Canada Country & Tourist Information

Location
North America.

Area
9,017,699 sq km (3,481,753 sq miles).

Population
31.6 million (official census 2006).

Population Density
3.5 per sq km.

Capital
Ottawa.
Population: 1.2 million (2006 including Gatineau).

Government
Constitutional monarchy.

Language
Bilingual: English and French. The use of the two languages reflects the mixed colonial history – Canada has been under both British and French rule.

Religion
75% of the population belong to the Christian faith: Anglican, Roman Catholic and United Church of Canada. There are numerous other active denominations and religions.

Time
Canada spans six time zones. Information on which time zone applies where may be found in the regional entries following this general introduction. The time zones are:

Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). Most of Saskatchewan does not observe DST.
Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Atlantic Standard Time: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Newfoundland Standard Time: GMT - 3.5. (GMT - 2.5 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).

Electricity
110-120 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style (flat) two-pin plugs are standard.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Stephen Harper since 2006.

Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Michaëlle Jean since 2005.

Recent History
Long-serving Jean Chrétien stepped down as Prime Minister in late 2003, replaced by Paul Martin. It seemed as if restoring relations with the USA was a primary concern of Martin’s since the USA had barely concealed their frustrations with their neighbor for the refusal to support the 2003 war against Iraq.

However, soon after being sworn in, Martin’s liberal government became embroiled in a scandal concerning the misappropriation of millions of dollars of public money, with the Liberal Party supposedly receiving kickbacks from advertising contracts awarded in Québec in the late 1990s. Martin barely survived a confidence motion in parliament in May 2005: just one vote saved him. However, in November 2005, his government lost a confidence vote, parliament was dissolved and an election was called for January 2006.
 
After 12 years of Liberal rule, Canada swung to the right in the 2006 general election with conservative Stephen Harper succeeding Paul Martin as prime minister. Conservative leader Stephen Harper has pledged to cut taxes and tackle violent crime and corruption.

Telephone
Country code: 1. Most public telephones operate using 25-cent coins. There is a reduced rate Mon-Fri 1800-0900, Sat 1200 to Mon 0900. For long-distance calls, telephone cards are available. Credit card telephones are to be found in larger centers.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
Available throughout Canada, as are Internet cafes.

Media
Canada has a long history of public broadcasting. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) was set up in the 1930s in response to the growing influence of American radio. Broadcasting is in both French and English. The corporation also operates two national TV channels, TV and radio services for indigenous peoples in the north, plus the international broadcaster, Radio Canada International.
There is freedom of speech in media throughout Canadian media. The broadcasting regulator rules that quotas of Canadian material - usually 30 or 35% - must be carried by TV and radio stations.


Post
All mail from Canada to outside North America is by air. Stamps are available in hotels, some pharmacies and local stores, or in vending machines outside post offices and shopping centers.

Post office hours: generally Mon-Fri 0930-1700, Sat 0900-1200, but times vary according to province and location; city offices will have longer hours.

Press
• The main national daily newspaper is The Globe and Mail. The National Post also has national distribution.
• Daily newspapers published in the larger population centers have a wide local and regional circulation.
• French-language dailies are published in seven cities, including Montréal, Ottawa and Québec.
• In Alberta, the main English-language newspapers are the Calgary Herald, The Calgary Sun, The Edmonton Journal and The Edmonton Sun.
• In British Columbia, the Vancouver Sun; in Manitoba, the Winnipeg Free Press and The Winnipeg Sun.
• In New Brunswick, the Daily Gleaner and The Times and Transcript; in Newfoundland & Labrador, the Telegram and The Western Star.
• In Nova Scotia, The Chronicle-Herald and The Daily News.
• In Ontario, The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Sun, The Toronto Star and the The Toronto Sun.
• In Prince Edward Island, the Guardian and the Journal Pioneer.
• In Québec, The Gazette (daily).
• In Saskatchewan, the Daily Herald, Leader Post, Star-Phoenix and the Times-Herald.
• In Yukon, The Whitehorse Daily Star.

Radio
• CBC operates English-language Radio One and cultural network Radio Two.
• Société Radio-Canada operates French-language Première Chaîne and Espace Musique.
• CBC runs the external service Radio Canada International.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
10-13 Apr Easter. 
18 May Victoria Day.
1 Jul Canada Day. 
7 Sep Labor Day. 
12 Oct Thanksgiving Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
2-5 Apr Easter. 
24 May Victoria Day.
1 Jul Canada Day. 
6 Sep Labor Day. 
11 Oct Thanksgiving Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Canadian High Commission in the UK
Immigration division: 38 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 4AA, UK
Tel: (020) 7258 6600 or 6699 (recorded visa information).
Website: www.canada.org.uk or www.cic.gc.ca
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1100 (personal callers only).
Consular section: Canada House, 5 Pall Mall East, Trafalgar Square, London SW1Y 5BJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7258 6356.
Website: www.international.gc.ca/canadaeuropa/united_kingdom
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1330.

Visit Canada Center in the UK
PO Box 101, Chard TA20 9AR, UK
Tel: 0870 380 0070 (24-hour recorded information line only; calls charged at national rate). 
Website: www.canada.travel
Deals with consumer enquiries.

Canadian Tourism Commission in the UK
62-65 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DY, UK
Tel: 0870 161 5151 (travel trade only).
Website: www.travelcanada.ca
Canadian Tourism Commission deals with marketing and trade enquiries only.
Consumer enquiries should be directed to the Visit Canada Center.

Canadian Embassy in the USA
501 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Tel: (202) 682 1740.
Website: www.canadianembassy.org


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