toronto also helped Clennon step into his sexuality. Over the years, his encounters with a rich array of sexual expressions helped him shed the religious condemnation that he grew up with. “I’ve gotten more confident in my identity,” says Clennon.

This mature self-acceptance is reflected in

CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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COVER STORY the single Kingston (2022), Clennon’s most personal piece of music to date. The video made history depicting the first romance between a same sex couple shot in Jamaica’s capital.

The tender love story dispels myths about the LGBTQ community in Clennon’s homeland.

“The whole idea and message is something I’m very proud of,” he says.

Clennon’s newfound equilibrium has also allowed him to be vulnerable in other arenas, including acting. The consummate performer has always enjoyed roleplaying, but it wasn’t until he met filmmaker M.H. Murray that he began to take the profession seriously. The director was impressed with Clennon’s talent and vivacity. “You’re too energetic not to be an actor,” he told his young protege. Clennon went on to star in the director’s short film, Ghost, about a gay musician called Ben whose date disappears after the two share a night together.

But it wasn’t until his next role in the film I Don’t Know Who You Are, that Clennon really went out on a limb. In this movie, featured in the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Clennon reprises his character from Ghost. In the gritty sequel, Ben is sexually

assaulted, potentially exposed to HIV, and tries to scrounge together the money for the expensive medication to protect against the virus. Clennon was thrilled to be offered the role which reflected his Jamaican heritage as well as his sexual orientation.

I’ve gotten more confident in my identity,” says Clennon.

But the process proved to be more daunting than he had anticipated. Processing his character’s pain was overwhelming. In the movie, the lead character Ben feels shamed by the attack, losing his voice and his sense of self (reflected in the title I Don’t Know Who You Are). At the end of each day’s shoot Clennon would be utterly drained. It was definitely a rough experience,” he says.

But the experience was worth every bit of effort. “It’s definitely changed me,” says its

star. First of all, the plot brought home to Clennon his own privilege — had he been in his character’s circumstances, the actor would have simply whipped out his credit card and paid for the treatment. Clennon was also featured in the festival's annual "Rising Stars" program, a networking and development program for emerging actors.

The movie also helped to overcome Clennon’s fear of offending others through his depiction of gay characters.

“My family’s gonna see this, what are they going to think?” he had worried initially.

But by the time the movie wrapped, he had overcome these fears. “What I realized is that there are going to be people who are going to be alienated regardless,” says Clennon. “You can’t please everyone.”

Today Clennon is working on his most revealing album to date. The record will focus on his LGBTQ upbringing in Jamaica and the resulting loneliness and trauma. Clennon hopes to share his unique perspective with others who feel on the margins. “Just knowing that [there's] one person…feels less alone and less afraid, [it] feels really good,” says Clennon.

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

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FEATURE

FUTURE OF WORK IN CANADA: WHERE DO IMMIGRANTS FIT IN? While the overall outlook is positive for the job seeker in Canada, given the labour market shortages, employers need to find ways to support and retain immigrant talent.

By Baisakhi Roy

W

hen financial services professional Rajesh Acharya hit the ‘submit that he gets to work at a job he’s actually trained for. button’ on a job post for a telecom company in Toronto that “The reality is that there are plenty of jobs but nobody calls back. Companies matched his skills and experience, he felt pretty good about it.

Until he got a rejection letter, almost immediately. The reason cited was his are building their databases or ticking a box of having posted the job for a certain amount of time,” says the immigrant from Doha. profile did not fit the role.

Acharya says that some of his friends who haven’t been as lucky are Acharya believes that his profile was a perfect match. “Week on week, one applies for roles only to be told that they aren’t qualified for the position, contemplating leaving Canada for better jobs either in their native countries that they are going ahead with someone else. It can get pretty demoralizing or the U.S. and the U.K. because you are clueless as to what you lack,” he says.

“In the initial days of applying and interviewing, a senior director was Acharya who has notable companies like IBM, Oracle and Capgemini [recommending] me but even that didn’t work. That’s when you think that on his resumé decided to change tracks and hired an employment you’ve made the wrong decision of moving to Canada. The interviewer has consultant. The consultant helped him rebrand and built a strategy to already made up his mind,” he says. effectively crack the job market. He got a job almost immediately with A 2022 survey by market research and analytics company Leger found that a leading Canadian company. It’s been quite the process but he’s happy

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

110K), solution architects (84 -130K) and engineers who can earn up to 115K annually. Technical jobs have higher pay due to a skills shortage in the industry as well as construction jobs are on the rise due to an increased need for housing, especially in Ontario.

Though the overall outlook is positive for the job seeker, experts warn that employers need to move quickly and efficiently to retain immigrant talent.

Experts recommend an overhaul of a system riddled with bias and a hard look at the misalignment of basic policies and systems.

“Large corporations definitely have barriers built in their systems but it’s a huge problem with small and medium enterprises as well where the point system doesn’t really align with employer needs,” says Wendy Cukier, founder of the Diversity Institute and research lead for the Future Skills Centre.

According to a study led by the Diversity Institute and Future Skills Centre, newcomers and racialized groups face a higher rate of unemployment compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. Immigrants represent 27 per cent of employed workers to Canadian-born residents’ 73 per cent.

“People doing the hiring in companies really need to challenge their biases and understand what an asset a newcomer could be to their company. They not only need support pre-arrival but also in terms of navigating various systems, the more educated the newcomers are, the less satisfied they are with the support that they get. That’s something that should really concern us,” Cukier says.

Cukier also believes that the immigrant serving agencies need to provide better support. “We have to really hold settlement agencies and immigrant serving organizations to account. Many predatory training programs that do not lead to jobs or bridging programs that do not lead to professional accreditation only create jobs for people working in the agencies. I think it’s unconscionable,” she says. almost 30 per cent of immigrants between ages 18-34 were contemplating leaving Canada by 2024 for better opportunities. Between struggling to get foreign credentials recognized, especially in licensed fields like accounting and nursing, to being led down the garden path by various newcomer organizations guaranteeing employment, even an easier path to citizenship (compared to the U.S. or Australia) no longer seems to be an attractive incentive for immigrants to remain in Canada.

New to Canada?

So, what does the future of work in Canada look like?

Like Acharya notes, the jobs are there for the taking and there is a significant labour shortage across most sectors.

Statistics Canada quotes recent findings from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS) from March 2023, which states that accommodation and food services continued to have the highest job vacancy rate across all sectors.

Businesses in accommodation and food services (52.0 per cent) were most likely to expect a shortage in labour over the next quarter, followed by businesses in manufacturing (43.8 per cent), administrative and support, waste management and remediation services (37.6 per cent) and health care and social assistance (35.1 percent).

According to human resources and recruitment firm Randstad, the availability of jobs, especially across the service industry, technology and healthcare is showing steady growth. Some of the most in-demand jobs are in human resources, engineering, nursing and sales.

Salaries are also trending on the higher side despite inflation and a looming recession. This is attributed to high demand for skilled workers, rapid job growth and a workforce that is determined to negotiate for higher pay.

According to the recruitment agency, some of the highest paying jobs in 2023 include financial analysts (80-120K), human resources manager (83-

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CAREERS & EDUCATION CAREER COACH

Win your dream job with a blue ocean strategy What makes you unique?

A

s you start another day sending out resumés or preparing for an upcoming job interview, you may wonder about the competition and what you could do to rise above them and even make them irrelevant. A blue ocean strategy may save the day for you.

Blue Ocean Strategy, a very popular book by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, spells out the strategy to make your candidacy unique and valuable. The same strategy is taught in many business schools and used by many executive teams today.

According to the authors, two types of oceans exist. Red oceans are viewed as a bloody, sharkinfested waterscape full of completion. In the red ocean, job seekers compete with each other intensely, for limited resources in an overcrowded space.

In a blue ocean however, you create an altogether new way of looking at things and a new value offering that’s different from the rest, making your competition irrelevant.

THE RED OCEAN A red ocean job search involves a frenzied where you jump at publicly posted roles. Once you see the job posting, you take out your resume, prep it with keywords, send it in and wait.

This means, you are one of many similar candidates vying for the same, limited roles.

Naturally, it’s a more reactive than a proactive approach applying to open jobs that already exist in the job market.

Your background and experience are used in a red ocean job search to convince the hiring team that this job could be a natural extension of your past.

In a typical red ocean job search: • You’re often responding to posted roles and often not getting past the round one of the interview. If more than 10 people have applied for the job you want, you’re definitely a red ocean resident.

• Your resumé speaks to the problems you solved months and years ago that may not be relevant to this current economic environment.

• Your response to the interviewer mostly 14

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

To demonstrate your value as the ideal centers on what you’ve done in the past, how skilled you are at one part of the job candidate, you need to showcase how the company will get a strong return on investment description and such. on the cost of supporting you. Thus, a blue ocean • You find it difficult to articulate how your job search revolves around the concept of value background and skills differentiate you from which you can deliver for the company. other similar candidates. By contrast, in a blue In this job search, you don’t compete on ocean interview that question wouldn’t even experience with other candidates, but ride on come up for you. the strength of your innovative ideas and future • You focus on industry/domain expertise, thinking. For instance, you could share how you company fit and prior experience in think about — and intend to solve the business your interview. Although these factors are problem they’re facing, whether it’s a new product important in both red ocean and blue ocean or service introduction, changing the trajectory job searches, they don’t actually differentiate of the organization, or doing more with less. candidates that much from one to the next.

Instead of widening your search, you approach • You come away from the job interview after with a laser focus and pitch yourself in emerging a strong conversation about your past and areas and claim that space through thought negligible information sharing about the leadership. future of your industry and how you are In a successful blue ocean job search: planning to help shape it.

• The interview feels like a two-way communication about the future needs of a THE BLUE OCEAN By contrast, a blue ocean job search company. centers on future possibility. You make the competition irrelevant by creating a leap in • The majority of your conversation focuses value in the mind of your audience — the on collaborating and sharing ideas about the hiring manager. company.

• You bring new ideas to the conversation and

even re-shape the conversation about how you can add value to the role and to the organization.

• You

have a clear differentiating value

A SMALL EXERCISE TO DETERMINE YOUR BLUE OCEAN

statement – not a tagline, not an elevator pitch, but a vision of “here’s how I could create value for you.”

• You know in your heart that the interviewer left the conversation inspired and made him candidate may be for each factor listed on the x-axis.

think differently about the organization and the role.

• Your

interview storytelling relies on innovation — the value you’ve created for your prior employers.

other factors. Or look at the hiring manager’s boss and see what he needs.

4 Fill in the data for two typical candidates.

For instance, you may see that this position really needs someone with high energy who can inspire and motivate others on the team.

Consequently, you add these factors to the A blue ocean strategy is simply positioning chart and give yourself high marks because you yourself so uniquely that you separate yourself know how much added enthusiasm you bring from the crowd by offering a different type of Analyze which of these factors are to the table. value to the hiring manager.

5 unnecessary and which can be downplayed.

After you have your chart, you can clearly Grab a piece of paper or pop open your computer’s spreadsheet program, create an 6 Determine which factors can raise you to a see how you’re different from your competition. point where no one else can touch you.

Embed these differentiating factors into x- and y-axis like you would for a graph, and everything you do with your brand and your then follow these steps.

Create new value to get your line looking job search.

7 different from that of a typical candidate.

1 Think about a position you’re going for. Use Go ahead, put your thinking hat on and devise this specific position to title your chart.

Look at other companies or functions within a blue ocean strategy to get your career on the fast 2 On the x-axis, list about ten qualities, skills, a company and see whether you can bring in track to success. traits, and other factors that may qualify a typical job candidate for that position.

Murali Murthy is an acclaimed public speaker, life coach and best-selling author of The ACE Principle, The ACE Awakening, The ACE Abundance and You Are HIRED! He is also 3 On the y-axis, draw in a scale from one chairperson of CAMP Networking Canada. Learn how he can help unlock your magic at to ten and map out the line where a typical unleashyourwow.com.

(Adapted from the Blue Ocean Papers)

Lines A and B represents these two candidates. Drawing both lines helps you better visualize how you’re different from the competition.

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CAREERS & EDUCATION H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N

Navigating the scholarship landscape Finding and applying for financial aid

B

etween the high costs of post-secondary tuition and living in many advisor or counsellor, as they’re often the most knowledgeable about specific cities, post-secondary education is far from being affordable for many scholarship programs in your community. prospective students in Canada. Hence, scholarships are necessary for For international students, the Canadian government remains one of the thousands of students, especially international ones, to ease the financial top sources of scholarships. Annually, provincial and national governments burdens of funding their education. offer financial aid options exclusively for non-Canadian students.

Fortunately, despite the high competition for scholarships, students Some common criteria for these government scholarships include your can obtain their dream financial aid as long as they take time and look for the right scholarship opportunities for their unique situation and make program of study, nationality, and degree level. However, it’s not uncommon themselves stand out through the application process. Through this article, to find free financial assistance options for all to apply to, with no specific we will go through how you can find the right scholarship, refine your eligibility requirements. application, and set yourself up for success within the pool of applicants.

Apart from the Canadian government’s scholarship offerings, you can apply for scholarship opportunities from international foundations, Find the right scholarship for you For Canadian students, government-funded scholarship programs are companies and fellowship programs. These institutions typically offer some of the best starting points in finding scholarships, as national and scholarships worldwide, so your nationality won’t be a hurdle. provincial governments offer ample financial aid opportunities through Moreover, you should also consider checking opportunities from your bursaries. The criteria for government scholarships vary but are often simple. For example, some scholarships may require you to be part of home country, as they may also have financial aid for students studying specific programs while others require you to fulfill a service agreement overseas. stating you’ll work in the same province you’re currently studying at.

To help narrow your search for scholarships suitable for international On top of government-sponsored scholarship programs, there are many students, check out StudyinCanada.org. other options out there for Canadian students, such as those through postsecondary institutions themselves. Local communities, organizations, and Find lesser-known scholarships corporations also often provide students with financial relief options.

Lesser-known scholarship programs are sometimes superior to more popular ones for various reasons. They’re often less competitive, have To get a jump start on applying for scholarships, consult your school easier-to-achieve requirements, and may focus more on the niche,

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

industry or program you’re interested in.

One of the best ways to find lesser-known scholarships is to ask people within your network. Your family, friends or fellow organization members may have already encountered these programs and can personally vouch for you, giving you a higher chance for approval.

Alternatively, consider contacting your banking institution, as they may offer scholarships that are not widely advertised to the public. Searching online is also possible, but it may be harder to discover underrated scholarships this way.

Don’t let smaller amounts slip away

Many students want to win big scholarships all at once. However, this isn’t always the most effective approach to securing the necessary funding for your education. Scholarship programs that offer smaller amounts of money typically receive fewer applications and have a shorter application process, significantly decreasing the time it takes to apply and increasing your chances of securing funds.

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Don’t let even the smallest scholarship opportunities slip away because these can add up to help make your post-secondary study dream a financial reality for you.

Perfect your application What to include

Scholarships have different requirements. Hence, instead of keeping a checklist of the information you must include in every application, it is recommended to read the requirements of each scholarship program individually and carefully. c

This way, you can tailor your application to accommodate the information asked of you, no more, no less.

Format your application properly so humans or AI programs don’t mark it as spam. Stay within the specified word count when writing essays, as you may be penalized for writing too much or less.

How to stand out

Use storytelling: Sharing your achievements and hardships introduces you not just as an academic but as a multi-dimensional person with values and morals. This showcases your sincerity for the program and demonstrates whether you’re a good fit for the sponsor’s goals, increasing your chances of winning the scholarship.

Check for mistakes: Always double-check your application’s grammar, spelling and format to ensure it’s without errors. Research the requirements thoroughly to avoid silly mistakes and be sure to re-read them before you submit.

Show your eagerness: If you must submit your resumé, include a well-crafted cover letter introducing yourself and your achievements.

Additionally, include strong letters of recommendation from reputable sources if the instructions allow you to do so.

Doing these extra steps shows your eagerness for the program, making you stand out over the generic applications.

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CAREERS & EDUCATION HIGHER LEARNING

Benefits of making friends at school

Y

Meaningful connections can enrich your life!

ou may have decided that having friends at postsecondary school may end up being a distraction from your studies or the advice they offer may be good for them, but not of use to you. You might worry that they could bring too much drama to your life when you are already under stress and your time is precious.

While this can be true for people who are not supportive or helpful, having the right school friends can be beneficial.

A good friend can offer support, advice, comfort, and serve as a backup in emergencies, all of which are essential to your success and wellbeing. This is particularly important for international students who may have very limited contacts and support in Canada.

Positive school friendships can enrich your life and help you test out ideas before you take any major

steps. They may become part of your support network and benefit you in many ways.

Here are some reasons why you should make finding friends at your school a priority.

Settling in

If you have recently moved to Canada, friends can help ward off loneliness, deal with the feeling of homesickness from leaving friends and family back home, and introduce you to Canadian culture and language. They can help you understand how things work in Canada, from participating in class and meeting expectations on assignments and exams to approaching professors. They can be your support system as you pursue academic and career goals.

This is a time of great change and growth for you, and they could help you find your way and also connect

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

with the resources available on campus.

Academics

Friends can impact your academic performance by working together on assignments, being a part of your study group and helping you catch up if you miss a class. Having a few people with whom you can discuss what you are learning can be an invaluable part of your study plan. Class friends can be among the first people to provide feedback on your ideas. They can help you strategize when you are dealing with a challenging situation, for instance approaching a professor on a performance-related issue.

On a personal level, seeing how others handle tasks from planning their weekly schedule to healthy eating on a budget is also practical education. Make sure that you exchange contact information with a couple of your classmates early in the academic year. They can be a lifeline for your academics and if you are lucky, beyond.

ready companions when you want to go to a social event, or help you put things in perspective when you are going through a crisis. School can be busy and intense, and you may need someone for support, especially if you are experiencing a lot of stress or other challenges.

Whether you remain in Canada or return to your home country, you have an opportunity to make lifelong friends as well as contacts to help you with your career.

You could make friends easily or it may be a dreaded and difficult ordeal. You may worry that having friends would take too much time or energy. Nonetheless, unlike strangers and acquaintances, a friend is more likely to offer support, honest opinions, and the occasional pep talk. They can help you ease your transition to Canada.

Be selective when choosing your friends, and you will find people who contribute positively to your experience and life. A few good friendships will make your postsecondary school years easier and Social and emotional support School friends offer more than more rewarding. It is worth the help with studies. They can be effort.

Geneviève Beaupré and Susan Qadeer have extensive experience working in university and college settings, providing career, academic and personal counselling to international and immigrant students.

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

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SETTLEMENT I M M I G R AT I O N L AW

Immigration to Canada becoming less predictable

O

Uncertain times ahead for Canadian immigration

ne of the distinguishing features between Canada and the United States is its political discourse on immigration. In Canada, for the past several decades, there has generally been a political consensus on maintaining or increasing immigration levels. This may be changing, however, as an apparent rapid rise in Canada’s population, and particularly temporary residents, is being blamed as a contributing, if not material, factor in Canada’s ongoing housing affordability crisis.

In September Marc Miller, Canada’s immigration minister, said that the volume of immigration is impacting housing. Sean Fraser, Canada’s previous immigration minister and current housing minister, said that the Canadian government would not rule out changing its immigration targets to address housing challenges. There are rumors that the government is considering a cap on international students.

Thus far, there have not been any explicit policy qualify for Express Entry should check if they are changes announced resulting from concerns over eligible for a category-based draw, and reconsider.

Unfortunately, those who were previously close the impact of immigration on housing. to the threshold for a general draw may find the However, 2023 has witnessed significant policy minimums increase in order to create space for changes in how Canada selects immigrants. For category-based rounds of invitation.

some, this has had the impact of a de-facto levels Country-based draws and other programs cut.

It is important to note that the legislation which enables category-based draws is very Category-based Express Entry draws In June 2023, Canada conducted its first broad. While 2023 did not feature any countrycategory-based rounds of invitation in Express based rounds of invitation this could happen Entry. Category-based rounds are rounds of in the future. Indeed, it is already happening invitation to Canada’s largest immigration provincially.

program, any Ukrainian citizen and their family member could travel to Canada and obtain a three-year work permit.

There are currently work permit and immigration programs with broad eligibility limited to people from Hong Kong.

There is also an open work permit program, although not (yet?) an immigration program, available to citizens from Iran currently in Canada.

The future

Because immigration levels are capped, immigration to Canada is essentially a zerosum game where the decision to create winners through niche categories and programs results in other people being excluded. There are reports of resentment amongst recent international graduates, and other foreign workers, who feel Manitoba, meanwhile, has had over seventeen abandoned because they did not fit in a politically rounds of invitation that are limited to Ukrainian popular category or stream. citizens.

The government has to an extent avoided this While country-based draws are not (yet?) a issue by increasing immigration levels. However, thing in Express Entry, Canada does have several at the start of this article I noted that political immigration programs that are limited to citizens pressure may be building to reduce numbers. If this occurs, then the combination of categoryof certain countries. based draws and niche immigration programs The largest was the Canada–Ukraine combined with reduced levels could result in Emergency Travel Authorization, which stopped a very grim period for many looking to obtain taking new applications in July. Under this permanent residence.

program that are limited to certain groups.

On August 16, 2023, the Saskatchewan These groups are chosen based on labour market information and projections, as well as on input Immigrant Nominee Program issued several that the government receives from stakeholders. invitations to apply that were limited to residents of the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Ireland, In 2023, the categories are: (1) French- Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. language proficiency, (2) healthcare occupations, (3) science, technology, engineering and math occupations, (4) trade occupations, (5) transport occupations, and (6) agriculture and agri-food occupations.

The benefits of being eligible for a categorybased round of invitations are considerable.

During the summer of 2023, the number of comprehensive ranking system points required to be issued an invitation to apply in Express Entry ranged from 486-511. The lowest Frenchlanguage invitation to apply was 375 points. The trade occupations draw had a cutoff of 388 points.

Given this, people who were previously uncertain if they could get enough points to

Steven Meurrens is an immigration lawyer with Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver. Contact him at 604-681-9887, by email at steven.meurrens@larlee.com, or visit his blog at smeurrens.com.

CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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SETTLEMENT PARENTING

Shopping for children’s clothing Things to keep in mind

have different ideas on what is acceptable to wear, due to different upbringing, cultural and societal influences. Therefore, it is important for parents to have conversations with children about attire expectations, such as wearing traditional clothing, length of skirts or ripped jeans.

Take inventory of existing clothes Take inventory of existing clothes to avoid buying unnecessary items.

You can also repurpose and refashion clothes with simple mending skills. Sell, donate or hand down clothes you don’t use.

Select well-made clothes

S

hopping for children’s attire can be time consuming and daunting for parents. While there is no one solution that works for all, there are some considerations when shopping for children’s clothes.

Clothes can be a form of self-expression. It can help set one apart, blend in with others, or feel a sense of belonging. In addition to the school’s dress code, other considerations could include family and cultural expectations, personal style and comfort level, and societal expectations.

Set a budget Children go through clothes quickly due to growth spurts, wear and tear, and even changes in personal style. Some children might feel the pressure to ask for items that are overpriced and not practical. It is important to strike a balance

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

Select clothes that will grow with your children, such as expandable and adjustable items. Also choose quality over quantity. Cheap trendy clothes that are poorly made will not stand the test of time, and you will end up spending more in the long run. Keep in mind that clothing size varies from company to company; so, make sure to look at the size chart. Know the store’s between children’s needs and wants, and the return policy and, if possible, have children try family’s budget. Of course, some things could the clothes before buying to ensure they fit well. be worth the splurge, like a dress for a special occasion or a good pair of running shoes!

Improve confidence with clothes Talk to your children about peer pressure, Dress for the weather and how to handle bullies who make fun of their Depending on the part of Canada that you live clothes. Keep in mind that whatever their choice in seasonal temperatures can vary drastically, of clothes, your children feel comfortable and which in turn affects what children wear to confident with what they wear. school. In addition to in-class sessions, there are outdoor activities, gym time and other activities Help children improve their confidence which require different attire. and express themselves through their clothes.

Encourage them to be creative with their clothing Culture and generational clash choices, while making sure their attire reflects their Immigrant parents and their children might personality, culture and values.

Cheryl Song an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 20 years’ experience of working in early learning and family programs. Contact her at cheryl@learnwithsong.com or visit her website at learnwithsong.com.

SETTLEMENT

Lower your risk of falling for a rental scam Tips from Better Business Bureau

F

inding a new place to live is stressful, especially when you are moving cities or countries.

And scammers know that people in the midst of moving don’t always have time or capacity to do the necessary research.

Take former Calgary resident Carlha Perez. Perez and her husband were looking to move to Vancouver and came across the perfect apartment located in the downtown area, operated and maintained by a property manager.

Although hesitant about not seeing the property in person, Perez was reassured after completing a quick search to confirm that the apartment photos belonged to the correct residential building. After chatting with the supposed property manager, Perez and her husband signed a contract and sent the first month’s rent, a security deposit, and actual business and the e-transfer a pet deposit, totalling $5,400 by email address wasn’t a professional business account, but a personal one. e-transfer.

With such high demand for housing A couple days out from their in and around Metro Vancouver, it’s flight, Perez realized they had fallen heartbreaking to watch prospective for a rental scam when their calls, renters become more desperate and texts and emails to the property fall for similar scams.” manager went unanswered.

prepaid debit/gift cards (as those methods would likely raise more red flags). Only use these apps with people you know or have met in person.

3

find the average rate for whatever size space you’re looking for and can figure out if it seems too good to be true.

4

Do proper research to find Search online for similar a property manager and properties. Do a quick movers. Finding good moving

search for the listing, landlord’s companies and property managers email address, and phone number. can be really tricky. There are a lot of Confirm the legitimacy of a problems and people who might not property manager/real estate agent’s be ethical. When you use BBB.org, GST number on the Government you can see authentic complaints, Risk Report, rental scams are a new See the property in person. of Canada website. If you find the honest reviews from customers, and entry on the top 10 riskiest scams If you can’t visit an apartment same ad listed in other cities, that’s a clear rating system. This helps you affecting Canadians. Although few come in contact with this scam (1.1 or house yourself, ask someone you a huge red flag. By doing research make smart choices about who to per cent of overall reports), 4 out of trust to go and confirm that it is what on similar properties, you can also hire.

10 people (42.9 per cent) who are was advertised. Sometimes photos exposed to it end up falling for the can be misleading, even if they are scam, with a median loss of $1,600. actually the real deal. Also ask your Le spécialiste de votre installation landlord questions, such as: What “This is a really unfortunate are the rules around decorating the en Colombie-Britannique ! situation where the red flags were space, such as hanging up a TV or very well hidden, but in plain sight,” a mirror? What is the timing on the SERVICES GRATUITS EN FRANÇAIS says Aaron Guillen from Better lease? Are there any additional fees Business Bureau serving Mainland outside of the rent?

BC & Yukon.

Below are BBB’s four tips to According to Better Business lower your risk of falling for a Bureau (BBB)’s 2022 Canadian rental scam.

1

“Not only were the apartment photos most likely taken from a real estate website from years before, but the GST number on the signed contract did not match an

2

Try to avoid paying strangers with cash transfer apps off the bat. Many scammers

now ask for payments through Interac e-transfer, Wealthsimple, or PayPal instead of wired funds or

www.vivreencb.ca

CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

23

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LIVING WELLNESS

7 wellness rituals to elevate your performance

O

The importance of prioritizing self-care

ur modern economy often calls for an incessant drive that pushes us to achieve stretch outcomes on the back of sustained peak performances. The hope that ‘rest will come – maybe next weekend or when the project currently monopolizing our attention finally turns the corner’ weakens when it is never realized. Amidst this, the question we should ask ourselves is, why? and not, why am I so tired?

Why do we continue to undervalue self-care and willingly sacrifice our health to maintain an unsustainable pace? Why are we surprised when our health begins to decline when we aren’t willing to prioritize the choices that will set us up for success?

We must tether our everyday choices to a greater purpose if we are to regain control, tap into the body’s healing potential, and excel with our health intact, with our best efforts.

two to three 15-20 minutes of resistance will continue to rise. Currently, over 40 per training workouts every week. cent of Canadian adults suffer from at least For those looking for a place to start, leading one chronic disease. Our bodies have been evidence supports the following seven specific built to favour fat storage to survive future 6 Nurture mental fitness wellness rituals. When they are stacked with Prolonged exposure to chronic stress locks stretches of unexpected adversity. While this regularity in a well-crafted formula for self-care, us in a ‘fight-or-flight’ stress response and served our ancestors well, we are now living they will elevate your performance to the next trains our mind to constantly look for in a time of abundance. Mindfully balancing level. threats. Choosing to operate from this what we consume, eating within a twelveposition will cut your life short. In seeking hour time window daily, and getting more 1 Prioritize sleep, rest and recovery mental fitness, we are charting a course to active, will help to maintain a healthy weight.

By embracing sleep, we’re not just avoiding clarity and maintaining a connection to our burnout and reducing our risk of chronic ‘why.’ Dedicate one per cent of your day (14 4 Move to stay young disease; we’re elevating our wellness to its minutes and 24 seconds) every day to being When we challenge our range of motion, true purpose — rejuvenation. Begin going still, practicing slow rhythmic breathing, balance, coordination and strength by to bed and waking up at the same time accentuating the out-breath, and recording varying our movement and moving often, every day. Use light to your advantage with three things you are grateful for. we improve the quality of our movement and exposure in the morning and dim the lights slow the aging process. Sit less and commit 90 minutes before you sleep. Avoid caffeine to limiting periods of sitting to no longer 7 Play with purpose after lunch, end of day snacking, and limit Play is integral to developing and maintaining than 60 minutes. Find creative ways to bring alcohol consumption. Establish a repeatable, a healthy lifestyle. Through play, we celebrate more movement to every day. Highly active calming pre-bed routine to cue your mind life and elevate our creativity, problem-solving individuals have been shown to have a ninethat the day has come to an end. ability, cognitive function, and enhance our year biological advantage over those living social connections. Play accelerates health sedentary lives. For those new to exercise, 2 Consume healthy fuel and well-being and brings happiness, joy and start with a simple walk around the block.

Healthy food allows the body to repair excitement to our journey. Schedule frequent efficiently and activate genes that promote blocks (at least once a month) to go off script 5 Protect your strength health and longevity. Using diet as a and do something spontaneous that makes As we age, resistance training becomes therapeutic tool sends a message to our body you smile. essential. By the time you reach your 40th that boosts immune function, minimizes birthday, your muscle mass is already a decade inflammation, and allows us to mobilize our Embrace and prioritize the seven wellness into decline if you are not actively protecting energy stores efficiently. Make purposeful it. Loss of muscle mass independently rituals. Make them more than a list of healthy choices. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet predicts mortality. The good news is that with habits you can tuck into the margins of your with nutrient-rich, whole food foods, and a surprisingly small investment of time, you busy life. Prioritize and schedule time for selfavoid ultra-processed products and added can reverse this trend. Begin incorporating care. sugar.

3 Fight for your waistline If we continue to live sedentary lives and over-consume ultra-processed, calorie-rich foods, obesity and chronic disease rates

Dr. Dwight Chapin is the team chiropractor for the Canadian pro-football team, the Toronto Argonauts, co-owner of a large multi-disciplinary health clinic, lead clinician for injury prevention for The Globe and Mail employees, and author of the book Take Good Care: 7 Wellness Rituals for Health, Strength & Hope. More at www.7wellnessrituals.com.

CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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PROFILE

FROM SCRUBS TO

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera takes immense pride in serving the community

By Lisa Evans

T

he Honourable Minister Kamal Khera didn’t making a difference in their lives,” she says. always envision herself a politician.

In 2015, Khera decided to switch gears and Born in India, Khera spent her early years in New serve her community in a different way and run Delhi. “My family lived a middle-class life in the city, for political office. with my dad working as a scientist and my mom “I saw that there was an enormous amount of as a teacher,” she says. Her parents recognized the potential for greater opportunities in Canada and work that needed to be done in our community,” decided to move to the country. They settled in Peel she says. region where Khera completed high school.

From making life more affordable for families, “I vividly remember the warm and welcoming to improvising transit, Khera saw that the embrace of our new life in Canada,” she says. community of Brampton West in particular “Fortunately, I found myself settling in remarkably and all of Canada was in need of strong voices quickly, thanks to the incredible support system demanding change. Guided by the very values of community and giving back that had led her that my family and I found in the Peel region.” to her career in nursing, she decided to put her The presence of a nearby gurdwara – a place name on the ballot and enter the political arena. of worship for Sikhs – as well as several Indian During the election, Khera and her team grocery shops helped the Khera family to connect with the Canadian Sikh community. “This made knocked on many doors and spoke with individuals the transition to our new surroundings much who sought to see change in their communities. smoother, as it helped us feel connected to our “I saw the positive impact that I was able to roots,” she says. make in my community through my work as an Living in the Peel region also exposed Khera elected official,” she says. “I am connected with to the rich tapestry of cultures and faiths my constituents and understand their needs, and that enriched her understanding of diversity I use my platform to advocate for policies and and helped foster a deep appreciation for the initiatives that improve their lives and the lives of Canadians.” multicultural fabric of Canada.

Khera had always been a firm believer in giving back to her community and to live a life of service.

She credits her family with instilling a strong sense of community in her from a young age. Her brother served as a Member of the Canadian Air Force and upon graduation from high school, Khera decided to become a registered nurse.

She worked in the Palliative and Oncology unit for two years at a hospital in Toronto. “I loved working as a nurse. You’re not just performing medical tasks; you’re connecting with people and

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

Outrageously, I was even told that as a woman, I wouldn’t win,” she says.

Khera was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health in 2015 then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue. She was re-elected in 2019 and 2021 and served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development from 2018 to 2021. Khera was re-elected in 2021 and on July 26, 2023, she was appointed to the position of Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, a position she takes immense pride in as an immigrant to Canada herself.

“When I first started in politics, there weren’t many women who looked like me in those leadership roles,” she says.

Khera takes pride in knowing that, as a public figure, she can serve to inspire and empower more young women of colour to pursue their own paths to success, whether in politics or other arenas.

“My story reflects the aspirations of countless immigrant families who come to Canada for a brighter future,” says Khera.

She encourages newcomers to seek out support networks within their community and Khera was nominated as the Liberal Party’s connect with fellow newcomers who have faced candidate in Brampton West in December similar challenges.

2014 and won the seat in the federal election in “To those who are struggling to find their path October 2015, becoming the youngest elected here in Canada, whether it's in search of a new Member of Parliament at just 26 years of age. career or facing the challenges of starting over, I Despite what may seem an instant success, would say this: never stop believing in yourself,” Khera’s entry into politics wasn’t without several she says. challenges. “Way too often I was told I was too “You have the potential to achieve great things in young to run, I should work as a nurse only, or I should start a family before I get into politics. Canada, just as I did when I was in your shoes.”

CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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MONEY & BUSINESS MANAGING YOUR FINANCE S

Good debt vs. bad debt Know the difference

A

s children we have been told to avoid debt, save money and invest wisely. But the reality is that not all debt is bad! Not all debt is created equal and sometimes the risk with debt is worth it for the potential return on investment.

In short, bad debt has no real return on investment. This category tends to be your everyday consumer debt — while that designer bag may provide an ego boost, it declines in value.

Good debt, on the other hand, has a potential return on investment and in some cases provides a tax benefit too! The below are what I consider good debts because not only do you get a return on investment financially (or so we hope), but you get a tax deduction too!

1. Student loans. Taking out a loan for furthering your education is almost a nobrainer. It advances your career potential and, in turn, your earning potential — so the

28

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 20 Issue 4 | 2023

return on investment is almost guaranteed.

If the loan is received under either the

Canada Student Loans Act, the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act or the

Apprentice Loans Act then the interest is also tax deductible.

2. Business loans. Whether you are borrowing money to start your own business, or investing in someone else’s business, the interest on the debt is tax deductible. As an investor in the business, you also hope for a return on your investment.

This can be in the form of dividends or charging a higher interest rate to the lender.

3. Investment loans. When you borrow money to invest in the market it’s called leveraging.

With this, the idea is that by having more invested, you get a potentially higher return. Of course, the rate of return needs to be higher than the rate of borrowing to be effective! This is why this particular option is not for the risk averse investor.

The good news though is that the interest on investment loans is also tax deductible!

There are two loans which, while they do not generate a tax deduction, are necessary to function in society.

1. Mortgage loan. As of right now, the gain on your principal residence is the only thing not taxed. Investing in a home can yield a great return on investment as most properties do appreciate over time. So, while in Canada there’s no real tax benefit to owning a home, I still consider this a good debt to have.

2. Car loan. Cars do not appreciate in value, nor do they offer you any tax writeoffs unless you are driving your vehicle as an entrepreneur or salesperson. Yet depending on where you live, a car is necessary to help you get to work, run errands and enjoy life. So, I consider a car loan as good debt.

So, what is bad debt?

Bad

debt

usually

refers

to

borrowing for items that do not appreciate in value or have a longterm benefit. It typically stems from purchases of non-essential items. Typical examples are credit card debt, or lines of credit/loans used to purchase luxury items like vacations, electronics, or even short-term loans to cover cash flow gaps. These high-interest loans can lead to financial stress.

The other harsh reality is, in the current economic conditions with inflation running rampant, many families are racking up consumer debt over essential items too. With prices increasing at a rate higher than salaries, consumer debt for some has become a necessary cost of living. It is important to manage all debts responsibly to avoid added financial stress.

Here are three tips to help you manage your debt.

1. Make a budget. Budgeting is not meant to be restrictive but to help you plan for your goals.

Make a budget that fits your cash flow and stick to it even if it means delaying purchases.

2. Minimize credit usage. Cash can be your best friend when you’re living on a tight budget.

By taking out as much as you have allocated, you avoid overpurchasing. Another option is to use your credit card, but immediately pay it off. I prefer this solution because you can get credit card points and build your credit score.

Visit MyConsultant.ca for Canadian immigration and citizenship information Explore up-to-date news on important issues, read in-depth articles explaining immigration and citizenship, and seek answers to your most pressing questions from a vibrant community of authorized immigration and citizenship consultants.

3. Pay more than the minimum.

If possible, on your existing debt, try to pay off more than the minimum to reduce accumulated interest charges.

It is also important to save while paying down debt, so you avoid dipping back into credit when an expense comes up!

If you are struggling with debt, consider seeking advice from a professional who can tailor guidance to your individual situation.

Shalini Dharna is a CPA and Investment/Insurance Advisor at Dharna CPA Professional Corporation.

CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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