Banking & Currency
Canadian Currency
Canada’s monetary system is based on dollars and cents—similar to that of the U.S. To avoid Canadian currency exchange problems, visitors are advised to exchange their funds for Canadian dollars at foreign currency exchange outlets, many of which are conveniently located in airport departure areas. If traveling by other means, use your bank of choice or any foreign currency exchange.
Sales Tax
Alberta is the only province in Canada with no Provincial Sales Tax (PST). However, there is a four per cent Tourism Levy on hotel rooms. The federal government charges a six per cent Goods & Services Tax (GST) on most purchases.
Visitor Tax Rebates
Non-residents of Canada can claim GST rebates applied to short-term accommodations, food services and certain goods taken out of the country. If you plan to apply for a GST rebate, pick up a copy of the Tax Refund Application for Visitors at any Customs office when you fly into Alberta, or at most Tourism Information Centers, duty-free shops, and some hotels. Remember to keep your receipts to attach to your completed form.
Moving Your Money
Traveller’s cheques and credit cards are accepted at most commercial establishments, banks and currency exchange offices. Banking hours are generally 9:30 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Some banks are open Saturdays. Most automated teller machines (ATMs) are linked to one or more of the following networks: Interac, Cirrus or Plus. They are found at banks, retail areas and in many cases at special event venues. ATMs offer the same rate of exchange to be found at traditional banking and exchange institutions.
Currency Converter
