PublicView_Directory

Information for Seafarers

CANADA

Map location

Countrywide Info
Universal Time Zone (+/- GMT, CET, UTC)	-3.5 to -8
International Country Code	1
IDD International Prefix	11
NDD National Prefix	1

Country Currency

Canadian dollar: CS = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of CS1,000, 500. 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of CS2 and 1. and 50. 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. Major credit cards are accepted.

Currency Restrictions

Public Holidays Observed

New Year's Day - 1 January
Easter (4 days)
Victoria Day - May
Canada Day - 1 July
Labour Day - beginning of September
Thanksgiving Day - October
Remembrance Day - 11 November
Christmas - 25-26 December

Main Religions

Christian

Languages Spoken

English, but in Quebec province French is commonly spoken

Customs Allowance
and Regulations

The import of firearms, explosives, endangered species of animals and plants, animal products, meat, dairy, food and plant material is subject to certain restrictions and formalities. The import of soft shell turtles from any country and articles from Haiti made of animal skins (eg drums) is prohibited. The plant Qhat (Kat) is illegal in Canada.

Health Information

Rabies is present.

What to Wear	Dress is generally informal depending on weather and occasion.
Countrywide Communications	Telephones: Most public telephones operate by using 25 cent coins but telephone cards can be bought and many take credit cards for long distance calls.. Mobile phone coverage is good. Internet and internet cafes available throughout the country.
Tourist Information	Legal age for drinking is 18/19 depending on local regulations. Spirits may only be purchased from specially licensed liquor stores or restaurants. Smoking has been banned in most public areas. Most restaurants, theatres and cinemas, if they permit smoking, have specified ‘no smoking’ areas. Tornadoes can occur almost anywhere in Canada, normally from May to September.
Embassies	Embassy of the Philippines in Ottawa, Canada 130 Albert Street, Suite 606, Ontario K1P 5G4 Ottawa Telephone: +1 613 233 1121 Fax: +1 613 233 4165 Email: embassyofphilippines@rogers.com There are also Philippine embassies in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, St Johns and Winnipeg. Embassy of Ukraine in Canada 310 Somerset St Ottawa Ontario K2P 0J9 Telephone: +1 613 230 2961 Fax: + 1 613 230 2400 Email: emb_ca@ukremb.ca Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ottawa, Canada 515 St. Patrick Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5H3 Telephone: +1 613 789 3434 Fax: +1 613 789 1911 Email: chinaemb_ca@mfa.gov.cn Indian High Commission in Canada 10 Springfield Road Ottawa Ontario Telephone: +1 613 744 3751 Fax: +1 613 744 0913 Email: hicomind@ottawa.net There are also Indian embassies in Toronto and Vancouver. Embassy of Indonesia in Ottawa, Canada 55 Parkdale Avenue Ontario K1Y 1E5 Telephone: +1 613 724 1100 Fax: +1 613 724 1105 Email: kbri@indonesia-ottawa.org / info@indonesia-ottawa.org There are also embassies from other top 20 seafaring labour nations represented in Canada. These are Poland, Romania, Latvia, Croatia, Egypt, Netherlands and Taiwan. If you wish contact details on these embassies, please contact the ICSW office.
ITF Contacts	ITF Co-ordinator (F), Vancouver (CAN) International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) ILWU Maritime Section Local 400 111 Victoria Drive Suite 120 Vancouver British Columbia V5L 4C4 Tel: +1 604 251 7174 Fax: +1 604 251 7241 Mobile: +1 604 418 0345 Email: lahay_peter@itf.org.uk ITF Inspector (F), Halifax National Automobile, Aerospace Transportation and General Workers' Union of Canada (CAW) 63 Otter Lake Court Halifax B3S 1M1 Tel: +1 902 455 9327 Fax: +1 902 454 9473 Mobile: +1 902 441 2195 Email: bradbury_gerard@itf.org.uk ITF Inspector (P, Hamilton(CAN) Seafarers' International Union of Canada (SIU) 70 St. David Street East Thorlold Ontario L2V 4V4 Tel: +1 905 227 5212 Fax: +1 905 227 0130 Mobile: +1 905 933 0544 Email: given_mike@itf.org.uk ITF Inspector (P), Montreal Seafarers' International Union of Canada (SIU) 1333 Saint-Jacques Street Montreal Quebec H3C 4K2 Tel: +1 514 931 7859 Fax: +1 514 931 0399 Mobile: +1 514 234 9962 Email: caron_patrice@itf.org.uk B C Ferry & Marine Workers Union 1511 Stewart Avenue Nanaimo BC V9S 4E3 Tel: +1 250.716.3454 Fax: +1 250.716.3455 Email: mailroom@bcfmwu.com Canadian Merchant Service Guild 1150 Morrison Drive Suite 150 Ottawa Ontario K2H 8S9 Tel: +1 613 829 9531 Fax: +1 613 596 6079 Email: cmsgott@on.aibn.com International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Canada 1091 Wellington Strret W Ottawa Ontario KIY 244 Tel: +1 613 725 3608 Fax: +1 613 725 3600 Email: ivpd_01@ibew.org, office@ibew-fioe2228.ca, daniel@ibew.fioe2228.ca International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) 180-111 Victoria Drive Vancouver B.C V5L 4C4 Tel: +1 604 254 8141 Fax: +1 604 254 8183 Email: officers@ilwu.ca National Automobile, Aerospace Transportation and General Workers' Union of Canada (CAW) 205 Placer Court North York Willowdale Toronto Ontario M2H 3H9 Tel: +1 416 495 6545 Fax: +1 416 495 3785 Email: cawtreas@caw.ca Seafarers' International Union of Canada (SIU) 1333 Saint-Jacques Street Montreal Quebec H3C 4K2 Tel: +1 514 931 7859 Fax: +1 514 931 3667 Email: siuofcanada@seafarers.ca Syndicat des Debardeurs 7020 Notre Dame Est. Montreal Quebec H1N 3L6 Tel: +1 514 255 8868 Fax: +1 514 255 8211 Email: dockmtl@debardeurs-de-montreal.org Teamsters Canada 2540 Daniel Johnson Boulevard Room 804 Laval Quebec H7T 2S3 Tel: +1 450 682 5521 Fax: +1 450 681 2244 Email: info@teamsters-canada.org,lapoert@videotron.ca
STCW Contact	Transport Canada Director Certification & Pilotage (AMSP) Tower C, Place de Ville 330 Sparks Street, 10th Floor Ottawa Ontario K1A 0N8 Telephone: +1 613 998 0614 / 991 3120 Fax: +1 613 990 1538 E-mail: exams@tc.gc.ca
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