Month: January 2025

Free or Low-Cost Attractions in Ontario for Newcomers

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Barrie

MacLaren Art Centre – 37 Mulcaster Street, Barrie, ON L4M 3M2 – https://maclarenart.com/ – Free/By donation

Burlington

Art Gallery of Burlington – 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7S 1A9 – https://agp.on.ca/visit/hours-admission/ – Free

Durham

Durham Art Gallery – 251 George St E., Durham, Ontario, N0G 1R0 – https://www.durhamartgallery.com/ – Free/By donation

Gananoque

1000 Islands History Museum – 125 Water Street, Arthur J.E. Child Building, Gananoque, ON K7G 3E3 – https://www.1000islandshistorymuseum.com/ – Free/By donation

Guelph

Art Gallery of Guelph – 358 Gordon Street, Guelph, ON, N1G 1Y1 – https://artgalleryofguelph.ca/visit/ – Free

Haliburton

Haliburton Sculpture Forest – 297 College Drive, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0 – https://www.haliburtonsculptureforest.ca/about – Free/By donation

Hamilton

Art Gallery of Hamilton – 123 King Street West, Hamilton ON, L8P 4S8 – https://www.artgalleryofhamilton.com/ – FREE on Thursdays (tickets/registration required)

McMaster Museum of Art – Alvin A. Lee Bldg, University Ave, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L6 – https://museum.mcmaster.ca/ – Free/By donation

Jordan & Vineland

Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre – 3800 Main Street, Jordan, Ontario L0R 1S0 – https://lincolnmuseum.ca/visit – Free/By donation

Kitchener-Waterloo

Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery – 25 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 2Y5 – https://www.theclayandglass.ca/ – Free

Homer Watson House & Gallery – 1754 Old Mill Road, Kitchener, ON N2P 1H7 – https://www.homerwatson.on.ca/visit/plan-your-visit/ – Free/By donation

London

Eldon House – 481 Ridout Street North, London, Ontario, N6A 2P6 – https://eldonhouse.ca/visit-us/ – Free/By donation

Markham

Varley Art Gallery – 216 Main Street Unionville, Markham, Ontario, L3R 2H1 – https://varleyartgallery.ca/about-us/ – Free

Newmarket

Elman W. Campbell Museum – 134 Main Street South, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 3Y7 – https://www.newmarket.ca/ThingsToDo/Pages/Recreation%20and%20Culture/Elman%20W.%20Campbell%20Museum/About-Us.aspx – Free

Niagara Falls

Battle Ground Hotel Museum (open May to August) – 6137 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls, Ontario – https://nfexchange.ca/museum/visit-the-niagara-falls-museums/battle-ground-hotel-museum – Free

Botanical Gardens Niagara – 2565 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, L2E 2S7 – https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/nature-garden/botanical-gardens-2/ – Free

Norfolk County

Delhi Tobacco Museum & Heritage Centre – 200 Talbot Road, Delhi Ontario – https://norfolkheritage.ca/visit/hours-locations/ – Free/By donation

Port Dover Harbour Museum – 44 Harbour Street, Port Dover ON (on the banks of the Lynn River, behind Tim Hortons) – https://norfolkheritage.ca/visit/hours-locations/ – Free/By donation

Waterford Heritage & Agricultural Museum – 159 Nichol Street, Waterford ON – https://norfolkheritage.ca/visit/hours-locations/ – Free/By donation

Perth

Perth Museum – 11 Gore St E, Perth, ON K7H 1H4 – https://www.perth.ca/visit-us/what-to-do/perth-museum/ – Free/By donation

Peterborough

Art Gallery of Peterborough – 250 Crescent St, Peterborough, ON K9J 2G1 – https://agp.on.ca/visit/hours-admission/ – Free/By donation

Toronto

Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery & Ascent Gallery – 399 The West Mall, Etobicoke, ON M9C 2Y2 – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/cultural-centres-galleries/etobicoke-civic-centre-art-gallery/ – Free

Fort York National Historic Site – 250 Fort York Blvd., Toronto – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/fort-york-national-historic-site/ – Free

Toronto Botanical Garden – 777 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto, ON M3C 1P2 – https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/ – Free

Harbourfront Centre – 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto ON M5J 2G8 – https://harbourfrontcentre.com/explore/ – while some events are ticketed and cost money, the following are free: exhibits in the Craft & Design corridor inside the Main Building; Gallery 235

Nathan Phillips Square & City Hall – 100 Queen St. W, Toronto – both City Hall and the Square contain public art like the Spirit Garden, Peace Garden and Sculpture Court, Podium Green Roof, and well as seasonable activities like skating

Spadina Museum – 285 Spadina Road, Toronto – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/spadina-museum/ – Free

Gibson House Museum – 5172 Yonge St., Toronto – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/gibson-house-museum/ – Free

Scarborough Museum – 1007 Brimley Road, Scarborough – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/scarborough-museum/ – Free

Todmorden Mills – 67 Pottery Road, Toronto – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/todmorden-mills/ – Free

Colborne Lodge – 11 Colborne Lodge Dr., Toronto – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/colborne-lodge/ – Free

Montgomery’s Inn – 4709 Dundas Street West, Toronto – https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/montgomerys-inn/ – Free

Osgoode Hall (Audio Tours year-round, guided tours in summer) – 130 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N6 – https://lso.ca/about-lso/osgoode-hall-and-ontario-s-legal-heritage/visit-us – Free

Refugee FAQs: Do Refugee Claimants in Canada Receive Social Assistance?

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Refugee claimants are entitled to social assistance in most Canadian provinces and territories.

Refugee claimants are entitled to social assistance in most Canadian provinces and territories. They must have started their refugee claim, and generally must have an “Acknowledgement of Claim” letter or a “Refugee Protection Claimant Document”. This is required by international law,1 and is arguably required by Canadian law (which does not provide for a right to social assistance per se,2 but requires that benefits which are extended by extended in a non-discriminatory manner3).

Social assistance is low – below the poverty line – for everyone in all provinces and territories. Refugee claimants would receive the same amount as any other Canadian permanent resident or citizen (based on family size, expenses, assets, etc).

  • Alberta
    • Refugee claimants and appellants are entitled to social assistance4
    • Social assistance is about 39%-68% poverty for recipients without a disability5,6
  • British Columbia
    • Refugee claimants and appellants are entitled to social assistance7
    • Social assistance is between 46-70% of poverty for recipients8
  • Manitoba
    • Refugee claimants appear to be eligible for social assistance; however, this is not clearly or explicitly stated in law or policy
    • Social assistance is between 43-70% of poverty for recipients9
  • New Brunswick
    • Refugee claimants are entitled to social assistance10
    • Social assistance is between 34%-64% of poverty for recipients11
  • Newfoundland
    • Refugee claimants are entitled to social assistance12
    • Social assistance is between 46%-69% of poverty for recipients13
  • Northwest Territories
    • Refugee claimants are entitled to social assistance14
    • Social assistance is between 75%-81% of poverty for recipients15
  • Nova Scotia
    • Refugee claimants are entitled to social assistance16
    • Social assistance is between 32%-63% of poverty for recipients17
  • Nunavut
    • Refugee claimants appear to be eligible for social assistance; however, this is not clearly or explicitly stated in law or policy
    • Social assistance is between 27%-41% of poverty for recipients18
  • Ontario
    • Refugee claimants and appellants are entitled to social assistance19
    • Social assistance is between 36%-60% of poverty for recipients20
  • Prince Edward Island
    • Refugee claimants do not appear to be eligible for social assistance
    • Social assistance is between 69%-96% of poverty for recipients21
  • Quebec
    • Refugee claimants and appellants are entitled to social assistance22
    • Social assistance is between 60%-92% of poverty for recipients23
  • Saskatchewan
    • Refugee claimants do not appear to be eligible for social assistance24
    • Social assistance is between 48%-67% of poverty for recipients25
  • Yukon
    • Refugee claimants do not appear to be eligible for social assistance26
    • Social assistance is between 71%-99% of poverty for recipients27
  1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, U.N.G.A. Res. 217 (III), 3 U.N. GAOR, Supp. (No. 13) 71, U.N. Doc. A/810 (1948), Article 25: “Every one has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, CTS 1976/47, 993 UNTS 3, Article 9: “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to social security, including social insurance.”; Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (adopted July 28, 1951, entered into force April 22, 1954) 189 UNTS 137, Article 23: “The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the same treatment with respect to public relief and assistance as is accorded to their nationals.” ↩︎
  2. Gosselin v. Québec (Attorney General), 2002 SCC 84 (CanLII), [2002] 4 SCR 429, https://canlii.ca/t/1g2w1. ↩︎
  3. See e.g. Canadian Doctors For Refugee Care v. Canada (Attorney General), 2014 FC 651 (CanLII), [2015] 2 FCR 267, https://canlii.ca/t/g81sg. ↩︎
  4. Alberta, “Refugees and Refugee Claimants”, Income and Employment Supports Policy Manual, last updated 11 March 2020, online: https://manuals.alberta.ca/income-and-employment-supports-policy-manual/income-support-program/etw-and-bfe-policy-procedures/03-special-groups/refugees-and-refugee-claimants/. ↩︎
  5. Jennefer Laidley and Mohy-Dean Tabbara (Maytree Foundation), Welfare in Canada, 2023 (Toronto: Maytree, 2024); data tables available online: https://maytree.com/changing-systems/data-measuring/welfare-in-canada/all-canada/#access-to-data; Table 3, “Adequacy of welfare income” [Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”]. ↩︎
  6. There are several ways of calculating “poverty”. The figures quoted here are from the “Multi Basket Measure” or MBM. ↩︎
  7. British Colombia, “Refugee Claimants or Persons Applying for Protection”, in “Citizenship and Residency Requirements”, in “Application & Intake”, in BC Employment & Assistance Policy & Procedure Manual, last updated 13 December 2019, online: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/application-and-intake/citizenship-requirements. ↩︎
  8. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  9. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  10. New Brunswick, “1.9 – Immigrants”, in “Applicant and Client Types”, in Social Assistance Policy Manual, n.d., online: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/social_development/policy_manual/applicant_and_clienttypes/content/immigrants.html. ↩︎
  11. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  12. Newfoundland and Labrador, Income and Employment Support, Policy and Procedure Manual, Chapter 2: Eligibility, (ii) Determining Eligibility – Non Canadians, revised 4 December 2024, online: https://www.gov.nl.ca/cssd/policymanual/files/policymanual-pdf-is-elig-non-canadians.pdf. ↩︎
  13. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  14. Income Assistance Regulations, NWT Reg 038-2023, s. 3, online: https://canlii.ca/t/569vm. ↩︎
  15. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  16. Nova Scotia, Policy Manual, Employment Support and Income Assistance, revised 1 November 2024, section 5.3.5, online: https://novascotia.ca/coms/employment/documents/ESIA_Program_Policy_Manual.pdf. ↩︎
  17. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  18. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  19. Ontario, Ontario Works policy directives, “3.1 Residency requirements”, last updated December 2021, online: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-works-policy-directives/31-residency-requirements. ↩︎
  20. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  21. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  22. Individual and Family Assistance Regulation, CQLR c A-13.1.1, r. 1, s. 47, https://canlii.ca/t/1146#sec47. ↩︎
  23. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  24. Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS), n.d., online: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/financial-help/saskatchewan-income-support-sis#eligibility. ↩︎
  25. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎
  26. Yukon, “Who can receive social assistance?” in “Apply for social assistance”, n.d., online: https://yukon.ca/en/legal-and-social-supports/supports-adults-and-seniors/apply-social-assistance. ↩︎
  27. Maytree, 2023 “Adequacy of welfare income”. ↩︎