Currency and Exchange Rate
Entering Canada
Marriage
Getting Here
Getting Around
Weather
Publications
Currency and Exchange Rate
If you're coming in from the US, your dollar will get you a lot further up North. What more reason do you need to go out shopping, take in a bit of theatre, enjoy our culinary delights, or spend a romantic weekend in some of the world's best resorts.
The currency system in Canada uses dollars and cents similar to the U.S. system. Canada now has one- and two-dollar coins, known as the "loonie" and the "toonie", in addition to 1 cent, 5 cent, and 25 cent coins. The paper money comes in different colours and designs. The most common are $5 bills (blue), $10 bills (purple), $20 bills (green), $50 bills (red), $100 bills (brown), and $1000 bills (purple). You may still see some old red $2 bills, which remain valid currency. To get cash, the easiest way is to use any of your bank cards for the Interac system with just about every automatic banking machine in Canada, conveniently located at banks and other locations throughout most cities and at airports.
Canada's federal tax, known as the GST, or "goods and services tax", is 5% and applies to most foods and services provided in Canada. As of April 1, 1997 the HST or "harmonized sales tax" is a 13% tax that replace the provincial sales tax (PST) and GST in the provinces of Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Most provinces have a PST, with the notable exception of Alberta.
And what do you do when you've spent the last of your loonies and your toonies? Major cards such as American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in Canada. Keep in mind your financial institution at home will automatically make the currency exchange before you receive your monthly statement.
And in case you were wondering, yes, tipping is practiced, and expected, in Canada. Tips or service charges are not usually added to restaurant bills in Canada. If you are satisfied with the service received (or if they're just so darn cute), a tip of 15 percent is customary. Following the introduction of the federal goods and services tax (GST), many Canadians have begun to tip on the pretax amount.
Relevant Links: Currency Exchange at xe.com
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Entering Canada
U.S. Residents
Hands down, a passport is the ideal identification for anybody entering Canada. However, if you are an American resident, you do not require a passport or visa to enter Canada, but you may need one to get back into the U.S. Soon Americans returning home via land and sea from any foreign destination will need to show a passport or other secure travel document.
On June 1, 2009, a new American law known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will require U.S. citizens 16 years of age or over who re-enter the United States by land and sea to have a passport or other appropriate secure document like a NEXUS card.
Until this date arrives, U.S. citizens 19 years and older who enter the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the Western Hemisphere will need to present government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license as proof of identity, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, or a passport. Children age 18 and under will be able to enter with proof of citizenship. Verbal claims of citizenship and identity alone will not be sufficient to establish identity and citizenship for entry into the United States.
WHTI currently requires anyone, including U.S. citizens, entering or re-entering the United States by air to have a passport or a NEXUS card when used at a NEXUS kiosk at designated airports.
Travellers from other Countries
International visitors to Canada (not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents) must carry a valid passport and, if required, a visa. Citizens from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and others do not require a visa to enter Canada. Visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at www.cic.gc.ca for a complete listing of countries whose citizens require visas to enter Canada.
All other visitors should contact their Canadian consulate or embassy to learn what documents are required. Contact information for Canadian embassies around the world can be found at the Foreign Affairs Canada website at www.international.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canadian customs regulations, visit the Canada Border Services Agency website at www.cbsa.gc.ca.
Bringing Children
Travellers visiting Canada with children should carry the following:
identification for each child similar to those described for adults
a letter of permission from the parents of any children accompanying them for whom they do not have legal custody
If you have questions about your admissibility to enter Canada, travel requirements, or any concerns you may have about travelling to Canada, contact your nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate. You can find a list of Canadian Embassies and Consulates at the Canada website. Travellers who wish to find out about Canadian customs regulations should visit the Canada Border Services Agency.
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Marriage
Yup, same-sex marriage is legal in Canada. You can currently get married in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory. But before you pack up and head to Niagara Falls for those nuptials, you should check with the respective regional authorities just to make sure you’re not forgetting anything.
Ontario: Ministry of Consumer and Business Services or contact the local municipality in which you are getting married
Quebec: in Quebec, there’s a 20 day period before any marriage can be solemnized, so make sure you check out these two sites: Government of Quebec and Justice Quebec
BC: BC Vital Stats, and for a list of where you can get your marriage licence, check out BC Vital Stats
Yukon: Government of Yukon Health and Social Services
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Getting Here
Plane, train, or automobile. Whatever your preference, Canada is extremely accessible. Direct flights connect major cities of the world to the larger Canadian airports, with frequent connecting flights getting you anywhere you want to go within Canada. Canada’s international carrier is Air Canada domestic carriers include Air Canada, WestJet, JetsGo, and CanJet are the main ones.
Check out the Travel Tips section to see what’s required to enter Canada.
For travel distances and time zones, check out this interactive map from the Canadian Tourism Commission.
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Getting Around
Getting around Canada is as easy as hearing ‘eh before you even get out of the airport. Cities and towns across Canada are linked by Air Canada and its affiliates, as well as by other carriers such as Jetsgo and Westjet. Low fares are available, you just have to fly no frills, darling.
If you want to travel and see Canada the way it was meant to been see, then hop a train. The Canadian, operated by VIA Rail, is one of the most memorable ways to see the country. It runs between Toronto and Vancouver in three days. Other VIA Rail services link communities across the country. You can also opt for a two-day, all-daylight trip aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, travelling between Vancouver and Jasper, Banff or Calgary.
Perhaps not so glamorous, but economical and comfortable, you can travel across Canada by bus thanks to a network of intercity bus routes that spans the entire country.
Want a bit more freedom to veer off the beaten path. Whether you rent or drive your own vehicle, Canada's vast network of well-maintained roads and highways will take you anywhere you want to go a car trip is an ideal way to experience the country's landscape, people and culture on your own terms and at your own speed. If you’re visiting from the US, your American driver's license is valid in Canada. If you are visiting from outside the United States, you must apply for an International Driving Permit from the Automobile Association in your country of origin. This will allow you to drive in Canada and rent a car here. And just so you get it straight, Canadians drive on the right side of the road, distances and speed limits are posted in metric (no, 100 does not mean miles per hour!), and seat belts are compulsory.
For people with disabilities, many accommodations, most attractions and transportation systems within Canada are accessible.
Still have questions? Visit www.travelcanada.ca for more information on traveling to Canada.
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Weather
What to pack, the ultimate question. Canada has four very distinct seasons, so it's good to know ahead of time what to expect so you can make sure you pack that speedo and leave the gloves and scarf at home.
For today's weather, check out Environment Canada.
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Publications
Want more information on what to see and do in Canada? Travel Gay Canada can supply you with several publications to help you out:
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If you would like to receive a copy of any of these publications, please call 1-866-300-7556.
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