We are big and it is hard to travel around this country!

Only have 2 main airlines (Air Canada, Westjet) competing with each other

1) Small population = very widely spread Canada has a very low population

density, with major cities spread out over vast distances.

Unlike in Europe where so many big cities are close together, which makes it cheaper to fly.

2) No foreign companies are allowed to compete in Canada.

In Europe, opening up the skies to allow foreign companies to compete was one of the major contributors to the drastic drop in airfare prices.

Air Canada has a monopoly on many flights and so can charge a lot

Fly from Toronto to Vancouver = (approx. 4,300 km) 4:40 hrs, approx. 600$

Fly from Halifax to Vancouver = 8.3 hours, 900$

In Europe, it is approx. 4,300 km from one end of Europe to the other (Lisbon, Portugal to Helsinki, Finland)

Cost of flying = $273

Example: a Westjet flight from Toronto to Vancouver in the fall = a return ticket is $370.

But then add...

HST: $60.98 AIF: $40.00 (a tax

for using the airport)

ATSC: $14.25 (security fee)

NAV: $46.00 (navigation charge)

Total = you pay $570 on a $370 ticket!

Our 2 main airlines run unprofitable routes in order to "complete" the network.

We have a lot of isolated cities (eg Thunder Bay, Saskatoon) that still need air service.

These routes are paid for by profits from other, more popular routes.

The Transcanada Highway is one of the longest in the world

Drive from Toronto to Vancouver = 46 hours (4.5 days)

 Drive from Halifax to Vancouver = 60 hours (6 days of driving 10 hours)

What about this whole area of Canada? There are no roads leading this far north...you have to fly in.

To take Via Rail from Toronto to Vancouver = 3.5 days, $978

For curiosity’s sake, how long would it take to walk across Canada?

From Halifax to Vancouver = 1,107 hoursThat’s about 46 straight days of walking If you only walk for 12 hours each day, then

it would take 92 days

The two main areas in Canada to go white water rafting are in BC and the Ottawa River valley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od2zct3AA3I

You don’t have to go to Northern Canada to try dog sledding.

In the winter, many places in southern Canada have dog sledding, such as BC or even Algonquin Park in Ontario.

Besides the 42 National Parks and Reserves, there are over 1,000 Provincial Parks (330 just in Ontario)

There are also hundreds of private campgrounds

The Trans Canada Trail is the world's longest network of hiking trails.

When fully connected, the Trail will stretch 23,000 kilometres

It was 73% complete in 2012.

Canada has some of the best cold water scuba diving in the world.

Off the coast of BC : you may see giant Pacific octopus, huge wolf eels, sharks, dolphins, orcas and sea lions.

In Ontario (Great Lakes) diving is unique because it is fresh water, darn cold and offers up to 4,000 shipwrecks.

Because of the cold, fresh water and lack of rampant marine life, wrecks dating back to the 1800s are preserved in excellent condition compared to their saltwater counterparts.

We already talked about how we have some of the best skiing in the world

Whistler-Blackcomb in BC Mt Tremblant in Quebec

We have bison, black bears, grizzly bears, polar bears, lynx, moose, mountain lions, musk ox, wolves, etc

The BC coast (orca whales)

The East coast including places in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (minke, right, and humpback whales)

In certain spots along the St Lawrence river in Quebec (belugas)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgUjyVCjsyY

Churchill, Manitoba (pop: 813)

About 10,000-12,000 tourists come to see the polar bears

Can only get there by train or plane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3jv7lETmkA

Vancouver Symphony of Fire: the largest fireworks competition in the world

The Calgary Stampede: each year, more than one million people visit Calgary to partake in this 10-day party held every July.

Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto: is one of the leading film festivals in the world, ranking closely with Cannes and Sundance. It is held each September.

Winterlude, Ottawa : Every February, ice-skating on the world's longest rink, ice sculptures, a snow playground, concerts etc

Winter Carnival, Quebec City : The biggest winter carnival in the world and is celebrated annually at the end of January until mid-February.

Canada Day, Ottawa: July 1st celebrations in Canada are like the July 4th festivities in the US. We dress in red and white, watch fireworks, and drink a lot of Canadian beer.

Caribana, Toronto: North America’s largest street festival, 2 million people attend.

Montreal Jazz Fest: Every June/July, there are about 500 concerts, most of which are free. About 2 million visitors visit an event.

Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival: Since 1983, Just for Laughs is held every July, is the largest international comedy festival in the world

Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto

Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, Kingston

Canadian War Museum, Ottawa

Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

Stratford Festival in Stratford, ON

Toronto Theatre District: 3rd largest in world after NY and LondonPrincess of WalesRoyal AlexandraRoy Thomson HallCanstage, etc