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.