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Travel Information

Customs & Immigration:

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a new U.S. law that requires all U.S. travellers to present a valid passport or other appropriate secure document when entering or re-entering the United States.

Visitors from all other countries must possess a valid passport or a travel visa and should contact the nearest Canadian Consulate or Embassy for more information.

Banking & currency:

Traveller's cheques and credit cards are accepted at most commercial establishments, banks and currency exchange offices.

Banking hours are generally 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday; some banks are open Saturdays.

ATMs or Automated Teller Machines accept one or more of the following networks: Interac, Cirrus or Plus. They are found at banks and in most retail areas.

1 Canadian Dollar (Can$) = 100 cents.

Regular note denominations in Canada are: $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5.

Regular coin denominations in Canada are: $2 (Toonie), $1 (Loonie), 25cents (quarter), 10 cents (dime), 5 cents (nickel), 1 cent (penny).

Taxes:

Alberta:

• GST (General Sales Tax): 5%
• PST (Provincial Sales Tax): 0%. (Alberta is the only province in Canada with no PST)
• Tourism Levy (on hotel rooms): 4%
• Some cities also charge a DMF (Destination Marketing Fee): 1%-2%

British Columbia:

• HST (Harmonized Sales Tax): 13%
• Some cities also charge a Room Tax of 2%

Non-residents of Canada can claim GST rebates on short-term accommodations and most purchases to be taken out of the country. Make sure to keep your receipts if you wish to apply for a GST rebate. Simply pick up a copy of the Tax Refund Application for Visitors at any Customs office when you fly into Alberta, or at Tourism Information Centres, duty-free shops, and some hotels. For further information, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency website or within Canada call 1-800-66-VISIT; outside Canada, call (902) 432-5608.

Driving tips:

• Canada drives on the right hand side of the road, with the driver in the left hand side of the car.
• Points systems are in place in each province, so always be aware of your speed and don't consider drinking and driving. You'll get points on your licence as well as a fine.
• Be aware of the speed signs — remember they're in kilometres and not miles. (If you not see a sign assume the limit is 50km per hour unless otherwise posted.)
• Always give the right-of-way to pedestrians on pedestrian crossings.
• Seatbelt-wearing is compulsory throughout the country.
• Be alert for wildlife on the roads, especially in National Parks. They are often mesmerized by car lights and may stand frozen in the path of your car, or can bolt across the road seemingly out of nowhere.

Metric Conversion:

Canada uses the metric system. All highway and traffic indicators are in km and km/h, gas is sold by the litre, temperature is measured in degrees celsius, and the electrical current is 110 volts.

• 1 kilometre = 0.62 miles
• 100 km/h = 62 m.p.h.
• 3.8 litres = 1 gallon
• Temperature 25°C = 77°F

Tipping:

In Canada it is customary to tip for services such as restaurants, bars, taxi drivers, tour guides and hotel bellman. The average tip in Canada is 15%. However, depending on the level and the nature of the service, tipping may range from 10% to more than 20%.

Alcohol:

The legal age to consume or purchase alcohol in Canada varies from province to province. In Alberta the current legal drinking age is 18 and in British Columbia it is 19. Drinking alcohol in public is prohibited by law in all of Canada.

Smoking:

The legal age to purchase or smoke cigarettes in Canada varies from province to province. Currently the legal smoking age in Alberta is 18 and in British Columbia it is 19.

In Alberta smoking is prohibited in all public places and workplaces in the province. This includes all bars, bingo halls, casinos, restaurants and restaurant patios.

In British Columbia smoking is prohibited in all indoor public places and workplaces in the province. This includes all bars, bingo halls and casinos. In Vancouver, smoking on outdoor restaurant patios is also prohibited. Beginning September 2010, it is prohibited to smoke at Vancouver city parks and beaches.