Taxes: Canada has a national tax, the Goods and Services tax (GST). However, it is charged differently in different provinces and territories. It applies to most property and services. However, some provinces ‘harmonized’ it with their provincial sales tax creating the HST. Alberta is the only province in Canada with no provincial sales tax. Combined provincial and federal tax can be as high as 15%. And, in most cases the taxes are added on after the sale amount of goods and services. This can all add up to a bit of shock to your pocketbook when purchasing larger items. And, just because a province has a ‘lower’ sales tax, doesn’t mean their cost of living is lower. Do some research.

Medicare: Canada has universal medical coverage. However, access and fees for it vary from one end of the country to another, creating 13 mini plans. For example medical fees for a family of two in British Columbia are $121; in Alberta there is no fee; in Ontario it is based on your taxable income.

Automobile Insurance: In many provinces this is provided by private companies and ‘shop around’ is the best advice. In others, BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, it is provided by the government, with some authorized agents. One thing is for certain across the board, bring proof of your claims history, on letterhead from the insuring company. A good history, usually 8 years no claims, can cut as much as 40% from your annual fee.

And, in many cases Quebec has a different process than the other provinces.

So, when choosing your destination, be sure to look at many things related to day-to-day living costs. You might be surprised at the differences. It is one big country with many small governing areas – provinces and territories – doing their own thing. Stats Canada’s Consumer Price Index Reports are a great source of information.

In St. John’s, Newfoundland, at the Johnson Geo Centre, you can go to an informative exhibit of the ship’s iconic sinking after hitting an iceberg.  This exhibit is the closest geographically to the actual disaster site, getting you up-close and personal. Get a real ‘feel’ for the disaster and find out what ‘really’ happened. It may not have been the iceberg’s fault.

The monumental Titanic artefacts exhibit has made its way from London, to Las Vegas, to Brazil, to Winnipeg, Manitoba (where it is on for the month of July). Find out more about its route on RMS Titanic.net.

The list goes on, as the centennial celebrations make their way into 2012. Why not have your own Titanic event? Canadian chefs preparing for the Culinary Olympics recently recreated an authentic first-class meal of 12 classical courses paired with wines that were served on the RMS Titanic! There are numerous ways to remember it. And, if you don’t feel creative – you can always have some friends over and watch the movie.

Morant's Curve

Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest, one if its hottest tourist destinations, and home to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper resorts. It started as a mere 26 square kilometres in 1885. Now it is joined by Yoho, Glacier and Waterton – and these are just in Alberta.

Each province is home to several National and Provincial parks. Newfoundland is home to Canada’s most eastern National Park – Terra Nova; Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim National Park is on the west coast.

Quttinirpaaq National Park in Nunavut  is the most northerly park,  at 83° and only 720 kilometres south of the North Pole and Ellesmere Island is only 800 km from the Pole and Canada’s second largest Park.

National Parks, a must see, must visit, must explore on your ‘Bucket List’.

Watch Parks Canada Agency YouTubeVideo: A Wild Year – Banff National Park

Watch Parks Canada Video: Canoeing in Quttinirpaaq

Parks Canada – news about celebrations

Canadian Geographic – Parks anniversary article

TCL Visit – links to Canada’s tourism sites

Canadian Flag

From Bollywood fashions in Vancouver, to a picnic in Halifax, Digital Journal gives you a quick overview of what’s on from coast-to-coast.

Canada Online has a superb checklist – great for new and old Canadians alike – to help you truly get in the spirit of Canada Day. Find out why we are called ‘Canada’; the words to the Canadian national anthem O Canada, in English and French; and the history and symbolism of our national flag. And speaking of flags, the Will and Kate are travelling with a new Royal Flag. Find out what the Brits have to say about their Canada Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square (London’s is the largest outside of Canada).

Canadians can be found far and wide. Visit Canuck Abroad to see how others are celebrating around the globe.

With the weather forecast across the country looking warm and clear in most parts – it promises to be a great one. How will you be celebrating?

Clear Lake beach

The prairies – especially the drive from Alberta to Manitoba – often gets a bad rap. Miles of straight highway. Miles of empty fields as far as you can see. And, a long way between gas stations. Even I was skeptical, having let a healthy 15 years pass since my last trek on Highway 1, and full of not so pleasant memories of past trips (read: I am never doing that drive again).

My first surprise: Number 1 isn’t as straight as I remember. My second surprise: the prairies aren’t as flat as I remember. My third surprise: gas stations are more numerous than I remember.

Early blooms

One of our motivations for driving was to spare our carbon footprint in the air. And having our ‘feet’ firmly planted on the ground certainly had its advantages. Having a vehicle made side trips easy and a pleasure. There were no luggage restrictions, which I took full advantage of, or hidden charges. And, listening to play lists on the iPod was far superior to the days of being held hostage by the poor reception of a AM station, fading in and out.

We saw a huge variety of wildlife on the holiday – deer along the way, hawks and eagles, squirrels and beaver. We witnessed flooding, thunder storms and hot sunny days. All that makes those stunning prairies pictures in calendars.

Far from the driving being bland, plenty of colourful views lined the route:  beer commercials wrapped around huge, round hay bales; kite surfers taking advantage of high winds and water levels; and an incredible amount of cyclists braving the elements.

We were entertained (U2 concert); ate like royalty (bar-b-ques, bistros and the best prime rib beef sandwich ever); and explored old and new haunts.

The must-see list had doubled since last time as nieces and nephews are now all adults and catching up meant visiting their homes, catching them for coffee on the way to work, and meeting up between a flight and a drive to a summer job.

Returning back to our home and our own space was wonderful too. But, the biggest surprise of all, is that we are already planning our return visit! Probably in the autumn when we can catch the harvest in motion, the colours of fall and a great Thanksgiving dinner!

So really, it all worked. Yes, we’d fly. And, no we’d not drive in the winter, unless it was the only option. It’s not for everyone, but it was everything and more we wanted in a road trip. Thanks Trans-Canada Highway No. 1.

The Festival includes a Tour de Victoria, a waterfront race and the option for cycling enthusiasts to take part in everything from community social rides to 90 and 140 kilometre events.

There are free ride and dirt jump competitions and a floating barge bike stunt show in Victoria’s inner harbour.

The festival appeals to all types of ‘wheels’ and participants are encouraged to go online to find out more at www.vicf.ca.

The Canadian Mint has just unveiled two coins to commemorate the Royal Wedding, ranging in price from $20 to $100. According to the Toronto Sun, the Mint has been boosting its Royal Coinage line up for some time. And according to Toronto Life, the upcoming Canadian auction of Princess Diana’s dresses is stealing Will and Kate’s thunder!

The Monarchist League of Canada were thrilled when Canada Post did a u-turn and agreed to do stamps to celebrate Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. The new stamps, having received the Royal stamp of approval, will be issued May 2, 2011.

But it’s not all pomp and ceremony. A German company is marketing Wills and Kate (Katea) tea bags that hang on the rim of your teacup.

But if you want to make sure you are getting the real thing, check out Lord Chamberlain’s Royal Wedding Souvenir buying guide posted on the official website of The British Monarchy.

When a Canadian employer wants to hire a temporary foreign worker, they apply to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRDSC) for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO), the proof hiring from abroad won’t affect Canadian citizens’ opportunity.

The new requirements include:

1. proving genuineness of offer – now including care-givers;

2. a two year ban on hiring for non-compliant employers;

3. four year maximum for temporary work permits.

Find out more on the CIC site’s Temporary Foreign Workers section.

Watch this video.

Airboarding is not new, but the body boarding (surfing on snow) sport is gaining in popularity, particularly in Europe. Check out scenes from the Swiss Airboarding championships.

The Airboard Facebook Page has over a 1000 ‘Likes’, and their images just leave you wanting more.

Onthesnow.ca reviews a variety of winter sports – from heli-skiing to, snow golf, to snow kiting.  There must be one sport in there to entertain the ‘I-don’t-want-to-just-ski’ people.

If  riding a bike is more your thing, why not combine snow and riding and get into fat tire riding. Canada Olympic Park just had its special Fat Tire race event, with several categories including women shredders (all ages). Eddie the Eagle wouldn’t believe what’s going on there now!

Let’s face it – as the slopes get more crowded, the sport inventors get more creative. Keep them coming. I’m still looking for the right one!

If seeing is believing – search for videos. Don’t worry if you don’t speak the language. The images tell all.

Confusion, red-tape and need to ‘guess the weight’ of your vessel, had many avid paddlers ready to abandon ship.

The Paddling Instructor blog author said, according to a blog buddy who attended the minister’s announcement made in Calgary yesterday, that the power of sensible emails protesting the regulation helped turn the tide.