Little Kopit wrote:



Re. why many things cost more in Canada.

joe b. wrote:

Iris, if by "wireless" you mean WiFi onto the Internet, it is just as available in Canada as in the US. In small communities, Canada has much better coverage than we do in small communities in the US. Some paid services at campgrounds, cafés, etc. but most I find is the free version. I think this past summer on the way to and from Alaska we went at most two days with out Internet connections when we wanted one. I tend to plan ahead as to when I need a "fix" of Internet, such as to pay bills, send emails and plan our trip to be where they is a good system, usually one of the larger communities.
Now if you mean by "wireless" the use of cellular service to connect to the Internet, then I have yet to find a plan that I consider reasonable in cost while in Canada. I have an AT&T aircard, a Sierra USB 875 model, that I have not even activated in the last couple of years. Too much good WiFi available where we tent to travel.
If we need to talk to the daughters we use a prepaid phone card from Sam's Club or Costco and use it at a pay phone, much easier to find in Canada IMHO. Our daughters and my wife and me normally communicate through emails while we or they are traveling. If one of us needs to talk to the other we will so mention it in an email. Then the traveler will call the other party.
On the subject of cost in Canada, there are numerous factors that come into play, several of them previously mentioned above, lower population, large country but another factor is that Canadians receive more services from their government than we in the US receive. Not to get political but Canadians receive and understand they have to pay for the health care they receive in higher taxes, both direct and indirect taxes. The old philosophy of there is "no free lunch", is alive and well in Canada. I for one applaud them for it.