PEI is one of eastern Canada’s maritime provinces, off of New Brunswick & Nova Scotia in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The island is marked by red sand beaches, lighthouses, and farmland, & is known for its seafood & quiet lifestyle. Here’s all you need to know about moving to Prince Edward Island.
PEI is the least-populated province in all of Canada, thus making it a region where newcomers can largely avoid the bustle of metropolitan cities. The province is known for its quieter & intimate communities. Moreover, PEI has low crime rates, which makes it a great place to settle.
Well, if you are intending on moving to Prince Edward Island, stick to this guide for further information.
Housing
The housing market in PEI is relatively small, with just 64,000 housing properties across the province. Although newcomers to Canada generally settle the region’s 2-3 CMAs, the province doesn’t have any CMAs. Instead, PEI has two CAs, which are the capital city of Charlottetown & Summerside.
As of February 2022, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Charlottetown was $1,205.
Some resources that can help newcomers find housing include:
- PEI Government
- Immigrant & Refugees Services Organization
Commuting
For moving to Prince Edward Island, you need to know about commuting as well.
Statistics Canada indicates that more than 90% of residents in both PEI’s CAs use a car, truck, or van as their primary form of commuting. In Charlottetown, more than 29,000 residents primarily use a personal vehicle to move around the province. In addition, in Summerside, the number is over 6,000 people.
Well, if you are looking to drive in the province, you need to get a PEI driver’s license. For your first four months as a newcomer to PEI, you might operate a motor vehicle using your driving license acquired in your home country. It is vital to note that both the provincial & federal governments of the province & Canada advise newcomers to carry an IDP during the period that they are using their home country’s driving license in Canada.
After these four months, newcomers to PEI must get a provisional driver’s license. The procedure includes following the province’s three-year Graduated Driver Licensing Program. It is a requirement before you get a Class 5 driver’s license. The first step in this process is to obtain an Instruction Driver’s Permit.
In addition, the province doesn’t have as many public transportation alternatives as other provinces. However, the province does provide some public transit alternatives to their communities. Public transportation in PEI is largely operated via T3 Transit.
Employment
In PEI, the three industries that employ most people are as follows:
- The Trade industry employs around 12,000 residents of PEI
- The Public Administration Industry employs over 9,000 people
- The Healthcare & Social Assistance sector employs about 9,000 people
The Trade industry falls under a large category of service-producing employment sector, including jobs in retail trade & wholesale trade. Those working in the public administration sector tend to work in jobs of a governmental nature, either at the federal, provincial, municipal, regional, or local government level. Lastly, the healthcare & social assistance sector employs doctors, nurses, personal care workers, & many other types of physical & mental health specialists.
Resources that can help you get a job include:
- Work PEI
- Immigrant & Refugees Service Association
Healthcare
Healthcare is another significant aspect newcomers must know before moving to Prince Edward Island. Moreover, healthcare Across Canada is funded through the universal healthcare model using public tax dollars.
Once a newcomer has resided in the province for over three months, they can obtain free healthcare if they possess a valid provincial healthcare card. The process of applying for a healthcare card in the province involves using an online form or submitting an online application & all the necessary documentation to either PEI Medicare or any Access PEI Center.
A valid provincial health card enables Canadians residing in any territory/ province to access public health services in their region of residence for free at the point of use. However, some medications & treatments will require the recipient to pay for the item or service out of pocket.
Education
In PEI, children enter after the mandatory portion of the Canadian education system around the age of six when they begin kindergarten. You might send your child to school for free by putting them through the public school system from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Moreover, parents might also choose to send their children to a private school or independent boarding school, where tuition will be paid out of pocket.
The provincial government has provided an online resource to the public, which breaks down the province’s highlighted curriculum for kindergarten students until 12th grade. Regarding postgraduate education in PEI, the province is home to more than 20 DLIs in 13 different cities across the province.
Most of the DLIs in the province offer programs that would enable a newcomer to be eligible for a PGWP. A PGWP is an excellent alternative for non-permanent residents, as it allows the permit holder to acquire Canadian work experience, which is valuable when applying for Canadian PR.
Taxation
In PEI, the sales tax on goods & services is 15%. This is the province’s Harmonised Sales Tax, which combines the Provincial Sales Tax of 10% & Goods & Services Tax of 5%.
Similar to other provinces & territories in Canada, income taxes in PEI depend on how much you earn in a given tax year. Moreover, those with a higher annual income will pay more in taxes to the government during tax season.
Newcomer Services
The last thing to know before moving to Prince Edward Island is newcomer services. Newcomers in PEI can use the province’s IRSA, which offers newcomer settlement services from pre-arrival until the newcomer is ready to take the Canadian citizenship test. 211PEI is another service that helps newcomers to the province find settlement resources in the area.
In addition, IRCC provides residents with government-funded settlement services across Canada. These services can help with job searches, learning English & French, or enrolling your child in school.