Will You Avoid Montreal & Toronto This Summer?
Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Travel
For those keeping an eye on the news, two of the largest cities in Canada are losing their tourism glow.Montreal's constant student protests have gone from a regular proclamation against the increase in university tuition fees to a threat against the numerous annual summer festivals hosted in Quebec's largest city.
The upcoming Montreal Grand Prix cancelled one its opening events, fearful that student protestors would prevent race fans from attending.
Meanwhile Canada's largest city just witnessed the bold murder of one of its local citizens, in the food court of the largest downtown shopping mall, the Eaton Centre.
Are you planning a trip to either city?Both Canadian cities are traditional lures for many tourists thanks to numerous attractions and cultural offerings.
In Montreal, 2011 showed the city welcomed 7.5 million visitors, especially because of its summer festival season. In Toronto, named a destination to visit in 2012 by Travel & Leisure Magazine, 2011 was a record-breaking year,with nine million hotel rooms filled and the number of overseas visitors increasing by 6.2 per cent.
But with the daily news cycle filled with negative images, both cities have some positive campaigning ahead to lure visitors.
Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival organizers are already worried, seeing the slump in ticket sales which they think is a result of the regular protests in the city.
With an arrest in Toronto of a suspect in the shooting of a young male at The Eaton Centre, there's also been many reports about the city's crime rate, which is impressively one of the lowest in the country.
Although the city isn't proud to have its 21st homicide of the year reported on every major news station, compared to many of its US counterparts, it's a city that is safe and shootings are especially rare.
So will you venture into Montreal to see the music festivals, visit the galleries and explore Old Montreal? Or will you consider Toronto to see a Blue Jays game, wander the Distillery District or buy a ticket for the latest show at the Art Gallery of Ontario?
Time will tell if tourists will avoid Montreal or Toronto, or be convinced to visit this summer.
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oh my who would ever want to go to toronto on purpose. ewwww
June 07 2012 at 7:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThis is an interesting calculation on tuition fees in Quebec.
Tax return for a Full-time student in a University in Montreal.
... His/her tuition fees in 2011 are $ 2,564.35
If the student earned $10,880 working during the summer and weekends in 2011,
... he/she will pay no Federal or Provincial tax, and will not have to contribute to the Quebec drug insurance plan or the $100 for health insurance.
All amounts of tax withheld from his paychecks are reimbursed by the government.
The student WILL pay $365 to the Quebec Pension Fund, $153 to the Employment Insurance Plan, and $58 to Provincial Parental Insurance, but is then entitled to a 15% federal credit of $ 384.65, and a 20% provincial tuition credit of $ 521.87, a percentage which remains the same regardless of income level. If the student doesn't use these credits now, they can be transferred to his/her parents. or can be used by the student later when he/she CAN benefit from them.
Additionally there is a Federal education credit tax credit based on the number of months if full-time or part time studies. In this case, 8 months of studies, considered full time, @$400 a month = $3,200 x 15% gets a $480.00 credit.
Then there’s the credit for textbooks. 8 months X $65 =$520 X 15%=$78.00 ___________________________________________________________
So AFTER tax, the net tuition for this student is $ 1,108.93.
But WAIT, there's more. The Quebec government provides an additional credit because the student is considered a low income earner, even if he/she is a student.
so, on the $10,880 earned working, he/she receives a credit of $510.87
So net tuition cost is now $597.96
But wait, we're not done yet. There’s still a GST credit of $ 309, and a Quebec Solidarity credit of $ 264
Apply this against the cost of tuition, and the NET amount paid for the year is ...
$24.96.
It seems what students really need, is better accountants
I am sad to say I am a Montrealer and the students now have the shallow end of the gene pool protesting with them. There is a dumb a$$ed woman protesting at grand prix cocktail because some people can not afford diapers and these people are paying $1,000.00 a ticket. The stupid woman should maybe get a job and make some $$$ instead of bothering our tourists. The idiots also protested outside McGill university commencement today. Because they are stupid and did not go to class and did not graduate don't ruin others special day. These students think they are entitled and are bitching about stupidy on their part. stupid is as stupid does. Lots that going on here.
June 07 2012 at 7:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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