Reasons for Immigration to the Newfoundland and Labrador Province in Canada

Capital

• St Johns

Population

• 509 thousand

Interesting Facts

• Newfoundland is an island located off Canada's Atlantic coast.
• The province also includes over 7,000 small islands.
• St. John’s is the oldest city in North America.
• Some 22 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises are found along the coastline.
• Newfoundland has 59 commercial ports. The port at St. John's is the busiest.
• The Johnson Geo Center in St. John's, a world-class geological museum, is located underground.
• The Signal Hill Tatoo is a 19th century reinactment that takes place every summer.
• Newfoundlanders are known for their distinctive manner of speech. They speak a dialect, not an accent.
• Public transportation options are usually limited, especially away from the larger centres, and having a personal vehicle will allow you to reach the nooks and crannies that really make the Newfoundland & Labrador experience an amazing one.
• While not a major destination for immigrants to Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador has a society that is welcoming to immigrants, and is encouraging immigrants to Canada to bring their skills to the province.
• The unemployment rate is the highest in Canada.
• The average income for families in Newfoundland is below the Canadian average.
• Provincial personal income taxes average out at approximately 19.64%.
• Housing and heating costs, as well as the cost of living generally, are among the lowest in Canada.
• With employment in the province’s modern industrial sector, one can live a comfortable lifestyle with a high standard of living.
• St. John’s is growing rapidly, especially since the increase in oil and gas exploration. Thanks to the this new industry, St. John’s is home to highest number of scientists and engineers of any city with a population under 1 million in North America.

Climate

• Newfoundland's climate can best be described as moderate and maritime. The island enjoys winters that are surprisingly mild by Canadian standards, though with a high rate of precipitation.
• Average temperature ranges for St. John's are -7.5 °C to 0.6°C in February and 11°C to 20.5°C  in July.
• Temperature ranges in Happy Valley–Goose Bay are -22.4°C to -12.3°C in February and 9.8°C to 21.1°C in July.

Shopping and Sport

• Take a stroll down any main street of any town across the province and you’re bound to find something that’s one of a kind. Arts and crafts creativity runs deep in Newfoundland and Labrador. Everything from fine art to hooked rugs to fresh partridgeberry jam can be bought at very reasonable prices.
• Citizens of  Newfoundland and Labrador take part in soccer, hockey, fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing and kayaking to name but a few.

Job Situation

• The main industries are mining, manufacturing, fishing, pulp and paper, and hydro-electricity. Other natural resources important to the local economy include iron ore from Labrador and the development of substantial offshore oil and natural gas reserves.
• Unemployment is at 15.7%
• The average annual salary is $34,500

Schooling

• Public education in Newfoundland and Labrador is free to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged under 18 years.
• Parents are responsible for providing school supplies. School uniforms are not worn but Band and Sports uniforms are also the parent's responsibility.
• Parents also have the option of home schooling their children. There are two languages of instruction available, English and French.
• There is only one publicly funded University, the Memorial University, which is the largest in Atlantic Canada.

Housing

• The average house price in Newfoundland and Labrador is $187.744

Healthcare

• Under Canadian Law, all provinces and territories must provide universal, publicly funded health care to all citizens and legal residents of Canada. In other words, most basic health services in Canada are offered at no direct cost to the patient. Certain procedures that are not deemed necessary (such as elective cosmetic surgery and a number of dental care procedures, for example) are generally not covered, but the list of services paid for publicly varies from province to province. Newfoundland, like the rest of Canada, has universal, publicly funded health care. The Newfoundland Health Plan covers all essential medical services.

Towns and Cities

• Labrador City (pop. 7,240) - home to the largest open pit iron ore mine in Canada. Vast wilderness surround this modern, booming town. Together with its twin town Wabush, makes up the Labrador West region of the province.
• Mount Pearl (pop. 24,671) - the second largest city in Newfoundland which has grown up on the western edge of St John;s.
• St. John's (pop. 100,646) - the provincial capital and largest city in Newfoundland. The City is known as the one of the oldest in North America and has one of the most lively City Councils in the world. The city is notable for the natural harbour which has provided shelter from the North Atlantic for more than five hundred years.
• Grand Falls-Windsor (pop. 13,558) - home of the Salmon Festival, Grand Falls-Windsor is Central Newfoundland's largest town.
• Dildo (pop. 3,007) - named as one of the ten prettiest towns in Canada in a 2001 issue of Harrowsmith Magazine.