Currency
All costs in Canada are set in Canadian dollars (CAD). Foreign currencies are readily exchanged at airports and banks. Bank debit or credit cards are the most convenient means of getting cash at the many 24-hour-access automated banking machines. As in the U.S. and Europe these machines accept cards with Plus, Interac and Cirrus symbols. Most Canadian businesses accept U.S. currency and traveler-cheques, as well as major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
For up-to-date currency conversion, visit the Universal Currency Converter.
Electricity
The electrical current is the same in Canada as in the United States: 110 volts AC at 60Hz. Adapters are required for appliances from other countries.
Emergency Contact
Dial 911 for emergency services (ambulance, police, fire and rescue).
Language
There are two official Canadian languages: English and French. In general, English is more common than French throughout the province of Ontario. In addition to these, the top five languages spoken in Toronto are Chinese, Italian, Tamil, Portuguese and Spanish.
Medical Insurance
Visitors are not covered by Canadian health insurance plans. Check with your medical plan before leaving your home country to ensure you have adequate traveling insurance. Delegates are urged to take out insurance to cover loss incurred in case of cancellation, medical expenses and damage to or loss of personal effects.
Taxes
The Ontario sales tax (HST) rate is 13%.
Time Zone
Toronto is in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone, which is UTC -5, and observes daylight savings time.
Tipping
In Canada, tips and gratuities are typically not included in the bill. In general, a gratuity of 15% of the total bill amount before taxes is considered a suitable gratuity. This applies those in the service industry including serves, bartenders, spa technicians and taxi drivers. At hotels and airports, doorman and porters are generally offered $2.00 CAD per item of luggage.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in any indoor public place nor within 6 meters of any entryway or open window within the city boundaries of Toronto. Smoking is also prohibited within customer services areas of food and/or liquor establishments, including indoor or open patios. A limited number of hotels may provide guestrooms that do permit smoking. Please confirm with your hotel directly.
Getting to Toronto
By Air
Toronto is served by two airports. The Pearson International Airport is Canada’s principal airport with travel connections to every continent and ranks among the top 30 world airports in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements. There are over 76 scheduled and charter airlines currently serving Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Air carriers provide non-stop service to 26 Canadian and 42 United States destinations and same-plane service to 56 other International cities.
Air Canada, Canada’s flagship carrier and a founding member of the Star Alliance, relies on Pearson International Airport as its major Canadian hub with a wide variety of domestic, US and international connections. Visit www.torontoescapes.com for special offers to Toronto. Click here for a list of carriers serving Pearson International.
The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (formerly, the Toronto City Centre Airport) is Toronto’s second airport. Located on Toronto Island, minutes from the downtown core with links to the city by a short ferry ride and shuttle, it is one of the most convenient urban airports in the world. Porter Airlines serves this airport. Porter provides a unique and personal flying experience with air connections to regional Canadian and U.S. destinations, including Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, New York City (Newark) and Chicago. Visit www.flyporter.com for current flight schedules and additional information.
By Rail
VIA Rail and AMTRAK bring visitors into the heart of the city each day. Toronto’s Union Station is centrally located downtown and connects to the subway by underground tunnel.
The Niagara GO Train is a summer weekend excursion train from Union Station to nearby Niagara Falls with stops in Port Credit, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catherine’s and Niagara Falls. The ride takes approximately 2 hours from Union station to the Niagara Falls station.
By Road
Several highways, including Highway 2, 401, 407 and the Queen Elizabeth Way, link surrounding cities to Toronto. The nearest Canada-U.S. border crossings are in Ontario at Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Windsor.
