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Last Updated on November 12, 2019
2019-11-12 – Canadian citizens have all the benefits and obligations of permanent residents, outlined here.
Citizenship holders also have the following benefits and obligations:
Politics
Citizens can vote in federal, provincial and municipal elections, run for office and become involved in political activities, meaning they have a say in who runs the various levels of government that exist in Canada. That could be town, city, school board, province, territory, or country.
Citizens can run as independent candidates, or by joining one of the established parties.
Dual citizenship
Canada does not make you choose between being a Canadian citizen and being a citizen of your home country. Depending on your home country, you may or may not have to make that choice.
Right to do all jobs
Some jobs require high-level security clearance, which only citizens can have. This includes some jobs at the federal level. These jobs tend to pay well and have many benefits.
Passport
Canadian citizens get a passport, which is easier to renew and must be renewed less often than a permanent resident card.
The passport allows you to travel to many countries without the need for a visa and makes it easier to get a visa where one is required. It should be noted this is for travel and does not give you the right to work.
Having a passport makes you less likely to encounter problems returning to Canada from abroad.
You can also rely on the support of Canadian consulates and embassies, provided you travel using the Canadian passport, should you get into trouble while abroad.
Your children
As a citizen, if your children are born in Canada, they automatically become Canadian citizens. They will not have to go through any application process. Some children born outside Canada are also citizens at birth, if at least one parent was born or naturalized in Canada.
Tax
Canadian tax laws work on residency rather than citizenship. You can be a citizen but not live in Canada, and therefore not have to pay Canadian taxes. If you are a citizen who does live in Canada, you are required to pay Canadian taxes on worldwide income and you must pay taxes at federal, provincial and municipal levels.
Federal Tax Rates For 2019
- 15% on the first $47,630 of taxable income, and
- 20.5% on the portion of taxable income over 47,630 up to $95,259 and
- 26% on the portion of taxable income over $95,259 up to $147,667 and
- 29% on the portion of taxable income over $147,667 up to $210,371 and
- 33% of taxable income over $210,371.
Provincial Tax Rates For 2019
| Alberta
10% on the first $131,200 |
British Columbia
5.06% on the first $40,707 of taxable income |
| Manitoba
10.8% on the first $32,670 of taxable income |
New Brunswick
9.68% on the first $42,592 of taxable income |
| Newfoundland and Labrador
8.7% on the first $37,579 of taxable income |
Nova Scotia
8.79% on the first $29,590 of taxable income |
| Northwest Territories
5.9% on the first $43,137 of taxable income |
Nunavut
4% on the first $45,414 of taxable income |
| Ontario
5.05% on the first $43,906 of taxable income |
Prince Edward Island
9.8% on the first $31,984 of taxable income |
| Quebec
0% $0-$15,269 |
Saskatchewan
11% on the first $45,225 of taxable income, |
| Yukon
6.4% on the first $47,630 of taxable income |
