Here I hope to explain exactly how long distance works with cell phones in Canada.

First, for the most part, there is no such thing as "Roaming" in Canada (for the most part)

The cities I'm using as examples here aren't really important. You could replace Vancouver with Halifax and Toronto with Montreal if you want. As long as we're talking about two Canadian cities, this guide is valid. If you are travelling outside of Canada, then this guide does NOT apply.

Examples:

You have a Vancouver cellular phone, and make a trip to Toronto.

Making calls to Toronto numbers will NOT be long distance. When you make a call, it doesn't matter where in Canada your cell phone came from, it matters where your cell phone is and where you're calling. Since you're in Toronto, and calling Toronto, the call is local. Order all the pizzas you want with your cell phone.

Making calls to Vancouver will be long distance.

Receiving calls from ANYONE will cost you long distance, whether the call comes from Toronto or from Vancouver. It also costs the caller long distance, since they're dialing a Vancouver number.

When your friends from Vancouver call you, it's a local call for them, since they're dialing a Vancouver number, but like I said, long distance charges will incur for you, even though you are receiving a call.

Receiving/Sending text messages will cost you the same that it would in Vancouver.

Another way of thinking about it

If you have a cell phone, calling an 800 number is always a local call. Whenever you leave your home area, and receive a call, it will count as long distance.

How to Save Money on your Cell Phone Long Distance

1. Several cell phone plans have a "long distance" plan, which can be very useful if you plan on receiving a lot of cell phone calls while you are out-of-area.
2. If you're in Toronto with your Vancouver cell, and someone from Toronto calls you, you're both paying long distance. If you call them back on your cell phone, then neither of you pay long distance.
3. Get a dialaround long distance plan. You can sign up with long distance companies, like Yak, that provide you with phone numbers to call, and then from there you can dial the number you want. So, you get a bunch of local numbers to call (or an 800 number that costs extra per minute), so when you're in Toronto, you can call the Toronto gateway, which will be a local call. When you call them, it connects right away, and then you manually enter in the phone number you want to call (so you might have to memorize some numbers), and it connects you. Then the call costs you only airtime + 3 cents per minute, instead of airtime + 20-50 cents per minute. This is especially useful when you need to make international calls.