Newcomer’s Guide to British Columbia
This free guide is available from the BC government. You can find it on the Internet at: www.welcomebc.ca/en/se...index.html
It is written in English, Chinese etc.
Newcomers to Canada
Find out more about Canada from the Government of Canada website for newcomers: www.canadainternational.gc.ca
Electronic Law Library
A good place to start if you are looking for legal information on the Internet: www.bcpl.gov.bc.ca/ell
Employment Standards
If you have questions about the laws on working in BC, call Employment Standards Inquiries:
1-800-663-3316 (toll-free in B.C.)
or 250-612-4100 in the Prince George area
Website: www.labour.gov.bc.ca
Employment Insurance
For information about Employment Insurance, look in the Blue Pages of the telephone book under Government of Canada, Human Resources Development Canada. You can find out about Employment Insurance benefits at their website: www.servicecanada.gc.c...home.shtml
Community Legal Education Ontario has an online booklet about how to apply for employment insurance. The site has information about how to obtain print copies in English and other languages: www.cleo.on.ca/english...t/work.htm
[size=18:996758a5dd][b:996758a5dd]Paying Taxes [/b:996758a5dd][/size:996758a5dd]
You can find out more at the website of Canada Customs and Revenue Agency: www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca. The site has pages for newcomers.
[b:600f970c78][size=18:600f970c78]Free Legal Clinics[/size:600f970c78][/b:600f970c78]
There are legal clinics that provide some legal advice free of charge. Sometimes the legal clinic is called the pro bono clinic. “Pro bono” is a Latin term. It means the service is free.
To find out if there is a free legal clinic in your area, ask the Law Line (Lower Mainland: 604-408-2172, Outside the Lower Mainland: 1-866-577-2525 toll-free). You can also look for a free legal clinic by going to the following website: www.probononet.bc.ca .
Click on “Directory,” and look under “pro bono programs.”
[size=18:1b7b94695b][b:1b7b94695b]Different Kinds of Courts[/b:1b7b94695b][/size:1b7b94695b]
Information about BC courts is available from: www.courts.gov.bc.ca.
If you are going to Small Claims court, see the information on Small Claims Forms and Procedures on The Law Centre website at: www.thelawcentre.ca. This website also has information on fighting a traffic ticket
[b:b8cb5a90c1][size=18:b8cb5a90c1]BC Health Guide Online[/size:b8cb5a90c1][/b:b8cb5a90c1]
Information on more than 2,500 common health topics, tests, procedures and other resources is available to BC residents. www.bchealthguide.org
[b:b8cb5a90c1][size=18:b8cb5a90c1]BC HealthGuide Handbook[/size:b8cb5a90c1][/b:b8cb5a90c1]
A copy of the BC HealthGuide Handbook was mailed to every B.C. household in the Spring of 2001.
If you are a BC resident and you have not received your copy of the BC HealthGuide Handbook, please contact the BC HealthGuide Program by one of the ways below
write to:
Innovation and Sustainability,
Prevention and Wellness Planning,
Ministry of Health Planning,
4th floor, 1515 Blanshard Street,
Victoria BC V8W 3C8
phone the Ministry of Health Services toll-free information line at 1-800-465-4911;