Fresh from a tax-free life in Dubai, from a comfort zone where what you see on the price tag is what you pay, our first few shopping expeditions in Canada were scenes of much confusion. Like everyone else on the planet, we were, of course, aware of taxes, just not in the habit of paying them at every transaction! I was introduced to weekly specials by a neighbour in the condo building we first...

Ontario is looking to make it easier for more companies to do business with the province. This month, the province will launch consultations with business associations and trade organizations to learn what processes work well and which ones need to be improved. Ontario will invite chamber of commerce representatives from across the province, including representatives from dozens of multi-ethnic...

Like many newcomers to Canada, we came from a cash society. We paid with cash for purchases and when we wanted something that was a little beyond our means, we saved the money to be able to buy it. Buying on credit was a strict no-no. Though, like practically everyone else now, we did have credit cards, we never used them! We landed in Canada and asked the cabbie to take us to the...

Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced allocations for federal funding of settlement services in all provinces and territories outside Quebec for the 2012-13 fiscal year. “The Government of Canada wants newcomers to integrate into Canada. That is why we have tripled settlement funding since 2005-06,” said Minister Kenney. “We are committed to...

We had landed in Canada on a hot summer evening and were astounded at the changes in the landscape we witnessed with the changing seasons. Hot, sultry days gave way to cool, crisp air and the golds, reds and yellows of fall – something we had, until then, only seen in paintings! Then the bare trees signalled the advent of colder weather and sure enough, soon it was colder than I had ever...