Travel Guides to Canada

ENTERING THE COUNTRY First impressions count, so the Canada Border Services Agency makes entering the country comparatively easy. Vacationing citizens of Britain and most EU or Commonwealth countries need only a valid passport and, if travelling by air, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Visas aren't required; however, a return ticket and proof of suffi cient funds may be requested. American citizens travelling between the U.S. and Canada must produce a passport or other WHTI-compliant document, such as a NEXUS card ( www.cbp.gov/travel). If in doubt, consult Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca). There are no limitations on what personal eff ects can be brought into Canada. Gifts must be valued at $60 or less each. Duty-free limits for adults when returning to Canada after 48 hours or more are 1.5 l (53 imp. oz.) of wine, 1.14 l (40 imp. oz.) of spirits or 8.5 l (299 imp. oz.) of beer or ale. Adults may also bring up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 g (7 oz.) of tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks. The use of fi rearms is strictly controlled, and the buying or selling of illicit drugs is severely dealt with. However, there are plans to legalize the use of marijuana across the country sometime this year. When travelling, prescription medications should be kept in original containers in case customs offi cials want to see them. In the interest of public health, restrictions are also placed on the importation of animals, plants and foods ( www.inspection.gc.ca). GETTING AROUND Flights operated by Air Canada (www.air canada.ca) and carriers like WestJet (www. westjet.com) or Porter (www.fl yporter.com) link many Canadian cities. In some airports, a departure tax is levied on top of taxes included in your ticket price. The national train system, VIA Rail, off ers cross-country service, with connections to certain U.S. cities ( www.viarail.ca). Intercity bus service is also available in some areas through companies such as Greyhound (www. greyhound.ca). Civic buses provide public transit in many communities; Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montréal, moreover, have excellent subway and local rail systems. Taxi service has been a founda- tion in cities and municipalities for many years, however, upstart Uber is available in some major cities. For many travellers, though, driving is the preferred way to go. The cornerstone of the national road network is the Trans-Canada Highway, which stretches 8,030 km (4,990 mi.) from Victoria, B.C., to St. John's, Newfoundland, with ferries covering coastal waters at each end. Canadians drive on the right and follow rules similar to those in Britain and the U.S. At intersections you may turn right on a red light if the way is clear and unless posted otherwise (except on the Island of Montréal). Speed limits, stated in kilometres, vary but are usually around 100 to 110 km/h (62 to 68 mph) on highways and 50 to 60 km/h (31 to 37 mph) in urban areas. Radar detectors are illegal in most locales. Seat belts are compulsory, and children weighing less than 18 kg (40 lb.) must be in child restraint seats. Every province and territory, save for Nunavut, forbids using hand-held electronic devices when driving: it will be banned there as well once the new Traffi c Safety Act comes into eff ect at the Whether you're coming for business or pleasure, chances are you will want to hit the ground running. So it's benefi cial to have a handle on the essentials before arriving. Provincial and territorial agencies are valuable resources, and their websites are often packed with practical, region- specifi c information. More details can be found in the federal government's on-line portal (www.canada.ca). But we've compiled our own compendium of tips to help with your trip prep. Travellers' Tips BY SUSAN MACCALLUM-WHITCOMB MONTRÉAL–PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT • SHUTTERSTOCK/BENOIT DAOUST 16 16

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