Family Life: What Immigrants Need To Know About Families In Canada

The difference between being an immigrant in a new country and being a tourist or traveler is that an immigrant would have to stay there for quite a long period as compared to just visiting. Immigrants would need to adapt to the culture and the lifestyle that a country possesses. They would also need to understand how things go so as to be able to know how to fit in and adapt since they would be living there for a long time. This is why immigrants in Canada are encouraged to learn more about the country and its culture even before making their way there.

One of the most important aspects that immigrants in Canada would be encountering would be family life. Families are everywhere and it is quite important that immigrants are familiar with how things go for families in Canada. This would allow them to understand things better and even use this as a good conversation starter.

Households and families

Right about until the mid-20th century, many of the households in Canada were being run by couples who were married. However, by 2010, the data showed that the number has actually gone down significantly. This is primarily because of couples or partners who have chosen to live together without getting married first or without any plans of tying the knot.

Common-law partnerships

Another thing that immigrants in Canada need to know about is that unions that are common law are already recognized officially in the country. These unions have just about the same privileges and rights as those couples and partners that are married. It is important to understand though that the rules that cover common-law unions differ in each province.

For example, in Newfoundland, Labrador, and British Columbia, common-law couples should have to live together for at least two years before they can be given the same rights as couples who are married. In Ontario, the rule is that the common law couple should live together for three years at least. However, if they already have a child, they should live together for at least one year before being granted the same rights and privileges as married couples.

Those that make up the household

Families in Canada have also changed in the past 30 years. The common trend nowadays is that households are now becoming smaller and there is also a rise in the number of single parents in the country.

Same-sex couples

Same-sex marriage is now legal in Canada since 2005. This now gives couples of the same sex to have the right to get married like ordinary couples can. They can also be part of common-law unions like the rest of the couples of the country who have done so.

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