The Canadian government is set to introduce a Bill of Rights for renters in the upcoming Budget 2024. According to CIC News, the Canadian Renter’s Bill of Rights will make landlords answerable for portraying a clear picture of apartment pricing. This will help newcomers to Canada understand the rental rates and bargain for a reasonable price. The proposed Bill will impose penalties for landlords who engage in revocations and establish a standard lease agreement nationwide.
Rents in Canada have reached new highs, with an average rent of $2,193 for residential properties in February 2024, a year-over-year increase of 10.5%, according to reports. The rent in larger urban centres is much higher, with the average price for a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver at CAD 2,653 and CAD 2,495 in Toronto. The average rent for a 1 BHK apartment in Canada in March 2021 was CAD 1,685.
Newcomers to Canada often experience the impact of increasing rent prices. According to Statistics Canada’s data from December 2023, one out of every six newcomers rents their accommodation. Furthermore, a study by Statistics Canada from last February revealed that over a third of recent immigrants spent more than one-third of their pre-tax income on rent.
To ease the financial burden on renters across Canada, the federal government introduced several measures throughout 2023 to help Canadians and newcomers afford their rent. One such initiative is the Affordable Housing Fund, a CAD 14 billion program to support the construction of new rental housing and the repair and renewal of existing housing.
Moreover, the government has eliminated the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for developers as an incentive to construct more apartment buildings, including student housing and senior residences. Reliable Immigration Consultants Dubai helps you with post-arrival assistance, including affordable accommodation, through their networking in Canada.
Meanwhile, Canada continues to invite newcomers to address labour gaps in the market and add to its economic development. IRCC (Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada) has issued invitations to candidates in the second Express Entry draw of the week.
The department issued 1,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canada Permanent Residence in a category-based selection draw for French language proficiency on March 25, 2024.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required by the candidates was 388. IRCC has invited 11,000 French language proficiency candidates and 3,500 in healthcare occupations, among the total 15,625 candidates invited through category draws.
Thus far, IRCC has invited 26,695 candidates to apply for permanent residence in Canada and issued 11,070 ITAs through general draws.
On March 24, IRCC invited 1,980 candidates through a general draw with a minimum CRS score of 524. The CRS score was a point lower than that of the last general draw on March 12, in which 2,850 candidates with a minimum score of 525 got ITAs.
There has been one other draw this month.
On March 13, IRCC invited 945 candidates with a 430 minimum CRS score in a category-based selection draw for candidates in transport occupations. Check out this earlier blog for information on other Canada Express Entry draws of the year so far.
