You live in Canada, where it's difficult enough obtaining a handgun, let alone the ammo for it.
Nor are you likely to ever get a license to carry it concealed legally.
You don't even mention having it for self defense.
Yet, so many responses in here seem to gravitate toward self-defense handguns.
You say you're new to handguns.
To my notion the above means a .22 is best for you.
Ammo is cheap. Recoil is nearly nonexistent so you won't develop a flinch. Muzzle blast can be a little sharp, especially in a range, but you should always wear hearing protection to negate that.
In Canada, you can buy .22 rimfire cartridges without a sidewards glance.
Try to buy 9mm, .38, .40 or .45 ammo and you'll be in for a bunch of onerous questions and paperwork.
A good target .22 will help you develop good shooting habits inexpensively.
Whether you choose a semi-auto or revolver is up to you.
I prefer a double-action revolver myself, especially as a first gun for newcomers.
You swing the cylinder out to the side and you can SEE whether it's loaded or unloaded. With a semi-auto, there is always a chance you'll forget there's a round in the chamber. This is especially true of new shooters.
Reliability is unquestionable, provided it's a quality gun.
You can stoke a revolver with .22 Shorts or even CB caps, for absolutely no recoil.
There is no magazine to lose or become damaged and cause feeding problems.
Some .22 magazines can be real thumb-busters to load. Loading a revolver's cylinder is easy.
If you decide on a double-action revolver, you can do no better than the Smith & Wesson 617, which is a .22 built on a .38 Special frame and constructed of stainless steel.
This model has adjustable sights, which you'll definitely want. Though it all looks like, .22 ammunition can strike to different points on the target.
I have an S&W Model 17, which is the blued version of the same gun, and it's wonderful. Very accurate, smooth action and trigger and quality workmanship throughout.
I'ts a target pistol, to be sure, but to develop good shooting skills you want a gun that is consistently accurate.
The Ruger SP101 with adjustable sights in .22 caliber is also good.
Charter Arms makes shorter-barreled .22 revolvers that, from what I hear, are good but not quite the quality of the Smith & Wesson.
Rossi makes very good guns; a variety are in .22 caliber.
As a first handgun, it's difficult to beat a .22, in revolver or semi-auto.
If you prefer semi-auto, then go with Ruger or Browning. Both are noted for excellent accuracy and workmanship.
After you've become accustomed to shooting a handgun, you can move up to a 9mm, .38, .40, 44 or .45 -- but you'll be shocked at the cost of ammunition.
Here in the States, a box of 50 regular cartridges will set you back $15 to $30, even more if you buy specialized ammo like hollowpoints.
And you'll never outgrow that .22 revolver. You'll still use it for practice, to keep your hand and eye accustomed to shooting.
I own three .38 Specials, one. 380 Auto, two 9mms, one .357 Magnum, three .45s, one .44 Magnum, one .44 Special, one .32 revolver and four .22 pistols.
And yet, my most-used guns are the .22s because they're inexpensive to shoot and excellent for practice.
