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April 8, 2020Germany
April 8, 2020Healthcare System
Health care in Canada is delivered through a publicly-funded health care system under the provisions of the Canadian Health Act (CHA). Medicare policies for each province differ slightly. Each province is in control of their own health care system, with the government providing the majority of the funding, provided that the provinces follow the guidelines outlined in the CHA. Some services are not covered or not completely covered by Medicare, such as most dentistry services and some medications.
The key features of the CHA include:
- ”’PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION”’ – Health insurance plans must be “administered and operated on a non-profit basis by a public authority, responsible to the provincial/territorial governments and subject to audits of their accounts and financial transactions.” (Section 8).
- ”’COMPREHENSIVENESS”’ – Health care insurance plans must cover “all insured health services provided by hospitals, medical practitioners, or dentists” (Section 9).
- ”’UNIVERSALITY”’ – All insured persons must be covered for insured health services “provided for by the plan on uniform terms and conditions” (Section 10).
- ”’PORTABILITY”’ – Because plans are organized on a provincial basis, provisions are required for covering individuals who are in another province.
- ”’ACCESSIBILITY”’ – The insurance plan must provide for “reasonable access” to insured services by insured persons “on uniform terms and conditions, unprecluded, unimpeded, either directly or indirectly, by charges (user charges or extra-billing) or other means (age, health status or financial circumstances)” (Section 12.a).
Currency
- Canadian dollar
Food
Canadian cuisine varies widely depending on the regions of the nation. The three earliest cuisines of Canada have First Nations, English, Scottish and French roots, with the traditional cuisine of English Canada closely related to British cuisine, while the traditional cuisine of French Canada has evolved from French cuisine and the winter provisions of fur traders. With subsequent waves of immigration in the 19th and 20th century from Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, South Asia, East Asia, and the Caribbean, the regional cuisines were subsequently augmented.
Foods typically considered national dishes of Canada include poutine and butter tarts.
Poutine is a dish that includes french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. It originated in the Canadian province of Quebec.
A butter tart is a type of small pastry tart highly regarded in Canadian cuisine and considered one of Canada’s quintessential treats. The sweet tart consists of a filling of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, baked in a pastry shell until the filling is semi-solid with a crunchy top.The butter tart should not be confused with butter pie (a savoury pie from the Preston area of Lancashire, England) or with bread and butter pudding.
Transportation
Local transportation options depend on the host city. The following is the most up-to-date alphabetical list of transit websites:
Calgary, AB – http://www.calgarytransit.com/
Edmonton, AB – http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/edmonton-transit-system-ets.aspx
Halifax, NS – http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/
Hamilton, ON – http://www.hamilton.ca/CityServices/transit/
Kingston, ON – http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/transit
London, ON – http://www.ltconline.ca/
Ottawa, ON – http://www.octranspo1.com/
Saskatoon, SK – http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Utility%20Services/Saskatoon%20Transit/Pages/default.aspx
St. John’s, NL – http://www.metrobustransit.ca/
Toronto, ON – http://www.ttc.ca/
Vancouver, BC – http://www.translink.ca/
Winnipeg, MB – http://winnipegtransit.com/en
In terms of national transportation, students can cross Canada by either bus (e.g. Greyhound, MegaBus), train (e.g. Via Rail), car rental (multiple options), or plane (major airlines include Air Canada, Porter Airlines, and WestJet) depending on personal references and financial considerations. Keep in mind that Canada is an enormous country comparable in size to the continent of Europe so ground transportation is a pretty slow way to get around within the country.
Exchange Conditions
Professional Exchange: https://exchange.ifmsa.org/exchange/scope/explore/conditions/view/16
Research Exchange: https://exchange.ifmsa.org/exchange/score/explore