New Comers

Website links:

http://cityofottawa.ca/

 http://ottawa.ca/

 http://www.ontario.ca/

 For Apartments:

www.ottawarentalhouses.com

 http://paramountapts.com/ourproperties/location/2/ottawa_east.aspx?listingid=3

Resources:

1. 1.          Use Computer and Internet free at Ottawa public library:

      To get a free library card, go to any Ottawa Public Library (OPL) branch with photo ID (Egyptian Passport). You can use Internet for hours just next day of your arrival.

(For the committee, There is a map showing all branches in Ottawa, we can bring copies from any library and attach it here).

1. 2.          Social Insurance Number (SIN):

 This number and the card it comes on are part of your basic Canadian identity.

Addresses of Offices where you can apply for SIN card:

Ottawa Centre Service Canada Centre
300 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A0R3

Ottawa Government Service Centre
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P1J1

Gatineau (Hull-Aylmer sector) Service Canada Centre
920 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec
J8Z1S9

Gatineau (Gatineau sector) Service Canada Centre
85 Bellehumeur Street
Gatineau, Quebec
J8T8B7

Ottawa East Service Canada Centre
2339 Ogilvie Road
Gloucester, Ontario
K1J8M6

Ottawa West Service Canada Centre
2525 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K2B7Z2

You will need to bring the following documents to apply for SIN card:

a. Egyptian Passport

b. Immigration papers (Landed Immigration Form obtained in the airport)

c. Another form of identification (Permanent Resident Card (this requires the newcomer to wait for a month to receive it by mail) However if the newcomer could take the G1 driving test then he can use his license as another piece of identification).

Added By john Nov 9,2009 : NO NEED for THE PR card to issue the SIN. They accept the confirmation of permanent residence ( CPR form ) which is a temporary PR card until the other one comes.. the new comer will have it in the airport when he comes for the first time.

P.S. it is a private paper ( i.e. PCR ) as it holds the amount of money with the landed immigrant.. so it is not a public paper and it is a proof of fund needed when issuing the first credit card in Canada

d. Proof of address (G1 or letter sent to the newcomer)

1. 3.          Accommodation: added by john on Nov9,2009

I have an experience with the building just beside the church 1396 ogilvie.

Advantage: very clean – 2 elevators – very safe – roomy apartments come with Dishwasher , a ceiling fan , stove , fridge – laundry is in the basement – Gym, Sauna and a party room are  in the basement – heat included in the rental fees – close to the church ( walking : 7 min ) Close to 2 Malls : Gloucester (500 meters) and St.Laurent mall( 1.5 Km) that’s included Zellers – Loblaws- bay

Disadvantage: Hydro bill is not included in the rent ( approximately: $30-35/month) – a little bit relatively high rent in 2008 = $989/month for 2 bedrooms app.

1. 4.          G1 driver License

To apply for the test, newcomer can study some material instead of buying the booklet (These material summarizes all questions expected in the G1 test) (for the committee, I do have only one copy of these and currently with Adel who is one of the newcomer in the church… we can attach a copy with this guide)

(Mina 18 Nov – I have a copy of the manual)

Ministry of Transportation addresses in Ottawa:

Ottawa- Canotek (5303 Canotek Rd., Unit 14 Ottawa, ON K1J 9M1)

Ottawa – Walkley (1570 Walkley Road Ottawa, ON K1V 6P5)

For fees and required documents refer to the following link;

http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/HowToApply.aspx

1. 5.          Health Card

Application forms are available from:

Ontario Ministry of Health

Fuller Building

75 Albert Street

Ottawa

Ontario K1P 5Y9

Phone: 1-(800)-268-1154

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ohip/ohip_mn.htm

Keep in mind that there is a three months waiting period until you receive the card (calculated starting from your date of becoming permanent resident in Canada)

1. 6.          Employment Resource Areas

You can access a range of FREE services, such as:

• Computers, printers, fax machines, photocopiers and phones
• Job postings and Internet for job search
• Employment and computers workshops
• Help from trained staff
• On-site child care for children ages six months to six years

The following link gives all resource centers available in Ottawa:

http://ottawa.ca/residents/efa/employment/partners_jobs/clients/employment_resource_en.html

I can add to that list another new location located in the first floor of Gloucester mall.

These centers give you unlimited access to printers, computers, internet, and phones.

1. 7.          Apply for phone (for committee members pls. suggest the cheapest offer in market now if you have idea)

Added by John Nov9 , 2009 : Comwave Co. they send a device which should be connected to the DSL Router. Initially , the client pays $ 50 then $ 10/month for unlimited local calling. $ 15/month for unlimited north America calling + caller ID.

In addition, this device can be sent overseas and will have a Canadian phone number in order to communicate with the family in back home $ 10/device/month. But they have to have a DSL connection in back home.

(Mina 18 Nov – http://www.freephoneline.ca/ – This is free software you can download on your computer and will give you phone number  + free long distance and local calls it is a very good software as a start)

1. 8.          Apply for Internet

The cheapest offer that I know about is from sentex.net as they offer unlimited download for speed 256 and with zero cost for the modem. This is for 27$/month. (Include any other offers that is you may see better)

OR Primus.com for a good bundle of phone and internet (40$/month).

(Mina 18 Nov , http://www.acanac.com/ 18.95$/month for the first year)

(Mina 18 Nov , You don’t need to have a phoneline to apply for internet , You can have a dry loop dsl , for 8$/month extra)

1. 9.     Bank Saving Accounts (left for John)

Call me at 613-424-1668

1. 10.     Take the Bus

(Mina 18 Nov: Bus ticket is 3$, you must pay the exact amount, no change will be given if you paid more than 3$, you can buy bus tickets from any store and will be cheaper than if you paid on the bus)

Use the travel planer in the following link to check which buses you can take between any addresses:

www.octranspo.com

1. 11.     Buying a used car: ( Added by john on Nov9,2009)

Please consider the following before paying money:

1-      check the car on the CARFAX.com by its VIN # to know if it is an accident free or not

2-      Useful website: autocatch.com  , usedottawa.com

3-      Take the car to a mechanic to check it

1. 12.     LINC Program

This a free English learning program offered by the government. There is two benefits of joining this program as a full-time student; learning English and they will pay you the buss monthly pass cost which saves you money in the first stage and gives you unlimited access to bus routes where you can get around the city for no cost.

To apply for this course, you should call the following phone number to register for an assessment of your level (free):

Language Assessment and Resource Centre at 613-238-5462

For more details: http://www.eslottawa.com/linc.html

1. 13.     Career Contacts:

In this section, I would like to include a career contact for different persons who can help:

Hany Geris (Electrical Engineer & Postgraduate studies) (hanygad@hotmail.com)

John Youssef (Pharmacist) ( johnpharma@yahoo.com)

Mina Adel (Postgraduate studies) elecengineer_mina@yahoo.com

Pls… Complete according to your area of work and/or education where you can help others in your field.

1. 14.     School for Kids

(For committee, pls., add your experience about the best schools to have the kids in it)

Added by John on Nov 9,2009: French Catholic school : most important doc. Certificate of baptism from a catholic church. However, they can accept an orthodox baptism certificate authorized by a catholic church. I tried it and it worked. First , go to abouna Mikhaeil and translate the Arabic certificate of baptism then take the original and the translated one to one of the catholic priests to stamp it and authorize it.

1. 15.     Childcare

(For committee, pls., add your experience about the best schools to have the kids in it)

Added by john on Nov 9,2009: for low-income , the city of Ottawa subsidizes the fees for the licensed day care. i.e as a new comer who never earned money in Canada, they consider it as a low-income family. Therefore, they pay the whole amount of fees on condition that the parents have to find a job within 3 months. Then they will evaluate the case again. Any further info. With Magy : 613-424-1668

1. 16.     Grocery stores & Clothing

(For committee, pls., add your experience about the best schools to have the kids in it)

Added by john on Nov 9,2009: Weekly flyers sent to the buildings and houses are very useful in tracking all the sales. They are available online as well.