Aussies Cautious About Canada

WOW! I'm not sure where the Australian government gets it intelligence, or what weed it is smoking but it apparently feels the need to warn its citizens about travelling in Canada. Seems we're under a threat of terrorist attack that they know about and we don't.

While the crime rate is similar to theirs, their Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises them to be vigilant and to monitor the media for current risks and threats. I must have missed those media updates on my TV. Damn, I'm missing all the good stuff!

Their assessment is derived from their overseas mission assessments and intelligence reports. So, when they declare that it is safer to travel in Chile, Romania and South Korea than to travel to Canada, they must know what they are talking about.

On the weather front, travellers are warned of heavy snowfalls and ice in Canada that can make driving dangerous, windchill factors can create dangerous conditions. Sheesh we call that winter, you drive cautiously aka safely and dress for the weather.

British Columbia is an active earthquake zone and both British Columbia and Alberta are subject to avalanches at any time. Yeah, BC has had the odd rumble, have never heard of any major damage reported and yes, in the winter in the mountains, avalanches happen. Which is why people are told to stay away from certain areas.

Between May and September tornados are rampant here. Yes, we get the odd ones, but I suspect our American friends in the midwest would wish for just that many.

Oh, apparently bush and forest fires can break out at any time in this great land. I've lived my whole life in rural Canada, have yet to experience that happening. Oh gee, maybe it has to do with dry summer conditions and either careless humans or lightening strikes.

And I always thought Aussies were made of sterner stuff that they could handle what life hands them.