Its not about paying provinces although most have an admin fee for processes like you do with ITAs anyway but you need to have a minimum amount of funds depending on how many people are coming, it must be unemcumbered and readily available, so for me whilst the proceeds from the sale of my house are well over the minimum and really my settlement funds they wont be counted, unless i sell in advance, so i have to show $22603 (4 people) cash aswell.......which is being hit by the £ in its current format. Have a look on the government homepage for the proof of funds requirement. There is lots written in this forum about it too!