Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick - Government of ...

Orientation guide for newcomers to New BrunswickCe guide est aussi disponible en français.Version 1Revised Summer 2011Table of contentsCNB 8183New Brunswick’s counties 4Chapter 1: About New Brunswick 5Map 6Cities 7Arts and culture 9Economy 11Weather 11Chapter 2: Political system 13The three orders of government 13Federal - Government of Canada 13Provincial - Government ofNew Brunswick 14Municipal government –your city, town, village or rural area 15Chapter 3: Coming to New Brunswick 17What to do before you arrive 17What to do after you arrive 18The Provincial Nominee ProgramChapter 4: Help getting started 21Immigrant settlement agencies 21For entrepreneurs 23English-language training 23French-language training 24Chapter 5: Life in New Brunswick 27Bilingualism 27Daylight savings time 27The telephone system 27Mailing a letter or parcel 28Emergencies 29Transportation 29City buses 29Taxis 30Bicycles (bikes) 30Cars 30Long-distance travel 31Airplanes 31Trains 31Buses and Shuttles 31Shopping 32Grocery shopping 32Second-hand stores 32Shopping hours and policies 32Sales tax 32Keeping up-to-date 33Daily newspapers 33Weekly newspapers 33Internet service 33Television 34Radio 34Chapter 6: Finding a place to live 37What to look for 37Before moving into a house or an apartment: 37Renting a house or apartment (flat) 37Finding a place 37If you rent 38Your rights: 38Your responsibilities: 38If you buy 39For what you may qualify: 39Down payment and mortgage insurance 39Finding a home 40Where to start: 40Real estate agents 40While the Population Growth Division makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information, wehereby disclaim any liability for any errors, omissions or inconsistencies in this Orientation Guide.Due to changes to policies or programs after the guide is printed, information included in this guidemay not be current as of your reading. Please check before using information contained in this Guide.Use of this Guide and its contents is voluntary. The Population Growth Division is in no way responsible foryour use of the information contained in this Orientation Guide or the results of that use.All information provided in this guide is for informational purposes only, and as such should not beconstrued as advice. You should seek independent professional advice from a person who is licensed and/orknowledgeable in the appropriate area before acting upon any information contained in this Guide.

Leasing 69Insurance 69Registration 69Safety inspections 70Driving laws 70Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol 70If you are involved in an accident 71Driving in the winter 71Chapter 12: Education 73The school system 73Kindergarten to Grade 12 73Post-secondary education 75Universities 75New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) 75Apprenticeships 76Student loans 77$4,000 benefit for first-time university students 77New Brunswick Tuition Rebate Program 77Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) 77Chapter 13: Rights and responsibilities 79Your rights and freedoms 79Children’s rights 80Women’s rights 82Domestic violence 82Sexual harassment 84Senior citizens’ rights 84Rights of persons with disabilities 85Chapter 14: Citizenship andpermanent residency 87Permanent resident card 87Becoming a Canadian 87How to be a good citizen 88Chapter 15: The legal system 89The police 89The RCMP 89Local police forces 89Dealing with the police 89Lawyers 90Legal aid 90Other lawyers 91The courts 91Protecting yourself from dishonest people 91Chapter 16: Faith and religion 93Places of worship 93Hindu Temple 93Mosques 93Synagogues 93Chapter 17: Customs in New Brunswick 95Families 95Taking care of children 95The Child Tax Benefit 96Holidays and other special days 96Other social customs 97Chapter 18: Recreation, sport and culture 99Keeping your family healthy 99The YMCA 99Other services for young people 101Meeting people 102Libraries 103Appendix A:Essential contact telephone numbers 105Appendix B:Service New Brunswick centres 107Appendix C:Service Canada centres 111Appendix D:Health-care institutions / services 115Appendix E:Community walk-in and after-hours clinics 123Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick3

New Brunswick’s countiesNew Brunswick is divided into 15 areas called counties. It is important tolearn the name of the county in which you will be living. It will help you findthe services and programs that New Brunswick has to offer.4Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Chapter 1About New BrunswickDid you know that ...• New Brunswick is the largest of the threeprovinces on the east coast of Canada.They are called the Maritime provinces or,simply, the Maritimes. The others are NovaScotia and Prince Edward Island. The Atlanticprovinces include the Maritimes and theprovince of Newfoundland and Labrador.• New Brunswick covers more than 73,000 sq.km (28,000 sq. miles).• New Brunswick has a coastline more than2,000 km (1,400 miles) long.• New Brunswick has eight cities: Bathurst,Campbellton, Dieppe, Edmundston,Fredericton (the capital), Miramichi,Moncton and Saint John.• New Brunswick has 748,319 people.• New Brunswick is Canada’s only officiallybilingual province. Its official languages areEnglish and French.New Brunswick is in eastern Canada,surrounded by three provinces and oneAmerican state. To the north and west isQuébec, where French is the official language.To the west is Maine, one of the 50 statesmaking up the United States of America.The rest of the province is nearly entirelysurrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. To the eastis the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The warm watersof the Northumberland Strait are betweenNew Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.To the south is the beautiful but cold Bayof Fundy, nearly entirely separating NewBrunswick from Nova ScotiaCanada, including New Brunswick, isconnected by a national highway networkcalled the Trans-Canada Highway. TheNew Brunswick portion consists mainlyof Route 2, which runs more-or-lessdiagonally from Quebec in the northwest toNova Scotia in the southeast. There is alsoRoute 16, which runs from the southeasterncorner of New Brunswick, at Route 2 nearSackville, to the famous Confederation Bridgeleading to Prince Edward Island.Canada became a country in 1867.New Brunswick was one of the first fourprovinces to join; the others were Ontario,Québec and Nova Scotia. The nationalcapital is Ottawa, Ontario. Canada is thesecond-largest country in the worldin terms of area.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick5

New Brunswick detailed mapQUÉBECMatapédia11DalhousieCampbelltonMiscou IslandÎle LamèqueCaraquet113Shippagan18517Saint-QuentinBathurst11Tracadie112EdmundstonSaint-Léonard811Van BurenGrand Falls/Grand-SaultChathamMiramichi12108Plaster Rock8Presque Isle109Perth-Andover108Doaktown126Richibucto11BouctouchePRINCE EDWARD ISLANDÎLE-DU-PRINCE-ÉDOUARD2BoistownHoultonHartlandWoodstock958MintoChipmanShediacMoncton 151516MAINEU.S.A./É.-U.95162Nackawic3McAdam43Fredericton 102Oromocto710212Sussex111St. Martins21142Alma1142Sackville16Amherst104NOVA SCOTIANOUVELLE-ÉCOSSESaintJohn1111St. StephenSt.GeorgeSt. AndrewsCalais1959Deer IslandCampobello IslandLocation of settlement servicesavailable in the province1Grand Manan IslandLocation of settlement services available in the province.Contact the New Brunswick Multicultural Council for more information,(506) 453-1091.6Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Just outside the city is Oromocto, home ofCanada’s largest military base, CanadianForces Base Gagetown.• 1-506-460-2041; toll-free, 1-888-888-4768(Canada and the United States); toll-free,0-808-101-1674 (United Kingdom); fax,1-506-460-2474• www.fredericton.caMiramichiMiramichi, on either side of the beautifulMiramichi River, has 18,129 people, many ofwhom come from an Irish background. AnIrish folk song festival is held in Miramichievery year. The city has a New BrunswickCommunity College campus and a regionalhospital. The Miramichi region is famousfor its salmon fishing.• 1-506-623-2200; fax, 1-506-623-2201• www.miramichi.orgMonctonMoncton, in the southeast, is one of thefastest-growing areas in Canada. The cityand surrounding area have a populationof 126,424. Moncton has the distinction ofbeing officially bilingual, and it has a large,vibrant, Acadian community. The city is in thesoutheastern part of the province along thePetitcodiac River, known as the ChocolateRiver because of its muddy water. The city’seconomy is mainly based on transportation,8Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

distribution, information technology,commercial and retail sectors. Moncton hasthe restored Capitol Theatre, which featuresdrama and performances of all types. The cityalso has the Moncton Coliseum Complex, avenue for hockey, conferences, concerts andtrade shows. Nearby Magnetic Hill, a populartourist destination, is becoming increasinglywell-known as a concert location. Monctonis the home of the main campus of theUniversité de Moncton as well as a campusof the New Brunswick Community College.The city is a half-hour drive from one of thecountry’s best small universities, MountAllison University, in Sackville. Moncton hastwo regional hospitals.Moncton is sometimes called the HubCity because it is centrally located in theMaritimes. It is less than one hour fromNova Scotia. It is a short distance from someof the most beautiful beaches inNew Brunswick.• 1-506-853-3333; fax, 1-506-389-5904• www.moncton.caSaint JohnSaint John, in the southern part of theprovince on the Bay of Fundy, and thesurrounding area have a population of122,389. Saint John is often called theLoyalist City in honour of the British refugeeswho arrived at the mouth of the St. JohnRiver in the 1780s. Saint John is also calledthe Port City because it has one of the busiestharbours in Canada. Saint John is increasinglybecoming a port of call for cruise ships. It hasthe largest oil refinery in the country. A majorliquefied natural gas terminal is being built.The Point Lepreau nuclear power station isnearby.Saint John is the oldest incorporated cityin Canada. It has historic architecture anda famous farmer’s market in the uptown.The Imperial Theatre, a restored downtownlandmark, features drama and performancesof all types. Nearby are the Market Squarecomplex, including the Saint John Trade andConvention Centre, and Harbour Station,which hosts hockey, concerts, trade showsand conferences. The city is the home ofthe Saint John campus of the University ofNew Brunswick and a campus of the NewBrunswick Community College. Saint Johnhas a regional hospital.• 1-506-649-6000• www.saintjohn.caArts and cultureNew Brunswick is proud of its mix of cultures.The main groups include:• First Nations peoples (Aboriginals). Forthousands of years before the arrival ofthe Europeans, First Nations peoples livedin New Brunswick, and they continue tomake an important contribution to theprovince. First Nations people includethe Mi’Kmaq, who traditionally live in thenortheast, east and south; the Maliseet,who traditionally live in the north and west;and the Passamaquoddy, who traditionallylive in the southwest. Many of the namesof rivers and small communities come fromnative languages. For instance, the Maliseetname for the St. John River, today spelled asWoolastook, is derived from Wolastoqiyik,the native name for this First Nation.• the Acadians. This was the name given theFrench-speaking people who settled theMaritimes in the 1600s. They called the areaencompassing the Maritimes “Acadie.” Theybecame refugees after the British expelledthem in 1755. They gradually returned,today comprising about one-third of NewBrunswick’s population – a testament totheir determination and love of this region.Their contribution to New Brunswick isfelt throughout the province, especially inthe southeast, northwest and northeast.The centre of Acadian higher educationis the Université de Moncton, which hascampuses in Moncton, Shippagan andEdmundston. The Village HistoriqueOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick9

Acadien, near Caraquet, is an outdoormuseum re-creating life in Acadian NewBrunswick from the end of the deportationsup to the mid 20th century. Le Pays de laSagouine, a well-known Acadian culturaltheme park, is in Bouctouche. Caraquet iswell-known for its celebrations on NationalAcadian Day, each Aug. 15. The Acadianshave their own flag; they have many uniquefoods and folk-music traditions. A distinctFrench-speaking community, known asthe Brayons, lives in the northwest aroundEdmundston.• www.iijcan.org/en/ca/laws/stat/sc-2003-c-11/latest/sc-2003-c-11.html• www.cbc.ca/acadian/feature_national_acadian_day.html and many other sources.• the British. New Brunswick had beenpart of the British colony of Nova Scotiauntil 1784. In that year, New Brunswickbecame a separate colony after thousandsof Americans who supported British rulein the United States fled the 13 Americancolonies. These refugees, called theLoyalists, settled mainly in Saint John,St. Andrews, Fredericton and along theSt. John River Valley. Today, Saint Johnannually observes Loyalist Day tocommemorate the landing of the Loyalists.Near Fredericton is Kings Landing HistoricalSettlement, an outdoor museum re-creatingLoyalist life in rural New Brunswick in the1800s. The first centre of English-languagehigher learning in New Brunswickwas King’s College, today known asthe University of New Brunswick, withcampuses in Fredericton and Saint John.New Brunswick also has Saint ThomasUniversity in Fredericton and MountAllison University in Sackville.• Irish and Scots: Many Irish refugees arrivedin Saint John and Miramichi, especially,in the mid-1800s. A substantial numberof Scots immigrated to New Brunswick.Miramichi and Fredericton hold festivalseach year in honour of the province’s Irishand Scottish heritages, respectively.10Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick• Danes: several immigrant families madetheir way up the St. John River in the 1870sto establish what was at one time thelargest Danish community in Canada.It is today known as New Denmark.New Brunswick has many art galleriesaside from the Beaverbook Art Gallery.The province’s major museum, the NewBrunswick Museum, is in Saint John. TheUniversité de Moncton has an AcadianMuseum. The province also has a largecommunity of craftspeople, includingsome of the finest potters in the country.A symphony orchestra is based in Saint John,and a touring English theatre company isbased in Fredericton.There are many festivals to enjoy.Moncton has a comedy festival in the winter.Fredericton hosts a lively jazz festival in theSeptember. St. Andrews hosts a performingarts festival in the summer. For moreinformation about arts and culture inNew Brunswick:• 1-506-453-2909; fax, 1-506-453-6548• www.gnb.ca/0131/index-e.asp

Chapter 2The political systemOrders of governmentCanada has three orders (levels) ofgovernment: federal, provincial andmunicipal.Federal – The Government of CanadaCanada is a democratic, federal constitutionalmonarchy. The monarch, or head of state,is Queen Elizabeth II. Although she lives inEngland and is best known as the Queenof England, she is officially referred to inthis country as the Queen of Canada. Asin England and in other Commonwealthnations, the Queen is not involved withthe daily operations of the government;her role is largely ceremonial. The monarchis represented in Canada at the federallevel by a vice-regal official, known as thegovernor general. The prime minister, thehead of government, is the political leader.He or she leads the party with the mostrepresentatives in the lower house, knownas the House of Commons. The House, as it isinformally known, has 308 elected members,known as Members of Parliament (MPs),each of whom represents a single riding, orconstituency, across Canada. There is alsoan upper house, known as the Senate. Itconsists of 105 senators appointed, officially,by the governor general, but, in practice bythe prime minister. The House of Commonsintitiates most laws and all budgets; theSenate, often called the chamber of sobersecond thought, grants approval. The Houseof Commons and the Senate compriseParliament, which sits in Ottawa at least oncea year. New Brunswick has 10 MPs and anequal number of Senators.Federal elections usually take place everyfour years, technically initiated by thegovernor general but in practice at thediscretion of the prime minister. Electionsmay be held sooner if the governing partyloses a vote in the House of Commons on itsgeneral legislative plan (the throne speech);a budget matter; or certain issues deemed bythe prime minister to be a vote of confidencein the government.To be eligible to vote, you must be aCanadian and at least 18 years of age onelection day. Voting is carried out by secretballot. Voters cast their ballots for thecandidate of their choice.You must complete the application beforebecoming a new citizen. You are registered tovote if you check off the consent box on theapplication, thereby giving your permissionto be added to the official register. You donot receive further confirmation.The Government of Canada is responsiblefor immigration, national defence, nationalsecurity, criminal law, money, banking andinternational trade.There are four main parties at the federallevel: the Conservative Party; the LiberalParty; the New Democratic Party; and, inQuébec only, the Bloc Québécois.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick13

Municipal governmentsThe municipal government that runs acity, town or village is a called a council,consisting of an elected mayor and a varyingnumber of councillors. Municipalities deliverlocal services, including streets, water,sewage, parks, recreation, business permitsand property zoning. A non-elected staffadministers these services. They generallyinclude a city manager, a clerk and atreasurer. They work in what is known as acity, town or village hall.New Brunswick also has formal bodies knownas rural communities. These communitiesare formed when two of what are called localservice districts or one local service districtand one village decide to join together.For more information, contact theDepartment of Local Government:• 1-506-453-2690• www.gnb.ca/0370/index-e.aspOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick15

Find a place to liveThere are a number of options for living inNew Brunswick. Chapter 6, Finding a placeto live, contains information about decidingwhat is best for you.Enrol your children in schoolThe New Brunswick Education Act requiresyou to enrol your children in school. Mostchildren go to public schools paid for bythe government. Some communities haveprivate schools that charge fees. Someparents choose to homeschool theirchildren; that is, to teach them at homeusing government guidelines.Open a bank accountYou may open an account at the bank of yourchoice. You will need photo identification, aSocial Insurance Number (SIN) and a homeaddress. Find out more about Canadianmoney and the banking systemin Chapter 10, Money and banking.Continue your job searchYour job search will be one of the mostimportant things you do as you settle inNew Brunswick. Chapter 7, Finding work, willhelp you plan your search. It also suggestssome places where you may get help.Apply for a Social InsuranceNumber (SIN)The federal government assigns eachCanadian a Social Insurance Number(SIN); you will need one to work or receivegovernment benefits. You will receive awallet-sized card with your SIN on it.You should keep your SIN confidential.Only the government or an employer (afteryou are hired) is allowed to ask you for yourSIN. Your bank may also request yourSIN for some financial transactions. Learnmore in Chapter 7, Finding work, and inChapter 8, Working.Obtain a Permanent Resident cardThe Permanent Resident (PR) card replacesthe paper document, IMM1000 Record ofLanding. You need this card to prove yourstatus when you re-enter the country byplane, train, or bus. More information abouthow to apply for the PR card is in Chapter 14,Citizenship and permanent residency.Obtain a Canadian driver’s licence ora government photo identificationVisit any Service New Brunswick location tofind out if you may exchange your driver’slicence for a New Brunswick licence or ifyou need to take a driving test first. YourNew Brunswick licence will be your officialNew Brunswick government-issued photoidentification. If you do not have a driver’slicence and do not wish to drive, you mayarrange to have a government-issued photoidentification card created instead. Refer toChapter 5, Life in New Brunswick.Obtain a New Brunswick health card(medicare)You may apply for a medicare card as soonas you arrive, but you may not use it untilyou have been here three months. Most butnot all medical services are free. Medicareonly covers visits and most tests at clinics,hospitals and the doctor’s office. You maychoose to buy private health insurance tocover expenses such as dental care, physicaltherapy, drug prescriptions, and eye glasses.These costs are also sometimes covered byyour employer. Refer to Chapter 9, Healthcare.Apply for government benefitsIf your income is relatively low, you may beeligible to receive financial assistance fromthe federal government in the forms of theCanada Child Tax Benefit, the Goods andServices Tax Credit and other governmentpayments. Refer to Chapter 17, Customs inNew Brunswick.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick19

Become involvedThe best way to become part of your newcommunity is to become involved. A numberof community groups will welcome you.You may find ideas throughout this guide orthrough your local settlement agency.The Provincial NomineeProgramThe New Brunswick government offers theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP). Throughthis, the province looks for immigrantsqualified to do jobs that need to be filled. Italso helps immigrants to set up a business orprovide jobs here for other people:• job offer category – to be consideredfor nomination as a skilled worker inthis category, you must already have apermanent, full-time job offer from anestablished New Brunswick company.o the job must meet provincialemployment standards;o the job must offer rates of paycomparable to others in the sameindustry; ando in most cases, the skills offered bythe potential immigrant must not beeasily available to the employer inNew Brunswick, and employers mustdemonstrate that they are havingdifficulty finding these skills in thelocal job market.• Family Support Category – to be consideredfor nomination as a skilled worker in thiscategory, you must have the support ofsomeone already living in New Brunswick.o eligible applicants include: daughter orson, step-daughter or step-son, sister orbrother, step-sister or step-brother, sisterin-lawor brother-in-law, nice or nephew;or, a grandchild;o both you and the family supporteryou have identified will be assessed, asboth are critical to the success of thenomination;o you will be assessed on an offer offull-time employment or employmentskills based on education and training,language skills, work experience, ageand ability to adapt to New Brunswick,surrounded by a supportive family;o your supporter will be assessed on his/her commitment to the immigrationprocess and the successful settlement ofhis/her family member.• business plan applicants – to be considereda provincial nominee under the businessplan applicant category, you must havean approved plan to do business inNew Brunswick.o you must have previous managementexperience with proven success as asenior executive and / or business owner;o your business skills must be relevant toyour business in New Brunswick;o you must have enough money to financethe first part of your business planwithout help from a third party and tosupport your family for up to two years;o you are required to actively participate inthe business in a management role; ando you must speak English or French wellenough to do business in New Brunswick.As a PNP applicant, you must make acommitment to settle permanently inNew Brunswick. You must sign a documentstating you plan to live and work in thisprovince. If you are a provincial nominee,your visa application will likely be processedquicker than otherwise.20Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Chapter 4Help getting startedImmigrant settlement agenciesAs mentioned earlier, the Population GrowthDivision is part of the New Brunswickgovernment. Within the Division is theSettlement and Multiculturalism Branch,created to work with community organizationsto provide settlement services throughoutNew Brunswick. Staff at the Settlementand Multiculturalism Branch can send youinformation about services in your community:• 1-506-453-2491• www.gnb.ca/immigration• e-mail: immigration@gnb.caA number of agencies are available to helpnewcomers. They may help you find languageclasses and jobs, among other things. Theymay also provide information about living andworking here. Some associations also organizesocial and cultural activities to help you to makenew friends.Your access to some of these services willdepend on your immigration status in Canada.Organizations offering a range ofsettlement services:Carleton CountyMulticultural Association of CarletonCounty,24 McCain St.,Florenceville, NBE7L 3J4• 1-506-392-6011• www.maccnb.ca/Enter.htmlCharlotte CountyMulticultural Association of CharlotteCounty,5 Main Street, Unit BSt. George, NB E5C 3F9· (506) 755-7713Gloucester CountyMulticultural Association of the ChaleurRegion,CCNB – Bathurst campus,75 Youghall Dr.,Bathurst, NBE2A 4X5• 1-506-549-5164; fax, 1-506-547-2917• www.bathurstheritage.ca/multicultural.aspCentre d’accueil des nouveaux arrivants dela Péninsule acadienne,22, St-Pierre East BlvdCaraquet, NB E1W 1B6· (506) 727-0186Madawaska CountyCarrefour d’Immigration Rurale Inc.,P.O. Box 2143, 76 de l’École St.,Saint-Léonard, NBE7E 2M7• 1-506-423-3060• www.immigrationrurale.ca• e-mail: recep.cir@nb.aibn.comOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick21

Northumberland CountyMiramichi Regional MulticulturalAssociation,1808 Water StreetP.O. Box 254Miramichi, NBE1N 3A6• 1-506-773-5272• www.miramichimulticultural.com• e-mail: miramichisettlement@nb.aibn.comSt. John CountySaint John Multicultural and NewcomersResource Centre,47 Charlotte St., third floor,Saint John, NBE2L 5B2• 1-506-642-4242YM -YWCA - Saint John,130 Broadview Ave.,Saint John, NBE2L 5C5• 1-506-646-2389; fax, 1-506-634-0783• www.settlementservicesymca.ca• e-mail: r.campbell@saintjohny.comMulticultural Association of Saint John Inc.,55 Canterbury St.,Saint John, NBE2L 2C6• 1-506-632-0096• Information available throughwww.frederictoninfo.ca/recordHDC0226?UseCICVw=43• e-mail: daba@rogers.comPRUDE (Pride, Race, Unity, Dignity,Education),47 Charlotte St.,Saint John, NBE2L 2H8• 1-506-634-3088; fax, 1-506-634-6080• www.prude.ca• e-mail: jstevens@nb.aibn.comWestmorland CountyMulticultural Association of the GreaterMoncton Area (MAGMA),150 Queen Street,Moncton, NBE1C 1K8• 1-506-858-9659; fax, 1-506-857-9430• magma-amgm.org• e-mail : magma@nb.aibn.comCentre d’accueil et d’accompagnementfrancophone des immigrants du Sud-Est duNouveau-Brunswick (CAFI),319 St. George Street,Moncton, NBE1C 1W8• 1-506-382-7494• www.caiimm.org• e-mail: info@caiimm.orgYork CountyMulticultural Association of Fredericton Inc.,123 York St. second floor,Fredericton, NBE3B 3N6• 1-506-454-8292; fax, 1-506-450-9033• www.mcaf.nb.ca• e-mail: mcaf@mcaf.nb.caThere are also a number of organizations forpeople from the same country or who havethe same cultural or religious background.For information on organizations such these,contact the New Brunswick MulticulturalCouncil, Inc.:• 1-506-453-1160• www.nb-mc.ca/• e-mail: NBMC@nb-mc.caOr write:New Brunswick Multicultural Council, Inc.(NBMC),361 Victoria Street., Suite 200,Fredericton, NBE3B 1W522Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

In addition to the information in this book,the Human Development Council, anorganization based in Saint John, offers acommunity services database to find servicesin your county:• saintjohn.cioc.ca/start.asp?UseCICVw=43(English only)For entrepreneursMany people come to Canada to starta business. You may get information bycontacting your local immigrant serviceagency or the New Brunswick Settlementand Multiculturalism Branch. Refer toChapter 7, Finding work.English-language trainingCarleton CountyMulticultural Association of CarletonCounty (enhanced language training),24 McCain St.,Florenceville, NBE7L 3J4• 1-506-392-6011• www.maccnb.ca/Enter.htmlSt. John CountyYM -YWCA – Saint John (LINC [LanguageInstruction for Newcomers to Canada]Classes, Enhanced Language Training),130 Broadview Ave,Saint John, NBE2L 5C5• 1-506-646-2389; fax, 1-506-634-0783• www.settlementservicesymca.caWestmorland CountyMulticultural Association of the GreaterMoncton Area (MAGMA) (LINC Classes,Enhanced Language Training),150 Queen Street,Moncton, NBE1C 1K8• 1-506-858-9659; fax, 1-506-857-9430• www.multiculturalassociation-moncton.com• e-mail: magma@nb.aibn.comYork CountyMulticultural Association of FrederictonInc. (LINC Classes, Enhanced LanguageTraining),123 York St., second floor,Fredericton, NBE3B 3N6• 1-506-457-8292 ; fax, 1-506-450-9033• www.mcaf.nb.ca• e-mail: mcaf@mcaf.nb.caEnglish Language Program,University of New Brunswick,Wu Conference Centre,P.O. Box 4400,Fredericton, NBE3B 5A3• 1-506-453-3564• www.elp.unb.caSt. John CountySaint John Multicultural and NewcomersResource Centre (SJMNRC)47 Charlotte St., third floorSaint John, NBE2L 5B2• 1-506-642-4242Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick23

Northumberland CountyMiramichi Region Multicultural Association(MRMA)1808 Water StreetMiramichi, New BrunswickE1N 3A6• 1-506-773-5272• www.miramichimulticultural.comGloucester CountyCCNB – BathurstLanguage Training Center75 Youghall DriveBathurst, New BrunswickE2A 4X5• 1-506-547-2145• www.ccnb.nb.caFrench-language trainingWestmorland CountyAlliance Française de Moncton,236 St. George St., Suite 210,Moncton, NBE1C 1W1• 1-506-387-5056• www.af.ca/moncton/courses.htmlMulticultural Association of the GreaterMoncton Area (MAGMA),150 Queen Street,Moncton, NBE1C 1K8• 1-506-858-9659; fax, 1-506-857-9430• www.multiculturalassociation-moncton.com• e-mail: magma@nb.aibn.com• not always offeredGloucester CountyCCNB – BathurstLanguage Training Center75 Youghall DriveBathurst, New BrunswickE2A 4X5• 1-506-547-2145• www.ccnb.nb.caMadawaska CountyCarrefour d’immigration Rurale Inc.P.O. Box 2143, 76 de l’École St.Saint-Léonard, New BrunswickE7E 2M7• 1-506-423-3060• www.immigrationrurale.ca24Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick25

Chapter 5Life in New BrunswickBilingualismNew Brunswick is officially bilingual. Englishand French are the two official languages.This means that all federal and provincialgovernment services are available in Englishand French. Many non-governmentalagencies also provide service and / orinformation in English and French.If you discover a New Brunswick governmentwebsite that is not in your preferred officiallanguage, check for a link to the page in theother official language. Many are available inEnglish and French.Daylight savings timeNew Brunswick follows daylight savings time,which enables New Brunswickers to enjoymore daylight hours in the spring. Clocksare moved ahead one hour on the secondSunday in March, and they are moved backthe first Sunday in November. Most NewBrunswickers remember which way to settheir clocks by remembering the phrase,spring forward, fall back (move the clock onehour forward in the spring, and one hourback in the fall). There will be remindersin the local media as well as throughCommunications New Brunswick.• www.gnb.ca/cnb/The telephone systemThere are two major telephone serviceproviders in New Brunswick:• Rogers, toll-free, 1-888-764-9441;• Bell Aliant, toll-free, 1-866-425-4268Call one of these companies to arrangetelephone service. You will be charged aconnection fee on your first bill. After that,you will be billed once a month according toyour agreement with the company. There ismore information about telephone and otherutilities in Chapter 6, Finding a place to live.There are also several wireless (cell phone)service providers.If you need help finding a telephone number,call directory assistance:• 4-1-1 for local numbers;• 1-506-555-1212 for numbers withinNew Brunswick;• 1-area code-555-1212 for numbersoutside New Brunswick;• 0 for overseas directory assistance; and• 1-800-555-1212 for toll-free numbersfor businesses and organizationsYou will be charged 70 cents per call fordirectory assistance.Be careful when you dial. On the one hand,1-800, 1-866, 1-877 or 1-888 numbers aretoll free (no charge). On the other, 1-900numbers have a charge per minute, and theymay be very expensive.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick27

The telephone book is divided into threeparts, each with pages a different colour:• families are listed in the white pages underthe surname of the family;• the blue pages contain government officesand services; and• the yellow pages contain businesses andother commercial services.If you are an Bell Aliant customer (NewBrunswick’s major telephone serviceprovider), you may order a telephone bookby calling 1-866-4ALIANT. It will be deliveredto your home. If you are not an Bell Aliantcustomer, you may still call to get one, butthere will be a small charge. You may find thewhite pages and yellow pages at:• www.bellaliant.yellowpages.ca/Telephoning long distance can be expensive.As a result, you may want to buy prepaidcalling cards. They enable you to call fora smaller charge per minute than thetelephone company charges. You mayusually buy these cards at drug stores, atcorner stores, or online. Make sure that youunderstand the cost-per-minute that youwill be charged for calling the country youwish to call and any other related fees. Theemployees who sell these cards will be ableto explain how to use them and answerquestions about international rates and fees.Mobile or cellular telephone service is offeredby several companies in New Brunswick. Yourchoice will depend on where you live. In somerural areas, only Bell Aliant (1-866-425-4268)offers mobile telephone service. In largertowns and cities, there are other choices. Fora list of mobile telephone service dealers inNew Brunswick towns and cities:• www.comparecellular.com/cell-phonedealers/new-brunswickMailing a letter or parcelIt is easy to send mail from Canada. CanadaPost has services at your local post office. Itoften has outlets in drugstores and other stores,too. You may locate your nearest post office:• www.canadapost.ca/tools/pol/bin/search-e.aspMake sure you check what hours the postoffice is open. It gets very busy at Christmas.You may put letters with stamps in anymailbox. These boxes are red, and the timethat the mail is picked up from the box ismarked on the outside. If you do not knowthe postal code for a letter you are sending,you may look up the code in a book at anypost office or:• toll-free, 1-866-607-6301• www.canadapost.caYou may pay extra to insure parcels orpackages. Insuring your parcel means youwill be reimbursed the amount for which youhave the package insured if it gets lost ordamaged. You may also pay more money tohave your letter or parcel arrive faster than itnormally would.Courier companies deliver letters or parcelswithin Canada or internationally fasterthan regular service. Sometimes they maybe delivered as soon as the next businessday. These services usually cost more thanwhat Canada Post charges, but if getting adocument or package to someone quicklyis important, the extra cost may be worth it.You may find courier services in your areaby checking the Yellow Pages in thetelephone book under, Courier Service.If you prefer, you may rent a mailbox andreceive your mail there rather than at yourhome address. Staff at the post office can help.28Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

If you are moving from one apartment orhouse to another, Canada Post will providefree change of address cards. For a fee,Canada Post will re-direct mail from your oldaddress to your new one for up to one year. Youcan get more details from your local post office.EmergenciesIf you are in an emergency, telephone9-1-1. This service is provided across thecountry. A specially trained operator willimmediately arrange services such as police,fire, ambulance or connection to your localpoison control centre. It is important to stayon the line long enough for the operator toget all the information he or she needs tohelp you.When you dial 9-1-1 from a land line(a telephone plugged into the wall), theoperator sees on a computer the addressfrom which your call is coming. He or she willsend help even if you are not able to speak.This service is not available if you are callingon a cellular telephone.To learn more about this system, contactthe Department of Public Safety:• toll-free, 1-888-353-4444• www.gnb.ca/0276/911/index-e.asp• e-mail: NB9-1-1@gnb.caIf you cannot access 9-1-1 on your cellulartelephone or if you happen to be in an areathat does not allow the use of 9-1-1, you maystill get help. Dial 0 to speak to a telephoneoperator who will connect you to emergencyservices. You may also dial #RCMP (#7267)to reach the Royal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP), Canada’s national police force.TransportationIf you need to travel, it is easy to get a mapof New Brunswick. You may buy one at manygas stations, newsstands and bookstores.They are available at tourism informationcentres. You can also find them online. Mapsof local areas may be found in these places aswell as at your local town or city hall.City busesPublic transportation is available in Moncton,Saint John, and Fredericton. Bus schedulesare often available at city hall. You may callyour local transit commission to ask aboutwhere you may find schedules in yourneighbourhood. Buses work on regularschedules. They stop only at specificmarked locations.You must pay to use the transit system.You may want to use coins to pay eachtime you take the bus if you only use itoccasionally. However, if you will beusing the bus often, it is convenient andinexpensive to buy a bus pass. If you area student or a senior citizen (65 and older)you will not have to pay as much. You willhave to have proper identification to getthis less expensive rate.Sometimes you need to take more than onebus. However, you do not have to pay againwhen you switch buses. When you get on thefirst bus, ask the driver for a transfer, a smallpiece of paper to give the second bus driverso you will not have to pay again.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick29

Contact numbers for the different transitservices:Codiac Transit Commission (Moncton),140 Millennium Blvd.,Moncton, NBE1E 2G8• 1-506-857-2008• www.codiactranspo.ca/SplashPages/CodiacIndex.htmSaint John Transit Commission,951 Fairville Blvd.,Saint John, NBE2M 5T9• 1-506-658-4700• www.saintjohntransit.comA Handi-bus service is available to people inSaint John in wheelchairs or with disabilitiespreventing them from using the regular bus.The Handi-bus driver picks up and returnscustomers from their homes.• 1-506-648-0609, Monday to Friday,noon - 4:30 p.m.Fredericton Transit,470 St Mary’s St.,Fredericton, NBE3A 2S4• 1-506-460-2200• www.fredericton.ca/en/transportation/transportation.aspFor people in the Fredericton area inwheelchairs or with other disabilities, thereis the Dial-a-Bus service. It works similarly tothe Saint John Handi-Bus:• 1-506-460-2212Additional transportation services areavailable for people with disabilitiesand seniors:• 1-506-444-3000; toll-free, 1-800-442-4412;fax, 1-506-444-3001• www.gnb.ca/0048/PCSDP/DirectoriesForPersons/DirectoryofTransportation/tableofcontents-e.aspOr write:Premier’s Council on the Statusof Disabled Persons,440 King St., Suite 648,Fredericton, N.B.E3B 5H8TaxisTaxis are another way of travelling, but theyare more expensive than the bus. Telephonenumbers for taxi companies may be foundin the Yellow Pages of the telephone bookunder Taxis. Generally, the longer the taxiride, the more expensive it is. When you getin a taxi, it is a good idea to ask the driverhow much it is going to cost.Bicycles (bikes)Bicycles are becoming a more popular wayto travel. There are a number of laws inNew Brunswick that apply to bicycle riders.Only one person should ride a bike at onetime, except if you have a child on the back ina specially designed seat. Adults and childrenmust wear safety helmets. If you ride yourbicycle at night, you must have a light onthe front. You may find other bicycle laws insections 176-182 of the Motor Vehicle Act:• www.gnb.ca/0062/acts/acts/m-17.htmCarsIf you are interested in renting, leasing orbuying a car, refer to Yellow Pages of thetelephone book. New Brunswick has manydriving laws. Refer to Chapter 11, Vehiclesand driving.Long-distance travelIf you want to visit or need to work in otherparts of the province or country, there aremany ways to travel.30Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

AirplanesNew Brunswick has airports in Saint John,Moncton, Fredericton, Miramichi andBathurst. Depending on the airport, flightsare available within and outside of Canada.For more information, call a travel agent(who can be found under Travel Agenciesin the Yellow Pages) or use the contactinformation provided below. Travel agentscharge a fee to help you plan your trip.Gloucester CountyBathurst Regional Airport,2929, Route 180, South Tatagouche,Bathurst, NBE2A 7B9• 1-506-549-5050• www.bathurstairport.caNorthumberland CountyMiramichi Airport,P.O. Box 355, 50 Airport Dr.,Miramichi, NBE1N 3A7• 1-506-778-9189• www.miramichiairport.comSt. John CountySaint John Airport,4180 Loch Lomond Rd.,Saint John, NBE2N 1L7• 1-506-638-5555• www.saintjohnairport.comWestmorland CountyGreater Moncton International Airport,1575 Champlain St.,Dieppe, NBE1A 7P5• 1-506-856-5440• www.gmia.caYork CountyFredericton International Airport,2570, Route 102,Lincoln, NBE3B 9G1• 1-506-444-6100• www.frederictonairport.caTrainsThe national train service, Via Rail Canada,has stations in Bathurst, Campbellton, Charlo,Jacquet River, Miramichi, Moncton, Petit-Rocher, Rogersville, Sackville, and Sussex.From these stations you may travel to NovaScotia, Québec and to other parts of Canada.For more information:• 1-506-857-9830 from Moncton; tollfreefrom anywhere in New Brunswick,1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245)• www.viarail.caBuses and ShuttlesBuses are available to take you to othercommunities in New Brunswick, to otherprovinces or to the United States. The maincity-to-city bus line in New Brunswick isAcadian Bus Lines:Acadian Bus Lines,300 Main St., Unit B2-2,Moncton, NBE1C 1B9• toll free,1-800-668-5353; fax,1-506-859-5106• www.acadianbus.com• e-mail: info@acadianbus.comShuttle services are available betweencommunities in some areas. When you takea shuttle, there are often other people withyou travelling to the same place. To locatea shuttle service, look in the Yellow Pagesunder Shuttle Service or Buses, Coachesand Minibuses.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick31

ShoppingNew Brunswick is a popular place to shop.To learn about places to shop in yourcommunity, refer to the Yellow Pagesunder Shopping Malls or check yourlocal community’s website.Grocery shoppingMost communities have one or more largesupermarkets that sell all kinds of food orgroceries. Many large supermarkets oftenhave an imported food section where youmay be able to find ingredients to makedishes from your home country.Convenience stores are small neighbourhoodstores. They sell some foods such as breadand milk. They often stay open late. Someare open 24 hours.Prices are almost always higher than those atthe grocery store. Most Canadians do theirgrocery shopping at the supermarket oncea week and shop at convenience stores onlywhen they need one or two items in a hurry.Wine and other drinks containing alcohol aresold in stores run by or the New BrunswickLiquor Commission. Some conveniencestores also sell liquour. The legal drinkingage in New Brunswick is 19. Staff at theliquor store may ask you to produce a photoidentification so you may prove your age.Second-hand storesA great way to find inexpensive clothing andfurniture is to shop in a second-hard store.The items there have been used, but they areoften in very good condition. Prices are muchlower than if the items were new. To finda second-hand store near you, refer to theYellow Pages under Second-Hand Stores orClothing Bought and Sold.Shopping hours and policiesIn New Brunswick, most stores open at 9a.m. and close at 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday.Most stores are also open between noonand 5 p.m. on Sundays. Hours vary. Stores inshopping malls, for instance, are often openuntil 9 p.m. on weekdays.If you buy something that you decide not tokeep, you are usually allowed to return it, butonly if you have the receipt; the item was notused; and if you kept the original packaging.You may get a refund; or you may exchangeit for another item. Many stores have strictpolicies about returns and exchanges, so it isimportant to ask staff or read your receipt toknow what is allowed.Sales taxIn New Brunswick, as in most of Canada, youmust pay a tax on many goods and services.This tax is based on the value of the item. Themore expensive the item, the more tax youwill pay. Sometimes, the tax is included inthe price of the item. Other times, the tax isadded at purchase. The money is given to thegovernment to pay for many of the servicesyou are entitled to as a resident.New Brunswick levies what is called theharmonized sales tax (HST) 2 . At themoment, it is 13 per cent. If the HST is notincluded in the price of a shirt, tagged at $10,for instance, you should expect to pay $11.30(the price of the shirt, plus $1.30 HST - 13 percent of $10).The Department of Justice and ConsumerAffairs, Consumer Affairs Branch, has furtherinformation:• 1-506-462-5100; fax, 1-506-453-3651• app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/pub/DetailOrgEng1.asp?OrgID1=146&DeptID1=45• e-mail: justice.comments@gnb.caOr write:32Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick2-Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) –a tax on most goods andservices in New Brunswick. It is comprised of the federal Goodsand Services Tax (five per cent) and the provincial sales tax(eight per cent). HST policies are subject to change.

Consumer Affairs Branch,Department of Justice and ConsumerAffairs,Centennial Building,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1Keeping up-to-dateThere are many ways to find out aboutimportant issues and interesting events.The media include newspapers and radiostations. You may buy newspapers at moststores or have them delivered to your home.Sometimes there are newsstands in yourcommunity that sell newspapers from yourhome country. Local radio stations offerdifferent kinds of music. They providenews, weather and sports information.New Brunswick also has television reporterswho report on events around the province.Daily newspapersThere are three English-language dailynewspapers:The Fredericton Daily GleanerP.O. Box 3370, 984 Prospect St.,Fredericton, NBE2B 2T8• 1-506-452-6671; toll-free, 1-800-565-9399• www.dailygleaner.canadaeast.com• e-mail: contact the newspaper through aform on the websiteThe New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal,P.O. Box 2350, 210 Crown St,Saint John, NBE2L 3V8• 1-506-633-5599; toll-free, 1-800-222-9710• www.telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com• e-mail: contact the newspaper through aform on the websiteThe Moncton Times & TranscriptP.O. Box 1001, 939 Main St.,Moncton, NBE1C 8P3• 1-506-859-4905; toll-free, 1-800-332-3329• www.timestranscript.canadaeast.com• e-mail: contact the newspaper througha form on the websiteThere is one French-language dailynewspaper:l’Acadie Nouvelle,P.O. Box 5536, 476 St-Pierre Blvd. W.,Caraquet, NBE1W 1B7• toll-free, 1-800-561-2255• www.acadienouvelle.ca• e-mail: infos@acadienouvelle.comThere are two national daily newspapers,The Globe and Mail, and The National Post,available at newsstands or grocery stores.Weekly newspapersSome smaller communities in New Brunswickhave weekly newspapers. They are often theonly source of information about what isgoing on in your neighbourhood. They are agreat place to find out about local social andcultural events.You may read newspapers and magazinesfree of charge at our public libraries. For a listof libraries in your community, refer to theYellow Pages, under Libraries. Libraries allowyou to borrow books and videotapes. Manyfree public events are held there.Internet serviceTwo companies provide Internet service inNew Brunswick. They charge monthly fees,and they vary according to what kind ofservice you want.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick33

Bell Aliant• toll-free, 1-866-4ALIANT (425-4268)• www.bellaliant.netRogers• toll-free, 1-888-ROGERS1 (1-888-764-3771)• www.rogers.comThere are a number of places, includingschools and libraries, where you may usethe Internet for free on a public computer.There is also the Community Adult LearningNetwork:• toll-free, 1-877-444-0510;• www.cnbb.nb.ca/ifTelevisionTelevision is popular in New Brunswick.There are different ways to get it. If you havea television with an antenna, you may getfree access to some local channels in mosturban areas. If you want to watch manychannels, you may pay for cable televisionservice through Rogers. Some people chooseto get satellite dishes installed on theirhomes. Whatever you choose, make sureyou ask for details before you agree to theservice.Rogers offers access to English and Frenchtelevision. If you pay more, you may receiveprograms in several other languages:For more information, contact Rogers:• toll-free, 1-888-ROGERS1 (1-888-764-3771)• www.rogers.comSeveral companies offer satellite televisionservice in New Brunswick. Two of them areBell ExpressVu and Star Choice.Bell ExpressVu offers services that vary incost. The company may provide accessto international channels in a variety oflanguages. To contact Bell ExpressVue:• toll-free, 1-888-SKY-DISH (1-888-759-3474)• www.bell.ca/homeStar Choice also offers access to internationalchannels:• toll-free, 1-866-STAR-WEB (1-866-7827-932)• www.starchoice.com/english/default.aspWhen choosing a satellite service, makesure you understand what equipment youwill need to rent or buy; how much it willcost; what costs (if any) will be charged forinstalling the dish; what channels you willreceive; and how much the monthly feewill be.RadioThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC)The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) is carried across the country, includingNew Brunswick. It is paid for by the federalgovernment. You may hear nationalprograms as well as local programs broadcastfrom New Brunswick’s main cities. CBC Radiois available in English (Radio 1, Radio 2).CBC Radio Canada• www.cbc.ca/nbCBC Radio One:Fredericton: 99.5 FMSaint John: 91.3 FMMoncton; 106.1 FMMiramichi: 97.9 FMMcAdam: 600 AMWoodstock: 91.9 FMSt. Stephen: 990 AMGrand Manan: 103.7 FMCampbellton: 90.5 FMBon Accord: 103.3 FMDoaktown: 96.5 FMEdmundston: 99.5 FM34Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

CBC Radio One carries public radiobroadcasts from around the world overnightduring the week.CBC Radio Two:Fredericton: 101.5 FMSaint John: 101.5 FMMoncton: 99.5 FMRadio-Canada, the French-language serviceof the CBC, also carries full programming inNew Brunswick:Fredericton: 102.3 FMSaint John: 102.3 FMMoncton: 88.5 FMCaraquet: 90.3 FMLamèque: 90.3 FMEdmundston: 110.3 FMCampbellton: 91.5 FMBathurst: 105.7 FMBon Accord: 91.7 FMCampus and community radio stationsSeveral campus or community radio stationsbroadcast in New Brunswick. Some offer awonderful opportunity: free access and freetraining if you or your group wants to learnhow to make radio programs. This includesethnic groups and clubs that want to sharetheir culture or broadcast in their firstlanguage.CHSR FM (97.9 FM). University of NewBrunswick Fredericton campus / communityradios station.• www.chsr.caThe station features two programs inChinese:• Going Home with the Chinese Students andScholars Association. Saturday, 12 noon -2 p.m. (music, news and information fromChina); and• Longitude 116 E, with Yilin Wang. Sunday,9 a.m. - 11 a.m.; Tuesday, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.(Chinese and Canadian news, culturaldiscussion and Chinese language lessons,with a mix of music.CFMH FM (107.3 FM). University ofNew Brunswick Saint John campus /community station.• 1-506-648-5667• www.unbsj.ca/cfmh• e-mail: cfmh@unbsj.caCHMA FM (106.9 FM). Mount AllisonUniversity, Sackville, campus / communitystation.• www.mta.ca/chmaIt features a program about music frommany cultures:• Putumayo World Music Hour. Tuesday,11 a.m. (A weekly journey through themusic of many different cultures)CJPN FM (90.5 FM), a non-profit communityradio station broadcasting in French. It issupported mainly by its membership. Itfeatures a French-Spanish program aboutHispanic music:• Frañol. Monday, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Friday,8 p.m. - 10 p.m.CKUM FM (93.5 FM), is a French radio stationbroadcasted by the Université de Monctonoffering diverse programming aimed at thestudent population.There are also other French community radiostations operating in the province; for moreinformation visit: www.arcanb.ca.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick35

Chapter 6Finding a place to liveWhat to look forThe two most important questions to ask:• what can you afford? Make a budget tosee how much you can afford to spendon a home;• where should you live? Before you chooseyour new neighbourhood, it is smart tofind out if it is near schools, work, hospitals,clinics, child care, and stores. If you do nothave a car, it would be wise to know wherethe closest bus stop is.Before moving into a house or anapartment:• if you are buying a house, you will needto buy home insurance to get a mortgage.This insurance will help you pay for repairsif there is damage to your home and helpyou to replace things that might get stolen.If you are renting a house or apartment, it iswise to have rent insurance even though itis not required by law;• to have your electricity connected,telephone the province’s power utility,NB Power:o toll-free, 1-800-663-6272• to set up your telephone, Internet and cabletelevision service, contact either:o Rogers, toll-free, 1-888-764-9441; oro Bell Aliant, toll-free, 1-866-425-4268Remember, you must pay a connection feewhen these services start.• if buying a house, you will need a lawyer tocomplete the sale and transfer the propertyto your name;• notify friends, family, employers and anyonewho sends you mail about your change ofaddress. For a fee, Canada Post will forwardyour mail from your old address.o www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/languageswitcher.jsfRenting a house or apartment (flat)Renting means that you are paying to livein a space owned by a landlord. Rentingis a smart first step when arriving in NewBrunswick because it does not take as longto move in and get settled as buying a home.Finding a placeCheck the local newspaper in the classifiedadvertisements under apartments for rent, or• www.canadaeast.comCheck the Yellow Pages under Real Estate orApartments or• www.yellowpages.ca• www.Kijiji.ca - is a popular website listingapartments and shared accommodationsOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick37

Homeowners and landlords often put upsigns when they are ready to rent.You may also visit the manager’s office of anapartment building and ask what is available.If you rentTo begin renting, you will sign a contractcalled a lease, which has the details of theagreement you have with your landlord.Leases include:• your responsibilities;• the length of time you agree to live there.(Some leases allow you to pay one month ata time but usually they are one year long.);• the amount of money you will pay andwhen you will pay it;• what services (telephone, heat, cable, etc.)are included in the rent and what you needto arrange and pay for yourself; and• any special rules the landlord has such asrestrictions on pets, parking and noise.The landlord must provide you with a writtencopy of the lease.When you move in you may be required topay a security deposit. A security deposit is:• money paid to the provincial rentalsmanwhile you are renting;• it is kept to pay your landlord for damagesyou may cause to his or her property;• if there is no damage, the rentalsman 3 willreturn it to you when you move out; and• you cannot be charged more than onemonth’s rent as a security deposit.Your rights:• the landlord must repair and maintainthe house or apartment and the largeappliances such as the refrigerator or stove;• you cannot be asked to leave if you aremeeting your responsibilities;• your rent cannot be increased withoutgiving you notice of two to three months.If you receive notice that the rent is goingto be increased, you may move prior to theincrease starting as long as you write toyour landlord.Your responsibilities:• you must pay all your rent and pay it ontime according to your lease;• you must keep the space you are rentingclean and not damage it;• if you want to paint or make big changes,you must talk to your landlord first; and• you must be considerate of other renters.This means not leaving toys or bicyclesin shared areas such as hallways and notbeing noisy, especially at nightIf you have any questions or if you feel youare being treated unfairly, contact your localrentalsman:• toll-free, 1-888-762-8600• www.snb.ca/e/1000/1000-2/e/1000-2_001_e.aspThe rentalsman is available Monday to Friday,8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.The Public Legal Information and EducationService (PLEIS) has a brochure about thelaws that apply to landlords and tenantsin New Brunswick:• 1-506-462-5193• www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/showpub.asp?id=55&langid=1Or write:Public Legal Education and InformationService of New Brunswick,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H138Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick3-Rentalsman: A provincial government office that seeksto resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Therentalsman holds all security deposits paid by tenants.

If you buyBefore you look for a house, you should visityour bank. Banks that provide mortgagesare able to give you a letter of pre-approval.This means that they are willing to lend youa specific amount of money at a specific rateof interest.How pre-approvals work:• the bank looks at your income, debts andcredit 4 to figure out what you can afford;• the bank then offers to pre-approve amortgage; and• pre-approvals only last for a certain amountof time, usually three to four months.For what you may qualify:Banks will look at all of your monthlypayments to calculate how much they arewilling to loan you to buy your home. Theseare some of the guidelines bank staff useto make their decision:• up to 32 per cent of your income canbe used for paying your housing costs(mortgage, property tax, heating costsand condominium 5 fees);• up to 40 per cent of your income can beused to pay for your housing costs andyour other debts (car payments, loans,credit cards, and court-ordered payments);•if you are a permanent full-time employee(not on probation), you need to have beenat your job for at least three months;• if you are a part-time employee or selfemployed(own your own business or workas an independent contractor), you need tohave been at your job for two to three years;• the total time to pay back the mortgagecannot be more than 35 years.These are general rules that most banksfollow, but some will make exceptions.Down payment and mortgageinsuranceA down payment is the money you pay whenyou first buy your home. You must make adown payment of at least five per cent ofthe total cost of your home.• if you have no history of credit, the bankwill require a 40 per cent down payment;• most down payments are between five to50 per cent of the price of your home. Youmay negotiate this amount with your bank;• the amount of your down payment alsodetermines the amount of mortgageinsurance you need to pay;• you pay mortgage insurance to protectthe bank in case you do not pay back yourmortgage;• the cost of your mortgage insurance isincluded in your mortgage payments.The bank then pays the insurance foryou; and• insurance may be one per cent to 2.75 percent of the price of your home, dependingon your down payment and the length ofyour mortgage.4-Credit: This is a measure of how likely it is that you will payback the bank the money you owe. This is based on manyfactors including how well you have paid your debts in thepast. For more information on credit, refer to Chapter 10,Money and banking.5-Condominiums. In Canada, smaller apartment-like homesthat are part of a larger building and that may be boughtinstead of rented, are called condominiums. If you buy acondominium, monthly fees would also be considered partof your housing costs. These fees pay for snow removal; lawnmowing; and the care of shared areas.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick39

Finding a homeWhere to start:These websites list all properties for salethrough a real estate agent in Canada:• www.mls.ca• www.forsalebyownernb.com lists propertiesbeing sold without an agentYou may also check the real estate sectionin your local paper.Real estate agentsA real estate agent’s job is to help people buyand sell homes. You do not have to use a realestate agent, but they may be helpful.They have access to new homes for saleeven before they appear on:• www.mls.ca/splash.aspxThey know a great deal aboutneighbourhoods, fair prices, and potentialproblems with your home.You do not pay a real estate agent to showyou houses for sale. Agents get paid onlyonce a house is sold. To get a good agent,ask for a referral 6 from another home buyer.You may talk to several agents before youchoose one.Making an offerOnce you have found a house you want, youneed to make an offer to purchase it from thecurrent owners. When making an offer keepin mind:• you usually offer to buy a house for lessthan the listed price and you should bewilling to negotiate to get the best possibleprice (this is normal practice in Canada);• an offer may include the price, theappliances and other items you want tokeep, as well as requests that homeownersmake certain repairs;• your offer should be subject to financingand inspection. This means that youcan back out if the bank does not followthrough on the pre-approval or if aninspector finds serious problems withthe house.• have the house inspected for any problems.Major problems might include trouble withthe roof, foundation, plumbing or electricalsystems; and• if the house has a private well for drinkingwater, rather than being hooked up to awater supply, it is a good idea to get thewell water tested.There are other costs when you buy a house.They may include a land transfer tax, a titlesearch, HST on new homes and land, andlawyers’ fees.Property taxHomeowners pay property tax based onthe value of their home and land. Every year,usually on the first working day of March, anotice is mailed to you. It includes the currentvalue of your property, the property taxrate, and your total tax bill. If you do not payyour property taxes when due, you will becharged extra. The due date will be onyour notice.For more information on property tax andproperty tax assessments, contact ServiceNew Brunswick:• toll-free,1-888-762-8600Or, the Department of Finance:• www.gng.ca/0024/index-e.asp40Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick6-Referrals: When seeking professional help – be it is a realestate agent, a mechanic, or a plumber – you should askfriends, co-workers or multicultural association staff andvolunteers if they can refer or recommend someone.This is known as asking for referrals.

City or country livingIf you live in a city:• you get free weekly pickup of garbageand free recycling;• you are connected to a city or townsewer system;.• you may have local bus service;• you will likely be closer to work, school,stores, hospitals and churches; and• you are more likely to have access toInternet, cable television, natural gas,and home delivery of goods and services.If you live outside the city:• you may get free garbage pickupand recycling;• you must maintain your water welland sewage system;• schools are usually smaller;• you generally have more land forgrowing food or for farming;• houses and land are usually cheaper;• property taxes are lower; and• it is quiet and more private.Responsibilities of owninga homeAs a homeowner, you have greater freedomto do what you want to with your property.There are still rules that you need to follow:• you need to keep your lawn cut and yourproperty clean and tidy. If you let your lawngrow too long, the municipality may cut itat your expense;• if you live in an area with free garbageremoval, you need to put your garbage ingarbage bags or clean containers on yourcurb on the days when garbage is picked up;• if there is no garbage pick-up, you musttake your garbage to the local landfill;• during the winter, you must remove thesnow from your driveway. You may shovel it,use a snowblower, or you can pay someoneto do the job for you. Check the YellowPages under Snow Removal Service.• if you are away during the winter, you mustkeep your home heated warmly enoughthat your water pipes don’t freeze. Whenwater pipes freeze, they may burst, andthey are expensive to fix;• if you want to expand your home or makemajor changes to your property, you mustget a permit from your municipality; and• if your home has a private well, you areresponsible for maintaining it and yourseptic system.Some communities have recycling programs.Some recycling programs are voluntary.Some, such as Moncton’s, are mandatory.You must place wet and dry garbage indifferent coloured bags. Contact your localcity or town hall to find out about recyclingin your community.For detailed information on renting andowning, visit the Canadian Mortgage andHousing Corp.• toll-free, 1-800-668-2642• www.cmhc.caAverage resale house prices across Canada*Fredericton 177,822Saint John 173,872Winnipeg 234,697Halifax 264,539Montreal 300,807Saskatoon 294,516Ottawa 334,360Edmonton 340,723Toronto 446,593Calgary 417,978Vancouver 661,745*Source: www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/map-real-estateprices,accessed June 23, 2010Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick41

Chapter 7Finding workYour Social InsuranceNumber (SIN)You must have a Social Insurance Number(SIN) to work in Canada. You should applyfor this as soon as you arrive. You may applyin person at a Service Canada office. A list oflocations is at theend of this guide.In New Brunswick, you may also apply fora SIN over the telephone by calling ServiceCanada:• toll-free, 1-888-428-0888, Monday to Friday,8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.If you do not speak English or French, youmust visit Service Canada and present yourPermanent Residency (PR) card. Make surethat you have documents that prove yourimmigration status. Refer to Chapter 14,Citizenship and permanent residency.If you need to apply by mail, you may obtaina copy of the SIN application form:• toll-free, 1-800-206-7213• www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sin/forms.shtml#f1Send the completed form along with anynecessary documents to:Service Canada,Social Insurance Registration Office,P.O. Box 7000,Bathurst, NBE2A 4T1For more information:• www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sin/apply/how.shtml• or look in the Blue Pages of the telephonebook under Social Insurance Numbers.Learning English or Frenchfor workHelp is available if you need to improveyour English or French speaking skills. Someimmigrant service agencies offer enhancedlanguage training. This program includesspecialized language training, computerinstruction and employment preparation tohelp you find work here. Refer to Chapter 4,Help getting started, to find the organizationclosest to you.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick43

International training andinternational credentialrecognitionMany job categories in Canada are regulated:• www.workdestinations.org/occupation_list.jsp?lang=enIf you want to work in a regulatedoccupation, you will need to find outwhich agency regulates it and whetheryour education, training and certificationare acceptable here. Sometimes foreigncredentials are accepted. In other cases, youwill need to obtain additional training orfurther education.You may find out more by speaking withan employment counsellor at your nearestsettlement agency, listed in Chapter 4,Help getting started; at the Department ofPost-Secondary Education, Training andLabour employment office; (listed below);or by contacting the regulatory body foryour profession in New Brunswick.Service Canada offers a foreign credentialreferral service:• toll-free within Canada, 1-800-854-1805• www.credentials.gc.caIt is important to do as much research aspossible before you come to Canada. Thatway you can decide whether you want tocontinue to work in your profession or find anew one.Finding a jobThere are a number of ways to find a job.One of the best is through word of mouth.Ask friends and neighbours if they know ofany available jobs. It is also a good idea tocheck the classified sections of newspapers;check community bulletin boards; and watchfor Help Wanted signs.You can also visit some of the prospectiveemployers you are interested in working forand leave your resume with them.Employment programs and servicesOne of the first things you should do is findout if there is a multicultural association orimmigrant service agency nearby. Someassociations have employment counsellorsspecially trained to help. Contact themulticultural association or immigrantservingagency closest to you. Refer toChapter 4, Help getting started.Next:• prepare a résumé 7 ; and• make sure everything you include isunderstandable to Canadians.Another place you may go for free helpis the local office of the New BrunswickDepartment of Post-Secondary Education,Training and Labour:Carleton County680 Main St., Unit 1,Woodstock, NBE7M 5Z9• 1-506-325-4406; fax, 1-506-325-449144Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick7-Résumé - a document listing your education, skills andexperience. In some countries, it is referred to as a curriculumvitae, or CV. It should include information about schools youhave attended, jobs you have had, volunteer work you havedone, and the names of people for whom you have worked.

Charlotte County93 Milltown Blvd.,St. Stephen, NBE3L 3B4• 1-506-466-7627; fax, 1-506-465-2047Gloucester CountyP.O. Box 5001,275 Main St., Suite 300,Bathurst, NBE2A 3Z9• 1-506-549-5766; fax, 1-506-549-5782P.O. Box 5644,Place Bellevue,20E St-Pierre Blvd. W.,Caraquet, NBE1W 1B7• 1-506-726-2639, fax, 1-506-726-2728182 J.D. Gauthier Blvd.,Shippagan, NBE8S 1P2• 1-506-726-2639; fax, 1-506-336-30363514 Principale St., second floor,Tracadie-Sheila, NBE1X 1C9• 1-506-726-2639; fax, 1-506-394-3813Kent CountyP.O. Box 5004,25 Cartier Blvd.,Richibucto, NBE4W 5R6• 1-506-523-7612; fax, 1-506-523-4633Kings County707 Main St.,Sussex, NBE4E 7H7• 1-506-432-2110; fax, 1-506-432-6169Madawaska CountyP.O. Box 5001,121 de l’Église St.,Carrefour Assomption, Suite 308,Edmundston, NBE3V 3L3• 1-506-735-2677; fax, 1-506-735-2527Northumberland County152 Pleasant St.,Miramichi, NBE1V 1Y1• 1-506-627-4000; fax, 1-506-624-5482P.O. Box 5001,430 Principale St.,Néguac, NBE9G 1H5• 1-506-627-4000; fax, 1-506-776-3807Restigouche County157 Water St., main floor, Suite 100,Campbellton, NBE3N 3L4• 1-506-789-2411; fax, 1-506-759-6696St. John CountyP.O. Box 5001,1 Agar Place, ,Saint John, NBE2L 4Y9• 1-506-643-7258; fax, 1-506-643-7443Victoria County160 Reservoir St., Suite 101,Grand Falls / Grand-Sault, NBE3Z 1G1• 1-506-475-4025; fax, 1-506-473-6563588E East Riverside Dr.,Perth-Andover, NBE7H 1Z5• 1-506-273-4559; fax, 1-506-273-4443Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick45

Westmorland CountyP.O. Box 5001,200 Champlain St., Place 1604, Suite 320,Dieppe, NBE1A 1P1• 1-506-869-6944; fax, 1-506-869-660170 Main Street, Unit C-1,Sackville, NBE4L 4B4• 1-506-869-6944; fax, 1-506-364-4304342 Main St.,Centreville Mall, Unit 144,Shediac, NBE4P 2E7• 1-506-869-6944; fax, 1-506-533-3340York CountyP.O. Box 6000300 Saint Mary’s StreetFredericton, NBE3A 2S4• 1-506-453-2377; fax, 1-506-444-5189Another great place to look for jobs inNew Brunswick is the job bank, administeredby the Department of Post-SecondaryEducation, Training and Labour:• 1-506-453-2377 (in Fredericton); toll-free,1-888-434-7070• www.jobbank.gc.caSearching for a job onlineThe Internet is a great resource. If you do nothave Internet access at home, you may go toa public library.• www.NBJobs.ca• www.careerbeacon.comThe Canada Job Bank:• jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca(searchable by province)Other websites:New Brunswick civil service jobs• www.gnb.ca/0163/employ-e.aspFurther websites• www.CanadianUniversities.net• www.canadian-universities.net/Employment/New_Brunswick.html• www.Jobs.com• new.brunswick.jobs.com• www.Monster.com• www.Monster.caHow to applyAlmost all employers will ask for a résumé.You may get help preparing one bycontacting your nearest settlement agencyor the local office of the Department ofPost-Secondary Education, Training andLabour. You may also look in the Yellow Pagesunder Career Counselling; however, you mayhave to pay for these services.When you send your résumé to an employer,you must send an accompanying coverletter. It introduces you, explains why youare interested in a specific job, and why youwould be the right person to do the job.An employment counsellor at a multiculturalassociation or at one of the Post-SecondaryEducation, Training and Labour employmentcentres may help you write a good cover letter.Sample cover letters are available online.Some employers have a standard jobapplication form that you must complete.You need to give some basic informationabout yourself and your qualifications.46Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

To apply for certain jobs, you may need toundergo a criminal background check. Thismeans the RCMP and local police will checktheir files to see if you have been convictedof a crime.It is wise to apply for jobs that are advertised.However, it is also acceptable to go intobusinesses and ask to leave a résumé, even ifthe business is not advertising for employees.It is often a good idea to include with yourrésumé a letter of recommendation from aprevious employer.Doing a job interviewIf an employer likes your résumé and /or application, you may be offered a jobinterview. An interview is usually donein person, but sometimes it may be overthe telephone. During the interview, theemployer finds out more about you, and youmay find out more about the employer andthe job. You will be asked questions aboutyour skills and experience. Sometimes youwill be asked to do a second, more detailedinterview. Employers may often ask forreferences 8 . Employers usually expect three.They may contact your references soon afterthe interview.If the employer does not feel that you arethe best person for the job, he or she maytell you that at the end of the interview.The employer may also telephone or writelater. Even if you do not get a particularjob, there are many others for which youmay apply. It may be a good idea to ask thepotential employer for advice on what youcan do to improve your interview skills.Most employers will gladly help you, and youmay use what you have learned to do betterduring your next interview.Starting a businessIf you have funding, experience, and goodideas, the Government of New Brunswick hasprograms to help you start a business. Forinstance, you may learn about the economicconditions and make business contacts.For further information:Business New Brunswick,Small Business Program,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1• 1-506-453-3890The New Brunswick Department of Financemay help offers tax credits:• the Small Business Investor Tax Creditprovides a 30 per cent non-refundablecredit toward your personal incometaxes. It may be up to $75,000 a year (forinvestments of up to $250,000 per investor)if you and your business are eligible; and• the New Brunswick Research andDevelopment Tax Credit. This is a15-per-cent fully refundable tax creditapplied to scientific research andexperimental development expenditures:o engineering;o design;o operations research;o mathematical analysis;o computer programming;o data collection;o testing; ando psychological research.For information, contact theCanada Revenue Agency:• toll-free, 1-800-959-5525Or, the Department of Finance:• www.gnb.ca/0024/tax/randd.asp8-References – References are people (usually formeremployers or supervisors) who can tell a potential employerabout your work skills and habits. It is important to ask aperson whom you plan to use as a reference for permissionso that he or she will not be surprised if a potential employercontacts him or her. It is considered polite to ask his or herpermission.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick47

The New Brunswick office of Canada Businesshas an immigrant’s guide to starting abusiness in New Brunswick. It also has a greatdeal of free information on starting, runningand promoting businesses:• 1-506-444-6140; toll free, 1-888-576-4444• canadabusiness.gc.ca• e-mail: infonb@canadabusiness.caOr write,Canada Business New Brunswick Office,570 Queen St.,Barker House, ground floor,Fredericton, NBE3B 6Z6New Brunswick has a network of economicdevelopment agencies called the EnterpriseNetwork to help business people:Enterprise Carleton Region,650 Main St., Suite 4,Woodstock, NBE7M 2G9• 1-506-325-4488; fax, 1-506-325-4489• www.ent-carleton.caEnterprise Central NB,3662, Route 102,Islandview, NBE3E 1G2• 1-506-443-0333; fax, 1-506-443-0343• www.ent-centralnb.caEnterprise Chaleur,275 Main St., Suite 212A,Bathurst, NBE2A 1A9• 1-506-547-7445; fax, 1-506-548-8271• www.enterprisechaleur.comEnterprise Charlotte,1-49 King St.,St. Andrews, NBE5B 1X6• 1-506-529-5518; fax, 1-506-529-5261• www.enterprisecharlotte.caEnterprise Fredericton,570 Queen St.,Fredericton, NBE3B 6Z6• 1-506-444-4686; toll free, 1-800-200-1180 ;fax, 1-506-444-4649• www.enterprisefredericton.ca• e-mail: info@ent-fredericton.caEnterprise Fundy,P.O. Box 5064,29 Milk Board Rd.,Sussex, NBE4E 5L2• 1-506-432-2639; fax, 1-506-432-2638• www.ent-fundy.caEnterprise Grand Falls / Grand-Sault Region,P.O. Box 7304,551 Main St., Suite 200,Grand Falls, NBE3Z 2W4• 1-506-475-4330; fax, 1-506-475-4336• www.ent-grandsault.caEnterprise Greater Moncton,910 Main St., Suite 101,Moncton, NBE1C 1G6• 1-506-858-9550; toll-free, 1-888-577-000;fax, 1-506-859-7791• www.greatermoncton.org48Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Enterprise Kent,59 Irving Blvd., Suite 201,Bouctouche, NBE4S 3J6• 1-506-743-7337; fax, 1-506-743-7342• www.ent-kent.ca• e-mail: info@ent-kent.caEntreprise Madawaska,121 de l’ Église St., Suite 407,Carrefour Assomption,Edmundston, NBE3V 1J9• 1-506-735-4769; fax, 1-506-739-7486• www.ent-madawaska.caEnterprise Miramichi,Wellington St., Suite 201,Miramichi, NBE1N 1L9• 1-506-622-7890; fax, 1-506-622-2160• www.ent-miramichi.caEntreprise Péninsule,P.O. Box 3666, Main Station,439 Du Moulin St.,Tracadie, NBE1X 1G5• 1-506-395-2261; fax, 1-506-395-5672• www.ent-peninsule.caEnterprise Restigouche,P.O. Box 825,97 Roseberry St.,Campbellton, NBE3N 3H3• 1-506-789-4939; fax, 1-506-789-4933• www.restigouche.ca• e-mail: info@ent-restigouche.caEnterprise Saint John,Business Resource Centre,40 King St.,Saint John, NBE2L 1G3• 1-506-658-2877; toll-free, 1-800-561-2877;fax, 1-506-658-2872• www.enterprisesj.com• e-mail: info@enterprisesj.comEnterprise South East,337A Main St.,Shediac, NBE4P 2B1• 1-506-533-3390; fax, 1-506-533-3393• www.enterprisesoutheast.caCommercial real estateSome real estate agents in Canada specializein commercial real estate. They may helpyou in find a place to do business. Theymay also help you understand how to takeover a business which is for sale. This iscalled a turnkey 9 operation. You may findinformation about Canadian commercial realestate at:• www.icx.caOr write,New Brunswick Real Estate Association,22 Durelle St., Unit 1,Fredericton, NBE3C 1N8• 1-506-459-8055• www.nbrea.ca9-Turnkey operation – a business that is already in operationor ready to start up operation immediately. If you buy it, you just“turn the key” in the door, walk in and begin running the business.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick49

Chapter 8WorkingAbout your Social InsuranceNumber (SIN)As mentioned previously, you must have aSocial Insurance Number (SIN) to work inCanada. There is no cost to apply. You mayapply for one at the nearest Service Canadaoffice. Refer to Appendix C or you write:Service Canada,Social Insurance Registration Office,P.O. Box 7000,Bathurst, NBE2A 4T1New Brunswick is the only provincewhere you may also apply for your SINby telephone. You will need to have animmigration identity document issued byCitizenship and Immigration Canada, such asyour PR card or a work permit, when you call.• toll-free, 1-888-428-0888, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30p.m., Monday to Friday (except statutoryholidays)New Brunswick employmentstandards and regulationsIn New Brunswick, employers must obey TheEmployment Standards Act, administeredby the Department of Post-SecondaryEducation, Training and Labour:• 1-506-453-3902; toll-free, 1-888-452-2687• www.gnb.ca/0308/index-e.aspYou will find information about regulationsfor such things as the minimum wage,overtime pay, vacations, and sick leave.Public holidaysIn most, but not all cases, employees arepaid for public holidays even if they do notwork. If employees work on a holiday, someemployers have to pay their employeesone-and-one-half times their usual rate of pay.Statutory Holidays:• New Year’s Day (Jan. 1);• Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sundayin either March or April);• Canada Day (July 1);• New Brunswick Day(first Monday in August);• Labour Day (first Monday in September);• Remembrance Day (Nov. 11); and• Christmas (Dec. 25);To find out if these holidays apply to yourbusiness, contact the Department of PostSecondary Education, Training and Labour:• toll-free, 1-888-452-2687Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick51

Maternity and adoption leaveEmployees who are pregnant are oftenentitled to take time off without pay aroundthe time of their child’s birth. This is calledmaternity leave.• often you have to be on the job for aminimum period of time to be eligiblefor maternity leave. New Brunswick doesnot set a minimum amount of time, butemployers have different policies. Makesure you know your employer’s policy.Contact Service Canada:• toll-free, 1-800-206-7218• some employees are also eligible forfinancial assistance from the federalgovernment while on maternity leave. It iscalled Employment Insurance (EI) maternitybenefits. It lasts for 17 weeks. To receivematernity benefits, you are required to haveworked for 600 hours in the previous yearor since your last claim;• in some cases, employers will add to thegovernment maternity benefits so that theemployee receives the same amount ofmoney she would be paid if working; and• female employees must give written noticeto their employer at least four weeks beforethey go on maternity leave.You may also take unpaid leave if you areadopting a child. In New Brunswick, thematernity and adoption leave can be sharedby both parents but the total time cannotbe more than 37 weeks. Eligible employeesmay receive EI parental benefits for 35 weeks.The combined total of maternity leave andchild care leave taken by one or both parentscannot total more than 52 weeks.An employer must allow an employeeto return to work, in the same or similarposition, after taking either of these leaves:• toll-free, 1-800-206-7218• www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/special.shtmlEmployment Insurance (EI)Employment Insurance (EI) is a federalgovernment program that may give youmoney when you lose your job. It is onlyavailable under certain conditions. You musthave lost your job because of something youcould not control such as a work shortage orthe closing of the company. You must also beready to work again and be looking for work.If you voluntarily quit your job or are firedfor misconduct at work, you will not beeligible to receive regular EI benefits (rareexceptions apply, such as if your workplaceis not tolerable because of harassment or ifyour working conditions are unsafe). Eventhen, you are expected to take steps to workwith your employer to improve the situationbefore quitting, and you still may not qualifyfor employment insurance.To be eligible for EI:• you must be without a job for at leastseven consecutive days;• you must have already worked from420 to 700 hours. If it is your first time inthe workforce or if you have been absentfrom work for about two years, you maybe required to have 910 hours of work;• the eligibility period of time required toapply for EI is 52 weeks; and• if you meet all these conditions, you mayreceive pay for 14 up to a maximum of45 weeks.52Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

The amount of EI you receive is a percentageof your former salary. The basic rate is 55 percent of your insured earnings. The most youmay receive is $435 a week.Service Canada Centres deal withemployment insurance for Human Resourcesand Social Development Canada. EI policiessometimes change.• toll-free, 1-800-622-6232• www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/common/contactus/general.shtmlA list of Service Canada locations is inAppendix C.Losing your jobWhen your employer wants to fire or layyou off, he or she must give you one ortwo weeks’ written notice (depending onwhether you get paid once a week or onceevery two weeks). If you believe you havebeen terminated unfairly, you may makea complaint to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour:• 1-506-453-3902; toll-free, 1-888-452-2687WorkSafeNBWorkSafeNB, formerly known as theWorkplace, Health, Safety and CompensationCommission, is dedicated to promotingworkplace safety and teaching employeesand employers about how to avoid gettinghurt on the job. The agency is the firstcontact when you are injured or havehad an accident at work.• 1-506-632-2828 (for free information);toll-free,1-800-222-9775• www.whscc.nb.ca/index_e.aspCanada Pension Plan (CPP)In Canada, when you retire or if you becomedisabled, you may be entitled to receivefinancial assistance through the CanadaPension Plan (CPP). Pension payments are25 per cent of what you were paid while youworked. Workers 18 and older who earn asalary must pay into the CPP. The amount youpay is based on your salary. It is deducted (orsubtracted) from your pay by your employer.• toll-free, 1-800-277-9914• www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/isp/pub/factsheets/retire.shtmlIncome taxAll Canadian workers pay tax on theirincome. Income tax is deducted from yourpay cheque by your employer. It is based onthe amount of money you earn and on thenumber of people, such as your children,whom you are supporting. The income taxthat you pay helps cover the cost of healthcare, education, and highways.When you get paid, there should be astatement (or pay stub) attached to your paycheque. It shows any deductions includingincome tax. You may ask your supervisorquestions about deductions from your pay.Every year, you must fill out an income taxform. It deals with your pay for the previouscalendar year (January - December). This iscalled, “filing your taxes.”The form must be sent in by April 30.Between January and the end of Marcheach year, you will receive various forms andstatements from the government and youremployer. You will need them to fill out yourtax form.If your form shows you have not alreadypaid enough taxes through your deductionsduring the year, you will have to pay theamount owing. If you have paid too much,you will get a refund.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick53

Accountants and other persons are availableto help you complete your tax return. Youmust pay a fee or a proportion of yourrefund. Look in the Yellow Pages under TaxReturn Preparation.If your income is low and your tax situationis simple, you may get free help through theCommunity Volunteer Income Tax Programof the Canada Revenue Agency:• toll-free,1-800-959-8281When you call this number, you will be askedabout your income and family situation todetermine if you are eligible for this service.You are not eligible if you own a businessor if you receive income from renting.For more information on income tax,contact the Canada Revenue Agency:• TIPS (Tax Information Phone Service,toll-free), 1-800-267-6999• www.cra-arc.gc.ca54Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Chapter 9Health careCanada has a health insurance programcalled Medicare paid for by Canadiansthrough their taxes. It means Canadians donot have to pay directly for most medicalcare from a doctor or at a hospital. TheNew Brunswick government is in charge ofMedicare for people who live in the province.Medical coverageAs part of your plans to move to Canada, it isbest to buy some private health insurance.This way, you will be covered for any medicalemergency after you arrive.To be eligible for New Brunswick Medicareyou must be legally entitled to be or remainin Canada, or be a permanent resident ofNew Brunswick. If you are entering NewBrunswick from another country, pleasecheck with Medicare to find out if yourimmigration documents meet the criteriafor Medicare coverage.After you apply, you will get a letter withMedicare numbers for each member of yourfamily.An application form for registration isavailable from the offices of ServiceNew Brunswick. A separate form should befilled out for anyone in your family whois 19 or older.• 1-506-684-7901 (outside North America);toll-free (within North America),1-888-762-8600.• www.snb.caYou may also contact Medicare:• 1-506-453-8275; toll-free, 1-888-762-8600(SNB Teleservices)• www.gnb.ca/0051/0394/index-e.asp (• e-mail: medicare@gnb.caTele-CareIf you have a medical problem and you arenot sure what you should do, telephoneTele-Care. A registered nurse will help youdecide whether to go to a hospital emergencyroom or to a walk-in clinic. Tele-Care will alsotell you where to find the nearest clinic.The Department of Health offers this service,in English and French, 24 hours a day. It iscompletely confidential.When you call Tele-Care, you will be askedquestions about your symptoms. The nursewill tell you how to treat the problemyourself, or he or she will help you decidewhether to make an appointment with yourfamily doctor, go to a clinic, go to a hospitalemergency room, or get in contact with acommunity service:• toll-free, 1-800-244-8353• www.gnb.ca/0217/Tele-Care-e.aspOr, refer to the first page of the telephone book.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick55

DoctorsIt is important to start looking for a familydoctor right away. Do not wait until you aresick. Family doctors are your first stop forhealth care in Canada.They may help you with many commonillnesses. They may also give you adviceabout pregnancy, family planning, nutrition,physical exams, immunizations andemotional problems. Family doctors arealso trained to treat chronic medicalproblems such as diabetes, hypertension,depression, weight loss, and asthma.You may go to your doctor’s office for suddenillness and injuries. If you need medication,he or she may write drug prescriptions foryou to take to the pharmacy. They mayalso refer you to a specialist (a doctor whospecializes in a specific field of medicine).You usually cannot see a specialist withoutseeing your family doctor first.In an emergency, such as serious illness orinjury, you should go directly to the hospitalemergency room, or call 9-1-1 for help.An ambulance will be sent to your home totake you to the hospital. As of July 1, 2009,there will be a fee of $130.60 for using theambulance. You do not have to pay this atthe time of the emergency; you will receivea bill later.You may ask friends or neighbours torecommend someone. You may ask at animmigrant settlement agency. You may goto your local hospital and ask if there are anydoctors taking new patients. You may alsolook inthe Yellow Pages of the telephone bookunder Physicians and Surgeons.56Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

• call toll-free, 1-866-554-5959 to have yourname added to the list of people looking fora doctorUntil you have been accepted as a patientby a family doctor, there are a number ofwalk-in or after-hours clinics where youcan go for care. Walk-in clinics do not takeappointments – you arrive, register with thereceptionist and wait. After-hours clinics mayallow you to make an appointment. A list ofpublic clinics is in Appendix D. Some afterhoursclinics charge a fee per visit for patientswithouta valid medicare card.Medicare does not cover the cost ofprescription drugs for most people.Sometimes your employer will cover thecost. If not, it may be worthwhile to lookinto paying for a health plan such as thoseprovided by Medavie / BlueCross. Its plansare available to people living in the Atlanticprovinces. It has offices in Moncton, Bathurst,Fredericton, and Saint John.• toll-free, 1-800-667-4511, to find out if youmay applyUnder the plan, you pay a monthly fee sothat your drugs or medical services notcovered by medicare will be paid, at leastin part, when you need them.Persons with disabilitiesIf you have a disability, many services areavailable in New Brunswick, includingcounselling, education, help with findingwork, financial assistance, help finding aplace to live, recreational activities, andtransportation.Premier’s Council on the Statusof Disabled Persons,440 King St,, Suite 648,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H8• 1-506-444-3000; toll-free,1-800-442-4412;fax, 1-506-444-3001• www.gnb.ca/0048/index-e.aspEmotional healthIf you are feeling upset or depressed, youmay talk to your doctor or a counsellor at animmigrant settlement agency.If you or someone you know needs morehelp than friends, family doctors andcounsellors may provide, there are a numberof community mental-health clinics staffedby persons trained to help people withemotional problems.• 1-506-457-4800 (Department of Health);toll-free, 1-888-762-8600 (ServiceNew Brunswick)• www.gnb.ca/0055/intro-e.aspTelephone numbers for each of thecommunity mental-health-care clinics arelisted in Appendix D.For more information about mental health,visit the Department of Health:• www.gnb.ca/0055/mental-health-e.aspOr contact:Department of Health,P.O. Box 5100,HSBC Place,Fredericton, NBE3B 5G8• 1-506-457-4800• www.gnb.ca/0051/index-e.asp• e-mail: hw_sme@gnb.caOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick57

Crisis centres (mental health)Crisis centres are available to help peoplewho are stressed mentally or emotionally.Professionals at these centres are trained tohelp people overcome serious problems.Chimo Helpline,P.O. Box 1033,Fredericton, NBE3B 5C2• 506-450-HELP (4357); toll-free,1-800-667-5005 (services availablein English and French)• www.chimohelpline.caHelp 24 Au Secours Inc.,(Centre for Suicide Prevention)P.O. Box 1101,Moncton, NBE1C 8P6• 1-506-859-HELP (4357)• www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/go.aspx?tabid=82This information is also on the first page oftelephone book.Addiction servicesOvercoming an addiction is often hard todo without professional help, but servicesare available:• www.gnb.ca/0051/0378/index-e.aspEight addiction services centres are locatedacross the province. Their addresses andtelephone numbers are listed in Appendix D.There is also a confidential gambling referraltelephone line for people with a gamblingproblem or for their family members:• toll-free, 1-800-461-123458Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Chapter 10Money and bankingCanadian moneyCanadian currency is based on the dollarsystem. It comes in paper and coins. Thevalue of each coin is marked on the frontor face. The least valuable is the copperpenny, which is worth one-hundredth of adollar. There is also the nickel (five cents), thedime (10 cents), and the quarter (25 cents).Quarters are often used in vending machines,which dispense soft drinks and snacks.The most valuable coins are the loonie (onedollar) and toonie (two dollars). The looniegets its name from the loon (a bird) on theface of the coin. Bills come in denominationsof $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, each with adistinct colour and illustration. The dollaramount is indicated on the bill.You may exchange most foreign currency forCanadian money at major Canadian banks.Opening a bank accountCanadians have the right to open bankaccounts, and banks are required to providethem. You may open an account at any localbranch of a chartered bank. You will needto have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) toopen a bank account. See Chapter 8 of thisguide for more information on how to obtaina Social Insurance Number (SIN).Talk to different banks and to ask about whatthey offer. If you are making a large deposit($10,000 or more), you will need to tell thebank from where it came.Types of bank accountsChequingThese accounts are for everyday bankingsuch as cashing and depositing cheques,depositing cash and paying by cheque.Chequing accounts usually have a monthlyfee, so make sure you know what it isbefore you open the account.• you may buy overdraft protection. Thatmeans you can have a negative balancein your account. This protects you fromrunning out of money. Overdraft protectionusually has a monthly fee. A high interestrate will be charged on the amount youhave overdrawn.SavingsIf you open a savings account, you may earninterest; that is, a small percentage of themoney you leave in the account. Interestrates vary from bank to bank.Business accountsThese are special accounts set up underthe name of a business.• they allow the business owner to receiveand write cheques under the company’sname rather than his or her own. They areuseful to keep personal funds separatefrom business funds; and• business accounts have features and feesthat differ from personal accounts.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick59

Chequing, savings, and business accounts arecalled by different names at different banks.Make sure you understand what kind ofaccount you have and what they will cost.Be sure that you understand from which accountyou are taking money or using for debit cardpurchases. Some savings accounts charge a userfee every time you use a debit card.Debit cards and automatedteller machines (ATMs)All major banks offer their customers debitcards. You may use them to do bankingat machines known as automated tellermachines (ATMs) or to buy things at stores.Each bank has its own ATM. If you use a machinethat does not belong to your bank, you will becharged a fee (usually $1.50 or more).Your personal identificationnumber (PIN)Bank cards come with a personal identificationnumber (PIN) that you need to enter into anATM whenever you use your debit card. Thisis a number that you choose. It is extremelyimportant not to tell anyone your PIN.BorrowingIt is common in Canada to borrow money foritems that you cannot afford immediately.There are three ways that banks lend moneyto people: credit cards, lines of credit andloans. It is a good idea not to borrow unlessyou need to do so. Most banks will not lendmoney if your monthly payments for debtand housing are more than 40 per cent ofyour income.Credit card• there is a limit on how much you canspend using your credit card;• you are expected to pay part or all ofwhat you owe every month;• if you make regular payments on yourcredit card, you may keep using it overand over. This is called “revolving credit”;DepositingIf you make a deposit at an ATM, the bankmust confirm, after the fact, that the depositis accurately entered and is legitimate. As aresult, banks maintain the right to limit yourwithdrawals from ATMs based on depositsthat are immediately made at ATMs. Thispractice, called a “hold,” is important toremember if you intend to pay a bill basedon a deposit you have immediately madeat an ATM.60Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

• credit cards are generally easier to qualifyfor than loans, but they charge a higher rateof interest (often 19 per cent); and• many stores also offer special credit cards.These usually come with rewards for usingthem to buy from that store. Be careful:these cards often have even higher interestrates (often 29 per cent).Lines of credit• lines of credit usually have higher limits andlower interest rates than credit cards, butthey are more difficult to qualify for;• you are able to write cheques and use yourdebit card to draw on your line of credit;and• the bank is required to send you astatement or bill every month if you owemoney.LoansLoans are intended to pay for expensiveitems such as cars or home repairs.You pay them back in installments:the principle plus interest.Some companies offer payday loans. Thismeans they give you the money you wouldget on your pay day, only a few days early.These usually have extremely high feesand interest compared to other ways ofborrowing.CreditYour credit is very important. It is a measureof how likely you are to pay lenders whenyou owe them money. This is done by takingcertain information about your financialhistory and making a credit report. You aregiven a credit rating based on this report.Credit reports may also be obtained bybanks when opening certain types of bankaccounts; or by utility companies whensetting up accounts.Even if you had credit in your home country,you may not have credit in Canada, so it is agood idea to establish good credit here:• show you can handle debt. This meansyou need to borrow money to show thatyou can pay it back. Make sure you have atleast one revolving credit product such as acredit card or line of credit;• keep the balances low on your credit cardsand lines of credit. You should have a balanceof less than 75 per cent of your limit;• pay on time. Paying your utilities and debtslate may hurt your credit; and• do not let people check your credittoo often. All companies must ask yourpermission before they can check yourcredit report. Every check will affect yourrating. If there are several checks in a shortperiod of time, this may be a sign that youmay be trying to borrow too much. Limityourself to only having your credit checkedonly when necessary.For more information on credit or to obtaina copy of your credit report, you maycontact either Equifax or TransUnion. Thesecompanies keep and update your reportsand calculate your rating. They arecommonly referred to as credit bureaus.Equifax:• toll-free, 1-800-465-7166• www.equifax.caTransUnion:• toll-free, 1-800-663-9980• www.transunion.caOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick61

BankruptcyA person may declare bankruptcy when heor she can no longer make his or her debtpayments. When a person goes bankrupt,a trustee is appointed to sell all of his or herassests to pay off any outstanding debts.After a certain period, up to nine months inthe first instance, and when all remainingdebts are cancelled or cleared, a person maystart to build a credit rating again, but thisis difficult. A first bankruptcy remains on aperson’s credit report for seven years afterit has been discharged (resolved); a secondbankruptcy, in addition to the first, remainson a person’s record for 14 years. Some bankswill not lend to persons with more than onebankruptcy. For more information, contactThe Office of the Superintendentof Bankruptcy:• 1-902-426-2900InvestingInvesting is a way to make your savings grow.In these difficult economic times, however,you must be very careful: be aware of thefinancial risks involved.Savings bonds• savings bonds are issued by the federalgovernment;• you buy bonds for a specific amountof money;• after a specific period, of time you getyour money back plus interest;• this is a safe investment, but the rateof return is low.Guaranteed incomecertificates (GIC)• you invest a certain amount of moneyfor a certain length of time; and after thattime has ended, you get your money plusguaranteed interest.Mutual funds• banks or private companies may investyour money in mutual funds;• you may invest in stocks; that is, buy asmall share of ownership in a company,or bonds, which is loaning your moneyto governments and businesses;• mutual funds usually earn higher interestthan savings bonds and GICs, but youare taking a higher risk of losing money,especially in today’s economic climate;• invest in a wide variety of funds so that,if one fails, you will not lose your entireinvestment; and• make sure that you deal with someonewho is licensed to deal with mutual funds.Registered retirement savings plan(RRSP or RSP)• RSPs are registered with the Governmentof Canada and are meant to be a way tosave money for retirement;• every year you may put a certain amountof money into your RSP. The Canada RevenueAgency places a limit on the amount;• when you complete your income tax return,you may subtract the amount of moneyyou put in RSPs from your income. This way,you pay less in tax. The bank will mail you astatement of what you have put into yourretirement savings plan;• the money you put into your plan will growuntil you are ready to take it out;• when you take the money out of the RSP,you must pay tax on it;• RSPs save you money because, when youare working, you pay more tax than whenyou are retired. When you withdraw moneyfrom the RSP after retiring, you will not bemaking as much money, so in the end, lessincome goes to taxes;62Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

• you may borrow from your RSP to help payfor your first home or to go to university.You do not have to pay tax on this money.For homes, the amount must be repaid tothe RSP within 15 years, with a minimumannual payment of 1/15th of the amountwithdrawn. For attending university(typically, adults), the amount must berepaid to the RSP within 10 years with aminimum annual repayment of 1/10thof the amount withdrawn; and• RSPs may be savings accounts, GICs ormutual funds.Registered education savings plan(RESP)• RESPs are similar to RSPs, except they areused to pay for post-secondary education;that is, education after high school;• students pay the tax when they take out themoney to use for their education. This willnormally be a very small amount comparedto the amount of tax that would be paidby someone working (sometimes no taxesneed be paid); and• the government gives grants of up to $500per year, per student, which go directlyinto RESPs.Tax-free savings account (TFSA)• since Jan. 1, 2009, banks have offeredsavings accounts and mutual funds withinterest that will not be taxed;• individual will be allowed to contributeup to $5,000 per year; and• the money may be withdrawn at any timeand for any reason with no tax penalty.Moving moneyIf you need to transfer funds outside ofCanada or even to different accounts withinCanada, there are many ways this can bedone. The following is a list of some of themost common ways. For more informationon transferring money contact your bank.Wire transfers• this means moving money electronicallyfrom one bank account to another onelocated almost anywhere in the world;• you will need to know details about theaccount into which you are transferringthe funds. Contact your bank to get theinformation that you need;• there are usually fees for wiring moneyand for converting between currencies. It isoften a percentage of the amount of moneybeing transferred; and• there may be restrictions and extra securityif you are transferring large amounts ortransferring money to certain countries.Western UnionWestern Union is a private company thatmoves money all over the world.• the transfer may be done in personor over the telephone; and• this method allows the other personto get their funds right away.For more information:• toll-free, 1-800-325-6000 ;• www.westernunioncanada.caE-mail money transfersE-mail money transfer is a way to movemoney between people at different bankswithin Canada:• this kind of transfer is usually cheaperand faster than a wire transfer; and• this transfer sends money directly from youraccount by e-mail. The person receiving themoney must accept the transfer.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick63

Money ordersMoney orders may be purchased at the bankor the post office. It is a safe way to sendmoney through the mail. Money ordersmay be easily cashed by the personreceiving them.BanksIn New Brunswick, you will be able to findbranches for all of Canada’s major banks.Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)• toll-free, 1-866-525-8622• www.cibc.comBank of Montreal (BMO)• toll-free, 1-877-262-5907• www.bmo.comRoyal Bank (RBC)• toll-free, 1-800-769-2520• www.rbc.comBank of Nova Scotia• toll-free, 1-877-552-5522• www.scotiabank.comToronto Dominion (TD)• toll-free, 1-877-247-2265• www.td.comNational Bank• toll-free, 1-877 394-8988• www.nbc.caHSBC• toll-free, 1-888-310-HSBC (4722)• www.hsbc.caOther banks and banking services include:64Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

ICICI:• toll-free, 1-888-ICICI-CA (1-888-424-2422)• www.icicibank.caPC Financial:• toll-free, 1-888-872-4724• www.pcfinancial.caCanadian Tire Bank• toll-free, 1-866-681-CTFS (2837)• www.myctfs.comING• toll-free, 1-800-464-3473• www.ingdirect.caCredit unions• toll-free, 1-800-567-8111• www.cua.comCaisses populaire acadiennes• 1-506-726-4000• www.acadie.com/en/For advice on other ways to invest, talk toa certified financial planner. Your bank mayhave certified financial planners who maywork with you for free, or they may be able torefer you to certified financial planner.International benefitsIf you lived or worked in another countryor if you were married to or a common-lawpartner with someone who did, you maybe eligible for a pension or other benefitsin Canada. New Brunswick has agreementswith several other countries that make thispossible. Contact Service Canada:• toll-free, 1-800-622-6232• www.servicecanada.gc.caOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick65

Chapter 11Vehicles and drivingObtaining a driver’s licenceWhen you come to Canada, it is important toget a New Brunswick driver’s licence. Manyjobs require you to have one. Your driver’slicence is also a form of photo identification.A photo ID is required for many things,including opening a bank account, travellingby plane, and voting, if you become a citizen.If you are not interested in driving, you mayget a government-issued photo ID cardinstead of a driver’s licence. It resembles adriver’s licence, but it does not give you theright to drive. Contact Service New Brunswickfor more information:• toll-free, 1-888-762-8600• www.snb.caYou may use your international driver’slicence or foreign licence for up to threemonths after you arrive, but you must geta New Brunswick driver’s licence if youplan to keep driving here.If you already have a licence recognizedby New Brunswick, the process is easy.Visit a Service New Brunswick locationand exchange your old licence for aNew Brunswick one. Service New Brunswickstaff will be able to tell you whether youmay get a full licence or whether you willneed to be tested first. You may find a centre:• toll-free, 1-888-762-8600• www.snb.caIn New Brunswick, there are nine differenttypes or classes of licences. They allowpeople to drive different types of vehiclessuch as motorcycles or large trucks. Mostpeople have a Class 5 licence. This coverscars, vans that seat up to nine passengers,and small trucks.If your licence is not recognized inNew Brunswick or if you do not have anup-to-date licence, you may be testedby a driver examiner at a Service New Brunswicklocation. Appointments with the examinermay be made by telephone at local offices.Testing is available in both official languages.Graduated driver’s licence:Anyone applying for a licence, regardlessof age, must participate in the graduateddriver’s licence program. While enrolled inthe program, your driving privileges willbe limited until you gain experience:• you must successfully pass a visionscreening test and a written test toreceive a Class 7, Level 1 licence;• no passengers are allowed in the vehicleexcept the accompanying driver, who mustbe sitting in the front seat; have a class 5licence or better; and a minimum of threeyears’ driving experience;• as of Oct. 1, 2009, drivers hold a Class 7,Level 1, licence for a minimum of12 months, or eight months if they havegraduated from a recognized licenseddriver training school. Upon successfullypassing the road test, the driver advancesto Class 7, Level 2;Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick67

• the total time spent in the program is aminimum of two years. The driver mustspend at least 12 months in Level 2 toadvance to a Class 5. No road test isrequired to obtain a Class 5 licence; and• effective June 1, 2009, all drivers under theage of 21, regardless of the class of licence,must maintain a zero blood alcohol level,whether they are enrolled in the programor not.The points systemYou receive demerit points when you breakcertain driving rules. If you accumulate 10of them, your licence is suspended forthree months:• committing a criminal offence with amotor vehicle: 10 points;• not reporting a collision: five points;• not driving with due care: five points;• speeding 25 kilometres per hour or moreover the speed limit: five points;• speeding under 25 kilometres per hourover the speed limit: three points:• illegal parking: two to three points; and• not wearing a seatbelt: two points.Demerit points stay on your record fortwo years.Driving schoolsDriving schools help you learn how to drivesafely. If you are part of the graduated licenceprogram, going to a driving school will allowyou to move from a Class 7(I) to a Class 7 (II)eight months faster than otherwise. Manyinsurance companies will charge you lessif you complete a course with a recognizeddriving school. For information on drivingschools, contact your insurance company.Driver’s handbookYou may buy a driver’s handbook at the linkbelow. It provides a description of the rules68Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswickand regulations required for driving inNew Brunswick. It also explains how to preparefor the tests required to obtain a licence.• www.pxw1.snb.ca/SNB9000/product.aspx?ProductID=A001PSN3234&l=eBuying a vehicleBefore you buy, ask:• what will you need the vehicle for?• how much will it cost? Can you afford to payfor it all at once, or will you need a loan?• how much gas will it use?• how much will your insurance be?• what warranties 10 , if any, comewith the vehicle?• how reliable is this vehicle?• how safe is this vehicle?Once you know what you’re looking for, youmay see what is available. There are manyways to find the right vehicle:• dealerships 11 advertise on television, theInternet, and in magazines and newspapers.Some specialize in new vehicles. Othersspecialize in used vehicles. Some sell both;• dealerships are usually near each other, so itis easy to compare cars;• magazines such as Auto Trader list manyvehicles available in your area.• if you want to buy a used car directly fromthe owner, most people advertise in localnewspapers and online:o www.autotrader.ca,o www.kijiji.ca;o www.canadaeast.com has listings of allthe classified advertisements in majornewspapers across New Brunswick.10-Warranties: A warranty is a guarantee by the seller ofa vehicle that he, she or the company will cover the cost ofcertain repairs. Warranties end after a certain amount of timeor a certain number of kilometers. If you buy a used vehicle,the original warranties are sometimes still valid.11-Dealership: A business that sells new or used cars directlyto the public. It is usually named after a specific car company.

PriceOnce you find the car you want, you maynegotiate the price. Canadians rarely pay theasking price for a vehicle, so do not be afraidto offer less. If you are not sure what a fairprice is, you may look in what is knownas the Canadian Red Book:• www.canadianredbook.comWhen a vehicle is bought or given as a gift,it must be registered with the province. Youmust pay tax based on its fair market value.This tax may be either the Harmonized SalesTax (HST) or Provincial Vehicle Tax (PVT),depending upon the kind of sale. For moreinformation:• toll-free, Service New Brunswick,1-888-762-8600• app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/Pub/EServices/ListServiceDetails.asp?ServiceID1=13435&ReportType1=AllBefore buyingWhen you buy a car, it is important to makesure it has an up-to-date inspection sticker.The sticker is on the windshield. It meansthe vehicle has been inspected and is safeto drive. It is wise to take the car for a testdrive to get a feel for how well it works.If you are buying a used car, especially froma private individual, be extremely careful.Car loansVehicles are very expensive, and most peoplecannot afford to pay for them all at once.If you are buying from a dealership, it mayoffer an attractive monthly payment with alow interest rate. If not, you may go to a bankfor a loan. Make sure you visit several banksto get the best deal.LeasingSome people decide to lease rather thanbuy. In this case, you usually have lowerpayments, but you have to return the carto the dealership once the lease has ended.Many leases have limits on the amount ofkilometres you can drive without payinga penalty.InsuranceAll vehicles in New Brunswick must beinsured. You may buy insurance fromany licensed insurance provider. Thereare different levels of insurance, but theminimum required by law is third-partyliability insurance. This means that if anyserious damage or injury results from anaccident for which you are responsible,the insurance company will pay for thedamages up to a certain amount.RegistrationAfter you buy a vehicle, you must registerit with the province. You will need proof ofinsurance and proof of purchase to register avehicle in your name. When you register, youwill be given a certificate of registration andlicence plates.Starting in May 2009, the province nolonger mails annual reminders to registerto drivers; they are responsible forremembering their registration duedate. Drivers may register their vehiclesby going to a Service New Brunswickcentre or by going online:• www.snb.caAfter the first year, you will receive a smallsticker to put on the licence plates to showthat its registration is up-to-date. If you havea disability and need to use special parkingspaces, that will be shown on your licenceplate. You need to keep your registrationcertificate in your car.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick69

Safety inspectionsEvery car registered in New Brunswickmust be inspected for safety every year.It may be done by any certified mechanicin the province. If a car does not pass safetyinspection, you must have it fixed within14 days.Driving lawsBasic laws include:• vehicles drive on the right side of the road;• everyone in the vehicle must wear aseatbelt;• if an emergency vehicle approaches fromeither direction with its sirens on and lightsflashing, you must safely pull over to theside of the road until it passes;• you cannot drive if you are not physicallyable to do so. This includes being tired, sickor affected by alcohol or drugs;• you must keep your registration, safetyinspection, insurance and licence informationup to date;• children under the age of nine must sit ina booster seat unless they are either 145 cmtall (4’9”) or weigh 36kg (79 pounds);• you must not pass a school bus with its yellowor red lights flashing;• if your licence plate is damaged, it mustbe replaced; and• children travelling in vehicles must besafely secured in a child safety seat that isappropriate for their age, weight and height.Driving under the influence of drugs oralcoholPolice are also allowed to stop you if they thinkyou, as a motorist, are under the influence ofalcohol or drugs or are otherwise impaired.Police have the authority to give you a roadsidebreathalyzer test. It is against the law to refuseto take one.70Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

It is a serious offence in New Brunswick todrive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher or while under the influence ofdrugs. The amount of alcohol you must drinkto reach a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent varies from person to person, based onsuch variables as your weight.If there is evidence that your blood alcohollevel exceeds 0.08 or that you are under theinfluence of drugs, you will be charged withimpaired driving. If you are found guilty, youwill be fined, have your licence revoked orbe sent to jail. This is explained further inChapter 15, The legal system.If you are involved in an accidentIf you are in a serious accident on the road,you have certain responsibilities. If you thinkthe damage from the accident is more than$1,000 or if someone has been injured orkilled, you must:• contact the police and stay where theaccident happened until they arrive.Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime;• you must give your name, address andinsurance information to the other peopleinvolved in the accident;• even if you do not seem to be hurt, seea doctor right away. Some insurancecompanies require you to do so;Driving in the winterDriving in snow and cold is often difficult.Some suggestions:• buy winter tires: special tires that are madefrom material that can grip the road in coldweather. Do not use winter tires duringthe summer as this can weaken them. Alsocheck the tires regularly to make sure theyhave enough air in them;• slow down: do not drive at the speed limitif the weather is bad. If roads are slippery,occasionally press on the brakes to get afeel for how long you will need to stop andhow much control you have;• make sure you can see: keep your headlights,wiper blades, and window defroster in goodshape. Make sure you always have enoughwindshield washer fluid;• have an emergency kit in your car. TheGovernment of Canada has a list of thingsyou should put in it:• www.getprepared.ca/knw/kt/auto-eng.aspx• keep your distance from the car ahead ofyou: It may take up to 12 times as long tostop on ice as on dry roads;• do not make sudden movements: suddenlyspeeding up, jerking the steering wheel orbraking suddenly can cause you to lose control;• check for ice: always remember that bridgesand overpasses (especially areas in theshade) will freeze faster than normal, sobe careful driving in these places;• black ice is dangerous: it is ice that isdifficult to see because it is transparentand takes on the colour of the road; and• watch for animals: most highways inNew Brunswick pass through forests wherelarge animals such as deer and moose live.They may cause serious accidents whenthey try to cross roads.• Be extra careful at night time.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick71

Chapter 12EducationThe school systemThe Government of New Brunswick isresponsible for all levels of education: primary,secondary and post-secondary.The province is divided into 14 school districts(nine English and five French) that governpublic schools from kindergarten to Grade12 (K-12). About 100,000 children attendpublic schools. The province also has fourmajor universities and many trade schools,the New Brunswick Community College andapprenticeship programs.Kindergarten to Grade 12Education from kindergarten to Grade 12is free for all residents of New Brunswick.All children in New Brunswick are requiredto attend public schools, private schools orhome schools 11 . Children must stay in schooluntil they are 18 years old or graduate.The public school system is governedby several pieces of legislation, the mostimportant of which is the Education Act:• www.gnb.ca/0062/acts/acts/e-01-12.htmIf your child speaks either official languageor neither official language, you may chooseto send your child either to a French or anEnglish school.Parents must register their children forkindergarten during the calendar year(Jan. 1 - Dec. 31) in which they reach the11-Home schooling is the term used when children aretaught in their own home by their parent(s) or another adult.Parents who wish to home school their children must submitan Annual Home Schooling Application Form. It must beapproved by the minister of Education.age of five. If the child’s birthday is afterSept 1, you may wait until the following year.To register a child for school, contact yourlocal school district. If you have a childgoing into kindergarten, you may registeras early as October of the year before he orshe begins.For your child to go to a public school,you need to prove that he or she hasimmunizations against several diseases.You may also have you child screened at agethree by a public health nurse by contactingyour regional health authority. This way, youmay find out about any problems that mayaffect how well your child may fare in school.Children receive a report card three times ayear. Parents are invited to meet the teacher todiscuss it. Parents may also be asked to volunteerand help with activities at school such asfund-raising, sports events and class trips.Schools are closed on public holidays (see alist in Chapter 8, Working) Schools are alsoclosed on days when the weather is bad.Most schools will be closed for several daysin winter because of snowstorms. Theseunscheduled school closings are calledSnow Days. The decision to close the schoolis made early in the morning before schoolstarts. The school closures are announced onlocal radio stations. You may also ask yourchild’s teacher if there is a telephone numberthat you can call to find out about snow days.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick73

To find out in which school district you live:• www.gnb.ca/0000/schdist/district/subdist.aspIf you have questions or wish to registeryour child:.English:District 2 - Moncton 1-506-856-3222District 6 - Rothesay 1-506-847-6262District 8 - Saint John 1-506-658-5300District 10 - St. Stephen 1-506-466-7300District 14 - Woodstock 1-506-325-4432District 15 - Dalhousie 1-506-684-7555District 16 - Miramichi 1-506-778-6075District 17 - Oromocto 1-506-357-4010District 18 - Fredericton 1-506-453-5454French:District 1 - Dieppe 1-506-856-3333*District 3 - Edmundston 1-506-737-4567District 5 - Campbellton 1-506-789-2255District 9 - Tracadie-Sheila 1-506-394-3400District 11 - Richibucto 1-506-523-7655*The Dieppe district office also covers Frenchschools in Fredericton, Saint John, Monctonand Oromocto.74Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Post-secondary educationIf students want to pursue a career afterhigh school, there are many post-secondaryinstitutions in New Brunswick. However, theyare not free. You must pay for tuition, books,and application fees. For more information,visit the Department of Post SecondaryEducation, Training and Labour:• 1-506-453-2597• www.gnb.ca/0105/index-e.aspUniversitiesNew Brunswick has three major Englishuniversities and one French university.The University of New Brunswick: UNBoffers a wide range of programs includingundergraduate, masters and doctorateprograms. UNB has two major campuses:Fredericton (the main campus) and SaintJohn, as well as nursing programs in Bathurstand Moncton. UNB is the third-oldestEnglish-language university in Canada.• 1-506-453-4666• www.unb.caSaint Thomas University: STU offers bachelordegrees in liberal arts, social work andeducation. STU is in Fredericton.• 1-506-452-0640• www.stu.caMount Allison University: Mount A offersundergraduate degrees in liberal arts andsciences. Mount A is in Sackville.• 1-506-364-2269• www.mymta.caThe Université de Moncton: U de M offersa full range of French-language programs,including graduate and undergraduatedegrees. Campuses are in Moncton,Shippagan and Edmundston.• 1-506-858-4000• www.umoncton.caNew Brunswick has three faith-baseduniversities:Atlantic Baptist University, Moncton• www.abu.nb.caBethany Bible College, Sussex• www.bbc.caSt. Stephen’s University, St. Stephen• www.ssu.caNew Brunswick Community College(NBCC)The New Brunswick Community College(NBCC) offers courses in such areas asadministration, trades and technology.The college does not grant degrees, butit provides certification in many fields.The English-language campuses are inFredericton, Moncton, Saint John, Miramichi,St. Andrews and Woodstock; there is alsothe New Brunswick College of Craft andDesign, in Fredericton. The French-languagecampuses are in Bathurst, Campbellton,Caraquet (Acadian peninsula), Dieppe andEdmundston.• 1-506-789-2404• www.nbcc.caPrivate training institutionsSeveral private training schools offer careertraining. Programs prepare you for industriessuch as beauty, tourism, business, computersand truck driving.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick75

Before enrolling, you should think aboutyour skills and talents and the job market.You should also thoroughly investigate theschool. Ask a number of important questions:• is the school registered under the NewBrunswick Occupational Training Act? Thisact provides some protection for studentsin case the school closes before theirstudies are finished. A list of registeredinstitutions may be found at:• www.gnb.ca/0368/pota-lst.pdfOr write:The Department of Post-SecondaryEducation, Training and Labour,Chestnut Complex,470 York St.,Fredericton, NBE3B 3P7• www.gnb.ca/0105/index-e.asp• what percentage of the school’s graduatesfind jobs? What percentage find jobs in thefield of work they studied at the school?The school should be able to provide thisinformation;• what percentage of students complete theirprogram of study? The school should beable to provide this information as well;• is the school accredited, if necessary, by theprofessional association that governs yourchosen profession? For example, to workas a dental assistant in New Brunswick, youmust graduate from a training institutionaccredited by the Commission on DentalAccreditation of Canada. Find out what thetraining and licensing requirements are foryour profession and make sure the schoolyou choose meets them;• are the school’s facilities and equipment upto date? Ask to sit in on a class and / or takea tour of the school;• have you thought about all the costs?There may be many costs such as booksand student or equipment fees in additionto tuition fees;• what is the school’s refund policy? There arebig differences between refund policies atpublic and private institutions. Make sureyou understand the school’s refund policyand get a copy in writing if possible.• does the school provide academiccounselling or assistance if you need it?• does the school help you find a job onceyou complete the program? Some privatetraining institutions have employmentassistance programs.ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships are offered in many tradesthat are in high demand in Canada suchas carpentry, plumbing, tool and die, andwelding. Apprenticeships are a combinationof classroom and on-the-job training.• 1-506-453-2260• www.gnb.ca/0381/index-e.asp76Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Student loansPaying for your education may be verydifficult. Even working part-time and gettingscholarships are often not enough. So, thegovernment offers loans to help people payfor their education.• these loans are easy to apply for eitheronline or by mail;• the interest charged is tax deductible (thismeans when you do your taxes you canreduce your income by the amount youpaid in interest);• amounts of student loans are based onwhat you need and the situation you are in;• you do not have to pay and no interestis charged until you are finished youreducation, even if it takes several years;• to qualify for the Government of Canadaportion of the student loan (60 per cent),you must have your permanent residencestatus or have a Protected Person 12 StatusDocument (PPSD) and be accepted into apost- secondary program; and• to qualify for the New Brunswick portion ofthe loan (40 per cent), you must have livedin New Brunswick for 12 months in a row.For information on loans:• www.canlearn.caTo apply for student loans and otherstudent assistance:• toll-free, 1-800-667-5626• www.studentaid.gnb.ca$4,000 benefit for first-timeuniversity studentsAll students enrolled for the first timeat a provincially-funded New Brunswickuniversity are eligible for a one-time benefitof $4,000. To be eligible, a student must bea New Brunswick resident. Students mustbe enrolled in an undergraduate degreegrantingprogram at the University of NewBrunswick, Saint Thomas University, MountAllison University, or the Université deMoncton (all campuses).New Brunswick TuitionRebate ProgramYou may be eligible for a rebate of yourtuition, even if you are not a New Brunswickresident. Anyone, from anywhere in theworld, (as of 2005) who pays tuition,graduates from an eligible post-secondaryinstitution, and stays in New Brunswick tolive and work may be eligible. The rebateis non-taxable. It is 50 per cent of tuitioncosts up to a maximum lifetime rebate of$20,000. For details on this New BrunswickDepartment of Finance program visitwww.gnb.ca keyword: FinanceRepayment Assistance Plan (RAP)The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)helps graduates with a high student debtwho complete their program of study at apublicly funded post-secondary educationalinstitution, within the program’s establishedtimeline. Through this initiative, up to 100per cent of an eligible student’s provincialstudent loan in excess of $26,000 will beforgiven for a first undergraduate degree,certificate, or diploma earned afterApril 1, 2009.12-Protected person: This is a person selected by theImmigration and Refugee Board and Citizenship andImmigration Canada who has reason to fear persecution inhis/her country of origin due to race, religion, nationality,membership in a social group, or political opinion.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick77

Chapter 13Rights and responsibilitiesYour rights and freedomsNo matter what your immigration status is,you have certain rights and freedoms whenyou live in Canada. They are written in theCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.They include:• freedom of conscience and religion (theright to follow your religious beliefs);• freedom of thought, belief, opinion andexpression, including freedom of the pressand other media of communication(the right to express your opinions);• freedom of peaceful assembly (the rightto gather for peaceful meetings or events);and• freedom of association (the freedom tobe with other people you choose).Permanent residents also have the right tomobility, which means you may move fromone area of the province or countryto another.The Charter of Rights and Freedomsguarantees that that every person in Canadais treated equally, no matter what their race,religion, national or ethnic origin, colour,gender, age or physical or mental disability.The rights and freedoms in the Charter andRights and Freedoms are not absolute. Theymay be limited to protect other people’srights or important national values. Forexample, freedom of expression may be limitedby laws against hate propaganda. Freedom ofreligion may be limited in cases where religiouspractices violate Canada’s laws.No person in Canada has the right to:• restrict your mobility in Canada;• take or keep your passport, PR card or otherdocumentation from you;• force you to work for free; or• force you to work at a rate of pay below theminimum wage in your province.The Charter of Rights and Freedoms:• laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charterTo obtain a free copy of the booklet, Guideto The Canadian Charter of Rights AndFreedoms;• 1-819-994-3458; fax, 1-819-994-5252• www.pch.gc.ca/progs/pdp-hrp/canada/guide/index_e.cfm• e-mail: rights-droits@pch.gc.caOr write:Human Rights Program,Department of Canadian Heritage,25 Eddy St. (15-11-B),Hull, Que.K1A 0M5New Brunswickers are further protectedfrom many types of discrimination under theNew Brunswick Human Rights Act, enforcedby the New Brunswick Human RightsCommission.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick79

Prohibited grounds of discrimination are:• race, colour, national origin, place oforigin, ancestry;• religion, age, marital status;• sex, sexual orientation;• physical or mental disability;• social condition; and• political belief or activity.Employers, service providers, propertyowners and others who are subject to theHuman Rights Act must make sure their rules,behaviour, facilities and equipment do notresult in discrimination.Anyone who believes that he or she hasbeen discriminated against or harassedmay file a complaint with the Human RightsCommission. He or she does not need tobe a citizen or landed immigrant.For more information:• 1-506-453-2301, toll-free,1-888-471-2233• www.gnb.ca/hrc-cdp/index-e.aspOr write:New Brunswick Human Rights Commission,P. O. Box 6000,Barry House,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1Children’s rightsChildren have the same rights as adultsin Canada. They are protected under theCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.They also have extra protection underNew Brunswick law.The New Brunswick Family Services Act saysthat it is illegal to leave a child younger than12 home alone. Children younger than 12must be supervised by a parent or anotherresponsible person.The Family Services Act says that any personwho has reason to believe that a child hasbeen abandoned, physically or emotionallyneglected 14 , or physically or sexually abusedmust report this to authorities right away.This includes situations in which too muchforce has been used to discipline a child.Some professionals who care for or workwith children, such as doctors or teachers,are legally obligated to report to authoritiesif they believe a child is being abused orneglected. In cases where an investigationshows that children are being neglected orabused, they may be taken out of their homeand placed in the care of the province. Insome cases, charges may be laid againstthe abuser.The Department of Social Developmenthas more information about parentingand children’s rights in New Brunswick.• 1-506-453-2001• www.gnb.ca/0017/index-e.asp14-Neglect – a failure to provide the necessities of life, suchas food, drink, adequate clothing, and essential personal caresuch as baths and hair care.80Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

For more information about parentingor to register for a parenting informationsession, contact your nearest MulticulturalAssociation.Or write:Department of Social Development,P.O. Box 6000,Sartain MacDonald Building,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1Information about raising happy, healthychildren may be found at the Parenting: Lovethat Lasts a Lifetime website:• www.gnb.ca/0017/EIP/excellence-e.aspOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick81

Women’s rightsWomen have full equal rights under the lawin Canada, and they may not be discriminatedagainst because of their gender.Domestic violenceDomestic violence 15 or family violence isagainst the law, just as violence betweentwo unrelated people is against the law. If awoman or man is being abused by a familymember, she is encouraged to call 9-1-1and ask the police for help.Women who are physically or emotionallyabused by their husband or other familymembers may leave their homes and gethelp at women’s shelters. These are safeplaces where women may live until theyfind a permanent place away from a violentfamily member. Women’s shelters alsowelcome children along with their mothers.The services offered at women’s shelters,including accommodations, are free.The location of the shelters is kept secretso that abusers will not know where tofind women who are staying there. Theseshelters have counsellors to help abusedwomen get re-settled.BathurstPassage House• 1-506-546-9540CampbelltonMaison Notre-Dame• 1-506-753-4703EdmundstonL’Escale Madavic Inc.• 1-506-739-6265• e-mail: emadavic6265@rogers.comFrederictonWomen in Transition House Inc.,P.O. Box 1143,Fredericton, NBE3B 5C2• 1-506-457-2770Liberty Lane,P.O. Box 20052,Fredericton, NBE3B 6Y8• 1-506-451-2120• www.libertylane.ca/index.htm• e-mail: judyloukes@rogers.comMiramichiMiramichi Emergency Centre for Women,P.O. Box 249,Miramichi, NBE1V 3M3• 1-506-622-8861; helpline, 1-506-622-8865• www.mecw.nb.ca• e-mail: mecw@nb.aibn.comMonctonCrossroads for Women / Carrefour pourfemmes,P.O. Box 1247,Moncton, NBE1C 8P9• 1-506-857-4184 or 1-506-853-0811• Information available throughwww.frederictoninfo.ca/record/HDC0429• e-mail: admin.crossroads@nb.aibn.com82Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick15-Domestic violence: hitting, slapping or other abusivebehavior between members of the same family or peopleliving in the same home. Domestic violence may mean a maleor female assaulting a female family member, or a male orfemale assaulting a male family member, and it is illegal inCanada. Domestic violence is taken as seriously in Canada asviolence between strangers.

Sainte-Anne-de-KentSerenity House,P.O. Box 511,Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, NBE4S 5G2• 1-506-743-1530Saint JohnHestia House,P.O. Box 7135, Station A,Saint John, NBE2L 4S5• 1-506-634-7571; crisis line, 1-506-634-7570Saint JohnSecond Stage Safe Haven Inc.,P.O. Box 27122,Saint John, NBE2M 5S8• 1-506-632-9289• e-mail: refuge@nb.aibn.comSt. StephenFundy Region Transition House,P.O. Box 73,St. Stephen, NBE3L 1H3• 1-506-466-4485• fundy.shelternet.ca/library/SNetCore.cfm?languageid=1&skipIt=YES• e-mail: frth@nbnet.nb.caSussexSussex Vale Transition House,P.O. Box 4862,Sussex, NBE4E 5L9• 1-506-433-1649; crisis line, 1-506-432-6999Tracadie-SheilaAccueil Sainte-Famille,P.O. Box 3660, Main Post Office,Tracadie-Sheila, NBE1X 1G5• 1-506-395-1500• www.accueilstefamille.com• e-mail: acstefam@nbnet.nb.caWoodstockSanctuary House,P.O. Box 4294,Woodstock, NBE7M 6B7• 1-506-325-9452; crisis line (toll-free)1-866-247-0286Provincial / AboriginalGignoo Transition House Inc.,P.O. Box 3385, Station B,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H2• 1-506-458-1236; local crisis line, 1-506-458-1224; toll-free crisis line, 1-800-565-6878• nbcth.com/gignoo.htm• e-mail: gignoo@nbnet.nb.caGignoo Transition House has created andadapted some programs and services thatmeet the need of Aboriginal women andchildren in crisis. However, any woman iswelcome at Gignoo Transition House Inc.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick83

Sexual harassmentWomen and men have the right to workwithout sexual harassment. Sexualharassment is any unwanted conduct,comment, gesture, or contact that is sexualin nature. Men or women can be victims ofsexual assault. Sexual harassment mightinclude: questions about a person’s sexlife; suggesting that sexual favours are acondition of employment or promotion;unwanted contact such as touching, patting,or kissing; or other behaviour that is sexual innature and that makes one uncomfortable.If someone is sexually harassing you at work,tell him or her firmly to stop. If that does notstop the behaviour, report the harassment toyour supervisor. If reporting the harassmentto your supervisor, or to the harasser’ssupervisor, does not solve the problem, youmay wish to contact the New BrunswickHuman Rights Commission.• 1-506-453-2301; toll-free, 1-888-471-2233• www.gnb.ca/hrc-cdp/index-e.aspOr write:New Brunswick Human RightsCommission,P. O. Box 6000,Barry House,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1For more information on women’s rightsand issues in New Brunswick:• 1-506-444-4101; toll-free, 1-800-332-3087(within Canada); fax, 506-444-4318• www.acswcccf.nb.ca• e-mail: acswcccf@gnb.caOr write:The New Brunswick Advisory Councilon the Status of Women,236 King St.,Fredericton, NBE3B 1E2Senior citizens’ rightsThe Family Services Act provides specialprotection for senior citizens. It says thatan elderly person who is a victim of or isin danger of being a victim of physicalabuse, sexual abuse, mental cruelty, or anycombination of these is an abused adult.The authorities may intervene if they suspectthat a senior is being neglected or abused, orif a professional person who works with thesenior reports that he or she has reason tobelieve the senior is being neglectedor abused.For more information:• 1-506-457-6811• www.gnb.ca/0017/LTC/seniorconsultation-e.aspOr write:The Senior and Healthy Aging Division,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H184Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Rights of persons withdisabilitiesPersons with disabilities are protected underthe Family Services Act. Any person with adisability who, because of poor physical ormental health, cannot look after himself orherself, or refuses to, or is unable to get helpfor himself or herself, may be considered inneed of protection. As with seniors, if thedisabled person is a victim or in danger ofbecoming a victim of physical abuse, sexualabuse, mental cruelty, or any combinationof these, he or she is considered an abusedadult, requiring potential intervention.For more information:• 1-506-444-3000; toll-free, toll-free,1-800-442-4412; fax, 1-506-444-3001• www.gnb.ca/0048/index-e.aspOr write:The Premier’s Council on the Status ofDisabled Persons,440 King St., Suite 648,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H8For information on the protection of therights and safety of all New Brunswickers:• 1-506-453-3992• www.gnb.ca/0276/index-e.aspOr write:Department of Public Safety,P.O. Box 6000,Argyle Place,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick85

Chapter 14Citizenship and permanent residencyPermanent Resident cardIf you wish to travel between Canada andother countries:• your Permanent Resident (PR) card replacesthe IMM1000 record of landing document.You need your PR card to return to Canadaon a plane, train or bus;• should you, as a permanent resident, wish toreturn to Canada but do not have a valid PRcard, you must contact the nearest Canadianvisa office to get this document. You mustpay for this;• the PR card expires every five years.Check the expiry date and apply for anew one well before you plan to traveloutside the country;• to keep your status as a permanent resident,you must live in Canada for at least twoyears within a five-year period.To learn more about the PR card or to learnhow to apply for the card, visit Citizenshipand Immigration Canada:• toll-free, 1-888-242-2100, Monday to Friday,8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (in Canada only)• www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/index.aspBecoming a CanadianThere are three preliminary requirementsto attain citizenship:• you must be 18 or older (children youngerthan age 18 may become citizens, but theydon’t have to meet the same requirementsas adults);• you must have lived in Canada for at leastthree of the four years immediately beforeyou apply for citizenship; and• you must be able to speak either Englishor French.Once you meet these requirements, yousend an application form (available onthe Citizenship and Immigration website,or through its call centre) to begin thecitizenship process.You will need to take a citizenship testabout Canada’s history, political system andgeography. The Department of Citizenshipand Immigration will send you a book tohelp you prepare. To learn more, contact theDepartment of Citizenship and Immigration:• toll-free, 1-888-242-2100, Monday -Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (in Canada only)• www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/index.aspA brochure about how to apply for citizenshipis available at:• www.cic.gc.ca/English/resources/publications/howto-e.aspOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick87

How to be a good citizenAlong with rights, you have responsibilities.This applies to Canadians as well as visitorsand immigrants. Responsibilities include:• knowing and obeying Canadian laws,rules and regulations;• acting responsibly and politely towardothers; and• respecting the beliefs and practices (withinthe law) of people of different cultural orreligious backgrounds.Whether you are a citizen or not, there aremany positive ways for you to becomeinvolved in your community. Look foropportunities to volunteer with communityorganizations. It is an excellent way to meetnew people and feel more at home. If youserve on the board of directors of a volunteerorganization, you may improve yourleadership skills and make contacts whichcould be useful in your work.If you become a citizen, you will have theright to vote in municipal, provincial andfederal elections. To make the best decisionon election day, you should learn about NewBrunswick and Canada’s political parties andtheir platforms 16 as well as the policies ofyour local candidates. You can get a greatdeal of information through the mediaor by going to political events.88Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick16-A platform is a political party’s opinions on issues andits plans if elected. Usually platforms are written documentsavailable free of charge before an election.

Chapter 15The legal systemNew Brunswick is one of the safest places inCanada. Statistics from 2006 show it has oneof the lowest crime rates in the country. It isimportant to know about the laws followedin New Brunswick and the people who keepthe province safe.The policeThe police make sure Canadians obey thelaw, but that is not their only job. They mayhelp you in many ways – if you are hurt, introuble or if simply need directions. ManyCanadians teach their children to go to apolice officer if they are lost. Police in Canadamay be male or female.In an emergency, you may reach the policeby telephoning 9-1-1. If your situation isnot an emergency, you may call the nonemergencypolice number, found on thefirst page of the telephone book.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP)The Royal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP) is Canada’s national police force.The Mounties, as they are also known,are the main police force in rural areas inNew Brunswick. In some communities,the RCMP works with the local police.Local police forcesLarger communities in New Brunswickhave municipal police forces.Dealing with the policeImportant: never offer a police officer money.Canadians do not bribe police, and to doso is a serious crime.The Public Legal Education and InformationService (PLEIS) has a brochure, The Law, ThePolice and You: Your Rights When Questioned,Detained or Arrested, available at:• http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.calen/law-police-you-rightsA police officer is allowed to engage incasual conversation and to ask questions.Sometimes, police carry out highway spotchecks to determine if you, as a motorist,have a proper licence, registration andinsurance; and to determine if you, againas a motorist, are driving with a seatbelt, asrequired, and are not impaired.A police officer is allowed to stop you and askfor identification if he or she suspects you aredriving a motor vehicle under the influenceof alcohol or are otherwise impaired. In thisinstance, you should safely pull over to theside as soon as possible. Stay in your car.Do not get out and walk toward the police.Wait for the police officer to come to you.You should roll down your car window andspeak politely. The police officer will probablyask you for your driver’s licence, proof ofinsurance and car registration. You are legallyobliged to produce these documents if thepolice officer asks to see them.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick89

As explained in Chapter 11, Vehicles anddriving, if a police officer suspects that you,as a motorist, have been drinking alcohol,he or she may ask you to take a roadsidebreathalyzer test. If you are suspectedof being under the influence of drugs orare otherwise impaired, you can also bestopped, evaluated and required to providea bodily fluid sample at a police station. It isagainst the law to refuse any of these tests.Impaired driving is a very serious criminaloffence in Canada: a minimum fine of $1,000for a first offence; one month in jail for asecond offence; and four months in jail fora third offence. Those with a blood alcoholconcentration exceeding 0.08 per cent facea maximum life sentence if they cause deathand a maximum 10-year sentence if theycause bodily harm. Impaired drivers alsolose their driving privileges for specifiedperiods. They can expect their car insurancepremiums to increase significantly.If arrested, you have certain rights:• you have the right to remain silent.Remaining silent does not imply guilt orinnocence on your part;• the officer who arrests you must tell youhis or her name and show you his or herbadge number;• the police officer must tell you why you arebeing arrested (for what suspected offence)and explain the reason for the arrest;• the police officer must tell you that youhave the right to talk with a lawyer of yourchoice — in private — before you speakto the police. If you do not have a lawyer,the police must tell you that may use dutycounsel (immediate free legal advice) andlegal aid (free help for people who cannotafford a lawyer); and• the police must give you the telephonenumber of a legal aid duty counsel and letyou call.For more information about the justicesystem:Public Legal Education and InformationService of New Brunswick,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1• 1-506-453-5369; fax: 1-506-457-7899• www.legal-info.legale.nb.ca• e-mail: pleisnb@web.caFor more information about the policein New Brunswick:Department of Public Safety,Argyle Place,P. O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1• general information, 1-506-453-3992;reception, 1-506-453-3992• www.gnb.ca/0276/index-e.aspLawyersLegal aidLegal aid offers two services: duty counseland certificates. The duty counsel 17 serviceallows a person accused of an offence tospeak with a lawyer before he or she goesto court.If you go on trial and cannot afford a lawyer,you must apply to legal aid to obtain acertificate. Once a certificate is issued, youmay be represented in court by a legal aidlawyer for free or for a lower fee.Legal aid certificates are issued only to thosewho do not have the financial means to payfor legal representation. You must providefinancial statements and information provingyou are unable to pay a lawyer. If you canafford it, you may be expected to pay someof the cost of legal aid.90Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick17 -Duty counsel - the lawyer who will be referred to you ifyou call legal aid following an arrest. The duty counsel will seeyou at the police station or wherever you are being held. Dutycounsel may represent you when you enter a plea, but he orshe does not defend you during your trial.

Legal aid offices in New Brunswick:Bathurst 1-506-546-5010Miramichi 1-506-622-1061Campbellton 1-506-753-6453Moncton 1-506-853-7300Edmundston 1-506-735-4213Saint John 1-506-633-6030Fredericton 1-506-444-2777Woodstock 1-506-328-8127For more information:• 1-506-462-5100• www.gnb.ca/cour/legalaid-e.aspYou may also contact:Department of Justice and ConsumerAffairs,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1Other lawyersAs mentioned previously, you must pay for alawyer if you can afford to do so. If you havebeen charged with a crime, you may find acriminal defence lawyer by asking friends;by asking a lawyer you may have used forbusiness or other purposes; or by lookingunder Lawyers in the Yellow Pages of thetelephone book.The courtsOne of the most important principles inCanadian law is that you are innocent untilproven guilty in a court of law. This meansthat the prosecution must prove, beyond areasonable doubt, that you have broken thelaw. For more information:Public Legal Education and InformationService of New Brunswick,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1• 1-506-453-5369; fax, 1-506-457-7899• www.legal-info.legale.nb.ca• e-mail: pleisnb@web.caProtecting yourself fromdishonest peopleUnfortunately, as in any country, there are afew people in Canada who try to fool honestpeople. These tricks are often called scams,and the criminals are called scam artists.Be careful of the following:• you receive an e-mail from what appearsto be your bank or credit card company,asking you to confirm your username andpassword or submit other confidentialinformation about your bank account. Youmay be sent to a website that resemblesyour bank’s website and be asked to enterthis information. However, these websitesare fake, and the people who set them upmay use your username, e-mail addressand password to gain access to your bankaccount and steal your money. Your bankor credit card company will never e-mailyou, asking you to submit your confidentialbanking information;Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick91

• someone contacts you to tell you that youhave won a prize – a vacation or a boat –and you only must pay a delivery chargeor a fee or give your credit card number toreceive the prize. If you send the deliverycharge, you will never hear from the scamartist again, and if you give your credit cardnumber, you will soon see large chargeson your credit card for things younever bought;• a contractor (builder or carpenter) will godoor to door in a neighbourhood, offeringto do renovations or repairs. He or she mayclaim that he or she has noticed somethingwrong with your house and offers to fix itfor a good price. Some may say they havespecial discounts for seniors. The contractorwill request a down payment from you –and never show up to perform the work;and• a letter will come in the mail, inviting youto call a number that starts with 1-900 tolearn about the prize you have won. The callwill usually last several minutes before youfind out the value of the prize is very small.Meanwhile, you have been paying the scamartist for every minute you have been onthe telephone, because 1-900 numbershave a per-minute rate that will be chargedto your bill.Be especially careful with your SocialInsurance Number (SIN). Never give it toanyone except your employer. If you choose,you may give it your bank when asking forcertain financial help. SINs are frequentlyused in identity theft. This is when a persongets access to someone’s SIN, driver’s licencenumber or other personal informationand uses it to impersonate the victimand to apply for credit cards or loansin the victim’s name.If you have given your credit card number tosomeone, and you are concerned that he orshe is going to misuse it, contact your creditcard company immediately. The companywill cancel the card and watch for anycharges made by a scam artist.The RCMP has a guide to scams and frauds:• www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/canadpractical-pratique-guide-eng.htm92Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Chapter 16Faith and religionReligious freedom is practised in Canada.Everyone has the right to believe andpractise any religion or belief system freelyand openly.If you want to find a church or religiousorganization in Canada, you may look in theYellow Pages under Churches or ReligiousOrganizations. You may also contact yourlocal multicultural association. Localnewspapers often have a section onreligious events and activities.Places of worshipSometimes mosques, synagogues andtemples are not listed in the Yellow Pages.Hindu TempleMaritime Geeta Bhawan,259 Doak Rd.,Fredericton, NB• 1-506-457-4550• www.bhawan.caMosquesFredericton Islamic Association,130 Lincoln Rd.,Fredericton, NB• 1-506-462-9006• www.fianb.comMoncton Muslim Association,99 High St.,Moncton, NB• 1-506-386-1179• www.frederictoninfo.ca/record/HDC2027?UseCICVw=43&Number=87Muslim Association of New Brunswick,1100 Rothesay Rd.,Saint John, NB• 1-506-633-1675• www.manb.ca/general_info.htmSynagoguesCongregation Sgoolai Israel,168 Westmorland St.,Fredericton, NB• 1-506-454-9698• www.fredshul.ca/sgoolai-synagogue.htmlCongregation Shaarei Zedek (Conservative),91 Leinster St.,Saint John, NB• 1-506-657-4790Congregation Tiferes Israel (Orthodox),56 Steadman St.,Moncton, NB• 1-506-858-0258• www.tiferesisrael.comOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick93

Chapter 17Customs in New BrunswickAs elsewhere, New Brunswick has particular social customs:FamiliesCanadian families come in many shapesand sizes. Many consist of a couple andonly a few children. Some are single-parentfamilies: mothers or fathers who are divorcedor who never married and who are raisingtheir children alone. Others are same-sexcouples, including legally married couples.Some same-sex couples raise children. Inmany two-parent families, the mother andfather work outside the home. They also dothe housework and take care of the children.Raising healthy, happy children is importantto Canadians, but they tend to accept manydifferent ways of doing it.Taking care of childrenIf you have children, it is against the law toleave alone those younger than 12. If youmust leave your children for work, school,or any other reason, you must arrange fora responsible person to look after them.More information about child care and earlylearning may be found at the Departmentof Social Development:• 1-506-453-2001• www.gnb.ca/0017/ELCC/index-e.aspOr contact:Department of Social Development,Sartain MacDonald Building,P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1You may be eligible for help with the cost ofday care. Contact the Department of SocialDevelopment:Bathurst 1-506-547-2000Campbellton 1-506-789-2311Caraquet 1-506-726-2055Edmundston 1-506-735-2000Fredericton 1-866-444-8838Kedgwick 1-506-284-3424Miramichi 1-506-627-4001Moncton 1-506-856-2414Néguac 1-506-776-3800Perth-Andover 1-506-273-4724Richibucto 1-506-523-7616Sackville 1-506-364-4084Saint John 1-506-658-2450Shediac 1-506-533-3333Shippagan 1-506-336-3025St. Stephen 1-506-466-7500Sussex 1-506-432-2006Tracadie-Sheila 1-506-394-3800Woodstock 1-506-325-4413A list of approved day cares is available fromthe Department of Social Development:• www1.gnb.ca/cnb/daycare/index-e.asp• or, in the Yellow Pages under Child CareServicesOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick95

The Child Tax BenefitSome Canadians are eligible for help withthe cost of raising their children. The CanadaChild Tax Benefit is a tax-free monthlypayment to help cover the costs of raisingchildren younger than 18. To register or formore information:• toll-free,1-800-387-1193• www.cra-arc.gc.ca/cctbOr write:Canadian Revenue Agency Tax Centre,P.O. Box 12071,Station A,St. John’s, NLA1B 3Z1Holidays and other special daysCanada is a multicultural country. However,Canadians traditionally celebrate days thatyou may not observe in your home country:• New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) – The first day of thenew calendar year. Many Canadians go tocelebrations the night before on New Year’sEve;• Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) – While not apublic holiday, Valentine’s Day is celebratedby couples, young and old, who are in love.• Easter (in March or April) – The Easterweekend includes Good Friday and EasterSunday. Good Friday is a solemn religiousobservation for most Christians. Most storesare closed. Easter, a celebration of spring,is considered by devout Christians to bethe most important day in the religiouscalendar – even more important thanChristmas. Young children mark the holidayby waiting for the Easter Bunny to arrivewith chocolates;• Mother’s Day (the second Sunday in May) –while not a public holiday, Mother’s Dayis celebrated by many families;• Victoria Day (the Monday before May 25)– This is the birthday of Queen Victoria, thefamous grandmother of Queen ElizabethII. It is also the unofficial beginning ofsummer;• Father’s Day (on the third Sunday in June)– While not a public holiday, Father’s Day iscelebrated by many families;• Canada Day (July 1) – Canada’s birthday.Most towns and cities hold celebrations. Theday often ends with fireworks after dark;• New Brunswick Day (the first Mondayin August) – This is a celebration of theprovince’s culture and history;• National Acadian Day (Aug. 15) –New Brunswick’s Acadian populationcelebrates its culture;• Labour Day (first Monday in September) –This holiday observes the hard work doneby Canadians. It is usually a quiet familyholiday that marks the unofficial endof summer;• Thanksgiving (the second Monday ofOctober) – Canadians give thanks for allthe good things in their lives. Often relativesget together for a feast or turkey dinner;• Halloween (Oct. 31) – This is not a publicholiday. In the religious sense, it is the evebefore All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1. In a secularsense, it is the occasion when children dressup in costumes, often as ghosts, to go doorto-door,saying, “Trick or treat,” as they askfor candy. Some adults observe Halloweenby going to costume parties. Many homesput a lighted pumpkin in the window;• Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) – This is asolemn day in memory of Canadian soldierswho have died in battle. It also recognizesthe service of the men and women in theArmed Forces. Ceremonies and paradesare held across New Brunswick. ManyCanadians wear a red poppy as a symbolof remembrance;96Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

• Christmas (Dec. 25) – The Christmas seasonis widely celebrated in Canada. It is a seriousreligious observation for many Christians,but Canadians of all backgrounds celebrate.Stores display gifts and special foods.People invite their friends to Christmasparties. Many offices and workplaceshave parties, too. Canadians greet eachother with “Merry Christmas” and “HappyHolidays.” Most homes have a decoratedChristmas tree. On Christmas Eve (Dec.24), children believe that Santa Claus visitshomes and leaves toys for good childrenunder the tree; and• Boxing Day (Dec 26) – Boxing Day is apublic holiday in Canada. Many Canadiansmake Christmas visits.Other social customs• Punctuality is very important on the job,and it is considered a serious problem if youare often late for work. If you know that youwill be late or cannot keep an appointment,let the other person know ahead of time;• when you meet someone, it is customary toshake the person’s right hand. Some peoplewill put out their hand. If you refuse toshake it, it is considered impolite;• when you speak to someone, you shouldnot stand too close to him or her. MostCanadians are most comfortable if theperson with whom they are speaking is asmall distance from them, perhaps an arm’slength away. Many Canadians also becomeuncomfortable if people whom they do notknow well touch them;• it is considered polite to hold doors openfor others. It is considered impolite toabruptly close the door as you go throughit when you know someone is behind you.It is polite to hold a door open for someonewho is elderly;• typically, do not address a person you havejust met in a formal situation by his or herfirst name. Ask the person how he or shewould prefer to be addressed;• it is polite to wait your turn in a line,whether the line is in a store, at an ATM, orany other public place. It is impolite to walkin front of other people in a line;• looking strangers in the eye is acceptable.It is not meant to be threatening. It isconsidered impolite to stare, to point yourfinger at someone in public, or to whistleor snap your fingers to get someone’sattention;• in public, strangers may say “hello” andsmile when you look at them. It is politeto smile and speak back to them;• a common greeting is, “how are you,” andthe common response is expected to bepositive but short;• while it is common in many cultures foradults to be friendly with children whomthey do not know, many Canadian parentsare uncomfortable if an adult whom theydo not know speaks to their child in a publicplace. They are often very uncomfortable ifa stranger touches or hugs their child. If youwould like to speak to a child whom you donot know, talk to the adult first;• being loud, aggressive, or violent in publicis considered unacceptable;• it is impolite to ask people certain personalquestions until you know them well. Manypeople may become offended if you askthem questions such as “How much moneydo you make?”, “How much did you payfor your house or car?”, “Why aren’t youmarried?”, or “Why don’t you have anychildren?” Some people will becomeupset if you ask them about their ageor their weight;• on full public transit buses, it is expected tooffer your seat to elderly people, pregnantwomen or persons with disabilities;Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick97

• many parking lots have blue-colouredspaces reserved for persons withdisabilities. It is against the law – andsocially unacceptable – for an able-bodiedperson to use these spaces unless he or sheis picking up or dropping off a person withdisabilities;• smoking inside public places as well as incars with children is illegal in New Brunswick.Even outside, it is considered polite toask people around you if they mind if yousmoke. Most Canadians do not smoke.Those who do often only smoke outside. Itis impolite to light a cigarette in someone’shome without asking permission first, anddo not be surprised if they say no or ask youto smoke outside;• littering (dropping garbage on the flooror ground instead of in a garbage can) isconsidered unacceptable. This includesthrowing garbage out of a vehicle on thehighway. Littering is illegal; you may befined; and• for the most part, Canadians do not barter.The price on the item is the basic priceyou must pay; depending on the item, the13 per cent HST may be imposed. There aresome exceptions to the non-barter practice:most bargain or negotiate when buyinghomes, boats, automobiles, furnitureor other expensive items. In addition,bargaining for a better price is commonat yard sales and flea markets (marketswhere groups of people sell used goods).98Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Chapter 18Recreation, sport and cultureNew Brunswick has many ways to havefun and stay healthy. The province has aDepartment of Wellness, Culture and Sport,which includes a Sport and RecreationBranch to help communities encouragephysical activity and a healthy lifestyle:• www.gnb.ca/0131/index-e.aspKeeping your family healthyNew Brunswick has a number of wintersports. Hockey, skiing, tobogganing orsledding downhill, snowmobiling, skating,and hiking are popular. A toboggan,developed by the First Nations people,is a kind of sled, without runners.In the summer, people like to bike, camp,fish, swim and hike; they like to playbaseball, softball, soccer and football. Manycommunities are on or near rivers and lakeswhere you may rent canoes, kayaks or otherwatercraft. The Trans-Canada Trail, a hikingtrail running from one end of the countryto the other, goes through New Brunswick.The province has many sandy beaches onthe Northumberland Strait coast with saltwater warm enough for swimming.For more information:• www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/ThingsToDo/SportsandRecreation.aspxIf you are athletic, an organization knownas Sport New Brunswick encouragesamateur sports and recognizes 60 sportsorganizations. They include soccer, baseball,hockey, and gymnastics.For more information:• 1-506-451-1320• www.sportnb.com/en/directoryIt is also a good idea to check your city ortown hall.Recreation NBRecreation NB provides educationalopportunities, offers resource materials,distributes a broad range of informationthrough its publications, and acts as a voicefor the recreation and parks movement inNew Brunswick.• 1-506-459-1929• www.recreationnb.caThe YMCAThe YMCA has a slogan, “We buildstrong kids, strong families, and strongcommunities.” It is a not-for-profitorganization. If you are looking for sportsprograms for your children, the YMCA is agood place to start. It has fitness facilities,swimming pools, sports, education andmany other kinds of programs. The Y, as it iscalled, also offers services such as day carefor children and summer day camps for olderchildren. Many programs are free.YMCA of Fredericton,28 Saunders St.,Fredericton, NB• 1-506-462-3000• www.ymcafredericton.nb.caOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick99

YMCA of Greater Moncton,30 War Veterans Ave.,Moncton, NB• 1-506-857-0606• www.ymcamoncton.caYMCA-YWCA of Saint John,130 Broadview Ave.,Saint John, NB• 1-506-634-7720• www.saintjohny.comBoys and girls clubsAs with the YMCA, boys and girls clubs arepart of a national organization. They provideyouth and children with a safe place to play.They offer physical activities, camp activities,help with career planning and applying forscholarships.Boys and Girls Club of Dieppe,76 Emmanuel St.,Dieppe, NBE1A 2J5• 1-506-857-3807• www.dbgc.org• e-mail: office@dbgc.orgBoys and Girls Club of Eel River Bar FirstNation,11 Main St., Unit 201,Eel River Bar, NBE8C 1A1• 1-506-684-6277Fredericton Boys and Girls Club Inc.,P.O. Box 3188, Station B,Fredericton, NBE3A 5G9• 1-506-472-5112• www.fbgc.ca100Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

The Boys and Girls Club of Grand MananIsland Inc.,1021, Route 776,Grand Manan, NBE5G 4E5• 1-506-662-3653• e-mail: bgclub@nbnet.nb.caHavelock Boys and Girls Club Inc.,13 Cross St.,Havelock, NBE4Z 5E8• 1-506-534-8298• e-mail: havelockbg@yahoo.comMiramichi Boys and Girls Club,115 Maher St.,Miramichi, NBE1N 4B4• 1-506-778-2444• www.bgcmiramichi.com• e-mail: yvillage@nbnet.nb.caClub de Garçons et Filles Moncton /Moncton Boys and Girls Club Inc.15 Everett St.,Moncton, NBE1C 3Z6• 1-506-853-7356• e-mail: mbgc@nb.aibn.comPetitcodiac Boys and Girls Club,45 Corey Ave.,Petitcodiac, NBE4Z 4G3• 1-506-756-2841• e-mail: littletykes@nb.aibn.comRiverview Boys and Girls Club Inc.,P.O. Box 7416,Riverview, NBE1B 4T9• 1-506-387-7070• e-mail: bgcr@rogers.comThe Boys and Girls Club of Saint John Inc.,P.O. Box 2441,Saint John, NBE2L 3V9• 1-506-506-634-2011• e-mail: sjbgclub@nb.aibn.comSalisbury Boys and Girls Club Inc.,2699 Fredericton Rd.,Salisbury, NBE4J 2E1• 1-506-372-5873• e-mail: salbg@rogers.comCharlotte County Boys and Girls Club Inc.,P.O. Box 354,St. Stephen, NBE3L 2X2• 1-506-466-4300• www.nbkidsclub.ca• e-mail: ccbgc@nb.aibn.comOther services for young peopleDieppe has a French club for children: Maisonde jeunes. Staff are available to help withschoolwork:• 1-506-388-2665• www.maisondejeunes.ca/portail.htmThere is a special program for youngnewcomers at Big Brothers / Big Sisters inMoncton. It is called the Diversity in SchoolsMentoring Program. It matches each youngperson with an adult mentor who helps himor her improve his or her language skills andbecome more comfortable in his or her newcommunity. The mentor spends one hour aweek at school with the child;• 1-506-857-3047• www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/moncton/en/Home/Programs/dism.aspxOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick101

Meeting peopleAs mentioned earlier, a great way to meetnew people in the community is to join aservice club. These are made up of peoplewho volunteer to help in the community.They also enjoy social times together. Theseorganizations include the Lions Clubs, RotaryClubs, and the Kinsmen. Look in the YellowPages in the telephone book under Socialand Human Service Organizations.Each of New Brunswick’s post-secondaryinstitutions has a international communityconsisting of faculty, staff and students fromabroad.The International Students’ ResourceCentre at the University of New Brunswick,Fredericton campus, while intended for UNBstudents, may be a useful starting point.• www.unbf.ca/isaoThe campus also has many organizationsfor international students:• www.unbf.ca/isao/culturalorg.htmlThe Saint John campus of UNB also hasseveral organizations for internationalstudents that may be of interest:• www.unbsj.ca/clubsUNB’s international recruitment centre:• www.unb.ca/prospective/international/contact.htmlSaint Thomas University:• w3.stu.ca/stu/future_students/basics/international/international.aspxMount Allison University:• www.mta.ca/apply/whoareyou/internat.htmlUniversité de Moncton:• www.umoncton.ca/umcm-saee/internationalThe New Brunswick Community College:• www.nbcc.nb.ca/internationalSocial and cultural activities vary from cityto city and town to town. You may find outabout many of them through your local radiostation or newspaper. In most cities, you maysee movies, concerts and live theatre. NewBrunswickers enjoy watching sports events;eating out at restaurants; attending localfarmers’ markets; and visiting art galleries.102Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Many festivals and special events take placein New Brunswick. Examples:• early July, Shediac Lobster Festival,Shediac; Hartland Potato Festival, Hartland;• late July, early August: Foire Brayonne,Edmundston; Campbellton Salmon Festival,Campbellton, Old Home Week, Woodstock;• mid-August: Acadian Festival, Caraquet;• early August: Chocolate Fest, St. Stephen,Canada’s Irish Festival on the Miramichi;• mid-September: Harvest Jazz and BluesFestival, Fredericton;• First Nations people hold publiccelebrations called powwows.For more information, visit Tourism NewBrunswick:• toll-free, 1-800-561-0123• www.tourismnewbrunswick.caYou may obtain a free copy of the NewBrunswick Tourism Guide by writing:Department of Tourism and Parks,P.O. Box 12345,Campbellton, NBE3N 3T6LibrariesPublic libraries are wonderful places to visit.At a library, you may borrow from a wideselection of books, movies on VHS andDVDs, and music CDs. There are also freeactivities, such as story hours for childrenand public lectures. Library employees aretrained to help you with research. Somelibraries have computers available to thepublic. You may also find books in languagesother than French or English, and people areencouraged to donate books in languagesother than English or French.For more information on the library closest toyou, check the Yellow Pages under Libraries– Public, or visit the New Brunswick PublicLibrary Service:• reception, 1-506-453-2354; fax, 1-506-444-4064• www.gnb.ca/0003/region-e.aspOr write,New Brunswick Public Library Service,P.O. Box 6000, Place 2000,Fredericton, NBE3B 5H1Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick103

104 Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Appendix AEssential contact telephone numbersAmbulance, fire, police, anti-poison centre:• 9-1-1• or call the operator, 0Acadian Bus Line:• toll-free, 1-800-567-5151Blue Cross (private medical Insurance):• toll-free, 1-800-667-4511Centre d’Acceuil et d’integration desImmigrants et Immigrantes du MonctonMétropolitan:• 1-506-382-7494Carrefour d’Immigration Rurale Inc.• 1-506-423-3060CHIMO Helpline Inc. (24-hour crisis hotline):• toll-free, 1-800-667-5005CHIMO (Fredericton):• 1-506-450-4357Citizenship and Immigration Canada:• toll-free, 1-888-242-2100Codiac Transit (Moncton city buses):• 1-506-857-2008Department of Social Development:• 1-506-453-2001; toll-free, 1-866-444-8838;Directory assistance (to find a telephonenumber):• 4-1-1 or 1-506-555-1212 (for numberswithin New Brunswick)• 1 + (area code) + 555-1212 (for numbersin elsewhere in Canada or in the UnitedStates)Fredericton Transit (Fredericton city buses):• 1-506-460-2200New Brunswick Human Rights Commission:• 1-506-453-2301; toll-free, 1-888-471-2233Immigrant Refugee Support Centre, SaintJohn:• 1-506-633-0398Miramichi Regional MulticulturalAssociation:• 1-506-773-5272Multicultural Association of CarletonCounty:• 1-506-392-6011Multicultural Association of Fredericton:• 1-506-454-8292Saint John Multicultural and NewcomersResource Centre:• 1-506-642-4242Multicultural Association of the ChaleurRegion:• 1-506-549-5164Multicultural Association of the GreaterMoncton Area:• 1-506-858-9659New Brunswick Multicultural Council, Inc.:• 1-506-453-1091Population Growth Division, Settlementand Multiculturalism Branch:• 1-506-453-2491Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick105

Power outages (24 hours):• toll-free, 1-800-442-4424PRUDE (Pride, Race, Unity, Dignity,Education) in Saint John:• 1-506-634-3088Saint John Transit Commission (Saint JohnCity buses):• 1-506-658-4700Saint John YM-YWCA:• 1-506-634-7720Service Canada:• toll-free, 1-888-428-0888Service New Brunswick:• toll-free,1-888-762-8600Sexual Assault Crisis Centre (Fredericton):• 1-506-454-0437Sexual Health Centre (Fredericton):• 1-506-453-5200Social Insurance Numbers (Service Canada):• toll-free, 1-888-428-0888Tele-Care (24 hours):• toll-free, 1-800-244-8353106Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Appendix BService New Brunswick centresAlbert CountyMunicipal Building,3936, Route 114,Hopewell Cape, NBE4H 3J8• 1-506-734-2395Carleton CountyBristol Commercial Centre,9172 Main St.,Bristol, NBE7L 2A8• 1-506-392-5108Bicentennial Place, Room 100,200 King St.,Woodstock, NBE7M 1Z7• 1-506-325-4476Charlotte CountyCampobello Welcome Centre,44, Route 774,Welshpool, NBE5E 1A3• 1-506-752-7018; toll-free,1-888-762-8600Provincial Building,582, Route 776,Grand Manan, NBE5G 2C9• 1-506-662-7020242 Main St.,Upper L’Etang,St. George, NBE5C 3V1• 1-506-755-4004Ganong Place,73 Milltown Blvd.,St Stephen, NBE3L 1G5• 1-506-466-7378Gloucester CountyExecutive Tower, ground level,161 Main St.,Bathurst, NBE2A 1A6• 1-506-547-2077127 St-Pierre Blvd. W.,Caraquet, NBE1W 1B6• 1-506-727-7013185B 1re St.,Shippagan, NBE8S 1S8• 1-506-336-3017Place du Moulin,447 du Moulin St.,Tracadie-Sheila, NBE1X 1A4• 1-506-394-3711Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick107

Kent CountyPlace LeBourg, Suite 13,193 Irving Blvd.,Bouctouche, NBE4S 3K4• 1-506-743-7289Newstart Building,9239 Main St.,Richibucto, NBE4W 4B4• 1-506-523-7610Kings County410 William Bell Dr., Unit 1,Hampton, NBE5N 2C2• 1-506-832-6003NB Power Building90 Leonard Dr.,Sussex, NBE4E 2R3• 1-506-432-2002Madawaska CountyCarrefour Assomption,121 de l’Église St.,Edmundston, NBE3V 1J9• 1-506-735-2085Martin Building,649 Principale St.,Saint-Léonard, NBE7E 2J4• 1-506-423-3030Northumberland CountyHovey Building,340 Main St.,Doaktown, NBE9C 1E3• 1-506-365-2005Chatham Town Centre,1780 Water St., Room 207,Miramichi, NBE1N 1B6• 1-506-778-6023360 Pleasant St.,Miramichi, NBE1V 1X3• 1-506-627-4040946 Principale St.,Néguac, NBE9G 1N7• 1-506-776-3180Queens CountyTown Hall,10 Civic Ct.,Chipman, NBE4A 2H9• 1-506-339-7035Registry Office Building,68 Front St.,Gagetown, NBE5M 1A1• 1-506-488-3513Restigouche CountyCity Centre Mall,157 Water St.,Campbellton, NBE3N 3L4• 1-506-789-2300The Promenade,410 William St., Unit 4,Dalhousie, NBE8C 2X4• 1-506-684-7566196 Notre-Dame St.,Kedgwick, NBE8B 0A4• 1-506-284-3400108Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Provincial Building,249 Canada St.,Saint-Quentin, NBE8A 1K2• 1-506-235-6004St. John County15 Kings Square North,Saint John, NBE2L 1E6• 1-506-658-2500Sunbury CountyBurton Courthouse,23, Route 102,Burton, NBE2V 2Y6• 1-506-357-4083Victoria CountyGrand Falls / Grand-Sault MunicipalComplex,131 Pleasant St.,Grand Falls / Grand-Sault, NBE3Z 1G6• 1-506-473-7708Perth-Andover Courthouse,1135 West Riverside Dr.,Perth-Andover, NBE7H 5G5• 1-506-273-4718139 Main St.,Plaster Rock, NBE7G 2H2• 1-506-356-6002Assumption Place,770 Main St.,Moncton, NBE1C 1E7• 1-506-856-2204Village Hall,41 East Main St.,Port Elgin, NBE4M 2X8• 1-506-538-2101Main Plaza, Unit C2,170 Main St.,Sackville, NBE4L 4B4• 1-506-364-4076Centreville Mall,342 Main St., Unit 147,Shediac, NBE4P 2E7• 1-506-533-3330York CountyCity Centre,432 Queen St.,Fredericton, NBE3B 1B6• 1-506-453-2834110 Saunders Rd.,McAdam, NBE6J 1L2• 1-506-784-6809Westmorland County200 Champlain St., Suite 130,Dieppe, NBE1A 1P1• 1-506-869-6222Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick109

110 Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Appendix CService Canada centresService Canada Centres offer a wide range ofinformation and services.From within Canada and the United States,you may call toll free Monday to Friday. Forcallers in Canada, service is available 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., local time. From the United States,service is available 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Easterntime. Service is provided in English andFrench.• toll-free, 1-800-622-6232;• TTY (toll-free for the hearingimpaired),1-800-926-9105;• fax, 1-613-941-1827;• expect an answer within one Canadianbusiness day. Long-distance charges willapply.Mailing address:Service Canada,Ottawa, Ont.K1A 0J9CanadaATTN: Canada Enquiry CentreThe Canada Service Centres are generallyopen 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and may be closednoon - 1 p.m.Carleton CountyWoodstock Service Canada Centre,Post Office Building,680 Main St.Woodstock, NBCharlotte CountySt. Stephen Service Canada Centre,Post Office Building,93 Milltown Blvd.,St. Stephen, NBGloucester CountyBathurst Service Canada Centre,Nicolas Denys Building, first floor,120 Harbourview Blvd.,Bathurst, NBCaraquet Service Canada Centre,Place Bellevue, 20E St-Pierre Blvd. W.,Caraquet, NBShippagan Service Canada Centre,196A J.D. Gauthier Blvd., first floor,Shippagan, NBTracadie-Sheila Service Canada Centre,Le Rond Point Shopping Centre ,3409 -17 Principale St.,Tracadie-Sheila, NBOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick111

Kent CountyRichibucto Service Canada Centre,Place Cartier, 25 Cartier Blvd.,Richibucto, NBKings CountySussex Service Canada Centre,Mapleton Place,10 Gateway St.,Sussex, NBMadawaska CountyEdmundston Service Canada Centre,Federal Building,22 Emmerson St.,Edmundston, NBRestigouche CountyCampbellton Service Canada Centre,Campbellton City Centre Mall, Office 100,157 Water St.,Campbellton, NBDalhousie Service Canada Centre,Darlington Mall,110 Plaza Blvd.,Dalhousie, NBSaint-Quentin Service Canada Centre,193 Canada St.,Saint-Quentin, NBSt. John CountySaint John Service Canada Centre,1 Agar Place, first floorSaint John, NBVictoria CountyGrand Falls / Grand-Sault Service CanadaCentre,160 Reservoir St.,Grand Falls / Grand-Sault, NBWestmorland CountyMoncton Service Canada Centre,Heritage Court, Office 310,95 Foundry St.,Moncton, NBSackville Service Canada Centre,East Main Plaza,170 Main St.,Sackville, NBShediac Service Canada Centre,Centre-Ville Mall,342 Main St.,Shediac, NBYork CountyFredericton Service Canada Centre,Federal Building,633 Queen St.,Fredericton, NBService Canada provides regular communityservices (one or two days per week) toService Canada Outreach Sites. For moreinformation:• toll-free, 1-800-622-6232• TTY (toll-free, for the hearing-impaired),1-800-926-9105Carleton CountyFlorenceville Outreach Site,275 Main St.,Florenceville, NBCharlotte CountyGrand Manan Outreach Site,Grand Manan Community School,1144, Route 776,Grand Manan, NBKent CountyRogersville Outreach Site,11117 Principale St.,Rogersville, NB112Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Northumberland CountyBaie-Sainte-Anne Outreach Site,5383, Route 117,Baie-Sainte-Anne, NBDoaktown Outreach Site,Nagle Building,272 Main St.,Doaktown, NBMiramichi Service Canada Centre,Roach Building,150 Pleasant St.,Miramichi, NBNéguac Outreach Site,430 Main St.,Néguac, NBSunbury CountyMinto Outreach Site,420 Pleasant Dr.,Minto, NBVictoria CountyPerth-Andover Outreach Site,588 East Riverside Dr.,Perth-Andover, NBTobique Outreach Site, (service area:Tobique First Nation)13100, Route 105,Tobique, NBYork CountySaint Mary’s Outreach Site, (service area: St.Mary’s First Nation)Kchikhusis Complex, third floor,150 Cliffe St.,Fredericton, NBOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick113

114 Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Appendix DHealth-care institutions / servicesRegional health authorities(RHAs):RHA A275 Main St., Suite 600,Bathurst, NBE2A 1A9• 1-506-544-2133; toll-free, 1-888-472-2220;fax, 1-506-544-2145• www.rrsa-rhaa.ca• e-mail: Info@rrsa.caHorizon Health Network155 Pleasant St.,Miramichi, NBE1V 1Y3• 1-506-623-5500; fax, 1-506-623-5533• www.rhab-rrsb.ca/contact.phpRegional hospitals:Chaleur Regional Hospital,1750 Sunset Dr.,Bathurst, NBE2A 4L7• 1-506-544-3000; fax, 1-506-544-2440Campbellton Regional Hospital,P.O. Box 880,189 Lily Lake Rd.,Campbellton, NBE3N 3H3• 1-506-789-5000; fax, 1-506-789-5025Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital,P.O. Box 9000, 700 Priestman St.,Fredericton, NBE3B 5N5• 1-506-452-5400; fax, 1-506-452-5500Edmundston Regional Hospital,275 Hébert Blvd.,Edmundston, NBE3V 4E4• 1-506-739-2200; fax, 1-506-739-2231Dr. Georges L. Dumont Regional Hospital,330 University Ave.,Moncton, NBE1C 2Z3• 1-506-862-4000; fax, 1-506-862-4256The Moncton Hospital,135 MacBeath Ave.,Moncton, NBE1C 6Z8• 1-506-857-5111; fax, 1-506-857-5545Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick115

Miramichi Regional Hospital,500 Water St.,Miramichi, NBE1V 3G5• 1-506-623-3000; fax, 1-506-623-3465Saint John Regional Hospital,P.O. Box 2100, 400 University Ave.,Saint John, NBE2L 4L2• 1-506-648-6000Other hospitals:Charlotte County Hospital,4 Garden St.,St. Stephen, NBE3L 2L9• 1-506-465-4444Grand Falls General Hospital,P.O. Box 7061, 625 Evérard H.-Daigle Blvd.,Grand Falls / Grand-Sault, NBE3Z 2R9• 1-506-473-7555; fax, 1-506-473-7530Grand Manan Hospital,196, Route 776,Grand Manan, NBE5G 1A3• 1-506-662-4060Hôtel-Dieu de Saint-Joseph,10 Woodland Hill,Perth-Andover, NBE7H 5H5• 1-506-273-7100; fax, 1-506-273-7200Hôtel-Dieu de Saint-Joseph deSaint-Quentin,21 Canada St.,Saint-Quentin, NBE8A 2P6• 1-506-235-2300; fax, 1-506-235-7201Lamèque Hospital and Health Clinic,29 de l’Hôpital St.,Lamèque, NBE8T 1C5• 1-506-344-2261; fax, 1-506-344-3403Oromocto Public Hospital,103 Winnebago St.,Oromocto, NBE2V 1C6• 1-506-357-4700; fax, 1-506-357-4735Sackville Memorial Hospital,8 Main St.,Sackville, NBE4L 4A3• 1-506-364-4100; fax, 1-506-536-1983Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital,7714, Route 134Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, NBE4S 1H5• 1-506-743-7800; fax, 1-506-743-7813St. Joseph’s Hospital,130 Bayard Dr.,Saint John, NBE2L 3L6• 1-506-632-5555Tobique Valley Hospital,120 Main St.,Plaster Rock, NBE7G 2E5• 1-506-356-6600; fax, 1-506-356-6618Tracadie-Sheila Hospital,400 des Hospitalières St.,Tracadie-Sheila, NBE1X 1G5• 1-506-394-3000; fax, 1-506-394-3034Upper River Valley Hospital,11300, Route 130,Waterville, NBE7P 0A4• 1-506-375-5900; fax, 1-506-375-2847116Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Addiction services:• www.gnb.ca/0378/addiction-e.aspAddiction services are available in thefollowing centres:350 St. George St.,Bathurst, NB• 1-506-547-208653 Gallant Dr.,Campbellton, NB• 1-506-789-705562 Queen St.,Edmundston, NB• 1-506-735-2092Victoria Health Centre,65 Brunswick St.,Fredericton, NB• 1-506-452-5558Grand Falls General Hospital,625 Evérard H.-Daigle Blvd.,Grand Falls / Grand-Sault, NB• 1-506-473-7555Miramichi Regional Hospital,500 Water St.,Miramichi, NB• 1-506-623-3375125 Mapleton Rd.,Moncton, NB• 1-506-856-2333• use the same telephone number to makeappointments in satellite offices in AlbertCounty, Port Elgin, Richibucto and SackvilleRidgewood Addiction Services TreatmentCentre,416 Bay St., South Bay,Saint John, NB• 1-506-647-4300Hôtel-Dieu de Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin,Saint-Quentin, NB• 1-506-235-7173Tracadie-Sheila Hospital,400 Hospitalières St.,Tracadie-Sheila, NB• 1-506-394-3615Portage Atlantic runs a facility for youth withaddictions at Cassidy Lake near Sussex. Theservice centre is:Portage Atlantic,390 King St., Room 211,Fredericton NBE3B 1E3• 1-506-472-4847; fax, 1-506-455-5236• www.portage.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=158Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick117

Community mental-healthcentres:• www.gnb.ca/0055/mental-health-e.aspBathurst 1-506-547-2038Campbellton 1-506-789-2440Caraquet 1-506-726-2030Edmundston 1-506-735-2070Fredericton (adult service)1-506-453-2132Fredericton (child and family service)1-506-444-5337Grand Falls / Grand-Sault1-506-475-2440Kedgwick 1-506-284-3431Miramichi 1-506-778-6111Moncton 1-506-856-2444Perth-Andover (satellite clinic)1-506-273-4701Richibucto 1-506-523-7620Sackville 1-506-364-4082Saint John 1-506-658-3737St. Stephen 1-506-466-7380Sussex 1-506-432-2090Woodstock 1-506-325-4419Pierre Caissie Youth Treatment Centre,Moncton• 1-506-856-3262Provincial Child and Adolescent PsychiatricUnit, Moncton• 1-506-857-5574Each regional hospital has a psychiatricunit. In addition, there are two specializedpsychiatric hospitals:Centracare,414 Bay St.,Saint John, NBE2M 7L4• 1-506-649-2550Restigouche Hospital Centre,63 Gallant Dr.,Campbellton, NBE3N 2G2• 1-506-789-7000; fax, 1-506-789-7065Extra-Mural Program:• www.gnb.ca/0383/ServiceLocations/Extra-Mural-e.aspBathurst 1-506-547-3030Dalhousie / Campbellton1-506-684-7060Caraquet / Shippagan1-506-726-2800Edmundston 1-506-739-2160Fredericton 1-506-452-5800Grand Falls / Grand-Sault1-506-473-7476Kedgwick 1-506-284-3444Miramichi 1-506-623-6350Moncton 1-506-857-8047Néguac 1-506-776-8345Perth-Andover 1-506-273-7222Richibucto 1-506-743-2000Sackville 1-506-364-4400Saint John 1-506-649-2626Shediac 1-506-533-2800St. Stephen 1-506-466-7020Sussex 1-506-432-4004118Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Tracadie 1-506-394-4100Woodstock 1-506-325-9898Rehabilitation services:• www.gnb.ca/0051/0383/index-e.aspStan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation,800 Priestman St.,Fredericton, NBE3B 5N5• 1-506-452-5225; fax, 1-506-452-5190Research:Atlantic Cancer Research Institute,Hôtel-Dieu Pavilion,35 Providence St.,Moncton, NBE1C 8X3• 1-506.862.7512; fax, 1-506.862.7571• www.atlanticcancer.ca/contact.php• e-mail: info@canceratl.caVeterans’ units (as listed by Veterans AffairsCanada):Veterans’ Health Unit,P.O. Box 9000, 680 Priestman St.,Fredericton, NBE3B 5N5• 1-506-452-5034; fax, 1-506-452-5189Ridgewood Veterans’ Wing,P.O. Box 2100, 422 Bay St.,South Bay,Saint John, NBE2L 4L2• 1-506-635-2420Robert L. Knowles Veterans’ Unit,Villa Chaleur Inc.,795 Champlain St.,Bathurst, NBE2A 4M8• 1-506-549-5588Veterans’ Unit,Campbellton Regional Hospital,189 Lily Lake Rd.,Campbellton, NBE3N 3H3• 1-506-789-5000Veterans’ Health Centre,65 War Veterans Ave.,Moncton, NBE1C 0E7• 1-506-862-4180Community health clinics:Albert County:Albert County Health and Wellness Centre,8 Forestdale Rd.,Riverside-Albert, NBE4H 3Y7• 1-506-882-3100Charlotte County:Fundy Health Centre,34 Hospital St.,Blacks Harbour, NBE5H 1K2• 1-506-456-4200Campobello Health Centre,640, Route 774Welshpool, NBE5E 1A5• 1-506-752-4100Deer Island Health Centre,999, Route 772,Fairhaven, Deer Island, NBE5V 1P2• 1-506-747-4150Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick119

Gloucester County:Enfant-Jésus RHSJ Health Centre,1 St-Pierre Blvd W.,Caraquet, NBE1W 1B7• 1-506-726-2100Miscou Health Centre,10482, Route 113,Miscou, NBE8T 1Y8• 1-506-344-3434Paquetville Health Centre,1096 du Parc St.,Paquetville, NBE8R 1J4• 1-506-764-2424Chaleur Health Centre,382 Principale St.,Pointe-Verte, NBE8J 2X6• 1-506-542-2434Kent County:Rexton Health Services Centre,82 Main St.,Rexton, NBE4W 5N4• 1-506-523-7940Kings County:Sussex Health Centre,75 Leonard Dr.,Sussex, NBE4E 2P7• 1-506-432-3100Madawaska County:Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska Health Centre,1 Clinique St.,Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, NB,E7E 1B9• 1-506-445-6200Northumberland County:Baie-Sainte-Anne Health Clinic,13 de l’Église St.,Baie-Sainte-Anne, NBE9A 1A9• 1-506-228-2004Blackville Health Clinic,2 Schafer Ln.,Blackville, NBE9B 1P4• 1-506-843-2910Upper Miramichi Health Centre,6154, Route 8, Unit 2,Boiestown, NBE6A 1M4• 1-506-369-2700Central Miramichi Community HealthCentre,11 Prospect St.,Doaktown, NBE9C 1C8• 1-506-365-6100Miramichi Medical Day Clinic,679 King George Highway,Miramichi, NBElV lN9• 1-506-627-7511Néguac Health Clinic,38 Otho St.,Néguac, NBE9G 4H3• 1-506-776-3876Rogersville Health Clinic,9 des Ormes St.,Rogersville, NBE4Y lS6• 1-506-775-2030120Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Queens County:Chipman Health Centre,9 Civic Ct.,Chipman, NBE4A 2H8• 1-506-339-7650Queens North Community Health Centre,P.O. Box 1004, 1100 Pleasant Dr.,Minto, NBE4B 3Y6• 1-506-327-7800Restigouche County:Jacquet River Health Centre,41B Mack St.,Belledune, NBE8G 2R3• 1-506-237-3222St. Joseph Community Health Centre,280 Victoria St.,Dalhousie, NBE8C 2R6• 1-506-684-7060St. John County:St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre,130 Bayard Dr.,Saint John, NBE2L 3L6• 1-506-632-5555Médisanté,67 Ragged Point Rd.,Saint John, NBE2K 5C3• 1-506-648-8020Sunbury County:Fredericton Junction Health Centre,233 Sunbury Dr.,Fredericton Junction, NBE5L 1S1• 1-506-368-6501Westmorland County:Dieppe Health Centre,667 Champlain St.,Dieppe, NB,E1A 1P6• 1-506-382-1717Katherine Wright Family Wellness Centre,234 Reade St.,Moncton, NBE1C 6S8• 1-506-855-2010Petitcodiac Health Centre,32 Railway Ave.,Petitcodiac, NBE4Z 6H4• 1-506-756-3351Port Elgin Health Centre,57 Main St., W.,Port Elgin, NBE4M 1L7• 1-506-538-2140Shediac Regional Medical Centre,419 Main St.,Shediac, NBE4P 2B8• 1-506-533-2700Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick121

York County:Gibson Health Clinic,235 Canada St.,Fredericton, NBE3A 4A1• 1-506-447-4444Harvey Health Centre,2019, Route 3,Harvey Station, NBE6K 3E9• 1-506-366-6400McAdam Health Centre,P.O. Box 31, 15 Saunders Rd.,McAdam, NBE6J 1K9• 1-506-784-6300Nackawic Community Health Centre,Nackawic Shopping Centre, Unit 201,135 Otis Dr.,Nackawic, NBE6G 1H1• 1-506-575-6600Stanley Health Centre,P.O. Box 340,Stanley, NBE6B 2K5• 1-506-367-7730122Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Appendix ECommunity walk-in and after-hours Medical clinicsCarleton CountyWoodstock Medical CentreAfter-Hours Clinic,110 Chapel St.,Woodstock, NB• 1-506-328-9250• 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.• telephone to find out the days it is openGloucester CountyClinique Medical de Jour sans Rendez-vouset après heures,1057 St. Peter Ave., (same building as theJean Coutu Pharmacy)Bathurst, NB• 1-506-548-1113• Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - noon; Monday -Thursday, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.• weekends: closed• no need to call for appointmentClinique Medicale sans rendez-vous,217 J.D. Gauthier Blvd.,Shippagan, NB• 1-506-336-2222• telephone to find out the days it is openKings CountyKennebecasis Valley After-Hours Clinic,140 Old Hampton Rd., (next to Sobeys)Rothesay, NB• 1-506-849-2273, by appointment• Monday-Friday, 6 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, 5 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.• must call for appointment• telephone lines are open one hour beforeopening to take appointments.Campbell Drive Medical Clinic,115 Campbell Dr., (located in the Superstore)Rothesay, NB• 1-506-847-5988 (by appointmentor walk-in).• Monday - Friday, 6 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.; Saturday,Sunday, 1 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.• telephone line open at 4 p.m., Monday -Friday, noon on Saturday and SundayMadawaska CountyClinique sans rendez-vous,60 Bateman Rd.,Edmundston, NB• 1-506-737-1083• Monday - Thursday, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday, 4p.m. - 7 p.m.• weekends: closed• appointments not neededDr. Tran Walk-in,100 Principal St.,Saint-Jacques, NB• 1-506-739-6992• Monday, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 5 p.m. -8 p.m.; Friday: 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick123

Northumberland CountyMiramichi East After-Hours Medical Clinic,Chatham Shopping Mall, (next to the JeanCoutu Pharmacy)Miramichi, (Chatham) NB• 1-506-778-9942• Monday - Friday, 8 p.m. - 9 p.m.; summerhours, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.• holidays: closedPleasant Street After-Hours Clinic,250 Pleasant St.,Miramichi, (Newcastle) NB• 1-506-622-6562• Monday - Friday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; summerhours, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.St. John CountySaint John After-Hours Clinic,110 Crown St.,Saint John, NB• 1-506-635-2273, by appointment• Monday - Friday, noon - 2:45 p.m. and 6 p.m.- 8:45 p.m., weekends and holidays, noon -2:45 p.m. Must telephone for appointment• telephone lines are open one hour beforetaking appointmentsWestside Medical Clinic,1490 Manawagonish Rd., (next to Meditrust)Saint John, NB• telephone: by appointment,1-506-693-2273• Monday - Friday, noon - 2:45 p.m.• weekends and holidays: closed• must call for appointment• telephone lines open one hour beforeopening to take appointmentsFamily Practice Continuous Care Clinic,168 Rothesay Ave., (located at theSuperstore)Saint John, NB• by appointment: 1-506-652-6941• Monday - Friday, evenings only• appointments start at 5 p.m.• weekends and holidays: closedWestmorland CountyDr. Louis Bourque Clinic,1116C Mountain Rd.,Moncton, NB• 1-506-855-1125, by appointment• Monday - Friday, 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, noon - 5 p.m.• must call for appointment• telephone lines are open one hour beforeopening to take appointmentsAfter-Hours Medical Clinic - Moncton North,1633 Mountain Rd., (Lounsbury Centre)Moncton, NB• 1-506-854-CARE (2273), by appointment• Tuesday to Thursday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Fridayto Monday, noon - 3 p.m., 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.• must call for appointment• telephone lines open one hour beforeopening to take appointmentsGeorge Street After-Hours Medical Clinic,404 George St.,Moncton, NB• 1-506-856-6122, by appointment• Monday - Friday, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.;weekends and holidays, noon - 3 p.m.• must call for appointment124Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Providence Clinic,355 A Elmwood Dr., (Lawton’s Drugs Building)Moncton, NB• 1-506-383-4331, by appointment• Monday - Friday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, noon - 5 p.m.• must call for appointment• telephone lines open one hour beforeopening to take appointmentsMain Street Family Medical Clinic,165 Main St., (Superstore)Moncton, NB• 1-506-854-8805• Monday - Friday, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.;6 p.m. - 9 p.m.• weekends, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.• clinic is taking appointments. Callers areasked to leave a messageMountain Road After-Hours Clinic,1789 Mountain Rd., Suite 206, (Jean-CoutuBuilding)Moncton, NB• 1-506-388-9355, by appointment• Monday - Thursday, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.• must call for appointment• telephone lines open at 5 p.m.Shoppers Drug Mart After-Hours Clinic,681 Mountain Rd., (beside the Royal Bank)Moncton, NB• 1-506-857-1006, by appointment• Monday - Thursday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.• weekends and holidays, closed• must call for appointment• telephone lines open one hour before totake appointmentsDr. Jaswinder After-Hours Clinic,681 Mountain Rd.,Moncton, NB• 1-506-857-2885• call for hours and days openChamplain After-Hours Clinic,122 Champlain St., (Jean Coutu Pharmacy)Dieppe, NB• 1-506-383-7709, by appointment• Monday - Friday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.• may telephone one hour beforeappointmentsClinique Dépannage du Marais,185 Acadie Ave., (Pharmasave building)Dieppe, NB• 1-506-385-1110, by appointment• Monday, Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.• you may call after 12:30 p.m.Riverview After-Hours Medical Clinic,500 Cloverdale Rd., (Shoppers Drug Mart)Riverview, NB• by appointment, 1-506-387-7778• Monday - Friday, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.• must call for appointment• telephone lines are open one hour beforeopening to take appointmentsCauseway Medical Clinic,438 Coverdale Rd., (Jean Coutu Pharmacy)Riverview, NB• 1-506-384-8400• Monday - Thursday, 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday- Sunday and holidays, noon - 3 p.m.• walk-ins and appointments accepted• there is also have a pap test clinic: 1-506-384-8406. Leave name and number; staffwill call back to book appointmentOrientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick125

Shediac Medical Clinic,419 Main St.,Shediac, NB• 1-506-533-2700, by appointment• Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.• call at 12:30 p.m. to make an appointmentYork CountyFredericton Medical Clinic,1015 Regent St.,Fredericton, NB• Monday - Friday, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.• walk-ins onlyBrookside Mall Clinic,475 Brookside Dr.,Fredericton, NB• Monday - Friday, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.; weekendsand holidays, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.• walk-ins onlyNew Maryland After-Hours Clinic,636 New Maryland Highway, (GuardianDrug),New Maryland, NB• 1-506-458-8927• Monday - Friday, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.• weekends: closedProspect After-Hours Clinic640 Prospect St., (Pharmasave building)Fredericton, NB• 1-506-459-5698• Monday - Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. until full;Saturday, 1 p.m. until full• Thursday to Saturday: closed126Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

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128 Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick

Orientation guide for newcomers to New Brunswick 129