Thursday, August 15, 2024

Thinking Canada

The DrsC have spent a fair amount of time RVing in Canada and seen more of the inhabited parts than most Canadians, let alone Americans. We like the country, but have a realistic view of it, which is to say we see its peculiarities as well as its assets.

Some years ago when our home was in CA I remember telling a Parcs Canada employee that CA had more people than all of Canada. I'm sure she thought we were mistaken.

Another interesting factoid is that Edmonton is the only major city in Canada that is over 100 miles from the US border.  Three quarters of Canadians live right alongside the border. Check out this map from Power Line.

Canadians have government health care, meaning their taxes pay for it. The consequence is that individuals with painful but not life-threatening conditions often wait up to a year for corrective surgery.

 I was particularly amused when, some years ago, the premier of one of the Maritime provinces came to the States for surgery. This he paid for out of pocket, to avoid the wait. I prefer our system.

The string of three national parks in Alberta, from south to north, Waterton, Banff, and Jasper, are some of the most spectacular scenery in North America. The DrsC have spent time there on several summers and loved it. Their campgrounds have some RV hookups if you reserve ahead.

We also recommend the train rides from Winnipeg to Churchill, from Jasper to Prince Rupert, and from Vancouver to Banff - each a real pleasure.