Health Care
Age you are eligible for OHIP
Any age
Age you can quit school
You can quit school* in the year you turn 18, either:
* You can also leave school at any age if you have graduated already with a secondary school diploma.[Education Act]
Age you can get a tattoo
Ontario does not have an official minimum age restriction. Majority of tattoo shops in Ontario will require you to be 18 or have the signature of a guardian’s consent.
Age you can apply for immigration status in Canada
No age requirement
Age you can drink alcohol
19 and over, however...
At any age, you can drink alcohol at home or in another private place if it is supplied by your parent/caregiver(s) at that location, e.g. drinking wine or beer at home with your parent/caregiver(s)s with dinner.
Age you can be charged with domestic intimate partner violence
12
Age to make your own medical decisions
Any age
Follow-up:
At what age can you see a counselor?
Age you can be charged for skipping school
12-15 year olds who regularly skip or refuse to go to school can be charged with truancy. The maximum fine is $1000 and/or up to 1 year of probation time. While on probation, students are required to attend school; and if the student skips school again, they can be sent to jail for up to 30 days. Parents who neglect to send, or refuse to let, their children go to school can be charged for their child’s truancy.
Students who are charged should speak to a lawyer.
Age you can change your legal name
16 with permission. 18 with no permission.
What does H&C stand for in H&C applications?
Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application:
This is when you can ask Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for Permanent Residence based on humanitarian and compassionate reasons. Such reasons may include: your establishment in Canada (i.e. you have been present in Canada for a long time, or you have family or many friends here), your activities in Canada, or your volunteer work. You may also include information about the hardship that you will face should you have to go back to your home country.
Age you can use cannabis
Must be 19 or older to possess cannabis
Age you can consent to sexual activity
If you are 12 – 13 years old, you can only consent to sexual activity with a person who is less than 2 years older than you.
If you are 14 – 15 years old, you can only consent to sexual activity with a person who is less than 5 years older than you.
If you are 16 – 17 years old, you can consent to sexual activity with a person who is older than you by any number of years.
Can newcomers get free healthcare in Ontario?
It depends on their immigration status.
There is OHIP and IFHP.
True or False:
If you think a suspension/expulsion is unfair, you can ask to appeal it.
TRUE
Age you can rent an apartment
16
True or False:
Young people without immigration status are not allowed to attend high school in Canada.
FALSE.
Children under 18 are entitled to go to school in Ontario regardless of their status in Canada. This includes non-Canadians and non-Permanent Residents.
However, parents will have to pay a fee if the student is visiting or has a study permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
It depends on each situation, so call JFCY & CASA for help.
Age you can be charged with a criminal offence
12 & over
Age you can get married
16 & over can get married with parents’ consent, court order or Minister’s approval
18 & over can get married WITHOUT parents’ consent
Follow-up:
Who else's consent do you need?
Is an arranged marriage legal?
Can you have multiple spouses in Canada?
Age you can get contraception from a doctor's office
Any age.
In Ontario, at any age, you are presumed to have the capacity to make decisions with respect to your healthcare treatment. However, this right can be taken away from you by the health practitioner if they find you “incapable” of making the decision.
You can withdraw your consent at any time as long as you have not been found incapable.
You are standing outside your locker when a teacher tells you they are going to search your locker. Can the teacher do this?
Yes. Your locker is school property. But whether they can search your bag is unclear (personal search - should have reasonable grounds).
Age you can move out of your parent's/guardian's home
16 years old
Is it possible to lose immigration status?
Yes, unless you were born in Canada, it is possible to lose your status.
You could lose your status if you or your sponsor and/or family member lied about any fact on your immigration application (even if you have already received your Canadian Citizenship). You could also lose your status if you are a Permanent Resident or Foreign National and you have received a criminal conviction.
A lawyer may help you negotiate in court so that you are able to safely stay in Canada.
The police call you and say they want to speak with you about something that happened a few days ago at school. Do you have to talk to the police without your parents or a lawyer?
No.
There may be pros and cons to speaking to the police - get legal advice.
Age you can share sexual/intimate images in a relationship
A sexual/intimate picture or video of someone under 18 years old is considered child pornography. It is illegal to view, keep, make, post or send these types of pictures or videos.
But there are a couple exceptions.