The fact that so many people in Canada own or work for small businesses—and the fact that small businesses help to create jobs—means that there is a great deal of support for small business in Canada.There are programs in most high schools that teach students about entrepreneurship.There are also courses and training programs at many colleges and universities. Learn more
In Canada, labour or employment standards (laws) provide protection to workers. Human Rights legislation (laws) protect the rights of each individual. It is important to be aware of these protections as well as your responsibilities to employers and to others.You can learn more about employment standards in Canada at www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/employment_standards/index.shtml
Employees can be paid a salary or wage.A wage is an hourly rate of pay such as $10 per hour, $15 per hour, and so on.The total pay will depend on how many hours are worked each week. Over a certain number of hours, a worker may receive “overtime” pay. Each province and territory has determined a minimum wage that must be paid to workers.
On behalf of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, Service Canada provides telephone and in-person services for individuals who need information about how to get their credentials assessed in Canada. Service Canada agents also provide important job-related information. Learn more You can visit the Service Canada website at www.servicecanada.gc.ca
Canada has a Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.These laws are designed to protect personal rights and prevent discrimination in all aspects of life including activities in the workplace. See page 226 for more information on human rights in Canada.You can learn more about “equality in the workplace” at www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/equality/index.shtml.
When planning to come to Canada to live or work, note: You do not need to hire an immigration representative to apply for a visa or for Canadian citizenship; immigration representatives do not have special connections with Canadian government officials and cannot guarantee you a visa; only authorized officers at Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates can decide whether or not to issue a visa; beware of internet scams and false websites.The official website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is www.cic.gc.ca. Learn more about fraud by visiting www.immigration.gc.ca/fraud
Rather than working as an employee with a company, some people will “contract” their services to a company. In this case, an individual or the individual’s own company will sign a contract to do a certain job for a set amount of money.The company hiring the contracted worker/company will draw up a contract or letter of agreement that will describe the work to be done, the period of time the work will take, and the amount that will be paid. No deductions are made from the payment. No benefits are provided. It is a straight fee for service.This income must be reported to the tax department.
Most of Canada has distinct seasons, ranging from warm summers to cold winters.As a result, some jobs in Canada, particularly in some industries, are seasonal—meaning that the jobs are only available at certain times of the year. Examples are in the forestry industry, farming, tourism, fishing, and so on. If they qualify, people who work in seasonal jobs may be able to obtain employment insurance benefits when the jobs are not available.
It is possible that a person looking for a job may run into a situation where he or she is not hired because of “prejudice.” That is, an employer may not hire an individual who is of a certain race, skin colour, religion, and so on.This is not legal in Canada. Employers are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of such things as gender, sexual orientation, skin colour, racial background, religion, and so on. Learn more
It is possible, in some cases, for workers to receive compassionate leave if there is a death or serious illness in the family. Larger companies may have policies that will determine this. Such leave in smaller companies is usually determined by the business owner.Workers should find out about the company’s policy in case they face such a situation.The federal government has also established a program for compassionate leave to help support individuals who are assisting family members dealing with terminal illnesses.