Coin-operated telephones are available in most public places. Whenever you are dialling a number outside the telephone region of the call box you are using, you have to prefix the number with 1; this puts you through to the operator, who will tell you how much money you need to get connected. The operator asks for an amount (about $2.50) to cover the initial time period, which even within a province is fairly brief.

Thereafter you'll be asked to shovel money in at regular intervals, so unless you're making a reverse-charge/collect call you need a stack of coins - usually quarters (25¢). Some connections within a single telephone code area are charged at the long-distance rate, and thus need the "1" prefix; a recorded message will tell you if this is necessary as soon as you dial the number. Local calls cost 25¢ from a public phone and are dialled direct; private subscribers pay nothing for these, so you'll find that shops often don't mind you using their phone for local calls. Emergency (tel 911) and information (tel 411 local, tel 555-1212 long distance) are free from payphones.

Long-distance calls are cheapest from 11pm to 8am daily, and most expensive from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. From 6pm to 11pm on Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 11pm on Sunday, charges are more economical. Detailed rates are listed at the front of the telephone directory .

Needless to say, using pocketfuls of money is an inconvenient way of making international calls . Payphones taking major credit cards, however, are increasingly common, especially in transport and major tourist centres. In some cities there are Bell offices that enable you to make your call and pay afterwards.

Nearly all the provincial and national phone companies produce local and long-distance calling cards . Cards are sold in various outlets, including petrol stations, pharmacies and post offices, and in various denominations from $5 to $50, with calls being offered at discounted rates. You are given a number to dial and then a PIN number before you dial your destination. AT&T and other companies also produce affinity cards whereby the cost of your call is debited directly from your credit- or debit-card account.

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