Finding a Doctor
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) pays for basic medical services for Ontario residents. A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. There may be a three-month waiting period for your OHIP coverage. If you are a newcomer to Ontario, or a former resident returning here to live after being out of the country for more than seven months, the waiting period begins on the date you establish or re-establish residence in Ontario. You are also required to be present in Ontario for 153 days of the first 183 days immediately following the date residency is established in Ontario (you cannot be absent for more than 30 days during the first 6 months of residency).If you are an eligible resident moving to Ontario from another part of Canada, the health insurance of your former province/territory will cover you for up to three months. If you are not covered by another the health insurance of another province/territory, it is important to buy private health insurance to cover you until you receive your Ontario health coverage.
For more information :
Contact a private insurance company directly or call the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. at 1 800-268-8099. In Toronto, call 416-777-2344.
For more information about OHIP and how to purchase private health insurance please click here.
All newcomers to Ontario must visit an OHIP office. The office for all of Niagara region is located at:
St. Catharines
301 St. Paul Street, Mezzanine Level L2R 7R4
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
For more information call the ministry INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only), TTY 1-800-387-5559. The INFOline operates 8:30am - 5:00pm
Your next step is to find a family doctor. This can take a long time. You can start with the Find a Family Doctor service. Niagara also hasWalk-in Clinics that can help you with treatment and information while you're waiting to get a family doctor.
Finding a Place to Live
One of your first priorities when you arrive will be finding a place to live. Many newcomers rent an apartment as their first home. Renting a Place to Live has good advice. You can check local renting listings in the local newspapers as there are several published within the 12 municipalities that make up Niagara . You can also use resources such as the various agencies that help with housingYou should understand your legal rights and obligations before entering into a rental agreement.
If buying a home is your intent, then MLS-Niagara.com - Serving the Niagara Region with online MLS listings will provide you a list of homes available to buy in Niagara through the Niagara Association of Realtors.
Meeting People
One of the most important things to do when you move to a new city, is meeting new people. Niagara is a growing diverse community with many cultural activities and recreation activities. There are many places in Niagara where you can meet people that share your Art and Culture and where you can take part in activities and Recreation that you did in your home country (this would be link to 6.5 too quick search recreation).