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|pop = 3134,612001,897000 (2009 est.)|currency = Canadian Dollar($CAD)|hitch = {{good}} to {{very good}}<rating country='ca' />|BW = CA|neighbour = ([[Greenland]]), [[Saint-Pierre and Miquelon|Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] (''incorporated''), [[United States of America]]

'''For specific information about provinces and territories, have a look at see the bottom of the page.'''

'''Canada''' is the northernmost country of [[North America]] and is composed comprised of ten provinces and three territories. English and French are the two official languages of the country. English, English being spoken by 23/3 4 of the population , is the majority language in most provinces while . French is the main official language in the province of Quebec , but also widely spoken in New Brunswick and some areas of Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba. Inuktitut is the main language in Nunavut and has official status there but English is still widely spoken. So for For the convenience of the common hitchhiker these the provinces and territories are discussed in detail , along with their capitals , in the following separate pages.

Canada is a wide country where many visitors do not really realise its scale prior to their arrival and neither realise the various extreme temperature that can suddenly happen and hit at different season. Certain nothern rural regions in each provinces are inhabited by a scarce or even absent permanent population. It might not always be bright to adventure yourself into some wild or less inhabited part of the country without the proper equipement nor having registered yourself to some local authorities prior to do such journey. As a simple reminder, the density of population is about 3,2 habitants/km² and about 75 % of that population lives in the south by the border with the USA. It is common and normal in some part of the country to drive few hundreds km without any living soul in the area. Noneless to say, even if the country bear some similitude with its southern and only neighbour, the [[United States]], the cultural and life approach of the population is quite unique. For a journey over across the country, the [[Transcanadian Trans-Canada Highway]] is the main road crossing the country coast east to coastwest. The However, the highway system numbering system is specific to every provinces and usually quite comprehensive. === Local Attitude ===The vast majority of the population lives in harmony within their vast country. The size of the country allowed people to live using their own belief, languages or religion without necessarily being bothered by anybody else, in a 'Live and let live' motto. Therefore, hate crimes are absent and major ''difference'' clash even rarer but may exist or be apparent (commented) during some particular intern political tumult situation usually. It still remains rare. It might be useful for a traveller to be aware of the current events to avoid getting into a political discussion which may offend more than anything else. Sometimes, during such potential situation and with some people, it might not always be helpful to be White in some First Nation reserves, sounding French in some parts of the country or English in others. As many people might think you are from the other part of the country when approaching them and be less keen to help. <!-- this section needs a rewrite --> The rural population should be entirely keen to help if the traveller is making the first steps into breaking the 'stranger in the locality' image, as the split between urban and rural citizen is also existent. The rural community feeling is usually pretty strong and people will believe you belong there and act more altruistic. However, some rural regions have strong influence from urban resident which has the tendency to bring a more individualistic mentalityprovince.

== Telecommunication = Local attitude ===The best and cheapest way is to contact people in Even if the area you are is to find the nearest phone booth, there are usually plenty within in a city and even the in country side, usually you will find one by every petrol station, shops or restaurant. Unlike many countries, they are usually in good condition bears some similitude with its southern (and reliable so always make sure to have a pre-paid phone-card or a few 'quarters' available. Local calls now costs two 'quarters' (50 centsonly) although for some stupid historical divisions and economical reasonsneighbour, in some areas some phone booths will belong to another company and what seems to be a local call will in fact be a 'long distance call' and will request an higher amount. It's often simplest to call using pre-paid calling cards. You can make calls from public phones without using coins when you dail the card's toll-free "1-800" number[[United States of America|United States]], the cultural and, for many life outlook of these cards, there is no extra fee for making the call from a public phone. Credit population is deducted from the card at the same rate as with calls from land-lines. Most cards will cost somewhere between 2 and 10 cents per minute for calls to anywhere in Canada. The same, or similar, rates will often apply to calls to the States and parts of Europe as wellmarkedly unique.

If The majority of the Canadian population lives in harmony within their vast country. The size of the person you are trying country has allowed people to contact is expecting live using their own beliefs, languages or religion without being bothered by anybody else, in a call from you'Live and let live' motto. Therefore, hate crimes are mostly absent and you donmajor ''t have a pre-paid phone card, you can also try to call them difference'collect'clashes even rarer, but may exist. It usually cost less might be useful for a traveler to be aware of the current political situation to avoid getting into a discussion which may offend more than the amount requested by the booth and anything else. Sometimes, during such situations, it is normal practice (does might not apply for mobile phone!) be helpful to receive and accept collect callhitchhike as a white in a First Nation reserve, or sound French in an English area, or visa versa. To do a collect call That said, simply dial '0' Canadians are generally friendly and follow the instructions of the operatorforget their stereotypes once they meet you in person.

Mobile phone are not widely spread within The rural population will usually be keen to help if the traveler is making the country and first steps into breaking the 'stranger in the networks are expensivelocality' image, unreliable, primitive as the split between country- and only cover certain urban areascity-folk is also existent. A mobile phone user The rural community feeling is usually pay to make call pretty strong and when people believe you belong there and to receive callact more altruistic. However, he will also usually some rural regions have no signal when he reaches large populations of urban commuters which has the nearest mountains or hillstendency to bring a more individualistic mentality.

Internet cafés are rare and will only be existing in main urban and touristic centre. They are usually not used by locals, so it It is possible worth noting that nobody knows if there is one in the surrounding. In rural areas, Internet might not even exists or be limited to dial-up only. In most Canadian cities and towns of significant sizeQuebec, there are public libraries which offer free internet access to the general public - regardless of where you are from. This carshare website "AmigoExpress" is generally the best bet for travelers without their own computer or access to a friend'sextremely popular. If there are several people waiting to use them though, you may have to wait Worth checking out if a while bit pressed for one to be available. You'll usually be given time and have a time block bit of anywhere from 15 minutes cash to one hourspare. Many college There are more than 50 rides a day between Quebec and university libraries also provide free internet access to the public. Ask the circulation desk staff for a ''guest account''; but you may need a driver's license or other governmentMontreal at costs of 10-issued photo ID. College and university guest accounts will let you use the Internet as much as you like, but only for the current day15 CAD.

With temperature often dropping beneath −30 Celsius, you should not stand outside more than 15 minutes, wear Canada is a vast country (the appropriate gear and make sure that you are never being stuck anywhere. The majority of second biggest in the roads will be slippery, icy or narrowed by the snowbank. So it will often be impossible for cars to stop by world) and pull over safely and they won't many visitors do it if they can't as the risk of causing an accident might be too high and the driver would have to bear entire responsibility of it towards his [[insurance]]. On another hand, every citizen should be bound by law to provide help and safety to every citizen not realize its size or extremes in needs by the hazard of temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differ, going from immediate support prior to a 'where have you left your brainarrival... being out Certain northern rural regions are inhabited by this weather'. It is true that few or even no permanent population, so it will might not always be perceived as quite stupid and irresponsible bright to have dared outside without all the effective preparation adventure by such weather, locals way prefer to enjoy the cosiness of their home by such extreme temperature. Although and for that reason, no shops, restaurants yourself into some wild or gas stations would be allowed to kick you out less inhabited part of their property. Either no car should be allowed to ignore you if the needs is there. This would usually be country without the case in rural areas while people in urban areas might simply think, someone else can do it. If you feel your life threatened by the hazard of nature, you are allowed proper equipment or having registered yourself to do anything possible some local authorities prior to get help by the surroundingsuch a journey. Which would include entering As a housesimple reminder, 'stopping' a car or denouncing to the authorities any refusal for help. This does not mean ''abuse'' and, density of population is to be use logically and tactfullyabout 3. Bear in mind that if you attempt such behaviour2 habitants/km², an investigation might be done afterwhile to verify if you didn't put yourself at risk at your own will and full knowledge about 75 % of that population lives in the consequences! Which situation you aresouth, nestled by law, not allowed to find yourself into! == Border Crossing ==Canada has only one neighbour, the [[United States]], and even if this US border . It is known as the longest unprotected border normal in the world, entering some parts of the country as to drive a backpacker, hiker or hitchhiker might be a hard, especially since 2001. The border control is quite tight, especially since the unproven allegation that some terrorists came from Canada. Questions might be asked about the relations between passengers in a carhundred kilometres without any living soul.

Because of these strong security measuresWith temperature often dropping beneath −30 Celsius, a hitchhiker probably will have to cross the border by foot and start again once the control is done. You might also discuss with your driver beforehand in the matter to get to know each other and to ensure that everything will be alright with the crossing and that s/he is fine with the hassle (or fine waiting for you if you are being interrogated). The vast majority of the drivers will be frisky at helping a stranger to cross from Canada to the States in their car. The best way to be at a border control is too remain calm, be confident, do should not lie and simply answer the questions as asked without being witty or vaguestand outside more than 15 minutes. Just remember that you do not have It's VERY important to tell that make sure you are bumming around and bring some suspicious travelling plan (yes, hiking and hitching around in a ''blown by the wind way'' is a suspicious thing! Especially for wear the the average citizen!). So just be reliable, show enthusiasm appropriate gear and that your adventure is part of a life plan holiday... not a way take precautions to escape realitynever be stuck anywhere outside without shelter.

It is custom to In winter the roads can be asked to prove that you have icy or narrowed by the means snowbank, so it will often be hard for cars to sustain your holiday (money) stop by and that your holiday is part of a plan (a return ticket)pull over safely. Also bear in mind that most Canadian and American land crossing control are separated from each other by a no manDrivers won't do it if they don's land short distance between t feel safe as the two borders in which you will only risk of causing an accident might be controlled by too high, and the welcoming countrydriver would have to bear entire responsibility of it towards their [[insurance]]. So if It's even more important in icy conditions to make sure you get denied entrance by one, you will have further enquiry find a hitching spot where there is good visibility and a safe place to enter back into the country you came frompull over.

===== While Crossing In some areas, especially in the Border =====Donnorthern territories, every citizen is bound by law to provide help and safety to every citizen in need from the hazards of temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differ, going from immediate support to a 't panicwhere have you left your brain!?!? being out by this weather! Just because a border guard treats you like a scumbag doesn't mean you are one. Armed with this attitude try and maintain your dignity Your actions may be perceived as quite stupid and self-confidence throughout irresponsible to have dared outside without being prepared for the encounter and weather, as most locals prefer to enjoy the guard will more likely respect you (even if he or she doesn't show it)cosiness of their home in winter storms. Trust meFor that reason, shops, things will go more smoothly. If you're passing the border inside a carrestaurants, donor gas stations usually won't advertise the fact that kick you are a hitchhikeroff their property in extreme weather. But if In the summer it becomes obvious's different, don't try and deny it, either. Remember, you may be asked to leave if there's is no shame in hitchingdanger from the outside elements.

=== Passports for U.S. and Canadian citizens =Personal Experiences ==From Summer 2009 on''I have hitchhiked many thousands of miles through most of the provinces. Getting rides is usually slightly easier than the [[United States]], Ubut harder in some places.SThe cost of food makes travel here very expensive. Border crossing as an American citizen is incredibly frustrating! It usually takes four to six hours of intense interrogation of myself and Canadian citizens are required violation of the privacy of other people in my life. The first time I was held and interrogated for over six hours and eventually turned away because I couldn't provide documentation proving that I had a reason to return to show the states; they wanted me to buy a passport return bus ticket to cross the borderprove I was only staying a short while, sorry, not happening! Well I got a little crafty with their requirements and subsequent attempts to enter have been easier, heh. You may have to get creative, but where there's a will, there's a way.Don't give up! This is a beautiful country!'' [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ([[User talk:Thewindandrain|talk]]) 00:45, 5 June 2013 (CEST)

AlsoHitchhikernick - I have hitched across the country twice from west to east and been up to Alaska 3 times. Generally hitching is pretty reasonable though there can be tough spots like I experienced on the north side of lake superior, if you are west coast north of Kitwanga on highway 37, Dempster highway to Inuvik (crazy Japanese guy pulling a Ucart whilst walking from whitehorse to Tuk and saw two grizzlies straight out of hibernation 10 miles beyond him next to the road) and road to Yellowknife.S Nearly got stuck south of Calgary where temps were about to drop to -40, but managed to convince a truck driver to drive me to Montana, so be well prepared for cold. citizen going Never had issues getting into Canada or being a Canadian Brit and most overland borders into USA have been easy going into though the Uborder between Seattle and Vancouver can be a little more strict at times.SAverage waiting time 3hrs. Most of my hitching has been around BC and it's pretty good there, a guard can deny you entry for a number of reasons (usually because of a criminal record or you donit't look like you s technically illegal but I have enough money for lunch at never had any issues with cops about this. Be a little careful around Thunder Bay area as few methheads and one driver I got a fast-food restaurant)lift with was windscreen punching loopy.