Have you ever watched one of those televised shows that show the fabulous fishing available in Canada, (or also known as the “Great White North) & wondered, can that really be true? Can the fish actually be so huge? Can the scenery be so spectacular?

It IS true!

From the eastern shores of the Maritime Provinces to the vast wooded tract of coastline on the west shores of British Columbia, Canada offers fishing that is so abundant & unspoiled, that anglers from around the globe visit each year, then subsequently return year after year.

All Provinces offer fishing that is unique to them, yet all are connected by a common theme, & that’s the huge expanses of almost undiscovered lakes & rivers in the northern regions.

Look at the Province of Ontario, 95% of its population reside in the lower regions that account for maybe 10% of its land mass. What’s in the other 90%?

Huge, crystal clear, lakes & rivers. Thousands of them! And all full of fish.

Whether one is looking for a weekend retreat that’s accessible with your family car, or the “trip of a lifetime”, a visit to a remote northern lake accessible only by float plane, this province offers it all.

Compare that to the even larger expanse of the Nunavut. Here’s a Territory that sits almost entirely north of the 60th parallel, & has almost all it’s regions inaccessible by roads. There simply are none!

But the fishing! Home to more I.G.F.A records than any other fresh water region in the WORLD!

Did you know the N.W.T is home to the 5th largest body of fresh water on the globe?

Great Bear Lake is 500 miles north of Yellowknife & the closest permanent road is some 300 miles away? Almost 12,500 square miles of crystal clear water, that’s under ice for all but, maybe 100 days a year. Water so cold, that fish grow so slowly they can be 60-80 years old.

Then consider this.

There is only one community on this lake. Maybe 500 people, tops! Four Fishing Lodges, over 280 miles of lake between one & the next closest! Ice free for just a couple of months, these fishing lodges can operate only 2 short months a year. Total capacity between them all is maybe 160 fishermen at a time, scattered over 12,500 square miles!

Also, consider Great Slave Lake. Situated some 300 miles south of Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake is almost as large an expanse of water, almost as isolated, but has the convenience of a bustling frontier type city, situated right on its shores.

Yellowknife, the territory capital is also the “hub” for many of the remote northern lakes & fishing lodges, as it’s serviced by a modern airport, with frequent & daily scheduled flights connecting it with more southern cities, or as the northerners call it, “the outside”

With stats like these, do you think these fishing lodges can offer a unique fishing experience?

You bet, there is no other place quite like it.

Why not treat yourself, & plan on a wonderful “trip of a lifetime”.

Check out what Canada has to offer at Canada Fishing Lodge.

If you are planning to head to Canada on vacation, be sure to find out about the Haliburton Highlands. The is truly one of Canada’s prize destination resorts. Until relatively recently, there was not much there that would appeal to the pleasure seeking, comfort seeking, adventure seeking modern day vacationers whose tastes and requirements for what they expect in vacation resorts continually becomes more demanding.

But all this has changed and Ontarios Haliburton Highlands has transformed itself into one of Canadas premier resort locations.
The accommodations and services offered appeal to a wide variety of travelers. From classy all-inclusive services to comfy bed and breakfasts. There are resorts that target couples looking for a romantic getaway, families seeking vacations that offer something for each family member, as well as discerning travelers in search of first class accommodations and unique experiences.

Still not convinced? Then lets get a bit more specific. One of the better-known Haliburton treasures is Heather Lodge . This resort combines adventurous activities with top of the line accommodations. Targeting the adult only crowds, this vacation resort is located on beautiful Twelve Mile Lake. And just to keep things exciting and appealing, there are packages that are specially designed based on the specific season and time of year they choose to travel.

For instance, there is the Wild Things Package which offers 2 nights accommodations in a lakeside studio, complete with a fireplace, romantic candlelight dinners each night, and daily full-country breakfasts. Or maybe you like skiing and would prefer the Downhill Skiing Package which includes accommodations, meals, and lift tickets for nearby Sir Sams Ski Area.

So what are you looking for? Romance? Adventure? Peace and Traquility. Unspoiled nature? Regardless of what you are looking, there is a good chance you will find something that tickles your fancy in Haliburton Highlands. Where else could you find such an unbeatable combination of natural beauty, an ever-growing list of unique attractions and exciting activities, as well as a wide variety of fine accommodations for every budget, taste and style?

Haliburton Highlands welcomes you!

Canadian highways are superb, with excellent, well-maintained, surfaces offering uncongested travel to most parts of the country; roads here certainly rival those of the USA. It’s not unusual to travel for hours and not pass another vehicle in some of the more remote areas.

Road rules

Canada honours all valid foreign driving licences; therefore an international driving permit is not necessary. The minimum driving age is 16 but you need to be 25 to hire a car with most companies. Seatbelts for the driver and front-seat passengers must be worn, with infants strapped into a safety seat. Some provinces require that drivers switch on their headlights during the day.

The maximum limit for level of alcohol in the blood while driving is 0.8mgml and there are strict penalties for violators.

Speed limits vary from province to province, as a general guideline:

Urban areas:50kph31mph
Outside schools: 30kph18mph
Rural roadshighways:90 110kph56 68mph.

Motorways and the road network

Highways mainly consist of two- to three-lane roads, narrowing to a wide, single lane in the countryside. The Trans-Canada Highway covers 8,000kms5,000mls making it the longest highway in the world; while the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16), which runs through Canada’s vast prairies, over the Rockies, and to the Pacific coast, is almost as long.

As in all major cities around the world, parking can be difficult in Canadian cities. Look for signs marked with a green ‘P’, indicating municipal parking, and avoid street parking as the car may be wheel-clamped or towed away if left in a restricted zone.

Costs, distances and times

Most of Canada’s service stations are open 24 hours for fuel, with automobile maintenance and service available during business hours. Canadian cars use unleaded petrol, sold by the litre, with considerably cheaper prices than those encountered in Europe, but slightly more expensive than prices in the USA.

Typical driving distances:

Vancouver to Toronto:4492kms2790mls
Vancouver to Yellowknife:2411kms1498mls
Toronto to Montreal:539kms335mls.

Safety

Don’t drive beyond your limits, as distances in Canada are deceptive. Stop every couple of hours to relax, and don’t try to drive beyond 500 or 600kms in a day. The CAA provides reciprocal assistance to members of international auto clubs.

Does The Canadian Health Care System Cover Those Visiting Canada?

The Canadian Health Care System is based on several socialized health insurance plans providing full coverage to Canadian citizens and a model to follow that the American Health Care System has been analyzing for a while.

In Canada, federal government set the guidelines that apply to the different provinces and territories of the country in health matters, but the system comes from public funding on a territorial or provincial basis.

Because every Canadian region manages its own health care system, there is too much controversy and debate in relation to health care coverage for both locals and people visiting the country.

People who want to access the Canadian Health Care system must apply for a provincial health card and wait for no longer, than three months to obtain their health card in the case of new immigrants.

While the Canada Health Act guarantees that all residents of a territory or province will be accepted for health coverage, temporary visitors can only access this system purchasing insurance by themselves.

However, there are also Public Health Care Providers that ruled under the same act, providing services such as hospitals, dental surgery, ambulatory services, primary care doctors, and specialists to cover provincial insurance policies.

As a visitor to Canada, you can purchase a health care insurance policy and benefit from these public services during your stay in the Canadian territory.

Canada counts with about 30,000 primary care doctors, who account for over half of all Canadian doctors so you will not have a problem finding a physician that can provide you with preventative care or basic medical treatment.

Specialist doctors account for 28,000 all over the country and there are countless private clinics operating in the country offering specialized medical services, although under federal law they should not provide those services covered by the Canada Health Act.

Even though, most clinics offer such services regardless the legal limitation, they are covered by private insurance policies to provide health care assistance to people that otherwise would be left without medical protection.

Private insurance in Canada may cover up to 80% of medical cost and it is available to visitors and local residents unsatisfied with their provincial or territorial health care system.

In terms of medical availability as of 2007, there is one primary care doctor for every 1000 Canadians, who spend nearly 3,300 per capita on health care attention every year.

Keep in mind that the Canadian Health Care System does not provide basic services to residents, and some of them are those that visitors usually require, such as optometrists, dental services, and prescription medication, which people have to pay.

These days everyone needs a car. It doesnt matter what you do, where you work or how much money you make. The car is an absolute must. For long ago now the car stopped being a luxury and became a necessity. If you want to have the ability to travel fast and in good conditions, not depending on anyone else, the personal car is the best solution for you.

But before you go and buy a car, you first have to ask yourself a few questions. Not whether to buy one or not, because we already know the answer to this one. And its definitely yes. The questions you have to ask yourself are: What type of car to buy?, What brand?, and the most important one How much are you willing to spend for a car?. Also you should determine whether you want or can afford a new car or would you prefer a used one.

After answering to all those questions you can then go and buy the car. And what is the best place where one can buy a car? Well, the answer to this question is easy. The best place where you can buy a car is the car auction. Car auctions have become more and more popular throughout the world. Canada is now one of the countries where people are starting to use car auctions more and more often. That is why the car auctions in Canada are starting to expand and to increase profit.

The Beneficiaries of the Car Auction in Canada

The main beneficiaries of the car auction in Canada are obviously the Canadians. That makes sense, doesnt it? But they are not the only ones that can profit from this type of business, from the car auctions in Canada. There are also other people that use these auctions.

Although in the U.S there are plenty of car auctions, some of the Americans come to the car auctions in Canada too. And they have some reasons why they do this.
One reason is that there is a chance they will find cars that arent available in their country. Another reason is that at some auctions the prices can be even smaller than in U.S.

The idea anyway is that they have nothing to lose if they come into Canada to see whats new at the car auctions. And if theyre lucky enough they can even return home with a car, a car bought from the car auction in Canada.

Canada Travel Should Include A Visit To Prince Edward Island

If your vacation plans include travel any where in Canada this summer, consider a departure from the everyday and charter a course for the gentle pleasures of Prince Edward Island. Your Canada travel itinerary would not be complete without a stay here.

Once on the Island, marvel at miles and miles of beautiful white, champagne, pink or red sand beaches. On Prince Edward Island shorelines your eyes will soar as high as a seabird and beyond to the top of the red sandstone cliffs that overlook the ocean.

If fishing is your forte, Prince Edward Island has a wealth of opportunity for the duration of the summer months. Charter a deep sea fishing expedition with friends and you could well wind up with Tuna, marlin or even shark as your reward for a long days work, and well worth it. For something with less adventure, cast into the still waters beyond the bridge or off the end of a pier and Mackerel could soon find its way to the end of your line. For freshwater fishing, Brook or Rainbow trout could make fly-fishing in any one of PEIs winding rivers the perfect day trip.

PEI offers not only Canada’s birthplace, but also a spectacular seascape and equally stunning landscape, rich and resplendent in rolling dunes, wetlands, lush fertile farmers fields, and the sand and the high pitched cliffs. The diverse habitat of our special Island is home to boundless types of plant and wildlife, including the endangered Piping Plover.

Travel to the edge of Canada and from there, continue onwards across the marvel that is the Confederation Bridge and until you find yourself at the sapphire blue of the waters edge, then dip your toes in the warmest ocean waters north of Virginia. This is everything a vacation on this Gentle Island was meant to be. Everything and more.

Explore Cavendish, the home of Lucy Maud Montgomerys beloved classic Anne of Green Gables, one of the Islands main attractions. Hike or bike our green rolling hills. Then spend some time visiting craft shops in our quaint Island villages. Our pottery, woodworking, tapestries and quilts are as much a fabric of life on the Island as our rich history.

The perfect end to a perfect day should always include watching a magnificent Island sunset as it dips into the ocean. And the perfect night should remain at the waters edge, drinking in the tranquility that abounds. Be sure, however, to savor far, far more than just the ambience. Prince Edward Island is renowned for its seafood as would be expected so take the time to linger over your lobsters, order tons of tuna steaks, or chow down on the fresh baked bread that is certain to accompany your bowl of clam chowder, served piping hot and rich with cream or dairy products from an island farm, and thickened with the natural agent that is the Prince Edward Island potato.

All of this awaits you and more on Canadas east-coast jewel, The Gentle Island. All of this, and more.

Smallmouth bass is regarded to be ranked among the hardest fighting freshwater fish. It is also often referred to as the brown bass, brownies, bronzebacks, smalls and smallies. Many anglers and fishermen love the challenge of catching these aggressive fishes and the great feeling after a well-fought battle.

Smallmouth bass fishes are well thought-out by most people to be the sportiest freshwater fish. They are known for their fighting stamina and beyond belief leaping ability. Like largemouths, they will take almost any kind of lure or bait, but they commonly prefer smaller sizes. Favorites include jigs, crankbaits, spinners, streamer flies, shiner minnow, crayfish, hellgrammites, leeches, and nightcrawlers.

The jaw of a brown bass, which extends directly below the eye, is smaller compared to that of a largemouth bass. Its cheeks have from twelve to seventeen rows of scales and the dorsal fins are joined with ten spines and thirteen to fourteen soft rays.

It is golden bronze or brown in color, with a lighter, more creamy underbelly that the largemouth which has a greenish one. It has vertical dark bands or marks on the sides and its eyes have a dash of red.

Most brownies weigh between 1 and 1.5 and they can run as high as 4 or 5 pounds.

They have a preference of cool water, but will have a tendency to follow food sources. It is sensitive to environmental factors and can be greatly affected by polluted waters. Clean rivers and lakes are necessary for them to survive. They will move about from one habitat to another as temperature changes throughout the year.

Smallies prefer rock strewn, gravelly hard bottoms. It is not common for them to stay in areas with soft sandy or muddy bottoms. Bronzebacks, which are found in rivers, usually hangout in shallow rocky pools and ledges during the cooler spring weather. It is also likely for them to settle on grass beds and weedy patches growing on small islands and along the banks, especially as the growth attracts forage. When the water heats up, they will tend to transfer to the deeper pools kin the rivers main channels, or to the faster moving parts of the riffles that offer cooler water.

In lakes, they in general move to deeper water as the water warms up. They cling to around structure and shade. Smallies can be found in deeper grass and weed beds where forage and cover is available.

They prefer to spawn in water temperatures within 62 to 65 degrees. They can usually be found spawning sometime between April and June. They will spawn in depths of 2 to 10 feet. The male cleans debris from a small circular area to create the nest and guards it for about a month after spawning to allow the fry to grow to swim freely.

The rocky lakes of Canadian Shield produce a perfect environment for not only the large trophy of these species but for a great number of other fishes. On Lake Panache, it is not uncommon to catch your limit right off the dock of smallmouth. If you are looking for big smallmouth bass then youll probably want to visit this lake. Smallmouths are one of the hardest fighting fish in Canada but its definitely easy to look for it in Lake Panache, its maybe because of the cool spring fed water that makes them extra scrappy and they also taste fantastic.

Northern Ontario is also well-known for big trophy brown bass especially in Five Mile Lake. They are found off rocky points, shoals, reeds and islands.

Even though this kind of fish is not a dominant specie in the lake, it still has a healthy population and can still provide a full day of fishing if you go after them. They are usually around 2 pounds but a fair number of 3 and 4 pounders are also caught. Another lake which is in close proximity with the Five Mile Lake also offers a good site for bass fishing, smallmouth bass in particular.

One more lake in Ontario provides an excellent fishing, particularly for smallmouth bass fishes. Norse Lake remains calm even in windier days. The smallmouth bass population in this lake reaches into the 5 pound class.

Truly, the Canadian coasts have a lot to offer especially when we speak of Smallmouth Bass. Visit the net for more information, tips and guides and see for yourself!

Trade friction and energy leverage has led to an unprecedented Canadian policy of speak loudly and carry a big piece of lumber policy towards the United States.

The long running dispute over American tariffs on Canadian lumber escalated to the point last week that Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin indirectly linked settlement with continued U.S. access to Canadian energy supplies. Meanwhile, Canadian Natural Resources Minister John McCallum was off to China to meet with Chinese oil, mining and forestry officials.

This is serious business. Part of the 1994 NAFTA Free Trade Agreement guaranteed that Canada would remain the favored supplier to the U.S. It might surprise you to learn that Canada supplies 17% of U.S. oil imports, 16% of our natural gas and nearly all of our hydroelectric power. The Canadian government owns the vast majority of the countrys energy resources and Canada exports more than 1.5 million barrels a day to America representing 8% of U.S. consumption.

Chinas Lengthening Reach

Meanwhile, Chinas aggressive moves in Canadas energy sector are raising eyebrows in Washington. Chinese government has earmarked 100 billion for overseas acquisitions of oil and gas. The Chinese are going on a buying spree investing in Canadian energy companies and recently plunked down 2 billion to build a thousand mile pipeline from Alberta tar sands to port on the west coast and onward to Beijing and Shanghai. While the oil reserve numbers for Saudi Arabia are under scrutiny, Canada has recoverable reserves of roughly 175 million barrels. Much of it is in oil sand that is processed profitably at oil prices of 20 or higher and T. Boone Pickens thinks that Canadas oil sand production could reach 6 million barrels a day

There are now about 1 million ethnic Chinese residing in Canada and China is now Canadas second largest trading partner. Last month, Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Canada and declared that the two countries had upgraded their relations to a strategic partnership.

The USs Waning Grasp

This Chinese-Canadian power play puts America in real jam. You could write a book about the long simmering lumber dispute but a Nafta panel recently ordered the U.S. to return 5 billion of collected tariffs to Canadian lumber companies. Relations with Canada were also weakened earlier this year when Canada announced that it would not contribute to the American-led missile defense program even though 90% of Canadian citizens live within 100 mile of the border between the two countries and Americans purchase 85% of total Canadian exports.

Whats going on? Part of the answer is that the vast majority of Canadians oppose the policies of the Bush Administration. The issue is sensitive in many areas across Canada that are highly dependent on the lumber industry and Mr. Martin and his party are preparing for national elections expected early next year. It is always a vote getter to poke a stick in the eye of the elephant to the south.

How to Play

While Canadian-American relations have seen better days, the energy boom has certainly been beneficial to investors in Canadian markets. The Canada iShare (EWC) tracks the MSCI Canada Index that has 40% exposure to Canadas energy and materials sector. While the S&P index is up only 3%, the Canada iShare is up 16.6% year to date and 28.8% over the past twelve months.

Speaking of timber, it is smart to have some timber exposure in your portfolio and I have had timber REIT Plum Creek Timber (PCL) in our core portfolio for over two years. Here is why I like it. First, timber is a great inflation hedge and over the past 100 years has risen 3% above the average annual inflation rate. Secondly, timber is not correlated to stocks or bonds and thus is a great shock absorber to cushion your portfolio when shares are declining. During the 1970s bear market, timber rose in value while stocks went down. Thirdly, from 1973-2000 timber yielded an average annual return of 15%. Last but not least, timber valuations are attractive after some declines during 2000-2002 especially relative to real estate prices. During 2004 Plum Creek was up 23% and this year it has traded between 34 and 39 finishing last week just over 35 with an attractive dividend yield of 4.3%.

It behooves the U.S. to negotiate a settlement to the lumber dispute as soon as possible and lock up Canadian energy sources before the Chinese get the jump on us. Investors cant do much about improving Canadian-American relations but they can improve their portfolios by adding exposure to timber as well as to Canada as both an energy and China play.

If you knew that a Canada Internet merchant account could dramatically improve profits and reduce overhead costs, would you get one? Well, the good news is that it can and you should! A merchant account conveys a host of benefits that can help your business expand to meet the demands of todays time-conscious consumers. To apply for your merchant services account, simply follow the following easy steps.

1. Apply for a Canada Internet merchant account through a reputable banker, loan agent, or financial underwriter. You may be able to work with a banker with whom you have already established a business relationship. Or you can shop around for a better deal if you feel your bank is asking too much money for too few benefits. These accounts can be quite competitive, so it pays to browse a host of providers in your town or on the Internet, where financial offers are waiting for your perusal. Just do a search for merchant accounts or merchant services, and you will soon find that a number of potential lenders will pop up on your screen. You also may want to get the names of other financial institutions from colleagues, friends, and family members who already have successful merchant accounts.

2. Check out possible Canada Internet merchant account providers by running their names through a business checking service, like the Better Business Bureau. While this is not a comprehensive background check or a certification of the lenders ability to meet your needs or keep its promises, it does provide a starting place for ensuring that the provider is not a total fraud and may be somewhat likely to live up to its promises. You also can check out online testimonials or ask for references. If the company has a longstanding history of providing merchant services, there is a fairly good chance that it will work out well for you, too.

3. Browse available services offered by Canada Internet merchant account providers. Perhaps the most sought-after benefit is the ability to offer credit card payment processing services to clients who shop at your Internet site. Find out how much this service will cost through your choice of Canada provider, and determine whether the benefits are worth the asking price. You may end up paying some of the expenses yourself, such as a domain registration and site-hosting fee, but this is to be expected from just about any provider. It is important to compare fees among various lenders to get the most affordable package. Some underwriters will ask for an application fee or an annual membership fee, as well as several other types. Look for the lowest available costs before deciding on the provider you want to work with.

4. Find out which services will by covered by your choice of Canada Internet merchant account underwriter. Some companies may provide free monthly statement printouts while others charge for this service. You also need to check service rates, which typically are billed by a few cents per transaction or via a low monthly interest rate. Set up your company budget and evaluate your customers buying patterns to figure out which billing method will work most in your favor.

Finding the right underwriter will help you to maximize your Canada Internet merchant account.

If you are looking for a fun and relaxing vacation, you should consider a Canada Fly-in Fishing Vacation. There are many vacation packages for you to find when searching for a Canada Fly-in Fishing Vacation. For example, one vacation package offers those looking for a quiet, relaxing atmosphere with the opportunity to experience fly-in fishing on Hearne Lake in beautiful Canada. The only lodge on the lake, Hearne Lake Lodge, is owned and operated by two people, a husband and wife team. This is the picture perfect portrait of a Canadian vacation at its best.

This lodge offers the perfect start to enjoying your Canada Fly-in Fishing Vacation. You can enjoy their guesthouse and stop at their main lodge for a one of a kind Canadian home cooked meal. Service is at its best at the Hearne Lake Lodge. They only cater to a small group of people at a time and this ensures that you will have friendly service and attention that you need.

Your Canada Fly-in Fishing Vacation is, of course, mostly about the fishing. In Hearne Lake, you will have the opportunity to take fly-in trophy fishing trips from June through September. There are many varieties of fish you can have the experience fishing for when visiting Hearne Lake in Canada. They have fish such as Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Walleye, Arctic Grayling and Lake Whitefish.

Certain times of the year are better than others for catching certain fish. For example, Northern Pike, Lake Trout and Walleye are most commonly caught during the month of June. Arctic Graylings and Lake Whitefish are harder to catch during June. Arctic Graylings are more common during July through September and Lake Whitefish are easier to catch in Late August through September.

It is best if you get a Canadian Fly-in fishing guide that is knowledgeable in the fishing of the area. They can provide you with tips on how to properly experience fly-fishing. They will be able to show you exactly where you can catch the fish you are fly-fishing for and what types of fish are more common at a particular time of the year.