Immigration is the most beneficial process that makes Canada [...]]]> “Immigrants… They take my job; use my facilities, sit in my chair on the bus, get from my taxes, carry my same passport and get married to my daughter! Those people came from out of the blue to steal my life. And finally what? I should appreciate their presence?!”

Immigration is the most beneficial process that makes Canada a unique place to live in.

This mixture of cultures adds a lot! This wider perspective of life, innovation, and creation can’t be done without this contribution of a multicultural nation.

In my university studies, we used to do group projects, five members in the group each researching a different country: Canada, Egypt, China, UK and Greece. I was so impressed by the input and effort that each individual put in the project. I learned something new from each of them and somehow the difference in cultures and experience in life made these projects the best.

Without having you “my Canadian friends”, I would never be able to gain this self confidence and by pass the culture shock I faced during my first period in this country.

It makes a huge difference when the immigrant starts his life in Canada with positive friends and colleagues around him welcoming him, appreciating his contribution, allow him to be in their circle of friends and make him a part of this big family. You know what happens next, that immigrant turns to be a running positive energy that builds the country, makes a better environment to live in, allows more work opportunities and maybe he/she will one day be your soulmate, a trusted advisor or your best friend.

Immigrants appreciate those who help them pass through the tough first moments, the people who are there to help them overcome the difficulties and make them feel the common values in humanity regardless of background, nationality or religion.

Cooperation and positive feelings between local people and immigrants is really the one base that builds this lovely country.

To all who helped me passing my tough first years in Canada, I am grateful to you. Thank you so much for being my side.

God Bless Canadian Immigrants and Canadians!

الطرحة و هى قلقة من الموقف – يا رب أفهم كل المطلوب و ما أتنحش-: أكيد ليه لاء

هو: هنا أكتبى بيناتك و  لو حصل وفاه [...]]]>
هو – و أستغراب و تساؤلات فى عينه- هى أيه الى عملاه فى نفسها ده. ده حتى الدنيا حر خالص النهاردة-:
مبروك على العمل الجديد. لازم نكمل بعض الأوراق . هل مستعدة

الطرحة و هى قلقة من الموقف – يا رب أفهم كل المطلوب و ما أتنحش-:
أكيد ليه لاء

هو:
هنا أكتبى بيناتك و  لو حصل وفاه الشركة تدى مستحقاتك لمين؟

الطرحة:
أختى ينفع؟

هو :
ماشى . بعدها ديه صفحة التأمين الصحى، من فضلك أكتبى بيانات الزوج و الأولاد علشان يتم إضافتهم للتأمين.

الصرحة:
مفيش

هو:
زوجك أو صحبك

الطرحة :
مفيش

هو:
طيب صديق مقرب لو عايشين مع بعض

الطحة :
مفيش

هو :
طيب الكلب بتاعك ممكن لكن لينضم للتأمين الصحى لازم أضافة شهرية

الطرحة – كلب فى التأمين الصحى؟! ديه القطة نتنونو فى شارع بيتنا على اللى رايح و الى راجع و ولا حد عايز يعبرها بنظرة حتى-:
مفيش

هو و الإستغراب مالى وجهه و العنين بتتكلم–ديه معندهاش حتة كلب و لا شكلها بخلانة  بالتأمين–و بعد لحظة من الصمت أبتسم أبتسامة صفراء و قال-:
خلاص ممكن تكون الصفحة فارغة و لو حبيتى تضيفى شىء فى المستقبل ممكن .هو التأمين بيوفر كثير من التكاليف لأى فرد من المذكورين سابقاً .

الطرحة:
أوكيه. شكراً

هو – وقف و كان يستعد علشان بيمد يده للسلام- ..

الطرحة – يا لهوى… ده حيسلم.

و فجأة الورق كله وقع على الأرض و قعد يلمه و نسى يسلم

الطرحة– الحمد لله  نسى يسلم و عدت المرة ديه و ربنا زاح عنى

If you already have a license from other country, they you can take some lessons to know the [...]]]> If you do not have driving license from other country, to pass the practical test you need to do 12 hrs in a driving school before applying for the test. Only driving schools can give you this certificate.

If you already have a license from other country, they you can take some lessons to know the driving rules before applying for the exam.

Where to take the driving lessons :
1. Driving schools: The rate if high $30-$55 / hour
2- Private lesson with certified instructor : $25 and more
Search on Kijiji.ca for “driving lessons” and you will find plenty of them.
If you are in Montreal, call this instructor. he offers lessons in good rate and and has lots of patience.  Karim : 514.577.3176 (Arabic-French-English)

Why is it important to take lessons before the exam?
Practicing before the exam is important to know the driving rules in the province and also instructors usually takes you to the same places where you do the exam and tell you the frequent mistakes, so you learn more.

If you don’t pass the exam from the first time don’t get depressed.. most of people don’t

Good luck

$0-30K                          (low income) $30-$60K                    (middle income) $60-100K                    (affluent) $100K                           (more affluent)

This is the gross amount of income before the deduction of the income tax. Income taxes has % federal and % provincial to pay. This depends on each province and it is portion [...]]]> I had many friends asking me about Income and salaries, below is a suggested income ranges classification.

$0-30K                          (low income)
$30-$60K                    (middle income)
$60-100K                    (affluent)
$100K                           (more affluent)

This is the gross amount of income before the deduction of the income tax.
Income taxes has % federal and % provincial to pay. This depends on each province and it is portion from the salary. Check this Annual Income taxes 2009. Are you ready?! post to know more about the taxes

How much is sufficient for me to live in Canada?

The following #s are not based on statistical data. Just personal opinion and estimation
In Quebec, 30K can make you around $1800/month net.
One person can spend around $200 on groceries each month.
In Montreal, the bus monthly registration cost around $70.
Average rent of 31/2 (one closed bed room- a kitchen-salon-washroom) $600
Average heat & electricity cost for 31/2 in cold weather (Nov-March) : 50-70/month

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?

* Did you know that Palestinian license plates in Zionist entity are color coded to distinguish jews from non-jews?

* Did you know that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for jews and the remaining 15% is divided among all [...]]]>
* Did you know that non-Jewish Israelis cannot buy or lease land in the Zionist entity?

* Did you know that Palestinian license plates in Zionist entity are color coded to distinguish jews from non-jews?

* Did you know that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for jews and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the territories? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is given to about 400 settlers, while 15% must be divided among Hebron’s 120,000 Palestinians?

*Did you know the United States awards the israel $5 billion in aid each year?

*Did you know that yearly US aid to israel exceeds the aid the US grants to the whole African continent?

*Did you know that the israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?

*Did you know that the israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites?

*Did you know that israel currently occupies territories of two sovereign nations (Lebanon and Syria) in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions?

*Did you know that israel has for decades routinely sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies?

*Did you know that high-ranking military officers in the israeli Defense Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed by the IDF?

*Did you know that israel refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war?

*Did you know that israel routinely confiscates bank accounts, businesses, and land and refuses to pay compensation to those who suffer the confiscation?

*Did you know that israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a U.S. ship in international waters, killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors?

*Did you know that the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders, is the jewish AIPAC?

*Did you know that israel stands in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council Resolutions?

*Did you know that today’s israel sits on the former sites of more than 400 now-vanished Palestinian villages, and that the israeli’s re- named almost every physical site in the country to cover up the traces?

*Did you know that it was not until 1988 that israelis were barred from running “jews Only” job ads?

*Did you know that four prime ministers of israel (Begin, Shamir, Rabin, and Sharon) have taken part in either bomb attacks on civilians, massacres of civilians, or forced expulsions of civilians from their villages?

*Did you know that the israeli Foreign Ministry pays two American public relations firms to promote israel to Americans?

*Did you know that Sharon’s coalition government includes a party — Molodet — which advocates expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories?

*Did you know that israel’s settlement-building increased in the eight years since Oslo?

*Did you know that settlement building under Barak doubled compared to settlement building under Netanyahu?

*Did you know that israel once dedicated a postage stamp to a man who attacked a civilian bus and killed several people?

*Did you know that recently-declassifi ed documents indicate that David Ben-Gurion in at least some instances approved of the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948?

*Did you know that despite a ban on torture by israel’s High Court of Justice, torture has continued by Shin Bet interrogators on Palestinian prisoners?

*Did you know that Palestinian refugees make up the largest portion of the refugee population in the world?

*And finally do you know who is the terrorist now ?

Source: very evident!

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

Feels like is the one to consider as it is the real temp. that you feel after the effect of wind.

Put [...]]]> Check the weather forecast:
There is something important, it will be wise to look for the weather before you leave home from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/ . Note that there are “Temp” and “Feels like”.

Feels like is the one to consider as it is the real temp. that you feel after the effect of wind.

Put lotion on your hands and your face:
Lotion is not an option, It is for men and women. It gives some protection for the skin.
Any moisturizing cream will be good. If your skin is sensitive, then go for “Olay”

Happy winter !

النشيد الوطنى المصرى (1923 – 1936) نفسى يرجع تانى ..

— اسلمى يا مصر إننى الفدا ذى يدى إن مدت الدنيا يدا

أبدا لن تستكينى أبدا إننى أرجو مع اليوم غدا

ومعى قلبى وعزمى للجهاد ولقلبى أنت بعد الدين دين

لكى يا مصر السلامة وسلاما يا بلادى إن رمى [...]]]>

النشيد الوطنى المصرى (1923 – 1936) نفسى يرجع تانى ..

— اسلمى يا مصر إننى الفدا ذى يدى إن مدت الدنيا يدا

أبدا لن تستكينى أبدا إننى أرجو مع اليوم غدا

ومعى قلبى وعزمى للجهاد ولقلبى أنت بعد الدين دين

لكى يا مصر السلامة وسلاما يا بلادى إن رمى الدهر سهامه أتقيها بفؤادى واسلمى فى كل حين

أنا مصرى بنانى من بنى… هرم الدهر الذى أعيا الفنا

وقفة الأهرام فيما بيننا لصلوف الدهر وقفتى أنا

فى دفاعى وجهادى للبلاد لا أميل لا أمل لا ألين

لكى يا مصر السلامة وسلاما يا بلادى إن رمى الدهر سهامه أتقيها بفؤادى واسلمى فى كل حين

ويك يا من رام تقييد الفلك أى نجم فى السما يخضع لك

وطن الحر سمًا لا تمتلك والفتى الحر بأفقه ملك

لا عدا يا أرض مصر بكى عاد أننا دون حماكى أجمعين

لكى يا مصر السلامة وسلاما يا بلادى إن رمى الدهر سهامه أتقيها بفؤادى واسلمى فى كل حين

للعلا أبناء مصر للعلا

وبمصر شرفوا المستقبلا

وفدًا لمصرنا الدنيا فلا نضع الأوطان إلا أولا

جانبى الأيسر قلبه الفؤاد وبلادى هى لى قلبى اليمين

لكى يا مصر السلامة وسلاما يا بلادى إن رمى الدهر سهامه أتقيها بفؤادى واسلمى فى كل حين