Questions and
ANSWERS
SEEING THE WOOD FOR THE TREES WHEN SELLING CANADA
I'm Lumber Jack and I'm OK... but if you're an agent and looking for help, just drop me a line! I can cut any enquiry down to size!
lumber.jack@sellingcanada.co.uk
Q: My client wants sun. When exactly is the height of the Canadian summer?
was changed in the 1980s to go slightly further north via Jasper and Edmonton instead. Timetables and fares can be found at
www.viarail.ca.
Q
Can my clients claim back GST after a recent visit?
LJ: No, unfortunately the refunding of Goods & Service Tax (GST) ceased in the spring of 2008. Further information can be found online at
www.cra.gc.ca
Q Q
Can my client enter Canada
on a British Subject passport? LJ: Yes, they can but
they will need a visa, even if transiting through a Canadian port. Details can be found at:
www.unitedkingdom.gc.ca
My client's passport runs out a month after their
intended return date – will they need to get a new passport before travelling to Canada? LJ: No, as long as the passport is valid for the duration of the holiday, and extends to an additional 24 hours after the return date shown on their air tickets, they will be OK to use their current passport.
Lumber Jack: Canada sits on a similar latitude to the UK which means the seasons turn at roughly the same times of the year. However as Canada is so vast there are, of course, variations in the climate depending on the region. But generally speaking: Summer: mid-May to mid-September Autumn: mid-September to mid- November
Winter: mid-November to mid-March Spring: Mid-March-mid-May
Q
I heard the train across Canada has stopped. True?
LJ: The cross-Canada service is still running, just on a slightly different route than before. The passenger rail service used to go from Toronto/Vancouver via Calgary and Medicine Hat but this route
Q
Can my client purchase a one-way ticket for their
holiday? They want me to arrange a flexible itinerary and are not sure which Canadian city or port they will be returning home to the UK from. LJ: It's not advisable. Canada Border Services Agency staff (CBSA - formerly Canadian Customs), like to see
Wise words
Q What's the best way to improve my overall knowledge on Canada? LJ: Check out the variety of online training: The Canadian Tourism Commission:
www.canadaspecialist.co.uk
Alberta ski:
www.skialbertaspecialist.co.uk Québec:
www.quebecexperts.com Vancouver:
www.vsp.tourismvancouver.com
evidence that the traveller intends to leave the country and a return air ticket is usually sufficient evidence. If they (CBSA) are not satisfied that
the individual is a genuine traveller who intends to depart at the end of their holiday, they could refuse entry. This would mean your client having to take the next available flight back, and at their own expense. There's also a chance that the airline which carried them to Canada could be fined as well. It should be noted that entry into Canada is entirely at the discretion of the CBSA.
Q
My client has a conviction
which is not yet spent. Before I plan their holiday, are
they likely to encounter any problems when entering Canada? LJ: Not necessarily! They may not be eligible to enter the country. This will likely depend on the offence committed. As individual circumstances vary, they should check carefully with the Canadian High Commission at:
www.unitedkingdom.gc.ca
26 SPRING 2011 • SELLING CANADA
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