CANADA

CURRENCY:

Canadian Dollar - CAD, Symbol C$

Please note the CFA Franc is tied to the Euro. Please be aware that only currency issued by the Bank of West African States (Banque des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest ) is valid, and that currency issued by the the Bank of Central African States ( Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale) IS NOT VALID.

DENOMINATIONS:

NOTE: C$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.

COIN: C$2 and 1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS AND ATMS:

All major credit cards accepted. ATMs widely available.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:

Widely available.

TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:

Best in Canadian Dollars. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Canadian Dollars; these are widely negotiable.

BANKING HOURS:

Mon-Fri 0930-1600 OR 1700. Note some areas have extended hours. Those intending to set up a business account at a Canadian bank can only do so with letter of credit from a bank from home.

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS:

No restrictions.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW:

Canada takes up most of the northern half of North America and its southern and northwest borders are shared with the United States. Canada is both a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy - they share the same monarch as the United Kingdom. The official languages in Canada are English and French. The capital is Ottawa but the largest city is Toronto.

POPULATION:

Around 33 million.

ECONOMY:

Canada enjoys status as one of the most wealthy nations in the world as well as one of the top ten trading nations. The economy has seen rapid growth since the 90s and now has a similar system to the USA. Living standards in Canada are high. The government debt burden was the lowest in the G8. The main elements of the economy are the service sector as well as logging and oil.