Also In This Issue RV LIFESTYLE The Best Places to Travel in Summer FINANCE Retirement Blind Spots LIFESTYLE DNA Tests – Secrets Revealed Portugal Revisited OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE 111 A Nostalgic Trip to Lisbon
Snowbirds have unique needs that we understand. Protect your home and auto with an insurance plan designed for your lifestyle. We’ll be with you all year long. Call us for a quote today 1-800-267-8000 Heading South this Winter? Endorsedby theCanadianSnowbirdAssociation. UnderwrittenbyRoyal&SunAlliance InsuranceCo. RSA isa registered tradenameofRoyal&SunAlliance InsuranceCompanyofCanada. “RSA”and theRSA logoare trademarksusedunder licence fromRSA InsuranceGroupplc
Editor’s Message CSANews© is published four times a year and is Copyright SUMMER 2019 by Medipac International Communications Inc., 180 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5. (416) 441-7000. Subscription Price: $9.95 Canada; $20.00 U.S. and foreign. Single copy: $3.95. Prices include tax. Published by Medipac International Communications Inc. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not necessarily those of the CSA, Medipac International Communications Inc. or its affiliates, their Directors, Officers, or other employees or agents. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No: 40063603. ISSN No: 1195-2393 Barb & Ron Kroll Dr. Robert MacMillan David McPherson Andrew Moore-Crispin Robert Wiersema Rex Vogel Judith Adam Gabrielle Bauer Donna Carter Michael Coren Jennifer Cox Shari Darling James Dolan Karen Huestis Ron Steeves John Foster Garry McDonald Rod Seiling Bob Slack James Leroux Robert Herman Ted Popel Wendy Caban Michael MacKenzie Wallace Weylie President First Vice-President Second Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Past President Director Director Director Director Executive Director Legal Counsel CSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Editor CSA Editor President Art Director Director of Sales Director of Operations Marketing & Events Specialist J. Ross Quigley Karen Huestis Christopher Davidge Peter Prusa Neville B. Levin Paula McGovern Fran Castricone SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE 111 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada. T David Blazek Illustrator he world is getting to be a muchmore challenging destination. The Middle Eastern countries have always had issues, but now even more so. The Dominican Republic, a favourite destination for the all-inclusive crowd, has had several mysterious deaths during the past year, all of tourists. Cuba is now, once again, off limits since President Trump decided that their government was getting too rich from the tourist dollars flowing in, especially from the cruise ships that became very popular. Pat & I, and several of our friends received news that our Caribbean cruise had been cancelled due to the intended two stops in Cuba. We were offered very fair terms to rebook, as well as substantial discounts, but most of us had already toured the Caribbean in one form or another, so we passed on the opportunity. The vastly overstated travel to exotic locations and European and Asian destinations did not materialize as the baby boomers came of retirement age. They, instead, generally travelled in their parents’ footsteps, heading south to Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. Great weather, cheaper everything (even with the lowly Canadian dollar), friendly people and a common language. And to boot, very low prices for rentals and homes, unless you demanded to be directly on a beach. I don’t think that a retirement life could be much better than being a snowbird. I have travelled much of the world, but my favourite place is still my retirement home in the sunny, southern United States with my many friends. Have a wonderful summer. Sincerely, J. Ross Quigley Editor P.S. Early Bird travel insurance is a must this year, as some restrictive changes are coming and prices are trending upwards. CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 3
Table of Contents Features SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE 111 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION 18 24 Portugal Revisited Join Barb and Ron Kroll on a nostalgic trip to Lisbon, 45 years after their Portugal honeymoon. by Barb & Ron Kroll The Best Places to Travel in Summer Enjoy the freedom of the open road visiting these North American destinations. by Rex Vogel Travel RV Lifestyle 28 Retirement Blind Spots Retirement issues and challenges you may not be aware of. by James Dolan Finance 4 | www.snowbirds.org
Table of Contents 36 Departments 41 Book Review by Robert Wiersema 42 Golf by David McPherson 44 Gardening by Judith Adam 46 Food & Drink by Shari Darling 48 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin 50 Fun & Games 51 Grins & Giggles 52 CSA Application 53 CSA Benefits 54 Fast Facts 3 Editor’s Message 6 Snowbird Alert 7 Snowbird Events 10 Bird Talk 12 President’s Message 13 Government Relations Report 14 Insurance by J. Ross Quigley 16 Opinion by Michael Coren 38 Fitness by Jennifer Cox 39 Health Pulse 40 Longevity by Jennifer Cox DNA Tests They may reveal more than you bargain for. by Donna Carter Health 34 Ticks and Lyme Disease Prevention, symptoms and treatment. by Dr. Robert MacMillan Lifestyle CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 5
SnowbirdAlert Credit card fraud is increasing− what to do if you’re scammed With new technologies making our personal and financial information more accessible to fraudsters, Canadians are increasingly worried about fraud and identity theft. According to a new survey conducted for Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), 70 per cent of us are more concerned about fraud today than we were five years ago. Meanwhile, almost one in five are aware of having been the victims of credit card fraud – the most common type of fraud experienced. To keep you and your finances safe, it’s important to follow some essential safety tips: ▶▶ Review your bank statements each month to check for discrepancies. Thieves don’t necessarily make large purchases with stolen information – they may make smaller purchases that are harder to spot, so make sure that you monitor your accounts on a regular basis. ▶▶ Shred personal documents before disposing of them. ▶▶ Cover the pin pad when at the ATM or cash register. ▶▶ Avoid using public Wi-Fi to buy anything from retail websites or conduct online banking. Wait until you get home or use your cellphone’s data plan instead. ▶▶ Set up electronic alerts to notify you of banking activity. Your financial institution can automatically notify you of purchases, payment deadlines and payment posts, enabling you to keep track of all your transactions. These alerts can also tip you off to fraudulent activities, such as unauthorized payments. Find more information at cpacanada.ca/financialliteracy Source: www.newscanada.com Packing tips for SKY-BOUND SENIORS Retirement can open up more opportunities for travel. If you’re a senior preparing to hit the skies this summer, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority has some packing tips to help make flying a breeze. For example, when packing your carry-on bag, most liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers of 100 millilitres or less. But did you know that this rule doesn’t apply to medications? To assist screening officers, just be sure to remove any liquid medications from your carry-on bag for inspection. Solid tablet non-prescriptionmedications (such as ibuprofen and vitamins) aren’t subject to the limit, but note that certain powders and granular materials (such as mineral-based supplements that are primarily calcium, magnesium or iron) are limited to a total quantity of 350 millilitres or less – that’s roughly the size of a soda can. If you’re travelling with these items, consider putting them in a smaller package, such as a daily pill sorter. Another note about carry-on bags – the limit is generally two per passenger, but medical supplies, equipment andmobility aids don’t count toward that limit. This includes things such as respiratory devices. Distilled water for CPAPs and similar machines is also exempt from the liquid restrictions and doesn’t have to be in the original container. Findmore tips and info, including a page dedicated to seniors and special sections for people with limited mobility and those travelling with medically necessary equipment, at catsa-acsta.gc.ca. Source: www.newscanada.com 6 | www.snowbirds.org
SnowbirdEvents • SEP • 10 Tues BELLEVILLE ONTARIO Empire Theatre 321 Front Street (613) 969-0099, ext. 1 theempiretheatre.com • SEP • 11 Wed NEPEAN ONTARIO Centrepointe Theatre 101 Centrepointe Dr. (613) 580-2700 meridiancentrepointe.com • SEP • 13 Fri OWEN SOUND ONTARIO Roxy Theatre 251 9th Street East (519) 371-2833 roxytheatre.ca • SEP • 16 Mon SAINT CATHARINES ONTARIO FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre 250 St. Paul Street (905) 688-0722 firstontariopac.ca • SEP • 17 Tues RICHMOND HILL ONTARIO Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts 10268 Yonge Street (905) 787-8811 rhcentre.ca • SEP • 18 Wed PORT HOPE ONTARIO Capitol Theatre 20 Queen Street (905) 885-1071 capitoltheatre.com • SEP • 19 Thur ORILLIA ONTARIO Orillia Opera House 1 West Street North (705) 326-8011 orilliaoperahouse.ca • SEP • 20 Fri OSHAWA ONTARIO Regent Theatre 50 King Street East (905) 721-3399 regenttheatre.ca All events from 7-10 p.m. (doors to lobby open at 6 p.m.) Schedule subject to change. PICK UP YOUR TICKET TODAY! FREE* tickets will be available at theatre box offices starting Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Tickets will be available on the day of the event provided that seating is still available. * Service charges may apply to telephone and online orders. FREE CONCERT Appearing at all events: Funny FishermanJimmy Flynn Scottish-Canadian tenor John McDermott Talented multi-instrumental family Next Generation Leahy CurrencyExchangeProgram CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 7
1. Google Maps Have you ever gotten lost on your way to a destination? Getting lost can be a terrible experience especially if it disrupts your travel plans. Mobile navigation apps like Google Maps can help you find your way. You can simply type in the address of your destination and the app will start voiceguided step-by-step navigation instructions, while also updating you with current traffic on your route. Cost: FREE 2. GasBuddy This app works in Canada and the U.S. and it helps people save money on gas every day by showing gas prices near your location. GasBuddy is convenient especially while travelling by helping you find the cheapest and closest stations efficiently while saving time and money. Cost: FREE 3. TripAdvisor This app is your mobile tour guide that shows hotel accommodations, highly rated restaurants or available activities and attractions in the area you are travelling. TripAdvisor also includes interactive travel forums and other travel-related content, which make it a must-have for a more seamless and memorable travel experience! Cost: FREE 4. Audible Access over 180,000 audio books that you can listen to wherever you are. These apps are helpful for flights, layovers and long drives by allowing you to keep on listening to your favorite books on the go. Cost: $14.95/month (1 free audio book every month) 5. WebMD This app helps you with your decision-making and health improvement efforts. They provide 24/7 access to mobileoptimized health information and decision-support tools. Its top features include: symptom checker, create medications reminders, drugs and medications information and pill identifier. With WebMD, you can keep your health in check when travelling. Cost: FREE These are some examples of the many apps you can use when travelling. You can discover more apps that are available to you by visiting Google Play Store or the App Store! Note that using mobile apps will consume mobile data if you are not connected to Wi-Fi. BONUS TIP: Along with having these apps, using the right cell phone plan is important to have a seamless travel experience. At SimplyConnect, you can stay connected and conveniently use these apps with our Canada/U.S. smartphone plans. Canada/U.S. plans are perfect for Canadian Snowbirds who travel back and forth to both Canada and the U.S. - one plan, one phone number andone SIM card for both your Canadian and U.S. wireless needs. A Canada/U.S. plan paired with a smartphone provides you with more connections while you seamlessly travel this summer. ANY QUESTIONS? Our dedicated live agents are just a free phone call away. SimplyConnect has a large selection of devices and plans for all your wireless needs. Call us today at 1-888-281-2105 to learn more! 5 USEFUL APPS FOR TRAVELLING Are you travelling this summer and want to make it a seamless trip? Different smartphone apps may help with that! Other than staying in touch with family members back home, smartphone apps can also provide other benefits such as navigation assistance, keeping your health in check, a portable tour guide and so much more. Here are 5 convenient apps to use while travelling:
Use your phone seamlessly in Canada and the U.S. EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS FOR CSA MEMBERS 10% OFF TALK & TEXT PLANS* | 15% OFF SMARTPHONE PLANS* *Offers shown are available until Aug. 31, 2019 or while quantities last and are subject to change without notice. 10% off applies to the Talk & Text monthly plan fees, and 15% off applies to the Smartphone monthly plan fees. Discount applies for as long as you are a member of the Canadian Snowbird Association and cannot be combined with Bring Your Own Phone discount, Tablet Data plans and Wireless Home Phone plans. Early cancellation fees apply with a 2-yr term. Some conditions apply, call 1-888-281-2105 or visit simplyconnect.ca/csa for details. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. Call 1-888-281-2105 andquote promo code “CSASUMMER19“ Wide selection of phones starting at $0 Friendly Canadian customer service Reliable network coverage 30-day money-backguarantee Samsung Galaxy J3 $ 0 2-year term $250 no term Talk & Text Plan 150minutes and unlimited text messages inCanada/U.S. $36 /month * $40 Save 10% LG Q Stylo+ $ 0 2-year term $400 no term Couples Data Plan $100 Save 15% $85/month for 2 lines * Unlimited calling and texting between both users, share 1 GBof data and 400minutes inCanada/U.S. Stay connected with our most popular Canada/U.S. plans paired with great new devices! Other plansandphonesavailable. Visit simplyconnect.ca/csa for more details.
BirdTalk Dear Bird Talk, I am considering selling my U.S. condo and wonder if you have any advice on this. I have owned it for 10 years and it has gone up in value, so I know that I will pay capital gains tax in the U.S. Will the profit be counted as income in Canada? If I give some of that profit as gifts to my children, will they have to pay income tax on it? I realize that this is a good problem to have but, nevertheless, any advice you can give me will be appreciated. Anne Price Ed.: The profit will be considered as a capital gain in Canada as well, and will be taxable as such. After that, you can give portions of the gain to your children as gifts and there is no tax on that gift, assuming that they are Canadian residents. Dear Bird Talk, In 2019, we rented our Florida/Jensen Beach condo out to Americans (for the first time) for the months of February/March through a Jensen Beach-based realty management company. Can we pay the tax on these U.S. rental earnings in Canada, or must we pay it to the IRS? If the latter is the case (and we have to pay the rental earnings to the IRS), then what tax form would we use? And how will that tax form affect filling out our 8840 (which essentially states that we filed our 2019 taxes in Canada) if we have to pay the rental tax in the States too? And finally, if we must pay the rental tax in the U.S., have we opened ourselves up to worldwide tax? I still work, but my husband is retired. So that prospect would be scarier for me, as we both co-own the condo. Jane Bongers Ontario Ed.: By renting your condominium, you are considered to be operating a business in the U.S. In the year following the year of the rental, FORM 1040NR must be filed. You would also report the income in Canada, getting credit for any tax paid in the U.S. You should also file the 8840 for the relevant year, including it with the FORM 1040NR. If there is more than one owner of the property, there must be a separate filing for each person. There are no worldwide income considerations with this, as you are still a Canadian citizen. Dear Bird Talk, I am a board member and former vice-president of a Florida homeowners association. I was told that I may be in trouble with immigration, as I did help with new contracts and co-sign bank cheques. I am a legal resident of Ontario and have a winter home in Florida. The board decided that it was cheaper to not rehire the former manager and have the board do all of the oversight of running a moderately sized HOA. Am I in trouble? Joe Subbaro Ontario Ed.: There are two tests as to whether an activity is considered “working,” which would of course be prohibited. One is whether pay is received for the activity and the second is whether the activity is one that an American could be doing, and you are thus depriving him or her of gainful employment. As long as your activity is not for pay and is restricted to helping the owners of the units, we see no issues.We know many persons who have taken such positions on boards and they have never encountered any problems.Well done for volunteering your time! Dear Bird Talk, I am writing to you regarding an article in Magazine Issue 110 regarding wills in the U.S. Your response was NO, one does not need a special will for the U.S. I am attaching a letter which I sent to friends regarding an article in your summer issue last year. In it, you stated that you should have a U.S. will, and went on to add that a POA should be considered. This seems to be totally opposite to the current response. Would you please revisit these responses and advise appropriately. Thank you, Donald Adams Ontario Ed.: We are very conscious of the conflict to which you have referred. The article in CSANews was written by the general counsel of the CSA, who is licensed in Florida and Ontario. Opinions on the matter can differ and you can make a choice as to which you choose to follow. A Florida will is not a necessity, although many lawyers will recommend that you have one. As to Power of Attorney, the CSANews article was fully explanatory. Dear Bird Talk, There are two issues raised in the Bird Talk of the spring issue on page 8, where I am questioning your response. 1. There is no withholding tax on a U.S. sale of less than $250,000. To me, this means that I don’t need to submit a capital gains form to the U.S. IRS. If this were required, there would be withholding of any capital gain. The withholding tax is meant to force the taxpayer to submit a claim to get a partial refund. Seems that they are not concerned about anything less than $250,000. In fact, they have no social security number or tax identification number to verify that the appropriate capital gains formwas submitted. So why should this form be submitted and how will they know if a capital gains formhas been submitted or not? This seems to be the understanding in the U.S. 2. In Canada, we are required to report any real estate transaction of more than $100,000 at purchase. If the purchase price was less than this amount, what mechanism does the CRA have to force you to apply for capital gains? Again, as in the U.S. system, it seems that the CRA is not concerned about foreign capital gains on property purchased for less than $100,000. There is no T form showing this amount. So why report it? In the first case, a U.S. tax lawyer said that there was no need to report sales of less than $250,000. In both cases, you disagree with what the Bird Talk persons understood to be the case. My question to you is, what is your knowledge and training and expertise to make such a statement? Do you have IRS and CRA documents to back up your position? When one person says one thing and another person something different, you are left wondering what the situation really is. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Don Axford Ed.: We have been researching and answering questions such as yours for more than 25 years. CSA also has a full-time research analyst (Evan Rachkovsky) and a dedicated legal counsel (WallaceWeylie), who is a licensed lawyer in both Florida and Ontario of whom we take advantage to assist in answering your questions. We have access to professional people in other provinces and in other states as well. Differing legal and accounting opinions are very common and are 10 | www.snowbirds.org
Dear Bird Talk, After we returned from Florida this winter, I called in to our pharmacy for a repeat on a prescription and was advised that the medication I had been taking was on back order and that I would have to ask my doctor to prescribe something different. If this were to happen immediately before we leave for Florida in the fall, is this considered a change inmedication and subject to the three-month waiting period before we could travel? Susan Nameth Ontario Ed.: I would try a different pharmacy first, as changing drugs can be a little tricky when your body is used to a particular drug. In any event, all you would have to do is advise Medipac (and perhaps other companies) of the change and you would be fine. Dear Bird Talk, In your note to Peter Kuzik in the spring issue 2019, issue #110, when you stated, “We would have given the Mexican…Medipac’s credit card,” did you mean Medipac’s insurance card? Please explain. Wording is very ambiguous. Thank you, James Smith Ed.: This was, and is, the Medipac company credit card. Sometimes a hospital, especially in Mexico, will not treat you unless they are given a credit card in advance. Do NOT give them your credit card, because there is a fairly high probability of abuse. Call Medipac and Medipac will give them their credit card. They will then have to deal with us rather than you for payment, and we are very good at this. BirdTalk Featuring the letters & concerns of our members SEND YOUR LETTERS TO Bird Talk, c/o CSANews 180 Lesmill Road Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5 or by e-mail: csawriteus@snowbirds.org Bird Talk sometimes totally incorrect, occasionally even in writing. What we try to give you in Bird Talk is the most up-to-date information available. In answer to your two comments… 1. Both Canadian and U.S. tax systems are based on a self-reporting and honesty assumption. 2. ANY gain on a real estate sale is reportable and taxable in both Canada and the U.S. 3. The fact of any sale is reportable in the U.S. and Canada in the year following the sale, whether there was a gain or a loss. 4. In the U.S., there is a requirement to withhold 15% of the sale price and to send that amount to the IRS within 20 days of the closing. The one exception to this requirement is if the purchaser or a member of the family intends to occupy the premises for at least 50% of the occupied time over the two years following the closing, and the sale price is $300,000 or less. In this instance, no withholding is required. However, that does not change 1., 2. or 3. above. Dear Bird Talk, Can I import a homemade utility trailer back to Ontario with me? It has never been registered, nor does it have a serial number on it. I bought it partly finished and finished it myself. Do I have to register it in Florida first? Jean Cousineau Balderson, ON Ed.: According to the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV), homemade trailers are not admissible for importation into Canada. Sorry about that. Dear Bird Talk, We spend 180 days in Florida, but are considering cruising home to Vancouver via a cruise leaving Florida, going through the Panama Canal and finishing in Vancouver. Are the days on the ship counted as U.S.? We understand that if we leave Vancouver and go to a U.S. destination and then return to Canada, that we are “in transit.” But if we have been in the U.S. for close to 180 days before departure, are we still in transit?Thank you very much. Jamie McHugh-La West Kelowna, B.C. Ed.: You are deemed to have left the United States on the date of the ship’s departure and should be fine. However, if the ship does not go directly back to Canada and makes a stop in the United States after leaving, then the days must be counted. Dear Bird Talk, Hi, do I need a Working Visa to work as a campground host in a U.S. State Park?Thanks. Gilles Levesque Chicoutimi, QC Ed.: As you mention working for a U.S. State Park, I assume that this would be a paying position. You would not be able to do this without a visa allowing you to work in the U.S. As a visitor, you are not allowed to work in the U.S. and even volunteering can be suspect if the Government considers that you are taking a job from a U.S. citizen. Dear Bird Talk, I read your article in the summer 2018 issue on Amazon Prime. I talked to an Amazon customer service agent and he suggested to me to just get it monthly in Canada and in the U.S. for the time that I am there, then cancel and switch over to the other country. It is a little bit more expensive, but it worked great for me. Gordon Green Peoria, AZ and Prince George, B.C. Ed.: That is what we do and it does work well. Thanks. CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 11
Hopefully, you are reading this edition of CSANews on a nice summer day. Thus far, they have been few and far between in Ontario. Before you know it, it will be time to begin preparations for our annual journey to our winter homes. A great way to prepare for our winter in the sun is by attending one of our annual Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations. This year, our tour will take us exclusively throughout Ontario. Beginning on September 10, we will begin our tour with a show in Belleville. Other Ontario shows will take place in Nepean, Owen Sound, Saint Catharines, Richmond Hill, Port Hope, Orillia and Oshawa. These shows combine live musical entertainment with current information regarding the snowbird lifestyle. Admission to all of these events is free so, if you are in Ontario this September, I would encourage you to attend a show and say hello. As we are always looking for new members, please consider bringing a friend…they are more than welcome to attend. Thank you to everyone who has already renewed their CSAmembership. If you have yet to do so, please take a moment to renew by simply mailing us your renewal notice, by visiting our website at www.snowbirds.orgor simply by picking up the phone and calling the office. We are now more than 115,000 members strong from coast to coast; that’s a number that certainly gets people’s attention when we are dealing with our elected officials. I would also like to thank everyone who made a donation to our Special Action Fund. Every dollar donated is held in a separate account and is used exclusively to fund our government advocacy efforts. We utilize this fund when the CSA does not have time to seek donations, andmust engage immediately in government lobbying and consultation. A timely example of why this fund is so critical is the Ontario government’s surprise proposal to terminate OHIP’s Out-of-Country Travellers Program. The program currently reimburses all Ontario residents travelling outside of Canada between $200 and $400 per day for emergency in-patient services and up to $50 per day for emergency outpatient services. The Ontario government’s plan is scheduled to come into effect on October 1, 2019. This proposal has enraged Ontario snowbirds and we are actively engaging the Ontario government as I write this. Rest assured, we will continue to fight to prevent the elimination of this program. At the beginning of March, we distributed an electronic member advisory to our members in British Columbia regarding the province’s speculation and vacancy tax – an annual tax paid by some owners of residential properties in designated taxable regions of B.C. Generally, an owner is exempt from the tax if the residential property is their principal residence, which is the place where the owner lives for a longer period in a calendar year than any other place. While more than 99% of British Columbians are expected to be exempt from the tax, all residential property owners in the taxable regions must complete a declaration, even if they’re eligible for an exemption.The deadline for homeowners to claim their exemption was the end ofMarch. More information regarding the speculation and vacancy tax can be found here, www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/ property-taxes/speculation-and-vacancy-tax. The Canadian Snowbird Association is continuously monitoring jurisdictions across Canada which may consider implementing a similar tax and reporting requirements. I would like to remind you about the Snowbird Currency Exchange Program. Lifetime members incur no monthly transfer fee, while annual paying members are only charged $2 per monthly transfer. Information about current and past monthly rates can be found on our website. If you are not already signed up for this popular program, you can contact the CSA office for further information. Please note that this program is not subject to the new user fees that some U.S. states and financial institutions are imposing on “international money transfers,” an added financial saving to you. As I am sure we are all aware, there is a federal election on the way in October. The federal parties are already in campaign mode. Rest assured, we will have you covered on federal issues of importance to snowbirds with the release of our Federal Election Handbook. We will have that available to you in plenty of time prior to the October 21st vote, so that you will be able to ask relevant questions of your local candidates on issues of importance to travelling Canadians. For those of you getting an early start on your snowbird travel season, we will also provide you with detailed information about how you may vote in advance polls and even by absentee ballot. Bill and I wish you a safe and enjoyable summer. President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President 12 | www.snowbirds.org
On June 12, 2019, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik [R-NY-21] and Congressman Ted Deutch [D-FL22] reintroduced the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act, H.R. 3241 in the U.S. House of Representatives. As you may remember, this is the same bill which was introduced in the previous session of Congress by the same representatives. If signed into law, this bipartisan legislation would increase the allotted time which eligible retired Canadians, aged 50 and older, may spend in the United States from six to eight months in a 12-month period. It also contains an important provision shielding Canadian snowbirds from becoming taxable residents of the United States. We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Representatives Stefanik and Deutch for recognizing the importance of Canadian tourism to their respective districts − and to the United States as a whole − and for leading on this issue once again. Our next step is to have a Senate companion bill introduced as soon as possible. InMay of last year, we worked closely with the Florida Senate offices to introduce a Senate version of the House bill. In the current session of Congress, we will again seek an appropriate sponsor for a companion bill to theCanadian Snowbird Visa Act and then work on expanding bipartisan support for this measure on Capitol Hill. As I mentioned in the last issue, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act was already introduced in the House of Representatives in early April. Both the JOLT Act and theCanadian Snowbird Visa Act seek to increase the amount of time which retired Canadians can spend stateside up to eight months. Having this provision in multiple pieces of legislation increases the likelihood of passage, and we will continue to work diligently on this extension. In Canada, we remain engaged on reversing the Ontario government’s decision to cancel OHIP’s Out-of-Country (OOC) Travellers Program. This program provides reimbursement to Ontario residents travelling outside of Canada for qualified emergency in-patient and outpatient services received abroad. The program is scheduled to be cancelled on October 1 of this year. While the provincial legislature is in recess until October 28, CSA representatives will be working with government representatives over the summer months in an effort to overturn the proposed cancellation of outof-country coverage. In addition, we will also be reaching out to government representatives at the federal level to discuss this blatant violation of the Canada Health Act and encourage the federal government to exercise all options at their disposal under this legislation. This policy decision has potential ramifications which extend beyond the province of Ontario. It is crucial that we fight back against the cancellation of out-of-country medical coverage in Ontario to ensure that other jurisdictions in Canada do not attempt to implement similar policies. We will continue to provide members with updates on our advocacy efforts via e-mail andCSANews. The Ford government in Ontario has also proposed terminating the enhanced driver’s licence (EDL), which is an upgraded Ontario driver’s licence that can be used as a travel document between Canada and the United States of America when travelling by road or water. The EDL card is similar in appearance to the regular Ontario driver’s licence, but contains additional features such as a title on the card, a symbol to show Canadian citizenship and a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) on the back. The EDL card also costs an additional $40, on top of the regular driver’s licence fee. Currently, British Columbia and Manitoba are the only other jurisdictions in Canada which offer an enhanced driver’s licence. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has stated that the enhanced driver’s licence would be phased out gradually, in order to minimize the impact on cardholders. This means that anyone with an enhanced driver’s licence would automatically be transferred to a regular licence when their card is due for renewal. If a change to the program is implemented, notification letters will be sent to existing cardholders. Both the Canadian Snowbird Association and the Government of Canada recommend carrying a valid Canadian passport when travelling to any foreign destination, including the United States. Your valid Canadian passport is the best document to prove your Canadian citizenship and your right to return to Canada. We will provide members with more details regarding the proposed elimination of the enhanced driver’s licence as they become available. Have a safe and relaxing summer. Government Relations Report Ron Steeves First Vice-President CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 13
I just finished a book called “Turbulence,” which was not very good, but it reminded me of the goings-on in the travel insurance market. The fewer and fewer insurance companies in our marketplace are having great difficulty in predicting their loss ratios and, as expected, their rates are all over the place − but mostly higher. In January and February of this year, several insurers implemented substantial rate increases of up to 25% in some cases. There are multiple reasons for this, the prime one being that they have had several large claims. Generally, we consider a large claim as being in excess of US$500,000 and, for some travel insurance programs, one or two of these claims would be considered catastrophic. Several insurers purchase reinsurance each year to help offset these high-claim costs.This, of course, adds another layer of already high costs to their product mix and will increase their premium rates. Often, the reinsurance contract will state that claims of more than a certain amount will be shared and/or sometimes even covered fully by the reinsurance company. The “attachment point” is the limit that the primary insurance company has responsibility for paying and is usually $200-250,000 dollars. More than that amount, the reinsurance company must pay, or at least share in the claim payment. Another factor driving rates up in the early part of this year was, believe it or not, weather. Extremely hot weather can be devastating to people with evenminor breathing problems. Compound that with the Red Tide on the Gulf of Mexico and the forest fires in the Western U.S. and breathing was an issue even for very healthy people, me included. Emergency rooms and doctors’ offices were clogged with people seeking some relief. Did you get your flu shot? I certainly hope so, because it can save your life. Last year, the flu shot effectiveness during the snowbird season was approaching 50%, which is about normal. Very late in the season, a nasty new flu strain Insurance Turbulence! 14 | www.snowbirds.org
J. Ross Quigley CEO Medipac International Inc. Insurance appeared and the effectiveness dropped to about 9%. When the flu shot does not work our claims increase dramatically but, fortunately, our snowbirds had mostly returned to Canada by then. Other insurance programs were not so lucky. The horrible news that the Ontario government was attempting to cancel all OHIP payments outside of Canada came as a shock to us. If they can get away with this, other provinces will follow quickly and premium rates will increase. Our best guess is that the average premium increase for all insurers will be about 7.5%. Medipac’s increase will be in the 4-5% range, based on our low administration costs. Two of the programs increasing premiums the most in January and February have very tight government connections, and I wonder if they had a pre-warning of the government cutbacks. We do too, but we had no idea that this was coming. NOW for theGoodNews! Medipac believes that CSAwill be successful in convincing the Ford government to back off of this ridiculous cutback. It will prove to be very, very expensive for them in the long run. In fact, we have asked them to increase their outof-Canada payments to $1,200 per day (in hospital), and we believe that this will save themmoney.The government was complaining about their high administration costs, so Medipac offered to take over that daunting (to them) task for 70% less than they were paying. Medipac missed the flu shot bullet and the Red Tide just did not show up this year. Claims in the West were down due to several factors, as well. And the good news is…Medipac will NOT be increasing rates for our Early Bird program and our famous 5% discount still applies. Govern yourself accordingly, as they say. CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 15
Opinion with Michael Coren The mass murder of Christians in Sri Lanka at the end of April stunned many observers, not only because of the obvious barbarism of the act, but because the prime target was Christians, during Easter and in church. For those of us who have been writing and broadcasting for decades about the persecution of Christians, however, this obscenity came as little surprise. Back in 2012, I was hosting a nightly television show and, on one occasion, my guest was a Christian minister from the Middle East. He politely and humbly asked me if he could put a Bible on the desk in front of him during the interview. I politely told him that I’d rather he didn’t, because it might look like proselytizing. He replied that he understood, but that this particular Bible might be of interest to the viewers. It had been in Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic cathedral in Baghdad on October 31, 2010 when a Muslim terrorist group attacked the church, murdering 58 people and wounding more than 75. The book being held in front of me was almost beyond reading, as its pages were glued together in purple lumps, sticky with blood. This was not a holy book to be preached from, but a holy book of martyrdom that preached. The Baghdad attack was merely one example of the war on Christianity. Even Pope Francis, hardly militant in these areas, told a group of 40 Jewish leaders − including the then-head of theWorld Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder − “First it was your turn and now it is our turn.” In February, 2014, U.S. representative Chris Smith − chairman of the congressional panel that oversees international human rights issues, told a congressional subcommittee that discussion of “anti-Christian persecution is not meant to minimize the suffering of other religious minorities who are imprisoned or killed for their beliefs,” but to make it clear that Christians “remain the most persecuted religious group the world over.” More than 300 million Christians are threatened with violence or face legal discrimination, forced conversion and daily threats. In countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Nigeria and elsewhere, they are frequently imprisoned and tortured on false charges of drinking and blasphemy and, in Iraq, the exodus of Christians has been so great that the faith may even cease to exist in any meaningful sense in years to come. But this is a good example of why we have to be very selective and informed regarding how and what we judge. Saddam Hussein was a brute, but he didn’t persecute Christians. It was the Western invasion of Iraq that smashed the stability of the place, empowering Islamist groups and leading to the full-scale attack on the Christian minority. Similarly, in Syria, Christians are generally protected and in Palestine, the national conversation was traditionally shaped by Greek Orthodox Christians. In Egypt, the story is sadly different; in Turkey, there is hardly even a concept of a “Turkish Christian”; and, in Pakistan, the once-respected Christian minority is now intimidated and frightened. This is not an issue of Islamrefusing to accept Christianity, but of radicalized Islam and of ignorant, sadistic fanatics not accepting anybody but their own – they also slaughter Muslims who refuse to adopt their gruesome twisting of the Muslim faith. Yet Christians are without doubt the main victims of this systemic persecution and violence, and theWestern world says relatively little. The reasons are complex, but one of the causes is that conservative Christians in North America and Europe so frequently claim victimhood, usually when they show intolerance towards LGBTQ people. This absurd boast of martyrdom leads to cynicism about the very real horrors experienced by Christians in other parts of the world. On a grander scale, when George W. Bush launched imperial campaigns in majority-Muslim areas and spoke of a Christian motive, there was an understandable if misplaced anger. If Bush and his people were Christian, how could Christians be vulnerable and persecuted? The inescapable fact is that Christians are indeed a highly persecuted group and that Christianity even faces disappearance in the places where it was born. It is not a western faith but one rooted deeply in the Middle East, and its adherents in much of that region, as well as in Asia and Africa, demand our help and solidarity. If we choose between marginalized groups, and ignore one for whatever reason we conjure, we are failing in our intelligence, compassion and humanity. 16 | www.snowbirds.org
Unlimited U.S. Phone Service for Less Save up to95%on your wireless plan LIMITED TIME FREE SIM OFFER Get a free SIM card ($9.95 value) so you can try Roam on your next trip to the States. Claim your free SIM online at: TALK+TEXT+DATA With unlimited: • nationwide U.S. calling • long-distance to Canada • global messaging • data + 4GB LTE data Plus voicemail, caller ID & more TALK+TEXT With unlimited: • nationwide U.S. calling • long-distance to Canada • global messaging Plus voicemail, caller ID & more • Get your own U.S. phone number • Unlimited usage, no overages • Schedule your plan before you travel • Reuse Roam Mobility for every trip • Use your own phone • No contracts per month* per month* SNOWBIRD PLANS $4995 $3495 CAD CAD *Some restrictions apply. Visit get.roammobility.com/csa for full details. FREE $9.95 value get.roammobility.com/csa
Travel PORTUGAL REVISITED Join us on a nostalgic trip to Lisbon, 45 years after our Portugal honeymoon Our first trip to Portugal was in 1974. It was the midpoint of our twoyear honeymoon travelling across Europe in a Volkswagen camper van. Driving from Spain, we arrived on the southern Algarve coast in April. Trees laden with figs and almonds lined the road. Traffic was light, consisting mainly of horse-drawn carts and donkeys carrying pottery jugs. When we spotted the pristine beaches punctuated with fanciful rock formations, we decided to extend our stay, rather than drive straight to the Atlantic coast. Story and photos by Barb & Ron Kroll 1974 1974 18 | www.snowbirds.org
Travel Winter haven for snowbirds Even four decades ago, the Algarve was a haven for winter-weary visitors who stayed in whitewashed hotels along the coast. With more sunny days than the Riviera, the Costa Brava and California, the Algarve is now an even more popular long-stay destination for Canadian snowbirds. Albufeira captivated us with its North African-style, white-stucco houses decorated with whimsical chimneys. Some were tall and shaped like minarets. Others were made from elaborate pottery. We strolled along the waterfront, watching fishermen in colourful boats mend nets. Today, pastel-hued apartments, restaurants and bars cater to visitors, while diving and dolphin-watching boats join fishing vessels in the marina. Praia da Rocha, a wide, sandy beach three kilometres south of Portimão was (and still is) popular for sunbathing. We prefer the smaller beaches farther west along the coast. Tides have erodedmany of the rocks separating the beaches into jagged monoliths and arches. High cliffs − pierced by lagoons and sea caves − fringe other beaches. We spent many happy hours exploring the stretches of golden sand. Meeting the locals Nowadays, there’s no shortage of restaurants serving residents of the many high-rise hotels along the Algarve coast. Back in 1974, few shops sold bottled water. We pumped our drinking water from roadside artesian wells. Buying produce in local markets and fresh seafood fromfishermen (three pounds of sole for 80 cents!) gave us many opportunities to meet the locals. We especially enjoyed the friendly Portimão fishermen, who showed us how they mended nets with long, handmade wooden needles. They also showed us crates of sole, red snapper, skate, crabs, sea bass, cod, eels and sardines ready for auction. (In 2019, buyers watch several auctions simultaneously on the internet and place their bids online.) All work in Portimão stopped the following day. We inadvertently witnessed history-in-the-making in 1974, when Portuguese citizens celebrated their first May Day in nearly 50 years. April 25, Freedom Day, is now a national holiday. It commemorates the Carnation Revolution, which ended 48 years of dictatorship and ultimately changed the government into a democracy. 1974 1974 1974 1974 1974 CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 19
Travel Corkplantations After leaving the Algarve and driving north along the West Coast, we discovered cork plantations and vineyards that still characterize this agricultural region today. Some of the cork will stopper bottles of excellent Portuguese wines, ranging from the slightly sparkling Vinho Verde to fortified Port wines. In 1974, we watched farmers ploughing fields with long-horned cattle that wore bells around their necks. Along the coast near Sesimbra, we examined gutted and splitopen codfish hanging from wooden poles and drying in the sun. Nowadays, with the depletion of cod stocks and the dismantling of the cod-fishing fleet, dried cod is mostly imported from Norway and Iceland. Bridge to Lisbon When we arrived in Lisbon on our first trip, we crossed the Tagus River into the city on the Salazar Bridge. It was named after António de Oliveira Salazar, the leader of Portugal’s dictatorship from 1932 to 1968. After the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974, its name was changed to25 do Abril Bridge to celebrate Portugal’s return to democracy. Although its colour and shape make it look like the Golden Gate Bridge, Lisbon’s 2,278-metre bridge has a longer central span. Unlike San Francisco’s suspension bridge, it carries cars on its upper deck and trains on the lower deck. Driving across the bridge, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Portugal’s capital city spread out along the river. We drove up to Castelo de São Jorge to stroll through the gardens inside its Moorish walls, which have dominated Lisbon for more than 1,000 years. Before driving down to explore the city, we enjoyed bird’s-eye views of the red-tiled roofs of Lisbon below us. 1974 1974 1974 20 | www.snowbirds.org
Travel Free admission and public transport On our recent return visit to Lisbon, everything looked cleaner, brighter and more prosperous. Instead of driving, we bought Lisboa Cards for free admission to many Lisbon attractions, including museums, monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The card also gave us free trips on Lisbon’s metro, buses, trams, elevators and funiculars, as well as many other discounts. We used the card to revisit the Tower of Belém. When viewed from the Tagus River, its tower and attached bastion resemble a four-storey wedding cake. Built between 1515 and 1519 to defend the river’s mouth from Atlantic invaders, the fortification became a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 1983, after our first visit. The limestone building has Moorish turrets, Venetian loggia and watchtower cupolas. This Manueline architecture blends Gothic and Moorish styles with maritime details, such as coils of rope, shells and coral. It also has a drawbridge. We spotted the winch that we had photographed in 1974. Portuguese explorers As we viewed the Tagus riverside scenery from the tower’s terraces, we felt as if we were standing on a ship’s bow. Portuguese explorers − including Vasco da Gama − viewed the Tower of Belém as they returned from exploring the world, their caravels laden with silk, spices and gold. The Portuguese developed caravels as more maneuverable ships than Spanish galleons. They created their triangular sails from durable canvas. The Monument to the Discoveries, located on the north bank of the Tagus River just east of the Belém Tower, was built in 1960.The 52-metre-highmonument honours the golden age of the discoveries and the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator, who initiated the Portuguese overseas expansion and subsidized map-makers and shipbuilders. As we approached, our footsteps crossed a huge inlaid marble map depicting caravels and countries explored by the Portuguese, including India in 1498 and Terra Nova (Newfoundland) in 1500. Awavy, black-and-white mosaic walkway led us to the stylized caravel monument jutting into the Tagus River. A statue of Henry the Navigator leads a group of crusaders, explorers and poets climbing up each side. 1974 CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 21
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx