Despite the benefits of Canadian citizenship, permanent residents of Canada are not eligible to vote, hold political office, or get high-security clearance jobs. Nevertheless, they are allowed to work and do business in Canada. Permanent residents of Canada must carry their Permanent Resident Card with them whenever they travel abroad. This card serves as a proof of citizenship. If they are expelled from Canada, they can use their re-entry document to get a visa and return to their home country. This document is valid only once, so they must take it with them at all times.
Can start a business
If you have a dream to set up a business in Canada, you can apply for a start-up visa in the country. Canada’s start-up visa program offers permanent residency to entrepreneurs with an investment from a designated organization, such as an angel investor group or a venture capital fund. Those with personal funds, they should not apply for this type of visa. But if your business venture is successful, you can bring your family to Canada as well.
Generally, you need to have at least 10% ownership in a qualifying business in Canada to apply for a start-up visa. The start-up visa requires you to have a business plan that meets certain requirements. To qualify, your business must have an innovative product or service, and it must compete globally. You will need to be actively involved in your business, hold a majority of the voting rights, and be incorporated in Canada.
Vote in elections
Citizens of some countries, including the United States, have the right to vote in elections. Non-citizen residents, however, may not be eligible to vote. While many other democracies have given non-citizens the right to vote, Canada is an exception. Permanent residents in countries such as New Zealand have been able to vote in federal elections since 1975. Other countries where permanent residents can vote include Chile, Ecuador, Malawi, and Uruguay.
In Canada, permanent residents can become citizens, but it is difficult for them to do so if they do not speak English well, speak any English, or have a low-wage job. In general, the criteria for permanent residents are work experience within and outside Canada, a certain level of education, and proficiency in French or English. Permanent residents also have to live in a province for three years before applying for citizenship and must pass a citizenship test.
Access to world-class free schooling
Canada is known for its excellent education system, which is why Canadian Residents are afforded access to free schooling up to Grade 12. This means that children from any country are able to receive a world-class education at no cost. Public schools offer free education to all children under the age of 18 years, and there are no tuition fees for university. Children from permanent residents will have the opportunity to learn French and English, as both official languages of the country. In addition to free education in Canada, Canadian students pay much lower fees for their university degrees than international students.
Canadian permanent residents have access to world-class healthcare facilities and social services. Health care is universal in Canada, so all residents are eligible for free medical care. In addition, Canadians benefit from a public health insurance system that covers prescription drugs. Finally, they can get reduced university tuition. With all of these benefits, Canadian permanent residents have no reason to leave the country. It’s worth mentioning that Canadian permanent residents are also offered free medical care and prescription drugs.
Right to vote
The right to vote is a fundamental right of a citizen, but it’s not a given for every newcomer to Canada. In the first two centuries of Canadian citizenship, only Canadian citizens were allowed to vote. That was later changed to everyone else. Today, permanent residents in Canada can vote in municipal elections. However, if they are not citizens, they cannot vote in federal elections. In fact, in some cases, a citizen may be required to have a resident permit to vote in a local election.
Some people object to allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections, believing that voting rights should only be granted to citizens. However, a councilor in Hay River, Northwest Territories, Brian Willows, believes that the right to vote should be given to all permanent residents. He thinks it would make permanent residents more motivated to ensure citizenship. Despite opposition from critics, Northwest Territories and New Brunswick municipalities are moving in that direction.