flag Canada Canada: In the Country

In this page: Accommodation | Eating Out | Getting Around | Time and Time Difference | Climate | Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems | Paying | Speaking | Emergency Numbers | Communications

 

Accommodation

Hotel reservation websites
Canada Revenue Agency
Lodging Tax

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Eating Out

Rules For Eating Out
The prices displayed never include tax or service. The taxes are added to the bill and the service is left to the customer's discretion which is generally about 15%. The taxes are: GST 5% or HST 13%, provincial taxes between 7 and 7.5% and taxes on alcohol, but only in certain provinces.
 
Food Specialties
Inspired by French, British, American or Native American cooking, typical Canadian cuisine adapts to the seasons. Each region has its unique recipes, made with local products: from the tourtière (meat pie) to the pain banique (Native American bread), from maple syrup to poutine (see below). Places like le Saguenay, and Lac St-Jean in Quebec are known for their tourtières called 'cipâte or cipaille', which is made with game or beef and pork and covered in pastry. One of the traditional dishes is the pâté chinois (sheppard's pie), which is made with cooked, seasoned ground beef, with sweet corn and mashed potatoes. 'Poutine', a dish of fried potatoes, gravy and cheese curds has been the Quebec dish par excellence for the past 30 years. In the Maritime Provinces, as well as in Quebec, fish and seafood are very popular. From May to July, people enjoy lobster from the Magdalen Islands and New Brunswick. Alberta and the Great Plains Provinces are well-known for the quality of their beef, served grilled or braised. The arrival of the many immigrants who brought their culinary traditions with them and learned to adapt them to the country's tastes, which provides even greater diversity to local cuisine in Canada.
Drinks
The production of local wine is growing: several types of wines, and local specialities such as ice wine and ice cider are produced in vineyards and orchards in Quebec, in the region of Niagara and in the Okanagan Valley.
Dietary Restrictions
There are no dietary restrictions in the country.
Table Manners
The Canadians are influenced by the United States, especially in English-speaking Canada, as regards table manners. In Quebec, where European influence is more marked, it is common to wish each other "bon appétit" before starting the meal. We also clink our glasses to wish each other "Santé" (Good health) or "Tchin Tchin" (Cheers) when we have an aperitif or at the beginning of a meal when wine is served.

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Getting Around

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Urban transport services
STCUM
GO Transit
Toronto Transit Commission
Transport network of the Capital of Quebec
Find an Itinerary
Itinerary in Montreal
Itinerary in Ottawa
Itinerary in Quebec
Taxi services
FIDO TAXI
 

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Montreal - Pierre Elliott Trudeau/Dorval (YUL) 16 km / 9 miles CAD 35-45 / 25-40 min CAD 13 / 25-50 min Available Available
Toronto - Pearson Intl (YYZ) 27 km / 17 miles CAD 45-55 / 30 min CAD 16.95 / 45 min - Available
 

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services
Via Rail
 

Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Air Canada Major yes Yes
Westjet Low cost yes Yes
Air Canada Jazz Major yes Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

 
 
 

Travelling By Yourself

Car rental agencies
Budget
Alamo
Discount
National
Thrifty
Enterprise
Real-time traffic conditions
Highway conditions by province
Météomedia, traffic
 

Rules of the Road

National Roads Organizations
Transport Canada

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Time and Time Difference

Current Local Time
It is %T:%M %A In Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa
It is %T:%M %A In Edmonton, Calgary
It is %T:%M %A In Whitehorse, Vancouver
Summer Time
Summer time from March to November.
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

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Climate

 
Type of Climate
The summer period begins with spring weather in April or May, when the snow melts. The hottest period is from the end of June to the beginning of September. As for the autumn, it is the most beautiful season in Quebec, when the regions natural beauty provides a magnificent environment for walking in the mountains.
The months of April and November are considered at least interesting months for visiting Canada. In April it is not quite spring, the snow has sometimes not completely melted, and road cleaning and repairs are often not finished. In November the trees have lost all their leaves, the weather is grey, and it often rains and sometimes it is already snowing.

Hotel reservation websites
Weather Canada
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

 

Climate

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Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems

System of Measurement Used
Metric system and English system.
Unit of Measurement of Temperature
Degree Celsius (°C)
 

Use our service Measurement converter.

 
Electricity
 
  • Voltage
110 volts
  • Frequency
60 Hz
Type of Electric Socket
Type A and B
Type of Telephone Socket
US RJ-11 phone plug
DVD Zoning
Zone 1

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Paying

Domestic Currency
Canadian dollar
ISO Code
CAD
To Obtain Domestic Currency
There are exchange offices in all airports and in town centres. Credit card companies automatically take a percentage of exchange transactions. ATMs are being used more and more instead of travelers checks.
Possible Means of Payment
The following credit cards are commonly accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. Most stores will take American dollars, with a % fee or exchange rate which is higher or lower according to the value of the Canadian dollar.

Prices displayed do not include taxes, including in restaurants.

 

To Find a Cash Machine Where You Need, Use the ATM locator

 

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Speaking

Official Language
English and French
Other Languages Spoken
Spanish is the third most widely spoken language in Canada. More than 100 different languages were declared when an inventory was made of mother tongues. The list includes Chinese, German, Italian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Polish and various Asian and Middle Eastern languages. Aboriginal languages are also widely spoken in many regions.
Business Language
English is the most commonly spoken language in Canada. All government departments must be bilingual in English and French.

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Emergency Numbers

Police, fire deparment, ambulance 911
North America Directory Assistance 411
Relay services for hearing-impaired people 711

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Communications

Telephone Codes
To Make a Call From Canada, Dial 011
To Make a Call to in Canada, Dial 1
Mobile Telephone Standards
The IS41 standard of American origin (standard ANSI-41) and the GSM standard, defined in Europe by ETSI, are the most widespread.
National Mobile Phone Operators
Bell Mobilité, Rogers AT&T, Telus, Fido, Videotron.
 

Availability of Internet

Internet Suffix
.ca
.qc.com
National Internet Access Providers
Vidéotron
Bell Sympatico
Distributel
Acanac
Cogeco

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Latest Update: July 2024