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Starting a business in Canada?

General Information Why Canada? Canada is an easy option for starting a business overseas. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state and both English and French are the official languages used at the federal level. The UK is the major European trading partner with Canada. Canada is one of the wealthiest nations. Canada is industrailised, technologically advanced and is multicultural. The service industry, which employs three quarters of the population, dominates the Canadian economy. Canada is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and G8. What are the currency and the exchange rate? The currency of Canada is Canadian dollars (CAD). Currently £1 = CAD$1.99264 (June 2008). The Canadian dollar is one of the 8th most-traded currency in the world. What sort of opportunities are there in Canada? Canada has low inflation, low business costs and there is steady economic growth. The Per Capita GDP is high. Canada’s economy was primarily rural but has transformed into an industrial and urban economy. Canada has the best overall economic performance of all of the countries in the G8. The two most important industries are forestry and oil. The other important industries include: Mining Agriculture Fishing Food Processing Gas Manufacturing Service sectors Tourism Automotives Aeronautics What’s the climate and weather like in Canada? The Canadian climate varies depending on the location as Canada is such a vast country. Winter can be very cold in a many regions of Canada making great skiing conditions. The seasons are similar of the UK. Winter – December/January/February Spring – March/April/May Summer – June/July/August Autumn (Fall) – September/October/November Average temperatures – degrees Celsius Jan (max)Jan (min)July (max)July (min)Ottawa-6.1-15.326.515.4Winnipeg-12.7-22.825.813.1Saskatoon-11.8-22.324.911.4Regina-10.7-21.625.711.8Quebec City-7.9-17.625.013.4Edmonton-7.3-16.022.812.1Calgary-2.8-15.122.99.4Montreal-5.7-14.726.215.6Halifax-1.2-10.723.613.5St. John’s-0.9-8.620.310.5Toronto-1.1-7.326.417.9Vancouver 6.1-0.521.713.2 Where should I base myself? Canada is the second largest country in the world and borders North America. Canada has one of the lowest inhabitants per square kilometre. Due to the size of the country the climate is varied. It is very beautiful country with a variety of lifestyles ranging from cosmopolitan Toronto to the Rockies near Calgary. Ottawa (est. pop 1,190,982) – the capital of Canada and is located in the Ottawa Valle, and lies on the south bank of the Ottawa River. Toronto (est. pop 5,113,149) – the largest city and economic capital in Canada. Located on the Lake Ontario and the provisional capital of Ontario, Toronto has an international population. The seventh largest stock exchange and a large number of Canada’s corporations are based in Toronto. Montreal (pop 1,620,693) – the second largest city in Canada and located in the French speaking province of Quebec. Montreal is ranked very highly as one of the most liveable cities. Quebec City (pop 491,142) – the capital and second largest city of the province of Quebec. This city is very historical as the one of oldest cities in North America and houses many beautiful museums and Montmorency Falls. Calgary (pop 1,019,942) – the largest city in the south of the province of Alberta. Calgary is situated in the Parkland area of Alberta and is famous for hosting the Winter Olympics hence being located near the Canadian Rockies and great for skiing. Edmonton (pop 730,372) – the provincial capital of Alberta, the second largest city in Alberta and located on the North Saskatchewan River. Fort Edmonton Park is the largest historic park in Canada. West Edmonton Mall is North America’s largest shopping mall, so shopping is great. Vancouver (pop 611,869) – located in the Lower Mainland and is a major seaport. The quality of living is high but it is an expensive place to live. With nearby Whistler, Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Metropolitan Halifax (pop 282,924) – very urban and is the home to Nova Scotia’s capital district and is located on the Atlantic Coast. St. John’s (pop 100,646) – is the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and is the oldest English-founded settlement in North America. Located on the Atlantic Ocean with an historical harbour. It is the snowiest, highest number of wet days and the cloudiest major city in Canada. Winnipeg (pop 653,300) – the largest and capital city of Manitoba, which is located in the “Gateway to the West.” The city has a very cultural centre with historical architecture. There is a high crime rate. Regina (pop 202,340) - the capital and the second largest city in the province of Saskatchewan. Regina is cultural, commercial and the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic diocese. Saskatoon (pop 233,923) – located on the South Saskatchewan River and is the most populated city in the province of Saskatchewan. They have warm summers, very cold winters and a high crime rate. An industrial city including mining. Business in Canada What are the main industries in Canada? Canada is the largest producers of zinc and uranium. Off the Atlantic coast, Canada has a huge amount of natural gas and oil resources. Canada is one of the world’s largest suppliers of zinc, uranium, gold, nickel, lead and aluminium, wheat and canola (amongst many other grains). Other important industries are automobiles and aeronautics. The last decade has seen GDP growth of 2.7% per annum. There are also low inflation rates in Canada of 2.4%. As small businesses are such an important part of the Canadian economy, the Federal Government provide funding via grants and loans. Entrepreneurship is also supported and encouraged in Canada. Here are some of the organisations that administer the funding. They include: Community Futures Development Corporations HYPERLINK "http://www.communityfutures.ca" www.communityfutures.ca Industry Canada (Small Business Financing Program (CSBF) HYPERLINK "http://www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/csbfp-pfpec.nsf/en/Home" www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/csbfp-pfpec.nsf/en/Home Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency HYPERLINK "http://www.acoa.ca" www.acoa.ca The Business Development Bank Of Canada HYPERLINK "http://www.bdc.ca/en/home.htm" www.bdc.ca/en/home.htm Human Resources and Social Development HYPERLINK "http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home/shtml" www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home/shtml What does Canada export? Canada’s main exports include natural gas, electricity, aluminium, timber, motor vehicles and parts, petrol, plastics, chemicals, telecommunications equipment, etc. Its main export destinations are Japan, the United States of America and the UK. What does Canada import? Canada’s main imports are machinery and equipment, electronics, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, electricity and chemicals. Most imports come from the United States of America, China, UK and Mexico. The UK is 5th on the list of import countries. Canada and the USA have the greatest trade links as well as many other aspects of legislation, etc. Any good trade opportunities? Canada has several trade agreements with other countries. - Free trade agreement with the United States of America - Free trade agreement with Israel - Free trade agreement with Costa Rica - Free trade agreement with the European Association. - Free trade agreement with Chile - Talks in progress for free trade agreements with South Korea, Jordan, Singapore, Dominican Republic, Central America, CARICOM (Caribbean Community) and the Andean Community (Peru talks concluded). What do I have to do if I want to import goods to sell in Canada? - You must have a Business Number (BN) for your import/export account as a commercial importer. You can either register for a BN or add an import/export account to an existing business number. The BN system also incorporates other types of Canada Revenue Agency and Border Services Agency programs for businesses that are registered for: GST (goods and services tax) Payroll deductions Corporate income tax For more information on the BN you can visit the Canada Revenue agency website HYPERLINK "http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc2/README.html" www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc2/README.html or you can register on-line for your BN number at HYPERLINK "http://www.businessregistration.gc.ca" www.businessregistration.gc.ca. - For most shipments that arrive in Canada, you must show your import/export account on your customs documentation. After two years, your import/export account will expire automatically if it is not used but you can reactivate by contacting a customs office. - Accurately describe the goods you plan to import. - Indicate where the goods are coming from and where they were made. - Make sure the goods are not prohibited or whether restrictions apply to the imported goods. - Obtain the tariff classification number. - Pay the 5% GST at the time of importation. - Calculate duties and taxes. These fees vary depending on the trade agreement with Canada, etc. If there is trade agreement in place you can benefit from lower tariffs. - Identify the CBSA office for arrival and the means of transport to be used. - For Shipments that you import into Canada you must supply the following documents: Two copies of the cargo control document (CCD) Two copies of the invoice (there are two invoicing options) Two copies of the Canada Customs Coding Form If necessary, Certificate of Origin. You must submit these documents no later than five business days after the release of the goods. - Pay duties and taxes. - Following the completion of the import, you must keep the documents for six years. For all information about importing goods you can visit the Canada Border Services Agency HYPERLINK "http://www.cbsa.gc.ca" www.cbsa.gc.ca. What other things should I consider? If your product is original, then you should consider applying for patents and trademarks. Generally, UK citizens must already have the patent or trademark registered in the UK before they can apply to have them registered and protected in Canada. Once that is done you need to contact CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office) who deals with both patents, trademarks and designs. Patents – you can apply for a standard patent, which lasts 20 years. At the end of the 20 years the patent cannot be renewed and the patented invention comes public property. An application fee is charged. Trademarks – once registered, last for 15 years and are then renewable every 15 years and there is are renewal fees. Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) Place du Portace I50 Victoria Street, Room C -229GatineauQUEBEC K1A 0CP Tel: +1 866 997 1936 Fax: +1 819 953 7620 HYPERLINK "http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca" www.cipo.ic.gc.ca What is the employment situation in Canada? Unemployment was at 6.1% in May 2008. Job Bank is a service provided by the Canadian government to find a job or advertise a position in your company. It is an electronic listing of jobs. You can take a look on HYPERLINK "http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/Into_enaspx" www.jobbank.gc.ca/Into_enaspx. As an employer, you can either write your own contract for your employees or use the HRSDC sample contract. It should include: Employer details Employee details Contract duration Job Description Working hours/wages/deductions/expenses Hospital and Medical Care Insurance (what’s included) Notice of Resignation Notice of Termination of Employment Appropriate signatures What is the minimum wage / holiday entitlement? The minimum wage differs according to Province and ranges from CAD $8.00 in Newfoundland to CAD$8.75 in Ontario. There are lists of pay rates for different jobs in different provinces. Annual leave is 3 weeks. If a holiday is worked then another days holiday will be given. For all aspects of employment visit the Human Resources and Social Development Canada website HYPERLINK "http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca" www.hrsdc.gc.ca. Information on Immigration Do I need a visa to go to Canada? As a British citizen you don’t need a visa to visit Canada but if you plan to visit Canada to look for new business opportunities, to invest or network, you may qualify for as a Business visitor. There is no special visa applicant for Business visitors. Business visitors can stay for a few days to a few weeks each trip but no longer than six months. Your business profits are accrued outside Canada Your main place of business is outside Canada If you wish to immigrate to Canada you will need a visa (permanent resident card). You can apply for these visas either on-line HYPERLINK "http://www.cic.gc.ca" www.cic.gc.ca or at the Canadian High Commission in London. Canadian High Commission 1 Grosvenor Square London, W1K 4AB Tel: 020 7258 6600 HYPERLINK "http://www.canada.org.uk" www.canada.org.uk Can I immigrate – what type of visa do I need, and can I get a visa? Canada is constantly seeking experienced business people via The Business Immigration Program. There are three classes of business immigrants: Investors Entrepreneurs Self-employed people The Immigrant Investor Program To apply you must meet these requirements: Show you have two years business experience. Have a minimum net worth of CAD$800,000 Invest CAD$400,000 and this will be returned to you after about five years after the investment, without interest. Meet medical and security requirements. Obtain a minimum of 35 points in the selection process. Meet any other requirements specific to certain provinces. e.g. Quebec. The Entrepreneur Program To apply you must meet these requirements: Show you have two years business experience. Have a minimum net worth of CAD$300,000 Meet the selection criteria. Meet medical and security requirements. Meet any other requirements specific to certain provinces. e.g. Quebec. Self-Employed Person To apply you must meet these requirements: Have relevant experience. Meet the selection criteria. Meet medical and security requirements. Meet any other requirements specific to certain provinces. e.g. Quebec. Have a minimum net worth of CAD$800,000 Temporary Work Permit This type of work permit is not always necessary. Ask your employer. For more information on visas, immigration, etc you can have a look of the website for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship HYPERLINK "http://www.cic.gc.ca" www.cic.gc.ca. Information on Taxes What is the tax like in Canada? The Fiscal year is 31 March to 1 April. The personal income tax % is lower than the UK. For sole traders / individuals (2007) $0 – 9,600 – Tax free threshold $9,601 – 37,178 – 15 % $37,179 – 74,357 – 22% $74,358 – 120,887 - 26% over $120,888 – 29% How does the tax system work in Canada? You must submit a tax return if you are individual Canadian residents and non-residents who earn their income in Canada. You submit the T1 (for individuals) and T2 (for corporations) to your local Canada Revenue Agency tax centre. Approximately 70% of the Canadian government’s income comes from taxation. There is also corporation taxes. First of all you will have to decide what sort of ‘structure’ your business is: Sole trader simplest way to start a business. one person is responsible for controlling, managing and has total responsibility of the business including unlimited liability and debt. If a creditor makes a claim against a sole trader has the right to their assets both business and personal. A sole trader comes under provincial jurisdiction. If the sole trader trades under a name that isn’t their own they must register the business in their local province. This registration will expire after three years and can be renewed. If the trader trades in their name, without adding any other words, you don’t have to register the business. They cost very little to start up. Partnerships Two or more people who combine their resources and work together as business partners. A lawyer must right up a contract agreement to protect each partner. Each partner will share the profits in accordance with the contract agreement. They have relatively low cost starting up costs. There is a possible tax advantage. There are two types of partnership: General Partnership All of the partners are personally liable for debts and the business obligations. Therefore, each partner is responsible for each of the other partners and must assume the consequences of their actions. Limited Partnership Some of the partners who control and manage the business may take a great share of the profits. Other members are limited and only contribute the capital. These limited partners do not control the business but are liable for the debts to a certain level. A legal contract must be written outlining the partners, etc. In the province of Saskatchewan all partnerships must be registered. Corporations This type of company is a separate legal entity – so it’s income and tax liability is separate from the people working there A Corporation can either be incorporated at provincial or federal levels. They are identified by the following terms: Limited, Ltd, Incorporated, Inc. Corporation or Corp. The appropriate term must be written on all documentation relating to the business. They have limited liability and ownership can be transferred. There are three types of Corporations: Private Corporation Can be formed by one or more people. Canadian residents must make up the majority of the directors. You cannot sell shares or securities to the public. If none of the directors live in the province of Saskatchewan the company must choose a Power of Attorney who lives in Saskatchewan. Public Corporation This type of company issues securities to the public. You must file a prospectus with the Saskatchewan Securities Commission. You must use outside auditors. You must distribute bi-annual financial statements. Federal Corporation This type of business is incorporated federally under the Corporations Act. You must also register this business in each province you work. For more information and incorporation documents you can contact: Industry Canada Corporations Canada 365 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa ON, K1A 0C8 Tel: +1-866-333-5556 Fax: +1-613-941-0601 HYPERLINK "http://www.strategis.gc.ca/epic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/en/home" www.strategis.gc.ca/epic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/en/home Co-operatives This type of company is an organised and controlled by members Each member provides them and their partners with goods, services and other benefits. This gives democratic control, patronage dividends and open, voluntary membership. They are identified by the following terms: Co-operative, Limited and Ltd. The appropriate term must be written on all documentation relating to the business. There are three acts that relate to Co-operatives. Extensive recording keeping in required. For more information on taxes, have a look on the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) website HYPERLINK "http://www.cra.gc.ca" www.cra.gc.ca. What sort of registrations will I have to complete? You will probably need to apply for a BN (Business Number), GST (Goods and Services Tax), HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) and an Import/Export account (in that applies to your business). What’s a BN? A BN is the business registration number for Canadian registered businesses. The number has 15 characters: nine digits to identify the business, two letters and four digits to identify the accounts held by the company e.g. GST (123456789 RT 0001) number which identifies a business with the Tax Office, other Government Departments, and other businesses. Not everyone is entitled to an BN. Sole traders, partnerships, or corporations will be given a BN. A sole trader will receive one BN for all of their businesses (except any business that is registered as a partnership, trust or corporation). If you don’t have a BN, it will be issued at the same time as the GST/HST number. You can apply for your BN via: Internet - The Canadian Revenue Agency website HYPERLINK "http://www.cra.gc.ca" www.cra.gc.ca (Business Registration On-Line) Call +1-800-959-5525 Post Fax Use an accountant Visit your local Canadian Tax Office. If your business is in Quebec you can contact: Revenu Québec 3800 Marly Street Ste-Foy QC G1X 4A5 Tel: +1-514-873-4692 What is GST and HST? They are both taxes similar to VAT (value-added tax). The Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax added to the sale of all products except certain necessities’ including groceries, residential rent, medical services, most farm products and livestock, most fishery products, etc. These are classed as Zero-rated (0%). You cannot charge GST/HST but you can claim input tax credits (ITC). Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) rate is 13% and applies to the same goods and services as GST. It is the consumer who pays the GST/HST. Businesses that are registered for the GST/HST are called registrants. Of the 13%, 5% is federal and the remaining 8% is provincial. All provinces except Alberta charge sales taxes as well. In some provinces the provincial sales taxes (PST) are harmonized with GST, others don’t charge PST and the remaining provinces apply the PST to the sale price and GST. As you can see it is not standard so you will to seek advice about what to charge, if it applies to you. You must register for GST/HST when you no longer qualify for as a small supplier because your total worldwide taxable supplies of goods and services exceed the small supplier limit of CAD$30,000 in a single calendar quarter or in four consecutive calendar quarters. Registering for GST/HST can be done at the same time as applying for your BN. If you don’t have a BN, it will be issued at the same time as the GST/HST registration number. If you are a sole trader you will be asked to supply your social insurance number (SIN). You can apply on-line at the Canadian Revenue Agency website HYPERLINK "http://www.cra.gc.ca" www.cra.gc.ca, call +1-800-959-5525, mail or fax the necessary forms or use an accountant or visit your local Canadian Tax Office. When do I file my GST/HST returns? You have to file your returns according to the schedule established by your reporting period, which is issued to you by the Canadian Revenue Agency. This period is based on your annual taxable supplies of goods and services made in Canada. e.g. Annual taxable GST of CAD$1,500,000 or less Issued reporting period – annual Optional reporting period – quarterly or monthly. You can file your GST/HST returns using different options: over the Internet using GST/HST NETFILE by telephone using GST/HST TELEFILE or, GST/HST EDI (electronic data interchange) filing. Day-to-day information What about banking in Canada? Banking in Canada is one of the safest and most efficient systems on the world and has the highest number of automated banking machines per capita. The central bank is the Bank of Canada. There are six main banks in Canada and they are: Royal Bank of Canada 745 Bank Street Ottawa, ON K1S 3V3 Tel: +1-613-564 2111 HYPERLINK "http://www.rbcroyalbank.com" www.rbcroyalbank.com Bank of Nova Scotia 65 Main Street At Hawthorne Ottawa, ON Tel: +1-613-564-5355 HYPERLINK "http://www.scotiabank.com" www.scotiabank.com Bank of Montreal Blackburn Hamlet 2530 Innes Road Gloucester, ON K1B 4C5 Tel: +1-613-564-6680 HYPERLINK "http://www.4.bmo.com" www4.bmo.com CIBC (Canadian Imperial Commercial Bank) 199 Bay Street Toronto, ON M5L 1GP Tel: +1-1-800-465-2422 HYPERLINK "http://www.cibc.com/ca/small-business.html" www.cibc.com/ca/small-business.html HSBC 131 Queen Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0A1 Tel: +1-613-238-3331 HYPERLINK "http://www.hsbc.ca/1/2/en/home/home" www.hsbc.ca/1/2/en/home/home National Bank of Canada Montreal Tel: +1-514-394-5555 HYPERLINK "http://www.nbc.ca" www.nbc.ca Toronto-Dominion Bank 501 Dunda & Spadina Toronto, ON Tel: +1-416-982-2111 HYPERLINK "http://www.td.com" www.td.com There are a number of minor banks including the Canadian Western Bank and Manulife Bank of Canada. There are also many foreign Banks that operate in Canada including HSBC Canada and AMEX Bank of Canada. Setting up a bank account in Canada is not difficult, but setting one up before you go could be a good idea. Some banks will open an account online. Many UK banks offer links with Canadian banks and can help you to set up an account before you arrive in Canada. Internet and telephone banking services are widely available in Canada plus Small Business Accounts. Inflation is at 2.4 %. Interest rates for April 2008: High Interest Savings Account – 2.750% Low rate variable 5 yrs Mortgage – 4.25% (source: Royal Bank of Canada) What’s the television like? Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is the national public radio and television broadcaster. They The American media has a huge influence over television in Canada. There is a large number of channels including cable and satellite television, which is available throughout Canada. English is the major language, followed by French and then numerous other languages. Australia, United Kingdom and the US programmes are the preferred viewing by English speaking Canadians. Advertising features highly on most of the hundreds of channels available. Canadian TV is to go completely digital in 2011. And radio? CBC Radio One, Two and Three, Première Chaine and Espace Musique make up the national radio network and satellite radio – Sirius. They offer features in English, French and eight aboriginal languages. On their national service and nine on their international service. Canada also has web-based broadcasters. The newspapers? There are a large number of publications in Canada some of which are listed here. Here a few newspapers to look for: -National (English language newspapers) - The Globe and Mail, National Post, The Canadian National Newspaper. - Alberta – Calgary News - British Columbia – The Province - Manitoba – Winnipeg Sun - New Brunswick – The Daily Gleaner - Newfoundland and Labrador – The Telegram - Nova Scotia – Metro Halifax - Ontario – Ottawa Citizen - Prince Edward Island – The Journal Pioneer - Quebec – Le Journal de Quebec - Saskatchewan – The Leader-Post What is the health system like? The health system is publically funded through taxation and social health insurance, and unofficially called Medicare. The Government pays for about 70% of the health care costs, which is provided by hospitals and/or physicians. The costs differ in each province and what is covered by the public funding. Supplementary private health insurance is available and many employers provide this cover and part of the employment terms. Privately owned hospitals are available but they do not receive any public funding, each patient has to pay for their care. A “permanent resident” in Canada, which includes people who have been granted permission to live and work in Canada, are entitled to receive Medicare. The UK does not have a healthcare agreement with Canada. For more information visit the Health Canada website HYPERLINK "http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca" www.hc-sc.gc.ca. Will my English appliances work in Canada? The electricity supply is 120 volts AC. Plugs have 2 flat blade prongs, so you will need a few adaptors. How about internet and phones? The international code for Canada is 001. Canada’s telecommunications network is advanced and very competitive. Telecommunications equipment is one of Canada’s main exports. As in the UK, you can get cost-effective packaging including telephone, mobile telephone and internet services. Technology is common place and computers are used everywhere. The internet is a very commonly used tool and broadband connection is widely available. What are the hours of shops and businesses? Each province regulates the shop opening hours but generally there are few regulations. Most provinces allow 24/7 365 days of the year opening but some provinces require shops to close on major holidays. Business hours are very standard, and shopping hours are good. 24 hour shopping is available too. Businesses are generally open between 9am and 5pm weekdays. Banks are generally open between 8am and 5.00pm weekdays. Shopping malls have longer hours. They are generally open from 10am until 9pm, Monday to Friday, 9.30am until 6pm Saturday (sometimes 9pm) and 12pm until 5-6pm on Sunday. Quebec is the only province with stricter regulations on opening times, which are generally 8am until 9pm weekdays and 8am until 5pm weekends, excluding holidays. How do I get around? There are over 1,700 registered airports in Canada, of which 42 have air traffic control. The biggest 10 airports are located throughout Canada. – Toronto Pearson International Airport is the busiest airport and is easily accessible by car, bus and rail links. Vancouver International Airport is expanding to cope with the Winter Olympics 2010. Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. The Société de Transport de Montréal bus takes passengers to and from the Dorval bus terminal and train station. The shuttle bus also runs between the airport and the Dorval VIA train station. Calgary International Airport offers non-stop flights to UK. Edmonton International Airport has US Border Pre-Clearance facilities. Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport also has US Border Pre-Clearance facilities. Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport has US Border Pre-Clearance facilities. There is a bus service from Winnipeg city centre to/from the airport. Halifax Stanfield International Airport is located in Enfield, Nova Scotia. Victoria International Airport is located in North Saanick near Sidney and links with Vancouver International Airport. Kelowna International Airport is located 10 minutes from Kelowna with a single runway but is under expansion. Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa have a rapid transit system. When travelling around Canada, there are several options: Planes are a popular way and quick way to travel between the major cities especially as Canada is such a large country. Can Jet, JetsGo and WestJet and Tango are discount airlines. There are many special offers and discounts on the internet but internal flight can be more expensive than flying to the UK. Trains run between the major cities and the lower US states. There is no connection with Alaska though. The railway system is large and well-developed but is mostly used for freight transport. The largest railway in Canada is the Canadian National Railway (CN). Buses. Greyhound Canada is the only ‘national’ bus service. It services 1100 destinations, with many options as far as ticketing and stops are concerned. Ferries are required in certain places e.g. Vancouver Island to the mainland, Quebec to Labrador. Cars are probably your best bet as the network is vast and you can drive at a steady pace. Car rentals is an option for long distances so shop around. Canadians are used to very long car journeys as everywhere is so spaced out. What are the most popular sports in Canada? Sport is a very important activity in Canada. Ice Hockey is the official winter sport with Lacrosse being the official summer sport. Other popular sports include soccer, baseball, basket ball, curling and water sports. Getting there How do I get to Canada? It takes between 7-12 hours to fly to Canada depending on your destination. There are six time zones in Canada. The following airlines are some of the many airlines who fly to Canada from the UK: Air Canada Virgin Atlantic British Airways Air Transat Thomas Cook Airlines Zoom Airlines Flyglobespan KLM United Airlines Swiss Airlines American Airlines Continental North West Airlines How do I move myself and my belongings to Canada? There are several companies who specialise in moving belongings from the UK to Canada. Here are a few: Anglo Pacific Movers 1st Move International Atlantis PSS International Removals Sterling Simpsons Removals and Storage International House Removals John Mason International Ltd Freightworld Sheffield Worldwide Removals Abels International Moving Services Ltd Bishop’s Move Robinsons Pickfords Inter Cargo Aspin International Removals Doree Bonner International

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