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October 2021

It looks like a lot of Canadians are looking to stay close to home again this fall and winter. Which means it’s a great year to explore this great country of ours. Here are some great things to see and do in Quebec. An installation outside the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. JIM BYERS PHOTO MONTREAL Truly one of the world’s great cities, with fabulous food and wonderful neighbourhoods to explore. Saint Henri is one of the hottest areas of town, with great restaurants and bars and independent shops. Mile End has been one of the most vibrant regions of Read more

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Canadian tourism and travel industry officials say new federal programs being introduced by the Trudeau government will be a big help. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday said the government’s main business support programs will end on Wednesday, Oct. 23, as Canada has already recovered 100% of the jobs lost during the pandemic. But she said the government recognizes that tourism and other businesses have been hit hard, and that Ottawa will bring in two new programs beginning on Thursday, Oct. 24. Those programs will provide wage and rent support for hotels, restaurants and travel agencies. Read more

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The Canadian government this week dropped its warning against international travel, a move that could boost consumer confidence. With that in mind, I’ll be highlighting great destinations over the next little while using the tag “Time to Travel.” Here’s a post from a great trip to Florida a few years ago. INVERNESS, FLORIDA – It’s a cool morning by Florida standards and a light fog is hanging over the dark waters of the Withlacoochee River. The mist rises and swirls over the top of the river as we pull away from the dock for our tour of the river with Read more

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In an important symbolic step that could help boost international travel, the Canadian government has withdrawn its long-standing advisory against foreign travel by Canadians. The Trudeau government’s travel advisory page has contained a recommendation to avoid all international travel for more than a year, but it has been quietly dropped, perhaps in light of Thursday’s announcement that vaccine passports will be required for most travel by November 30. Instead of a general warning at the top of the advisory page, there is now a statement that says fully vaccinated before travelling. It also states that even though vaccines provide protection Read more

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Canadians can expect vaccine passports for international travel in the coming days. There’s also more help coming for trouble tourism businesses, and potential vaccines on the horizon for Canadian children. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today (Oct. 21) said fully-vaccinated Canadians travelling overseas or using airplanes or interprovincial trains will soon have to show a vaccine passport. Starting November 30, you won’t be able to fly without it, or take an interprovincial train. The cards will have a QR code and the word Canada with a maple leaf flag over the final “a,” according to the Toronto Star. In a Read more

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