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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 Canada is a vast country (the second biggest in the world) and many visitors do not realize its size or extremes in temperature often dropping beneath −30 Celsiusprior to arrival. Certain northern rural regions are inhabited by few or even no permanent population, you should so it might not stand outside more than 15 minutesalways be bright to adventure by yourself into some wild or less inhabited part of the country without the proper equipment or having registered yourself to some local authorities prior to such a journey. As a simple reminder, wear the appropriate gear density of population is about 3.2 habitants/km², and make sure about 75 % of that you are never being stuck anywhere. The majority of population lives in the roads will be slipperysouth, icy or narrowed nestled by the snowbankUS border. So it will often be impossible for cars to stop by and pull over safely and they won't do it if they can't as the risk It is normal in some parts of causing an accident might be too high and the driver would have country to bear entire responsibility of it towards his [[insurance]]drive a hundred kilometres without any living soul.

On another hand, every citizen should be bound by law to provide help and safety to every citizen in needs by the hazard of With temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differdropping beneath −30 Celsius, going from immediate support to a 'where have you left your brainshould not stand outside more than 15 minutes... being out by this weatherIt'. It is true that it will be perceived as quite stupid s VERY important to make sure you wear the appropriate gear and irresponsible take precautions to have dared never be stuck anywhere outside without all the effective preparation by such weather, locals way prefer to enjoy the cosiness of their home by such extreme temperatureshelter.

Although and for that reasonIn winter the roads can be icy or narrowed by the snowbank, no shops, restaurants or gas stations would so it will often be allowed hard for cars to kick you out of their propertystop by and pull over safely. Either no car should be allowed to ignore you if the needs is there. This would usually be the case in rural areas while people in urban areas might simply think, someone else can Drivers won't do it. If you if they don't feel your life threatened by safe as the hazard risk of naturecausing an accident might be too high, you are allowed to do anything possible to get help by and the surrounding. Which driver would include entering a house, 'stopping' a car or denouncing have to the authorities any refusal for helpbear entire responsibility of it towards their [[insurance]]. This does not mean ''abuse It'' and, is to be use logically and tactfully. Bear s even more important in mind that if you attempt such behaviour, an investigation might be done afterwhile icy conditions to verify if make sure you didn't put yourself at risk at your own will find a hitching spot where there is good visibility and full knowledge of the consequences! Which situation you are, by law, not allowed a safe place to find yourself into!pull over.

== Border Crossing ==Canada has only one neighbourIn some areas, especially in the [[United States]]northern territories, every citizen is bound by law to provide help and even if this border is known as the longest unprotected border safety to every citizen in need from the worldhazards of temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differ, entering the country as going from immediate support to a backpacker, hiker or hitchhiker might 'where have you left your brain!?!? being out by this weather!'. Your actions may be a hard, especially since 2001. The border control is perceived as quite tightstupid and irresponsible to have dared outside without being prepared for the weather, especially since as most locals prefer to enjoy the unproven allegation cosiness of their home in winter storms. For that some terrorists came from Canadareason, shops, restaurants, or gas stations usually won't kick you off their property in extreme weather. Questions might In the summer it's different, and you may be asked about to leave if there is no danger from the relations between passengers in a caroutside elements.

Because == Experiences ==''I have hitchhiked many thousands of miles through most of these strong security measures, a hitchhiker probably will have to cross the border by foot and start again once the control is doneprovinces. 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 Getting rides is fine with usually slightly easier than the hassle (or fine waiting for you if you are being interrogated)[[United States]], but harder in some places. The vast majority cost of the drivers will be frisky at helping a stranger to cross from Canada 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 violation of the States privacy of other people in their carmy life. The best way to be at a border control is too remain calm, be confident, do not lie first time I was held and simply answer the questions as asked without being witty or vague. Just remember that you do not have to tell that you are bumming around interrogated for over six hours and bring some suspicious travelling plan (yes, hiking and hitching around in a eventually turned away because I couldn''blown by the wind way'' is a suspicious thing! Especially for the the average citizen!). So just be reliable, show enthusiasm and t provide documentation proving that your adventure is part of a life plan holiday... not I had a way reason to escape reality. It is custom return to be asked to prove that you have the means states; they wanted me to sustain your holiday (money) and that your holiday is part of a plan (buy a return bus ticket). Also bear in mind that most Canadian and American land crossing control are separated from each other by to prove I was only staying a no man's land short distance between the two borders in which you will only be controlled by the welcoming country. So if you get denied entrance by onewhile, sorry, you will have further enquiry to enter back into the country you came from. ===== While Crossing the Border =====Don't panicnot happening! Just because Well I got a border guard treats you like a scumbag doesn't mean you are one. Armed little crafty with this attitude try their requirements and maintain your dignity and self-confidence throughout the encounter and the guard will more likely respect you (even if he or she doesn't show it). Trust mesubsequent attempts to enter have been easier, things will go more smoothlyheh. If you're passing the border inside a carYou may have to get creative, donbut where there't advertise the fact that you are s a hitchhiker. But if it becomes obvious, don't try and deny it, either. Rememberwill, there's no shame in hitching. === Passports for U.S. and Canadian citizens ===From Summer 2009 on, U.S. and Canadian citizens are required to show a passport to cross the borderway. Also, 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 donDon't look like you have enough money for lunch at give up! This is a fast-food restaurant). ''Every border crossing point will usually be discussed in greater details in the appropriate province page.beautiful country!''[[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ([[User talk:Thewindandrain|talk]]) 00:45, 5 June 2013 (CEST)