Job and Training Resources

Labor Market Info
www.labourmarketinformation.ca
www.workdestinations.org
www.jobfutures.ca

General Internet Job Sites
Workopolis - www.workopolis.com
SkillNet - www.skillnet.ca/pub/index.html?iin.lang=en
Government - Canadian Job Bank - http://jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/Intro_en.asp
Government - Jobs Etc - www.jobsetc.ca
The Workplace - www.theworkplace.ca
Career Edge Internships - www.careeredge.org

Job Opportunities by Province/Territory
Alberta - www.alis.gov.ab.ca/
British Columbia - http://workinfonet.bc.ca/
Manitoba - www.mb.workinfonet.ca/
Newfoundland & Labrador - www.gov.nf.ca/nlwin/
Nova Scotia - http://workinfonet.ednet.ns.ca/
Northwest Territories - http://northwin.ca/
Ontario - www.onwin.ca/
Prince Edward Island - www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/Employment/index.php3
Saskatchewan - www.sasknetwork.gov.sk.ca/
Yukon - http://yuwin.ca/

Exporting/Importing a Vehicle, etc.

Canadian government offices will be closed tomorrow for Boxing Day, but after that I will need to start contacting them for various information. Here is a quick to-do list.

Follow steps at RIV website
- my car has a minor recall so there will be some extra steps here

• Have recall repair performed 1
  
• Obtain manufacturer's recall clearance letter 1 2 3
  
• Check Transport Canada's list of admissible U.S. vehicles 1 2 3
  
• Check vehicles for manufacturer's valid U.S. statement of compliance label 1 2 3
  
• Valid 17-digit Vehicle Identification Numbers 1 2 3
  
• Ensure vehicles have daytime running lights 1 2 3
  
• Trucks - Manufacturer's cargo capacity label if manufactured after April 1, 1999 1
  
• Determine additional costs, such as duty and taxes
• Gather title documents, registration, sales receipts, statement of compliance label and manufacturer's recall clearance letter
• Find out about any additional provincial or territorial requirements, such as safety inspections and emissions tests
• Arrange for insurance on vehicles 1 2 3
  
• Notify U.S. Customs and follow procedures:
• Provide Certificate of Title including the VIN
  
• Provide 2 complete copies of Certificate of Title
• Submit this required documentation at least 72 hours prior to exportation
• Present vehicle for exportation at time of export
• Port Directors will determine at what location vehicle(s) must be presented
• Original document will be authenticated and usually returned
• Dirt must be washed from vehicles including undercarriages (see BIS contact info below to get requirements)
  

Things that can wait until after landing if we do an Inside Canada PR app:

• Check this - vehicles may be able to be brought in as "temporary" at first, then official importation filed later - this may work for Nickie as a temporary resident but it may be different for me as a citizen
  
• Obtain SIN from HRSDC
• Ensure that the Inside Canada forms are ready to go
• Photos - PR app
  
• Medical exam - PR app

Important Contacts:

Registrar of Imported Vehicles
1-888-848-8240
Fax: (416) 626-0366
info@riv.ca
Mon. to Fri.: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight (EST)
Sat. and Sun.: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST)

Canada Border Services Agency
In Canada: 1-800-461-9999 (English) ; 1-800-959-2036 (French)
Outside Canada: (506) 636-5064 (English); (506) 636-5067 (French)
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Transport Canada
In Canada: 1-800-333-0371
Outside Canada: (613) 998-8616
Fax: (613) 998-4831
www.tc.gc.ca

Border Information Services
In Canada: 1-800-461-9999
(204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064
24-hour recorded info
Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00 local time press "0" for an agent

Import Service Centers
(for Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requirements)
In Canada or U.S.:
Eastern ISC (Montréal): 1-877-493-0468
Central ISC (Toronto): 1-800-835-4486
Western ISC (Vancouver): 1-888-732-6222
www.inspection.gc.ca

General Motors (Oshawa, ON)
888-467-6853
905-440-7689

Toyota
1-800-331-4331

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is the Canadian equivalent of a Social Security Number (SSN) in the U.S. It takes about 3 weeks to get your card, and there is no charge for your first application. You need one in order to work.

I don't know if I have an SIN yet, so I will have to call them to find out what to do.

There is a toll-free number for callers inside Canada:

1 800 206-7218 option 3
Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (your local time), except statutory holidays

but if you call from abroad you have to call long-distance

(506) 548-7961
8:00am to 8:30pm (Atlantic time)

Here is where you can get the form to request a SIN:

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/sin

Update 12/27/06:
I called and found out that if you come into one of their offices in person with your Canadian birth certificate, you will receive your SIN on the spot and then it takes about 10 days for you to get it in the mail. If I do it by mail, I was told, I may be separated from my original birth certificate for up to 8 weeks during processing. This is obviously something better taken care of after landing.

Locations

This is a list of some locations currently under consideration for our immediate move. Items will be turned gray if we cross them off our list. Because we are (A) visible minorities and (B) gay, and want minimal hassling over either of these, things like racial diversity/tolerance and legal recognition of gay relationships will weigh heavily on our decision about where to go.

SSM= Same-Sex Marriage
civil union = same rights as marriage but with a different name
domestic partnership = most of the legal rights of marriage

div = amount of racial diversity
unempl = unemployment rate
jobout = job outlook (the higher the better)


Alaska - anti-SSM constitution, no recognition

• Juneau
• Fairbanks

California - domestic partnership, racially diverse

• Brea
• Fullerton
• Irvine?
  
• La Mirada
  
• Monrovia
  
• Pasadena
• Placentia
  
• San Dimas
• San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles - 3.2% unempl
• Temple City
  
  avoid:
  
  
• Anaheim
• Garden Grove
• Santa Ana
  

Connecticut - civil union

• Bridgeport - $? 5.3% jobout
  
• Danbury - $? 50-60% div 3.4% unempl 6.3% jobout
  
• Hartford
• New Haven-Meriden - 50-60% div 6.5% jobout
  
• New London-Norwich - 30-40% div
  
• Stamford-Norwalk - $? 50-60% div 3.2% unempl 5.1% jobout
  
• Waterbury - 6.7% jobout
  

Massachusetts - SSM

• Barnstable-Yarmouth - $? 10-20% div
  
• Boston - $? 50-60% div
  
• Brockton - $? 10-20% div
  
• Fitchburg-Leominster - 30-40% div 7.1% jobout
  
• Lawrence - $? 30-40% div
  
• New Bedford - $? 10-20% div
  
• Pittsfield - 10-20% div 5.4% jobout
• Providence-Fall River-Warwick - 5.7%
  
• Springfield - 5.8% jobout
  
• Worcester - 50-60% 6.4% jobout -2.4% jobgro
  

Minnesota - no recognition

• Minneapolis - major traffic, colder than Ontario
  

New York - no recognition

• Ithaca
• Rochester
• - Skaneateles
• - Victor
• - Perinton
• - Pittsford
• Syracuse

Ontario - SSM

• Ottawa
• Peterborough
• Markham
• Toronto

Vermont - civil union

• Burlington - 3.1% unempl

Comparison

• Los Angeles - 6.2% jobout