r/AskACanadian

Thinking about buying clothing from an online store from Italy. The item is also manufactured and made in Italy. If I purchase and ship this to Canada? Do I have to pay any duties? From what I read online, we have a Canada-Europe Trade Agreement (CETA ) agreement so no need to pay duties?

The only thing I would need to pay is taxes correct?

I'm moving abroad soon and I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep my Canadian phone number without paying for a monthly plan while I'm away.

Right now I'm with Public Mobile, but as far as I can tell, you can only pause your plan for up to 3 months before you have to reactivate it to keep your account/number. Since I'll be gone long-term, that doesn't really work for me.

Ideally, I'm looking for something similar to what I had when I lived in the UK with giffgaff. I could basically leave the SIM inactive and then top it up or use it every 9–12 months to keep the number active. Whenever I came back to the UK for a visit, I just reactivate it and use it as normal (I've been doing thisbfor about 4 years now).

I don't need my Canadian number to be active while I'm abroad as I'll get a SIM there. I just want to keep the number for when I come back to visit, deal with the occasional account that still has my Canadian number attached, etc. A pay-as-you-go or very low-cost/low-maintenance option would be ideal.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What provider did you end up using, and were you able to keep your number long-term without paying every month? I'm based in Ontario if that has any relevance.

Thanks!

Staying at a hotel and the rooms have both recycling and garbage bins, but everything goes to trash. The recycling bins are just for appearances lol.

Don't buildings, including hotels, have to provide/participate in a recycling programme?

It's 2026 and I cannot believe this hotel doesn't recycle anything and if guests want to recycle you have to dump it in a blue bin off property.

(It's in Ontario if it differs by province)

I was kind of puzzled to see someone call him the evil stepfather of Canada, But someone call him the father of the Canadian Constitution.

Which side is usually dominant?

Trying to figure out if this is a Canadian thing or a my husband thing: when my birthday rolls around it’s invariably low key. It’s either no gift/card, something intended to be funny/jokey or … no that’s it. There is no uniqueness to the day - no happy birthday in the morning, no coffee in bed, no special meals or outings. Just like any other day.

The only time it has broken this mould was when we lived together in UK (I’m UK/Irish) and he gave me a nicely wrapped first edition book by a popular Canadian author. It was fab but I wonder if he was under the influence of the local culture?

I’ve spoken to him about this - and right now I can only either I have a gift love language or I am just built different - but year to year nothing changes. Even though IN GENERAL we are very effective communicators. I am stumped.

The WEIRDEST part of it is that gifts are never given to me - they are kind of left for me to find, whether he is at work when I wake up or not. And by ´find’ I mean, they are in the counter or on the kitchen table with no verbal indication that he has a gift for me. It is not like a scavenger hunt. Which would be fun!

Is this a Canadian thing? Is it somehow not polite to physically hand someone a gift and say happy birthday? Is it foolish of me to expect a gift that is thoughtful instead of just something you can wrap up? It’s just so curious to me but when I google it I am not finding what I am looking for.

I’m in the middle of planning a big (last minute!!) road trip from bc to Toronto, Ontario late this summer as someone who has never been outside bc! I’m doing my best to hit up the major cities in each province, but beyond that I’m at a bit of a loss for anything to visit. It’s not really a sight-seeing trip, but I’d still like to make the most of it and find some places I wouldn’t otherwise visit!

So any Canadian hidden gems you know about? Could be towns/historic sites/even just a favourite restaurant along the way? Any suggestions/ideas are greatly appreciated!

I've done some light digging, but I've found very little horror material about the Canadian wilderness! Maybe I'm not looking up the right words. I'm looking to find stories, myths, legends, literally anything creepy that takes place in that kind of setting. There are lots of posts about specific haunted buildings, which is great, but is there any lore on forests/hiking/nature areas? Deserted places? Sasquatch Park, Vancouver Island, or Banff are close to what I'm looking for. Creepiness in the PNW vibes? I'd appreciate being directed to other sources, as well.

What have you paid your Dentist for Custom Whitening Trays?

My Dentist in Nova Scotia charged me $400 for a Lower and Upper Custom Whitening Tray Set. He used his own office iTero Scan to take the 3D Digital Impression. The bill indicated a Lab Fee of $220 and I was advised that my Dentist charged a Professional Service Fee of $180. I also received 1 package containing 2 @35% Opalescence Gel Tubes.

i’m in vancouver for a day, i want to get a bunch of canadian snacks to bring home

happy Canada day to all the Canadians out there and living abroad. I am just curious because I live in the US and I listen to Avril Lavigne and I’m celebrating Canada day by listening to her all day. What else should I do as an American?

First of all congratulations! Although you’re joining when the contest is very split, currently with withdrawals and conflicts but it’s cool to have a new debutant for the first time since Australia in 2015. Most of the people in Europe are excited because we get new participants but also scared that Canada’s debut can lead to the debut of the USA 😅

Anyhow, how do you feel about joining in the biggest music contest in the world?

It’s a religious sect founded in Quebec in the 1970s if you really want to know

Annnnd go! What are you favourite Canadian restaurants?
I’ll be honest I love Swiss Chalet hahah such delicious comfort food

Imagine you’re buying a dietary supplement -gym products- and you find four identical products. The only difference is where they’re manufactured & price; everything else is the same: formulation, quality standards, certifications, safety, and insurance.

• Made in France —> $24.99
• Made in Germany —> $21.99
• Made in the USA —> $17.99
• Made in Canada —> $27.99

All of them are produced under the same technical requirements, with the same processes, equipment standards, and regulatory compliance. The only real difference is price & the country where the manufacturing happens, meaning the jobs, industrial know-how, and production infrastructure are tied to that location.

In that situation, which one would you choose, and why?

Please answer honestly & truhtfully

I've noticed Google Weather is no longer accurate for same day forecasts based on me.looking at the radar myself, and one too many days of boy who cried wolf getting me to take my rain gear I didn't need is leaving me wanting better.

What apps don't use whatever garbage AI Google is using? What apps have been most reliable in your experience?

Websites work too, but an app is more convenient.

I'm in the Waterloo area, if some apps are better for the region than others.

I did my taxes for 2025. I haven't received my 2025 Notice of Assessment.

How about you?

My partner and I were wanting to do a quick long weekend trip to the maritimes this summer and are deciding between these cities.

The big thing is we will be flying in, and also haven't driven in a very long time so we really want to avoid renting a car so we were wondering are any of these cities doable without a car? And if so which of these would work best and have the most to do?

Usually the cliche fair and concert in the main park downtown.