ElectricityElectrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz. American style
flat two-pin plugs and one with a third round grounding pin are
standard. LanguageThe official languages are English and French
(predominantly in Quebec). TippingThere is no service charge added to restaurant bills in Canada
and staff expect a tip of around 15%. Hairdressers and taxi drivers
are also usually tipped at the same rate, while bellhops, doormen,
porters and similar service providers at hotels, airports and
stations are generally paid $1 per item of luggage carried. Tour
guides and bus drivers should generally receive $3-$5 per day. It
has become more common for places with counter service to display
'tip jars', but in such cases tipping is not necessary. Safety InformationMost visits to Canada are trouble-free. The country is
politically stable, but does share the common international risk of
terrorism. There have been no recent terrorism events. The crime
rate is low, but travellers are advised to take sensible
precautions to safeguard their belongings as they would anywhere.
Canada is prone to tornadoes between May and September. Local CustomsSmoking bans have been implemented in Canada in enclosed public
places such as restaurants, bars and shopping malls. BusinessArray CommunicationsThe international access code for Canada is +1. The outgoing
code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for
the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not necessary for calls
to the US and the Caribbean. The area code for Ottawa is (1)613,
and (1)416 for Toronto. Internet cafes are widely available. Most
international mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with
Canadian operators, however it may be cheaper to buy a
pay-as-you-go SIM card if visiting the country for long
periods. Duty FreeTravellers to Canada are allowed to enter the country with the
following items without incurring custom duties: gifts to the valu
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