Canada: In the Country

Accommodation

Hotel reservation websites: Canada Revenue Agency
Lodging Tax

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Emergency Numbers

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

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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