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 a 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 a 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. Canada’s federal government recently said it would not appeal a court decision that strikes down the first generation limit to Canadian citizenship by descent.
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
- 15% on the first $55,867 of taxable income, and
- 20.5% on the portion of taxable income over $55,867 up to $111,733 and
- 26% on the portion of taxable income over $111,733 up to $173,205 and
- 29% on the portion of taxable income over $173,205 up to $246,752 and
- 33% of taxable income over $246,752.
Provincial Tax Rates
| Alberta
10% on the portion of taxable income that is $148,269 or less 12% on the portion of taxable income over $148,269 up to $177,922 13% on the portion of taxable income over $177,922 up to $237,230 14% on the portion of taxable income over $237,230 up to $355,845 15% on the portion of taxable income over $355,845 |
British Columbia
5.06% on the portion of taxable income that is $47,937 or less 7.7% on the portion of taxable income over $47,937 up to $95,875 10.5% on the portion of taxable income over $95,875 up to $110,076 12.29% on the portion of taxable income over $110,076 up to $133,664 14.7% on the portion of taxable income over $133,664 up to $181,232 16.8% on the portion of taxable income over $181,232 up to $252,752 20.5% on the portion of taxable income over $252,752 |
| Manitoba
10.8% on the portion of taxable income that is $47,000 or less 12.75% on the portion of taxable income that is over $47,000 up to $100,000 17.4% on the portion of taxable income over $100,000 |
New Brunswick
9.4% on the portion of taxable income that is $49,958 or less 14% on the portion of taxable income over $49,958 up to $99,916 16% on the portion of taxable income over $99,916 up to $185,064 19.5% on the portion of taxable income over $185,064 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador
8.7% on the portion of taxable income that is $43,198 or less 14.5% on the portion of taxable income over $43,198 up to $86,395 15.8% on the portion of taxable income over $86,395 up to $154,244 17.8% on the portion of taxable income over $154,244 up to $215,943 19.8% on the portion of taxable income over $215,943 up to $275,870 20.8% on the portion of taxable income over $275,870 up to $551,739 21.3% on the portion of taxable income over $551,739 up to $1,103,478 21.8% on the portion of taxable income over $1,103,478 |
Nova Scotia
8.79% on the portion of taxable income that is $29,590 or less 14.95% on the portion of taxable income over $29,590 up to $59,180 16.67% on the portion of taxable income over $59,180 up to $93,000 17.5% on the portion of taxable income over $93,000 up to $150,000 21% on the portion of taxable income over $150,000 |
| Northwest Territories
5.9% on the portion of taxable income that is $50,597 or less 8.6% on the portion of taxable income over $50,597 up to $101,198 12.2% on the portion of taxable income over $101,198 up to $164,525 14.05% on the portion of taxable income over $164,525 |
Nunavut
4% on the portion of taxable income that is $53,268 7% on the portion of taxable income over $53,268 up to $106,537 9% on the portion of taxable income over $106,537 up to $173,205 11.5% on the portion of taxable income over $173,205 |
| Ontario
5.05% on the portion of taxable income that is $51,446 or less 9.15% on the portion of taxable income over $51,446 up to $102,894 11.16% on the portion of taxable income over $102,894 up to $150,000 12.16% on the portion of taxable income over $150,000 up to $220,000 13.16% on the portion of taxable income over $220,000 |
Prince Edward Island
9.65% on the portion of taxable income that is $32,656 or less 13.63% on the portion of taxable income over $32,656 up to $64,313 16.65% on the portion of taxable income over $64,313 up to $105,000 18% on the portion of taxable income over $105,000 up to $140,000 18.75% on the portion of taxable income over $140,000 |
| Quebec
14% on the portion of taxable income that is $51,780 or less 19% on the portion of taxable income over $51,780 up to $103,545 24% on the portion of taxable income over $103,545 up to $126,000 25.75% on the portion of taxable income over $126,000 |
Saskatchewan
10.5% on the portion of taxable income that is $52,057 or less 12.5% on the portion of taxable income over $52,057 up to $148,734 14.5% on the portion of taxable income over $148,734 |
