I see this every day at work and it touched me deeply when I was working on a university group project; we were five with different backgrounds and cultures, China, [...]]]>
One of the richness of Montreal is the multi-culture value. It  adds a lot to the city.  All immigrants work on harmony to build the city.

I see this every day at work and it touched me deeply when I was working on a university group project; we were five with different backgrounds and cultures, China, Morocco, Romania, Quebec and Egypt.

Each has his way of thinking and brilliant ideas. I was impressed by the different view that each has in the same point and the great values we had by the end of the project .

This piece of text is very true about immigrants in Montreal. You can see it behind Mont-Royal Metro.

The government gets a % of each individual income every year.

This is the cost of the services you get, the medical service, the clean streets and other services.

Every year, you have to submit the papers by [...]]]> Two weeks left to the last day of income taxes submission. Are you ready?!

What do income taxes mean?

The government gets a % of each individual income every year.

This is the cost of the services you get, the medical service, the clean streets and other services.

Every year, you have to submit the papers by end of 30 April. If you pass this date, then you pay interest. So if you have to pay $500 to the government and you passed this date, you pay $500+interest.

How much does the government gets from my income

Source: http://colinkingsford.com/downloads/Personal_tax_rates_2009.pdf

In this figure point your income to know how much both federal government and provincial government in Quebec and in Ontario get. Note that the salary $38,386 is a serious number because the taxes % increases from 16% to 22%!

My friend said that I will get a lot of money back because this is the first year. Is this true?

It depends. For example, If you get hired for your job in September for an annual salary of $28,000, the government deduce from your salary 16% of the $28,000. But actually this is not true for the first year since you started working since September only. That’s why when you submit your taxes; the government returns you the rest of the money back.

How to fill the forms?

To cut it short, go to an accountant.  It can cost you from $20 to $250. It depends on the quality of accountant, the money you get back too.

H&R Block is a well known across Canada http://www.hrblock.ca/

You basically have two forms to fill, one for the provincial gov. and the other for the federal Gov.

You get two papers from your employer and a paper from your land lord. You give these papers to the accountant.

Expenses to claim

There are some items that you can claim in your taxes that helps reducing your annual income.

Be aware to keep the proofs of these expenses (receipts and invoices)   and give them to to the accountant.

1. Medical expenses

Keep your drugs store receipt (things that you get with prescriptions)

The doctors’ receipts and medical professional receipts

2. Private Insurance

If you are under a private medical insurance company, you can claim the money you pay for it. (This is also a type of medical expenses.)

So for example, if you are subscribed with Blue Cross private inssurance, and your company deduces $30 of your salary every month for the issuance. You can claim the $360 that you paid for the year.

If you don’t know how much the company deduced from your salary, it is easy to see the total amount you paid for insurance in the last payment slip you get by end of Dec.

I already give my medical expenses receipts to the medical insurance. Do I still claim these expenses?

You claim only the difference. For example if you get a medical examination for $70, Blue Cross paid you $56 only; you can claim $14 as medical expenses.

3. Education

If you study in the university or colleague, you can claim these expenses too. You get a form 8 from the educational institute or they offer you to print it online.

4. Monthly bus ticket in your taxes

Only the monthly subscription can be claimed. Keep your receipts

5. Business expenses, if you do business at home

You can claim a % of your rent, electricity, mobile bill, gas as business expenses, the new laptop and printer(if you use them in your business).

How to be organize my income and expenses to be prepared by the end of the year?

The best thing you do is that you prepare a folder for each year and keep whatever invoice you get. Also keep a light excel sheet to record your expenses and income through the year. That’s how you can be ready by the end of the year to submit your papers.

This is a sample of excel that I use for this reason and also to track my expenses of each month.
Download excel sheet

Related Post: Where will you pay the least tax?

The receptionist(lady): Hello Me: Hi, I would like to do massage The receptionist: Sure, can I get your information? Me:  Yes but I want to make sure that the person who will treat me is a women The receptionist astonished & [...]]]> Usually people who work a lot on computer have back pain issues.  One day,I decided to go for massage.

The receptionist(lady): Hello
Me: Hi, I would like to do massage
The receptionist: Sure, can I get your information?
Me:  Yes but I want to make sure that the person who will treat me is a women
The receptionist astonished & looking at me : No No madame… We can’t serve you, this is only a massage!
Me after a second of surprise: Oh! ok

Long time after I understood that she though me a lesibian

Albertans face the lowest taxes of any province in Canada. How do things look where you live?

Although all of us send the same tax levy to the Feds in Ottawa regardless of where we live, when it comes to [...]]]> Source :Where will you pay the least tax : http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/retirement/gordonpowers/article.aspx?cp-documentid=19213808

Albertans face the lowest taxes of any province in Canada. How do things look where you live?

More on taxes:

• Famous tax scandals
• Top tax saving strategies
• Tax relief for older workers
• Look to the past to minimize losses this tax season
• Budget’s tax cuts pack little punch
• Talk back: Your tax mistakes

How to study: To be prepared for the theoretical exam and pass from the first time you need to do the following: Step 1: Do the knowledge test on the SAAQ website on http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/services-saaqclic/public/en/questionnaire.htm This test is good because it give you idea about how the exam questions look like, the correct [...]]]> This is for the theoretical driving test…

How to study:
To be prepared for the theoretical exam and pass from the first time you need to do the following:
Step 1: Do the knowledge test on the SAAQ website on http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/services-saaqclic/public/en/questionnaire.htm
This test is good because it give you idea about how the exam questions look like, the correct answer is coming with explanation so you start understanding the rules, it increase your english driving vocabulary. I highly recommend you to do small cards with the questions that you answered wrong and translation of the terms that you don’t know. This will keep to review things easier the night before the exam.

Step 2: Read the 2 books Driver’s Handbook & Driving a Passenger Vehicle
You can borrow the books from the library instead of buying them.
It is very important to read them, not only to pass the theoretical exam but to understand really the driving rules and the techniques to follow to be safe in Quebec especially that the weather condition here is much difficult than other places and driving require lots of attention.

Step 3: practice on the driving CD “Auto-Réussite”
Do the exercises and the test. Make sure that the version you get is not old to be able to work on your computer system. I got Auto-Réussite Version2.0, it works good on vista.
You can get the CD from these links
http://www.amazon.ca/Auto-R%C3%A9ussite-French-English/dp/B000E62PS0
http://www.renaud-bray.com/Livres_Produit.aspx?id=675188

When to take an appointment?
Don’t wait till you are prepared. It is better that you take an appointment the day you decided to study because it is not easy to find a near date right away. I got my appointment date after one month!

How long does it take me to be ready for the theoretical exam?
It depends. If you live in slow motion like me.. then a month If you study everyday 4 hours or something then I assume that after 2 weeks you will be fine.

How to take an appointment
It is your first exam and you are permanent resident right? Be careful because the  tool of taking appointment online is not for you. So you need to call them.
This is the contact info.: http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/saaqclic/en/public/grv/phone.php

The papers you need to bring with you:
1-The permanent resident card
2-The confirmation of permanent residence paper. Take care this is not the certificate of selection.
If you lost this paper or can’t find it so try to take with you the certificate of selection, the passport, the medical insurance card, the permanent resident card and check the officer. Sometimes they are understandable.

The theoretical exam:
It contains 3 parts:
-The 1st part is 16 questions and you need to answer 12 correctly
-The 2nd part is 16 questions too and you need 12 correctly
-The 3rd part is 32 questions and you need to answer 28 correctly
If you fail in one part you can redo it after 7 days

When to do the practical test?
If you had a driving license in your country you can take an appointment directly after passing the theoretical test.
If you didn’t have a driving license but you wet to a school of driving after the theoretical test then you can go after 8 month for the practical test.
If you don’t plan to go for any school, then after 1 year you go for the practical test.

http://www.save.ca/en/index.htm On this website, you choose coupons for the products you want to purchase and they send you the saving coupons home!

One of the good thing a Muslim immigrant need to consider while living in Canada is to do something for Islam. Adding a value as a Muslim can have many ways, one of these ways is to support and help new Muslim reverts.

You [...]]]> Living in Canada is full of new experiences and new prespectives for live.

One of the good thing a Muslim immigrant need to consider while living in Canada is to do something for Islam. Adding a value as a Muslim can have many ways, one of these ways is to support and help new Muslim reverts.

You can find them in islamic events, in the prayer rooms, masjeds, in eftar of Ramadan done my the universities, in conferences, in the streets. Take the initiation and do the step to know them and support them.

And trust me, when you think you will go to support them, you think you give input for them but NO the reverse happens! They give more input to you. MashaaAllah they have a  pure heart and lighten heart that touch any Muslim that meet them.They inspire you by many great meanings for worship acts that you may be doing as habits. They increase your English vocabulary in Islam. They give you the chance to get rewarded. I

They ask you things, and not everything that you know so you go search and that’s how you increase your knowledge in the religion, they encourage you to go deep and deep in Islam.

At one point you will feel like .. Oh… I was born Muslim yes, but I didn’t know all these things in Islam, they go fa into deep issues of 3akeeda (belief) and you will know how great Islam is while you increase your knowlegue and answer them or even share knowledge with them.

In brief… It is a win-win relationship. Think of it and renew your intention while you live in Canada so that you profit and get rewarded inchaaAllah.

I found this profile of this lady interesting:

Ingrid Mattson, a Canadian Muslim revert professor and activist and the current president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Mattson

This is the index of  the public libraries in Montreal.

http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=4397,6393630&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

You can then go, make a registration and get a card. Using this card, you can borrow books from the library, by maximum 3 books in 3 weeks. If you didn’t finish reading the books in [...]]]> There is a public library in each region of your city.

This is the index of  the public libraries in Montreal.

http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=4397,6393630&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

You can then go, make a registration and get a card. Using this card, you can borrow books from the library, by maximum 3 books in 3 weeks. If you didn’t finish reading the books in the 3 weeks you can call and ask for extention (10 days I guess) for the book.

When you are late in getting the books back they charge you 25 cents per day. However the library will call you by an automatic message to let you know that the delivery date is within 2-3 days.

2. In Canada, an overeager, brown-nosing person is called a: Keener

3. What Canadian city does “Hogtown” refer to? Toronto

4. The waitress asked [...]]]> I got this form  http://msnarabia.englishtown.com/sp/tests/quiz.aspx?quizId=34&Ctag=34#15 and it is interesting
1. You are at a party with some Canadians and one of them asks if you want to go for a “dart”. What does “dart” mean?
A cigarette

2. In Canada, an overeager, brown-nosing person is called a:
Keener

3. What Canadian city does “Hogtown” refer to?
Toronto

4. The waitress asked if you would like a “serviette”. What is a “serviette”
A paper napkin

5. What’s a “Canuck”?
The correct answer is:  A slang word for Canadians

6. It’s a cold day as usual in Canada. Your friend reminds you to wear your “toque.” What are they talking about?
A knit winter hat

7. What is a “square head”?
A word used to describe English/Anglo Canadians

8. What is the slang word for describing a stereotypical English-Canadian male?
A hoser

9. Please complete this phrase the way a Canadian would: “It’s a nice day out, __”
“Eh?”

10. Your Canadian neighbor asks if you want to go to “The Ballet”. Where does he want to go?
A strip club

How to fight loneliness?

1- Learn to enjoy your time alone.

One of the nice thing I do in the summer is to go to Old Montreal (Metro Champ des Mars). There on the river eay, there are a lot of people, singers [...]]]> Loneliness, i think it is a must that all singles abroad go through.

How to fight loneliness?

1- Learn to enjoy your time alone.

One of the nice thing I do in the summer is to go to Old Montreal (Metro Champ des Mars). There on the river eay, there are a lot of people, singers and lots of fun. There is also the science center/IMAX to see movies. And It is fun also to walk, eat ice cream and watch people in streets.

In the winter, it is more tough, so I go to fitness center and see the TV.

2- Smile when you walk in the street. When you smile to people in the street and say hi, they smile back and reply, SO do it… It will make u feel relaxed.

3- Talk to the bus driver and people in the bus in any general conversation, the weather, the olympics whatever… It helps sometimes and you will practice your language as well.

4- Socialize to get friends.

Same like the new baby born, you are New world, new people, new life style, new ideas….

Summer is your best chance to socialize because the winter is sad, not too much things to do and not too much events that happen so your chance to know new people is less.

I advice you to come to Canada in the sunner.

Type of friends you can get:

Knowing people is not hard but getting friends is VERY HARD.

The people arround you in Montreal are even Quebecois or immigrant from all countries or immigrants Muslims.

You will find immigrants in general more interactive with you than Quebecois because they face the same what you face and will respond to you. They feel you and it is easy to get friends from them.

Quebecois are very kind and nice but there is always a barrier that will prevent you to interact with some of them. There is always a limit for the friendship. They are very kind, helpful and everything but it is not common to find Quebecois who accept you as a friend, invite you home and have a deep relation. Why I do not know.. May be later I will

Having friends immigrants from a different culture and nationalities than yours is something veryyyyy positive. You will learn new stuff, different way of thinking, new fun ways. You will enjoy it really. It will add a depth to your personality (so you will be in 3dimensions ).

The only negative here is Alcohol and food but once they know your regulation in having Halal food and no alcohol they respect that. I have a good friend, she is very sweet. She used to bring Halal chicken for me or have something vegetarian/fish for me when I visit her. we have great time together and high communication level. I really love her.

Having friends Muslims is very important. So7ba Salha is what u need here. You are in Canada, you do not hear any call for prayer and at a moment you want somebody like you to push you up a higher level or Eman or even to make u more solid on your religion leve. Somebody like you to talk with, who understands your pains from eye contact like these solid friends you left in your country.

Having muslim friends from your culture is tricky a bit. Just do your best to look for people POSITIVE and PRACTICING ISLAM.

Muslim Association of Canada – MAC is really a correct place to search for good muslim friends and so7ba salha there. (I included their yahoo group in the list down)

I need somebody to talk to.. Tell me how to get friends?

Alright;) below are some tips and tricks to get friends

• You may find nice people at work.

• Volunteer in whatever events and wherever place and be member, below are some ideas
  1. http://www.thechildren.com/en/about/volunteer.aspx
  2. http://www.muhc.ca/about/volunteering/
     

  These people do nice things check their video

• Take classes of whatever photography, dancing, cooking, squash, whatever
• Subscribe in the Montreal group of www.meetin.org

To get Muslim friends.

Subscribe in Muslim yahoo groups and join events, below are some that I know:

• soeurs-montreal@yahoogroups.com (women only/Montreal)
• listmaster@montrealmuslims.ca (Montreal)
• msaconcordia@montrealmuslims.ca (Muslim Student Association of Concordia University-Montreal)
• Orphans_Group@yahoogroups.com (Orphan Sun www.orphansun.org )
• Montrealyouth@macnet.ca (Muslim Association of canada-MAC / Montreal)
• montrealfriends@macnet.ca(Muslim Association of canada-MAC / Montreal)
• unislam_quebec@yahoogroups.ca (Montreal)
• Check events on http://msamcgill.com/ (Muslim Student Association of McGill-Montreal)
• MACOttawa-Events@macnet.ca(Muslim Association of canada-MAC / Ottawa – Events like eid celebration… )
• OttawaMC@yahoogroups.com (Muslim Association of canada-MAC / Ottawa)
• carletonmsa@yahoogroups.com (Muslim Student Association of Carleton University-Ottawa)