Money:
The currency used is the Canadian Dollar (CAD), which is divided
into 100 cents. One-dollar coins are also known as loonies (due to
the picture of a loon, a type of bird, on the coin), and two-dollar
coins as toonies. Banks and bureaux de change will change money and
travellers cheques, as will some hotels, but the rate will not be
as good. Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are
plentiful. US Dollars are largely accepted, though due to fraud,
larger notes might not be and change is usually given in Canadian
dollars.
Time:
Canada covers six time zones, from GMT 8 in the west to GMT
-3.5 in the east.
Electricity:
Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz. American style
flat two-pin plugs and one with a third round grounding pin are
standard.
Language:
The official languages are English and French
(predominantly in Quebec).
Health:
No vaccinations are necessary for travel to Canada. The West
Nile virus, spread by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water, poses
a threat during summer months in rural areas, so insect-repellent
measures are advised for those visiting the countryside
particularly in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and
Quebec. Rabies is a problem and can be spread by a bite from small
animals such as racoons and bats. Medical care is excellent, but
expensive, so medical insurance is advised.
Tipping:
There is no service charge added to restaurant bills in Canada
and staff expect a tip of around 15%. Hairdressers and taxi drivers
are also usually tipped at the same rate, while bellhops, doormen,
porters and similar service providers at hotels, airports and
stations are generally paid $1 per item of luggage carried. Tour
guides and bus drivers should generally receive $3-$5 per day. It
has become more common for places with counter service to display
'tip jars', but in such cases tipping is not necessary.
Safety:
Most visits to Canada are trouble-free. The country is
politically stable, but does share the common international risk of
terrorism. There have been no recent terrorism events. The crime
rate is low, but travellers are advised to take sensible
precautions to safeguard their belongings as they would anywhere.
Canada is prone to tornadoes between May and September.
Customs:
Smoking bans have been implemented in Canada in enclosed public
places such as restaurants, bars and shopping malls.
Business:
Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal are the main business
centres. English is the language of business except in
French-speaking Quebec, where all written material and business
cards should be in French as a result. Business cards are not
traditionally exchanged during an initial meeting, but at some
appropriate time thereafter; it is best to wait for the host to
offer theirs first.A firm handshake is used by way of greeting, and meetings begin
on time so punctuality is taken seriously, as is appearance, which
should be conservative and smart; business suits are the norm.
Gifts can be given in conclusion to celebrate a deal, but should be
understated; taking someone out for a meal is a popular way to
conclude business dealings. Canadians are reserved and frown on
emotional outbursts. Business is based on facts and figures rather
than relationships, so it is best to be as prepared as possible for
meetings. Hours of business are usually 9am to 5pm Monday to
Friday.
Duty Free:
Travellers to Canada are allowed to enter the country with the
following items without incurring custom duties: gifts to the value
of C$60 per recipient (excluding advertising material, tobacco and
alcoholic beverages); 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos and
200g of tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks; 1.14 litres of liquor or
wine or 24 x 355ml bottles or cans of beer or ale. There are strict
regulations governing the import of the following: explosives,
endangered animal and plant species, items of heritage, fresh
foodstuffs and weapons. The plant Qhat (Khat) is illegal in Canada
and prison sentences are heavy.
Communications:
The international access code for Canada is +1. The outgoing
code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for
the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not necessary for calls
to the US and the Caribbean. The area code for Ottawa is (1)613,
and (1)416 for Toronto. Internet cafes are widely available. Most
international mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with
Canadian operators, however it may be cheaper to buy a
pay-as-you-go SIM card if visiting the country for long
periods.