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 The Essentials
The population of Canada is more than 32 million; 11 million people live in Ontario. Mississauga is Canada’s sixth largest city and Ontario’s third largest city, with a population of 700,000.
Emergencies
In case of a medical or police emergency, dial 911. From a payphone, the call is free. Foreign visitors can find and receive information from their respective consulates. To locate your consulate, look in the business section of the white pages of the Toronto phone book under Consulate General of ...
Driving
Driving is the primary means of getting around in Mississauga. If there is no sign posted, the speed limit on streets is 50 km/h (about 30 mph) and 100 km/h (about 60 mph) on highways (freeways). Wearing seatbelts is mandatory for all adults and children.
You can rent a vehicle at car rental counters at the airport or at locations across the city. Some suggested retailers include Avis (1-800-331-1212; www.avis.com), Budget (1-800-268- 8900; www.budget.com), Discount Car and Truck Rentals (1-888- 820-7378; www.discountcar.com), and Hertz (1-800-263-0600; www.hertz.com). Types and sizes of vehicles and rates will vary, so shop around for the best deal.
Hwy. 407 is Toronto’s first and only toll highway. It runs east-west between Burlington and Pickering, north of Hwy. 401. There are no toll booths, but your licence plate will be electronically recorded and you’ll be billed according to the distance travelled and time of day. For light vehicles, there is a charge of 14.95¢/km during peak hours (weekdays from 6-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.), and 14.1¢ during offpeak hours (including weekends and holidays). The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) is a highway that hugs the lake between Toronto’s west end and Niagara Falls. The Gardiner Expressway picks up from the QEW, continuing east through the southern tip of downtown Toronto, and connecting with the Don Valley Parkway and Lake Shore Boulevard.
Money
The Canadian dollar comprises 100 cents. Canadian bills come in denominations of $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5. Coins come in denominations of $2 (known as a toonie), $1 (a loonie), 25, 10, 5 cents and 1 cent. Daily currency exchange rates appear in The Globe and Mail newspaper and are posted at banks throughout the city. Call around for the best rates. Two taxes are levied on most purchases: the 8% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Non- Canadian residents can receive a refund on GST levied on accommodations and most goods. GST for meals is not refundable. Visit the Canada Customs counters at the arrivals area within each of the Airport’s three terminals for a refund form.
Telephones
Mississauga is covered by the area code 905. Some areas east and north of Toronto, such as Pickering, are also covered by this area code. Toronto is covered by the 416 and 647 area codes. Long-distance charges do not apply to calls made within Mississauga or to Toronto, but charges may apply to calls made to the rest of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Tobacco and Alcohol
You must be at least 19 years of age to purchase cigarettes. Mississauga (along with the rest of the Region of Peel) follows a smoke-free bylaw, which prohibits smoking in most public spaces such as restaurants, dinner theatres, shopping malls and government offices. In some public spaces, there are Designated Smoking Rooms (DSR), which are fully ventilated spaces; no one under the age of 19 is permitted in these areas. The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19; in some cases, proof of age may be required. A driver’s licence is considered a valid form of identification. The sale of alcohol, including spirits and wine, is controlled by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) stores; visit www.lcbo.com for locations. Domestic and imported beers can be purchased at The Beer Store; see www.thebeerstore.ca for the nearest locations.
Weather
The climate in Mississauga is considered moderate. The average temperature ranges from –6°C (21°F) in January to 20°C (69°F) in July and 3°C (37°F) in November. Snowfall in Mississauga is considered low in comparison to the rest of Ontario and Canada. Visit Environment Canada’s Web site at www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca for an up-to-date forecast.
Visitor Services
For visitor information, call Mississauga Toronto West Tourism at 416-203-2600.
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