New Brunswick is one of Canada’s three maritime provinces & the only bilingual province in the nation. Here’s what you need to know before moving to New Brunswick. Located on Canada’s east coast, the province is often noted for its natural beauty & rich culture.
Like many other provinces in Canada, New Brunswick experiences four seasons throughout the year. However, summers tend to be cooler & winters less harsh because of the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Most people immigrating/ visiting New Brunswick will travel to one of the province’s three biggest cities: Saint John, Moncton, & Fredericton.
Housing
Before moving to New Brunswick, the first thing to do is learn about housing. Owing to the low population of New Brunswick, most inhabitants opt to reside in three larger cities of the province. These cities are renowned for their cost-effective rent & purchase prices, thus establishing the province as the most budget-friendly real estate market across Canada.
Every city holds a similar population & shows equivalent levels in housing prices & the available property types for rental/ buying, which range from fully/ semi-detached homes to townhouses, apartment condos, & much more.
To combat problems with the supply of housing that has been seen throughout Canada, the New Brunswick provincial government has introduced a new housing strategy, including measures like rent banks, direct financial assistance to tenants, etc.
Commuting
New Brunswick offers numerous transportation alternatives because of the varied landscapes within the province. Urban public transport in the province is organized by two private companies that oversee bus services. The bus transit service in Fredericton consists of 28 buses across 12 routes, thus operating six days a week. Saint John’s transit service has 60 accessible buses, offering services from Monday to Saturday. Moncton’s Cordiac Transpo uses over 40 buses scheduled throughout the week across different routes. While these routes are plentiful, it can sometimes be difficult to catch a bus at the arranged time, thus making driving a more popular alternative for those who can manage.
Fredericton, Greater Moncton, & Saint John also have fully equipped airports that can handle both local as well as international flights, services by charter and commercial airlines flying across Canada & to limited US destinations.
Employment
There are many employment opportunities in New Brunswick, specifically in Electric Power Transmission, Gasoline & Petroleum, and Commercial Banking sectors – the top three industries by revenue in the province. However, New Brunswick’s annual unemployment rate oscillates between 6-9%, which is above the nation’s average.
The Government of New Brunswick, Horizon Health Networks, Vitalite Health Network, Walmart Inc., & Irving Oil Ltd. are among the province’s biggest employers.
While the province’s employment landscape includes notable sectors, like manufacturing & fisheries, jobs are specifically concentrated in established industries. New Brunswick’s minimum wage is CAD 14.75 per hour. Substantial population increases are expected to yield favorable economic results for the province in both 2023 & 2024.
Education
For moving to New Brunswick, you must also have complete knowledge of the education sector.
In New Brunswick, the responsibility lies with the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development to manage the education system, which is spread out over seven school districts. These districts primarily differentiate based on whether they provide English or French curriculum. Both public & private schools exist within these districts.
The full-day kindergarten program is for children who are turning five years old by December 31 of the corresponding school year. During their K-12 education, students follow a well-rounded curriculum highlighting literacy, ethical practices, numeracy, & international consciousness. In addition, the curriculum also includes schemes to enhance student’s mental health & wellness.
There are numerous higher education institutions accessible in New Brunswick once students finish their K-12 education. Well-known universities, like the University of New Brunswick, Mount Allison University, St. Thomas University, etc., are among these. Two community colleges, i.e., the New Brunswick Community College and Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, also offer numerous diploma & certificate programs. Apprenticeship programs for individuals interested in skilled professions are also available in the province.
Note: An international student has to attend a DLI – the only schools in Canada which are permitted to accept international students.
Taxation
Another significant factor to keep in mind before moving to New Brunswick is taxation.
New Brunswick is recognized for some of Canada’s most attractive income taxes. Tax rates, like in the rest of the nation, are income-dependent & range from 9.4% to 20.3%. The amalgamated provincial & federal tax rate lies between 24.4% & 53.3%.
Further, New Brunswick, like other Canadian provinces, operates under the HST system. This implies both federal & provincial taxes on goods & services are levied simultaneously. The existing HST rate in the province is 15%. According to the HST Act, tax rebates & credits apply to specific goods & services.
Newcomer Services
Like all other provinces & territories in Canada, New Brunswick offers settlement services for newcomers who immigrate there.
These services are funded at the municipal, federal, & provincial levels of the government. Moreover, your eligibility for these services depends upon both your legal status in Canada & who is funding the services you are trying to avail. While most settlement services are restricted to permanent residents & some temporary residents, contacting your settlement organization of choice is advisable to confirm eligibility.