+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

mysticdaisy

Member
Mar 13, 2017
16
0
Obviously housing, food, clothing, but beyond that, I'm not sure? And surely even those have reasonable ranges listed somewhere of what the government expects you to cover for them, so that I can plan properly ahead of time and consider whether I can afford it. Nobody would expect to be on the hook for a new condo or $300 designer jeans, but a reasonable one bedroom apartment rent and some Levis, sure. But is this actually formalized by $ value ranges anywhere? Where are the details for this available so that I can budget?

Also, do I have to cover medical expenses? What if my sponsor and i divorce but they get hit by a falling piano in the next 6 months and have $2,000,000 in hospital bills? That doesn't seem reasonable for me to have to cover as their sponsor when they had insurance in their old life, and they would also have been covered by the state in Canada. So does Canada still cover medical basics as it would any other permanent resident even if the sponsorship relationship breaks down? If not, how can I possibly plan for that?

(edit: I suppose i could provide private health insurance, which is easier to wrap one's head around and plan for. But still, is that a requirement in the first place?)
 
Last edited:
Theres no formalized financial breakdown. Basically if something happens and you split, and your spouse applies for government assistance, you are required to pay it back. you also cover any health care that Ohip doesnt. Getting any coverage would be beneficial.
 
  • Like
Reactions: scylla
Ah okay, medical was my main concern, since that can rack up almost infinitely high. But it's basically only things like dental emergencies and whatever fringe things, the province still covers necessary core medical care, ER, surgeries, etc like for any permanent resident or citizen? That seems pretty reasonable if so.
 
I actually think it makes sense that the Canadian Government doesn't publish any formal breakdowns, for a good reason too. It forces the would be immigrants to critical think and research the true cost of living in Canada is (of course, the costs vary wildly in different cities). For me, i broke my costs down into the following:

1. Housing (must include: basic home furnishing, utilities, home insurance)
2. Transportation (if owning a car: gas, insurance, registration, maintenance.... include public transit if you don't own a vehicle)
3. Medical (check with your provincial healthcare policies)*
4. Education (if needed)
5. Clothing (this point is obvious)

* Just some extra notes of Canadian Healthcare. Both citizens and PRs are covered by their respective provincially-ran programs. Some are free while others are not (Alberta is free, BC is not). For example, I got my appendix removed about 15 years ago in Vancouver.... not a dollar. However, for returning residents from out of Canada for an extensive time, there might be a waiting period of 6 months before your healthcare kicks in again. I'd recommend buy private medical insurance for those 6 months - but please check with the province first.
 
I actually think it makes sense that the Canadian Government doesn't publish any formal breakdowns, for a good reason too. It forces the would be immigrants to critical think and research the true cost of living in Canada is (of course, the costs vary wildly in different cities). For me, i broke my costs down into the following:

1. Housing (must include: basic home furnishing, utilities, home insurance)
2. Transportation (if owning a car: gas, insurance, registration, maintenance.... include public transit if you don't own a vehicle)
3. Medical (check with your provincial healthcare policies)*
4. Education (if needed)
5. Clothing (this point is obvious)

* Just some extra notes of Canadian Healthcare. Both citizens and PRs are covered by their respective provincially-ran programs. Some are free while others are not (Alberta is free, BC is not). For example, I got my appendix removed about 15 years ago in Vancouver.... not a dollar. However, for returning residents from out of Canada for an extensive time, there might be a waiting period of 6 months before your healthcare kicks in again. I'd recommend buy private medical insurance for those 6 months - but please check with the province first.

It's a lot simpler than that which is why no formal breakdown is published or required. If you sponsor someone and they go on social assistance within the period that you are financially responsible for them - you have to pay that money back to the government. That's all of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sarahannclarke5