Yes you should. It may be alittle slower if you don't have Canadian references-but there is work out there-even if you have to do work you may not usually do to get by. For instance my friend who has been in business awhile now can't get good guys to work for him this year. He pays well and is a fair employer-he guesses the guys have enough choices even with the Ontario economy in manufacturing slowing down. He says he is scrapping the bottem of the barrel just to get the work done! He does decks/roofs, interior and exterior homebuilding and renos and is very reputable-excellent clientele. Pays a very good rate for the work too. So if you are willing to work hard until you get the work you want(or get local references) you can pick up these jobs. But by no means are you limited to them! Just off the top of my head. He is in Kitchener and has grown so much he can hardly keep up.
Immigrants may be disappointed if they don't go straight into their professions-but the people who still will work at other things-gain those good references, make connections -have all done very well. Just a longer route for some. In particular I am thinking of a Chinese manufacturing manager(1000 employees) who had to start at the bottem and work up as his Chinese qualifications were not accepted here. Long story short he is high up in management now for a HUGE automaker company and has even taken a position as liason/manager for their Asian plant. He and his wife did not speak english or knew a soul and they have 2 executive homes now and love Canada. My hubby and him started work together and he took this fellow under his wing(taught English and the "Canadian way" to the eager student). We are so proud of them!
First job in the company was cleaning paint booths midnight shift. Hubby's first real job. Do you know all the fellows who spent a year or so doing that went on in the company to do well fairly quickly. Hubby makes $110000 per year and profit sharing/benefits/7 weeks vacation. Others the same. Our Chinese friend makes more as he decided to go further up the ladder.
Yes there are many possibilites and opportunities to pay your bills here.