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The Canadian Travellers’ Report Card
The third edition of The Canadian Travellers’ Report Card examines fve areas of importance to travellers. We re-
searched the practice and policies of the federal, provincial and territorial governments, and then gave each gov-
ernment an opportunity to comment. The information gathered, including government feedback, was to grade
each jurisdiction based on standards elsewhere in Canada and our view of best practices.
Canadians who embark on long-term travel nonetheless pay a full year of taxes to the federal and their provincial
or territorial governments. They must pay for infrastructure and other government services that they do not use
for a full year, but one thing they expect and deserve is to have full, equal access to the health care and drug cover-
age for which they pay taxes. Unfortunately, in many cases these taxpayers are denied the same benefts as those
who remain at home. Canadians should not have to choose between exercising their right to travel and having
access to the health care they may need.
In 2002 and again in 2006 we made a series of recommendations to protect the rights of travelling Canadians. We
are pleased that many provincial and territorial governments have responded with improvements to service and
coverage. On the other hand, some governments have made little progress at all, and we are disappointed in their
apparent lack of concern for travellers.
We examined the following topics:
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Preservation of health coverage for regular travellers
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•
Access to emergency health coverage when travelling
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Access to prescription drugs for use during travel
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Access to voting rights for travellers
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Availability of government information
THE BEST
Preservation of health coverage for regular travellers
Québec, Yukon, Nunavut
A+
Access to emergency health coverage when travelling
Prince Edward Island, Yukon,
Northwest Territories, Nunavut
A+
Access to prescription drugs for use during travel
Nunavut
B+
Access to voting rights for travellers
Saskatchewan
A+
Availability of government information
Manitoba, Québec
A
Overview