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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, this has been enabled by the size of the country which 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 crime are absent and major ''difference'' clash more rare but may exist or be apparent (commented) during some particular intern political tumult situation usually, which still remains rare. It might be useful for a traveller to know the current news as matter 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. 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.

Just like it's its southern neighbour, the [[United States of America|United States]], every provinces are issuing their own specific car plates. For example, a car from Manitoba will have a specific [[wikipedia:License plates of Canada|Car licenses]] tagged as such. == Telecommunication ==The best and cheapest way is to contact people in 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 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 cents) although for some stupid historical divisions and economical reasons, 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, and, for many of these cards, there is no extra fee for making the call from a public phone. Credit 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 well.

If === Local attitude ===Even if the person you are trying to contact is expecting a call from you, country bears some similitude with its southern (and you don't have a pre-paid phone cardonly) neighbour, you can also try to call them 'collect'. It usually cost less than the amount requested by [[United States of America|United States]], the booth and it is normal practice (does not apply for mobile phone!) to receive cultural and accept collect call. To do a collect call, simply dial '0' and follow the instructions life outlook of the operatorpopulation is markedly unique.

Mobile phone are not widely spread The majority of the Canadian population lives in harmony within their vast country. The size of the country has allowed people to live using their own beliefs, languages or religion without being bothered by anybody else, in a 'Live and the networks let live' motto. Therefore, hate crimes are expensivemostly absent and major ''difference'' clashes even rarer, unreliable, primitive and only cover certain urban areasbut may exist. A mobile phone user usually pay It might be useful for a traveler to make call and be aware of the current political situation to avoid getting into a discussion which may offend more than anything else. Sometimes, during such situations, it might not be helpful to receive callhitchhike as a white in a First Nation reserve, or sound French in an English area, he will also usually have no signal when he reaches the nearest mountains or hillsvisa versa. That said, Canadians are generally friendly and forget their stereotypes once they meet you in person.

Internet cafés are rare and The rural population will only usually be existing in main urban and touristic centre. They are usually not used by locals, so it is possible that nobody knows keen to help if there the traveler is one making the first steps into breaking the 'stranger in the surrounding. In rural areaslocality' image, Internet might not even exists or be limited to dialas the split between country-up only. In most Canadian cities and towns of significant size, there are public libraries which offer free internet access to the general public city- regardless of where you are fromfolk is also existent. This The rural community feeling is generally the best bet for travelers without their own computer or access to a friend'susually pretty strong and when people believe you belong there and act more altruistic. If there are several people waiting to use them thoughHowever, you may some rural regions have large populations of urban commuters which has the tendency to wait bring a while for one to be available. You'll usually be given a time block of anywhere from 15 minutes to one hourmore individualistic mentality.

Colleges It is worth noting that in Quebec, the carshare website "AmigoExpress" is extremely popular. Worth checking out if a bit pressed for time and Universities are usually providing huge computer classes for their students but those have a bit of cash to spare. There are only accessible with username more than 50 rides a day between Quebec and password, it might be worth to ask though people might be keen enough to help you with itMontreal at costs of 10-15 CAD.

== [[Winter Hitch-hiking ]] hitchhiking ==

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 adventure by yourself into some wild or less inhabited part of the country without all the effective preparation by proper equipment or having registered yourself to some local authorities prior to such weathera journey. As a simple reminder, locals way prefer to enjoy the cosiness density of their home by such extreme temperaturepopulation is about 3. Although 2 habitants/km², and for about 75 % of that reason, no shops, restaurants or gas stations would be allowed to kick you out of their property. Either no car should be allowed to ignore you if the needs is there. This would usually be the case population lives 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 naturesouth, you are allowed to do anything possible to get help nestled by the surroundingUS border. Which would include entering a house, 'stopping' a car or denouncing to the authorities any refusal for help. This does not mean ''abuse'' and, It is to be use logically and tactfully. Bear normal in mind that if you attempt such behaviour, an investigation might be done afterwhile to verify if you didn't put yourself at risk at your own will and full knowledge some parts of the consequences! Which situation you are, by law, not allowed country to find yourself into!drive a hundred kilometres without any living soul.

== Border Crossing ==Canada has only one neighbourWith temperature often dropping beneath −30 Celsius, you should not stand outside more than 15 minutes. It's VERY important to make sure you wear the [[United States]], appropriate gear and even if this border is known as the longest unprotected border in the world, entering the country as a backpacker, hiker or hitch-hiker might reveal take precautions to never be a hard thing, especially since 2001. The border control is now more thighten, especially since the non-proven allegation that some terrorists came from Canada, and several questions are asked according to the relations between the passengers in a carstuck anywhere outside without shelter.

Because of these strong security measuresIn winter the roads can be icy or narrowed by the snowbank, a hitch-hiker probably so it will have often be hard for cars to cross the border stop by foot and start again once the control is donepull over safely. 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 he is fine with Drivers won't do it if they don't feel safe as the hassle (or fine waiting for you if you are being interogated aside). The vast majority risk of the drivers will most likely causing an accident might 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 confidenthigh, do not lie and simply answer the question as asked without being witty or vaguedriver would have to bear entire responsibility of it towards their [[insurance]]. Just remember that you do not have It's even more important in icy conditions to tell that make sure you are bumming around and bring some suspicious travelling plan (yes, hiking and find a hitching around in a ''blown by the wind way'' spot where there is a suspicious thing! Especially for the the average citizen!). So just be reliable, show enthousiasm good visibility and that your adventure is part of a life plan holiday... not a way safe place to escape realitypull over.

It In some areas, especially in the northern territories, every citizen is custom bound by law to be ask provide help and safety to prove every citizen in need from the hazards of temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differ, going from immediate support to a 'where have you left your brain!?!? being out by this weather!'. Your actions may be perceived as quite stupid and irresponsible to have dared outside without being prepared for the means weather, as most locals prefer to sustain your holiday (money) enjoy the cosiness of their home in winter storms. For that reason, shops, restaurants, or gas stations usually won't kick you off their property in extreme weather. In the summer it's different, and that your holiday you may be asked to leave if there is part of a plan (a return ticket)no danger from the outside elements.

===== While Crossing the Border ===Experiences ==Don't panic! Just because a border guard treats you like a scumbag doesn't mean you are oneI have hitchhiked many thousands of miles through most of the provinces. Getting rides is usually slightly easier than the [[United States]], but harder in some places. The cost of food makes travel here very expensive. Armed with this attitude try Border crossing as an American citizen is incredibly frustrating! It usually takes four to six hours of intense interrogation of myself and maintain your dignity violation of the privacy of other people in my life. The first time I was held and self-confidence throughout the encounter interrogated for over six hours and the guard will more likely respect you (even if he or she doesneventually turned away because I couldn't show it). Trust provide documentation proving that I had a reason to return to the states; they wanted meto buy a return bus ticket to prove 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, things will go more smoothlyheh. If youYou may have to get creative, but where there're passing the border inside s a carwill, donthere't volunteer the fact that you are s a hitchhikerway. But if it becomes obvious, donDon't try and deny itgive up! This is a beautiful country!'' [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ([[User talk:Thewindandrain|talk]]) 00:45, either. Remember, there's no shame in hitching.5 June 2013 (CEST)

==Resources = Passports for U.S. and Canadian citizens ===U.S. and Canadian citizens are NOT required to show a passport. At least not yet. That doesn't mean a border guard won't ask to see one, though. But, a border guard is not supposed to deny you just because you don't have a passport. Until January of 2008, border guards are supposed to continue accepting “oral declarations of citizenship” which basically means, “you have to believe me because I told you so.” If you are a U.S. citizen going into Canada or a Canadian going into the U.S., a guard can deny you entry for a number of reasons (usually because of a criminal record or you don't look like you have enough money for lunch at a fast-food restaurant). But don't think that just 'cause you don't own a passport you can't cross. You can.  ''Every border crossing point will usually be discussed in greater details in the appropriate province page.''{{nomadwiki}}

 {{IsIn|North America}}

 [[trashfr:Canada]]