OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 105 FINANCE Market Timing HEALTH Attitudes and Aging Zika Update Publication mail agreement no: 40063603 Antigua & Barbuda A twin-island Caribbean paradise In This Issue
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 WINTER 2017 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 Dave Hunter Barb & Ron Kroll Dr. Robert MacMillan David McPherson Andrew Moore-Crispin Robert Wiersema Rex Vogel Merv Magus Judith Adam Gabrielle Bauer Donna Carter Michael Coren Jennifer Cox Shari Darling James Dolan Illustrator 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 WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 105 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada. What a great year it has been! We have all, hopefully, survived the vicious hurricanes, fires, landslides, upheavals and riots that plagued North America this year and we are looking forward to what 2018 can bring to us as it unfolds. This past year was, of course, the 25th anniversary of the founding of The Canadian Snowbird Association. Coincidentally, it fell on the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, so our celebrations were doubly blessed. CSA sponsored more than 20 separate anniversary celebrations in both Canada and the United States, in many different kinds of communities. Combined with our Extravaganzas, Winter Information Meetings and Canadian Lifestyle Presentations, we helped to raise the profile of the CSAwith hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of new snowbirds. Our friends at Medipac pitched in to help celebrate and they provided a $25 discount on all of their snowbird travel insurance policies for this season’s travel. Their Early Bird launch contained a $25 “silver” certificate for every snowbird within a family, which resulted in a real $50 in your pockets. For the Main Season program, they simply reduced every rate by $25 and several other rate reductions were adopted as well. I think that we should just keep on celebrating. Life is a precious thing to be cherished…and celebrated. Do your part! Health and Happiness and Safe Travels. Sincerely, J. Ross Quigley Editor CSANews | WINTER 2017 | 3
Table of Contents Features WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 105 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION 20 28 Antigua & Barbuda A twin-island Caribbean paradise by Barb and Ron Kroll Marvellous Mobile Bay Gateway to the Gulf by Rex Vogel Travel RV Lifestyle 17 The Ballad of I-75 Dave Hunter introduces us to a long-lost musical treasure. by Dave Hunter 4 | www.snowbirds.org
Table of Contents 32 38 42 Departments 49 Gardening by Judith Adam 50 Food & Drink by Shari Darling 52 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin 54 CSA Application 55 Benefits 56 CSA Update 57 Provincal Picnics 58 Canadian Calendar 60 Fun & Games 61 Grins & Giggles 62 Fast Facts 3 Editor’s Message 6 Snowbird Alert 10 Bird Talk 12 President’s Message 13 Government Relations Report 14 Insurance by Ross Quigley 16 Opinion by Michael Coren 40 Health Pulse 44 Longevity by Jennifer Cox 46 Golf by David McPherson 48 Book Review by Robert Wiersema Why Market Timing is Usually a Bad Idea (And what you should do instead) by James Dolan Attitudes and Aging Turn that frown upside down! by Dr. Robert MacMillan Zika South Old news or new threat? by Gabrielle Bauer Finance Health CSANews | WINTER 2017 | 5
SnowbirdAlert www.newscanada.com Superbugs are more than just the latest health scare ‒ they’re a very real threat which could mean that curing common illnesses such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections may soon not be as simple as a quick trip to the doctor and a prescription for an antibiotic. A superbug is a micro-organism (such as a bacterium, virus or parasite) that has developed resistance to more than one drug ‒ antimicrobials such as antibiotics ‒ that are used to eliminate it. Antimicrobial resistance is becoming an increasingly serious issue, so it’s important to learn more about superbugs and what we can do to stop them. Here are five facts you need to know. 1. A global concern. The World Health Organization is calling antimicrobial resistance a global health emergency. If present trends continue, it’s projected to become one of the leading causes of death, exceeding even cancer. 2. Who is at risk? According to the WHO, anyone of any age, in any country, can get an antibiotic-resistant infection. People who are most at risk of experiencing severe consequences from superbugs include younger children, older adults, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems due to a chronic illness. Resistant infections are more difficult and take longer to treat, may require hospitalization and can be accompanied by more severe side-effects and expensive treatments. 3. A post-antibiotic era is possible. When antibiotics were first discovered, they were hailed as wonder drugs that could easily cure what were once considered fatal illnesses. With superbugs, we’re at risk of returning to a time at which common infections and complications from minor surgery can be deadly. 4. We need diagnostics. A key priority for combating antibiotic resistance is ensuring that only those who will benefit from an antibiotic are prescribed one. Health experts believe that the best way to do this is by decreasing demand through advanced methods for diagnosis that can determine if an illness can be treated by an antibiotic and, if so, which one. That’s why more research is needed in the areas of prevention, diagnostics and surveillance. 5. You can help. As doctors and scientists work to tackle superbugs, you can contribute to these efforts by staying up-to-date on your vaccinations (which help prevent infections) and by frequent hand-washing, which is the best way to stop the spread of infections. Take antibiotics only when prescribed and as indicated by a certified health professional ‒ that means finishing your prescribed treatment even if you feel better, as the infection might not be completely gone. Find more information at amr.bd.com/en-ca. The holiday season is prime time for fraudsters, so it’s important to be vigilant when hunting down deals and searching for the best gifts online. Here are some tips to keep your personal and credit card information safe: ◆◆ Shop only on secure websites. Double-check that the website address begins with “https://” (the “s” stands for secure). ◆◆ Pay by credit card if you can. Never send cash. ◆◆ Be on the lookout for prices that are too good to be true. They’re likely counterfeits. ◆◆ Don’t use public Wi-Fi to shop online. Wait to get home, or use your data plan. ◆◆ Read the site’s privacy policy and find out how your information will be used. ◆◆ Don’t respond to an e-mail or pop-up message that asks for financial information. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information this way. ◆◆ Read your credit card statements and check for unauthorized charges. ◆◆ Don’t allow auto-fill for your passwords or personal information ‒ such as your address ‒ and never allow a site to store your credit card information. Find more tips online at canada.ca/money. SUPERBUGS 5 facts you need to know Protect yourself from ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS 6 | www.snowbirds.org
To find the nearest Bealls Store or for additional offers, visit BeallsFlorida.com Bealls Stores & BeallsFlorida.com are operated by Bealls Stores, Inc. and Beall’s Westgate Corporation. GE01 FLORIDA EXPERIENCE THE As much as you missed Florida, we missed you even more. We have all new arrivals so stop by, say hello & see what’s new at Bealls! MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017-WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Coupon valid for one time use on a qualifying merchandise purchase in Bealls Stores, by phone at 800-569-9038, on Click & Find® kiosks and on BeallsFlorida.com only. Coupon must be presented & surrendered at time of purchase. Limit one (1) coupon per purchase. Cannot be used during Storewide Events on the following dates: December 10, January 7 & January 18-20. Cannot be applied to prior purchases, gift card purchases, existing Bealls Florida credit balances, taxes, or shipping charges and cannot be used with Employee Discount or any other offer. Dollar-off discounts will be applied before any percent-off total purchase discounts. Coupon is applied to qualifying items on a prorated basis; returns will be credited at the return price on your receipt. EXCLUSIONS: Bealls Extreme Values, Bealls Outstanding Buys, Cobian®, Columbia, Hook & Tackle®, Huk™, Levi’s®, Life Is Good®, Melissa & Doug®, Natural Life®, Nite Ize®, Nike®, Oscar Mike®, Pelagic®, Reef®, Sakroots®, Sawyer®, Simply Southern®, Suncloud®, Under Armour®, Vionic® and other brands listed at BeallsFlorida.com/exclusions. Not valid at Bealls Outlet. Bealls Stores & BeallsFlorida.com are operated by Bealls Stores, Inc. and Beall’s Westgate Corporation. CP14 Use promo code SANDCASTLE on BeallsFlorida.com your purchase EXTRA SALE, REGULAR & CLEARANCE MERCHANDISE 20% OFF Tee Time Sunshine Coastal Home BeallsFlorida.com LIFESTYLE To find the nearest Bealls Store or for additional offers, visit BeallsFlorida.com Bealls Stores & BeallsFlorida.com are operated by Bealls Stores, Inc. and Beall’s Westgate Corporation. GE01 I is ed Florida, i ven more. l ar ivals t , say hello t’s at Bealls! ONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017-WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Coupon valid for one time use on a qualifying merchandise purchase in Bealls Stores, by phone at 800-569-9038, on Click & Find® kiosks and on BeallsFlorida.com only. Coupon must be presented & surrendered at time of purchase. Limit one (1) coupon per purchase. Cannot be used during Storewide Events on the following dates: December 10, January 7 & January 18-20. Cannot be applied to prior purchases, gift card purchases, existing Bealls Florida credit balances, taxes, or shipping charges and cannot be used with Employee Discount or any other offer. Dollar-off discounts will be applied before any percent-off total purchase discounts. Coupon isappliedtoqualifying itemsonaproratedbasis;returnswillbecreditedatthereturn price on your receipt. EXCLUSIONS: Bealls Extreme Values, Bealls Outstanding Buys, Cobian®, Columbia, Hook & Tackle®, Huk™, Levi’s®, Life Is Good®, Melissa & Doug®, Natural Life®, Nite Ize®, Nike®, Oscar Mike®, Pelagic®, Reef®, Sakroots®, Sawyer®, Simply Southern®, Suncloud®, Under Armour®, Vionic® and other brands listed at BeallsFlorida.com/exclusions. Not valid at Bealls Outlet. Bealls Stores & BeallsFlorida.com are operated by Bealls Stores, Inc. and Beall’s Westgate Corporation. CP14 Use promo code SANDCASTLE on BeallsFlorida.com your purchase SALE, REGULAR & CLEARANCE MERCHANDISE 20% OF Te Time Sunshine Coastal Home BeallsFlorida.com
1 2 Stay connected with family and friends Use your phone to stay-in-touch when travelling. If you have access to data or a Wi-Fi connection, you can use social media apps like Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date with your friends and family’s latest activities as well as share special moments from your travels with them by posting pictures and videos. With apps like Skype or Facebook Messenger, you can make voice and video calls with your loved ones all over the world. Smartphones have made communicating much easier by keeping family and friends connected more than ever before. Mobile navigation (GPS) Have you ever gotten lost on your way to a destination? Just look for the mobile navigation app on your smartphone and type in the address of your destination. It will start a voiceguided step-by-step navigation instruction, while also updating you with the current traffic on your route. You can also download these maps to your phone so that you can prepare better for your trip. Want to know where’s the best place to have dinner when you are out of town? Your smartphone can also look for nearby restaurants with ratings and reviews. You can also find other locations you may need on your trip, like the closest shopping mall or gas station with clear directions on how to get there. Conveniently access information Whether you have a question or want to learn something new, with a smartphone you can easily find the information you need right at your fingertips when travelling. You can use Google from your smartphone to discover famous tourist spots in the area. Are you taking the bus or train? Search for the transit schedule using your phone to plan your trip properly. Smartphones can help you find what you need wherever you are. News and weather updates Stay up-to-date with the latest news and weather updates with your smartphone. Are you planning outdoor activities? Check your weather app for the most recent weather information and see if it’s going to be sunny the whole week. How about staying current on what is happening in the world? You can download news apps like CBC, CNN, BBC News, or other preferred news sources to stay consistently updated. Mobile banking Take control, save time and handle your finances by using mobile banking. You can easily access your bank account information as long as you have an internet connection. With easy access to bill payments, money transfers and account balances, you can stay on top of your banking needs even when you’re away. Book and track your appointments Are you planning activities and setting up appointments for your travel? Use the calendar feature in your phone to schedule your entire day, week or month. You can also create reminders or set up an alarm for upcoming appointments to make sure you’re always on time. Travel documents Want convenient access to your passport, boarding pass or health card while travelling? Take a picture or save your important documents in your email so that you have a digital copy easily accessible on your smartphone. SimplyConnect makes staying in touch while travelling easy with the new Canada/U.S. plans! You can pair the Canada/U.S. plans with your smartphone so you can enjoy all its benefits while in Canada or the U.S. all year long! These plans are perfect for Canadian Snowbirds who travel back and forth in both countries - one plan, one phone number and one SIM card for both your Canadian and U.S. wireless needs. SimplyConnect’s dedicated live agents will help you choose the right phone and Canada/ U.S. plan for your needs. For more information about current Canada/ U.S. plans and mobile phones, visit simplyconnect.ca/canada-us-plans/ or call 1-888-281-2105. 7 BENEFITS OF USING A SMARTPHONE WHILE TRAVELLING Smartphones have transformed the way we do things and have made many activities more efficient, especially while travelling. Smartphones can be intimidating but with the proper know-how, having one can make your life easier. Here are 7 benefits of using a Smartphone while travelling: 3 4 6 7 5
“Use your phone seamlessly in Canada or in the U.S. ” *Offers shown are available until January 31, 2018 or while quantities last and are subject to change without notice. 10% off applies to the Talk & Text Canada/U.S. monthly plan fees, and 15% off applies to the Smartphone Canada/U.S. monthly plan fees. Discount applies with 2-year service agreement and cannot be combined with Bring Your Own Phone Discount, Tablet and Wireless Home Phone plans. Early cancellation fees apply. Some conditions apply, visit www.simplyconnect.ca/canada-us-plans/ or call 1-888-281-2105 for details. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. • Wireless plans to suit your needs • Great phones includingbasic and smartphones starting at $0 • Friendly &dedicatedCanadian customer service • 30-day money-backguarantee The SimplyConnect difference Samsung Galaxy J1 LG G4 4.5” touch screen with 5 MP camera 5.5” touch screen with 16 MP camera $ 0 2-year term $150 no term $ 0 2-year term $250 no term Call 1-888-281-2105 andquote promo code “CSA2017“ to get this offer or visit our website for more details www.simplyconnect.ca/canada-us-plans/ Other plansandphonesavailable Canada/U.S. Talk & Text Canada/U.S. Smartphone 500 MB • 150Canada/U.S. minutes • UnlimitedCanada/U.S. text messages + Includes: Voicemail, call display and name display • 500 MBof data in Canada/U.S. • 200Canada/U.S. minutes • UnlimitedCanada/U.S. text, picture and video messages + Includes: Voicemail, call display and name display $36 /month * $51 /month * 15% OFF Canada/U.S. Smartphone plan* 10% OFF Canada/U.S. Talk & Text plan* INTRODUCTORY OFFER FOR CSA MEMBERS: $ 40 /month $ 60 /month OR
BirdTalk Dear Bird Talk, I took particular note of your editor’s comment in the fall issue which stated, “I have found no rationale for the many and varied decisions given by border guards.” You are so right! Here is a classic example. My wife and I spend just less than six months each winter in California from late October to late April. A few years ago, we spent more than 30 days back in Canada, from mid-December to mid-January. When we attempted to return to the U.S., a border guard at Montreal Trudeau Airport advised us that we would be exceeding the six-month maximum stay. His rationale: you have to be outside the U.S. for a full CALENDAR month before those days stop counting towards your annual maximum stay. Since you were physically present in the U.S. for at least one day in December, the full month of December counts towards your six-month maximum. Since you will be physically present in the U.S. for at least one day in January, the entire month of January counts towards your six-month maximum. In other words, his interpretation was that we were deemed never to have left the U.S. in both December and January, even though we had been out of the U.S. for more than 30 days. The U.S. border guard seized our Canadian passports, yelling “I’ve had it with you people! You are not U.S. citizens and you have NO RIGHTS!”We were then led to the secondary inspection area, where we were detained for almost two hours, narrowly avoiding missing our flight. Finally, a supervisor asked us a few perfunctory questions and told us we were free to go. It was a very stressful and anxious experience, all as the result of an uninformed, poorly trained and belligerent U.S. border guard. J.M. Thibault Haliburton, ON Ed.: We decided to print this letter as it clearly outlines the reality of border crossing. The “You have NO RIGHTS” wording is really true. We are foreigners trying to enter another country and it is a privilege to be able to do so. In 50 years of “back-and-forthing” to the U.S., I have only had one issue and that was with Canada Customs, not the U.S. Perhaps I have been lucky, but I do take a “Yes sir, no sir” attitude with me when I cross and try to be friendly. You should do the same. Dear Bird Talk, I know Canadians can’t work in the U.S. without a “green card,” but the definition of work has changed a lot lately. What about Canadians who “telecommute”? I work in software. This winter, I’ll be in Florida with my laptop and I’ll be earning a living while I’m there. So I’m working. I’m in the U.S. But I won’t be earning any money from any American company. I’m working for a Canadian company connected to a computer located in Ontario. The employer and customer are both in Canada. The work is happening in Canada. My paycheque comes from a Canadian company and is deposited into a Canadian bank. But I’m in the U.S. Am I breaking any rules? You seem to know the answers to so many snowbird questions, I’m hoping you can help us with this one. Todd Toronto, ON [That’s a fictitious name, in case I’m breaking any rules ‒ I don’t want to get in any trouble!] Ed.: Every situation is different, of course, but your situation appears to be fine. You are not taking a job from an American citizen and that is one of the primary criteria used in decisions that are made. Also, everything surrounding your employment is in Canada. I, personally, am in exactly the same boat and you do know my real name, so I would not worry. We are trying to address this somewhat grey factor in our Snowbird Visa, as well. Dear Bird Talk, The information in this section of CSANews is always very useful to snowbirds and others with some connection to the U.S. Could you please clarify your response to a recent letter in which you state that, “if you earn income in the U.S. you do have to file a U.S. tax return.” According to the Tax Convention between Canada and the U.S., there is the provision, for instance, that “Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.” Does that not suggest that the income derived from the U.S. can be declared in a Canadian tax return and the tax paid in Canada instead of the U.S.? One of the purposes of the Convention is to prevent double taxation, i.e. paying tax twice on the same income amount. Robert Blair Vancouver, BC Ed.: If you earn ANY income in the United States, you are required to file a U.S. tax return. This includes rental income for leasing your condo or park model, as well. There is a very effective tax treaty between Canada and the United States and, in most cases, you will be able to recoup any U.S. taxes which you pay on your Canadian tax return.We are aware that many people do “under the table” rental deals “Canadian to Canadian,” but we do not recommend that. If you are caught, the penalties can be severe. The taxes payable are usually minimal after deductions anyway, so have a chat with a U.S. accountant. Dear Bird Talk, My husband and I bought a home in St. Petersburg in 2014 and now drive there each fall and home in the spring. My question is, if we drive to Florida and spend three nights on the road each fall and three nights on the road coming home in the spring, do those nights on the road ‘in transit’ need to be counted toward the allowable maximum of 182 days in the U.S.? Sylvia Crothers Quispamsis, NB Ed.: Easy answer – “Yes”. Every day or part of a day counts towards your limit. Dear Bird Talk, As a Canadian snowbird, I fill out an 8840 annually. On occasion, we have taken a cruise which originates in the U.S. How is this time included inmy Form 8840? Of particular concern is a recent Alaska cruise which originated and ended in Seattle, WA, but could be in the Caribbean or to Hawaii. Victor Tkachuk Calgary, AB 10 | www.snowbirds.org
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 Ed.: If you leave from Canada and go directly to the cruise ship and then return directly to Canada, you are considered to be “in transit.” These days are not counted towards your sixmonth allowance. Dear Bird Talk, Hi, my husband and I have a 15-day Panama cruise booked out of Ft. Lauderdale next month. We will be departing from Toronto, ON and will spend one night in Ft. Lauderdale pre-cruise. 15 days later, we will disembark in San Francisco and will be departing from San Francisco for Toronto that same day. My question is, does any portion of our trip need to be claimed in the 182 days allowed in the U.S.? Thanks. Yvette Switzer Sudbury, ON Ed.: This is the classic example of “in transit.” No portion of your trip is counted. Dear Bird Talk, Your article on page 9 re: Bird Talk seems to imply that men live longer than women when married. If that is your implication, I would like to know where you got your info from. My wife and I live in a seniors’ area and in one building, there are 24 single people; all but two are women. There are only 14 couples. In another building, there are 50 units there and only six men living there. We go over to the retirement residences to visit and the majority of the residents are women. Check it out. Fred (Address Omitted) Ed.: The point being made was that married men live longer than single men. My guess is that their wives make them take better care of themselves and sharing makes big problems seem smaller. Women have been outliving all men, on average, as long as statistics have been recorded, but the gap is narrowing. Dear Bird Talk, Re: your fall 2017 issue, a reader was concerned that no receipt was confirmed or received when they submitted Form 8840. We have been completing this form for several years and, when sending in the form, we pay an extra $5 to have a receipt mailed back to us confirming that the government has received the form. A small price to pay for those who may be concerned about this issue. The card to do this (which is attached to the envelope being mailed) can be obtained at any U.S. post office. There is no indication that the government has read the form, only that they received it. Doug Morrison Toronto, ON Ed.: For those concerned this is an excellent idea, but we do not think it is necessary. I would simply note on each form when and where you mailed it and keep copies for several years. Dear Bird Talk, We travel to Florida every year and complete the Closer Connection forms...we are usually there for approx. 172-175 days. Our question deals with a “less than one day” visit across the border to shop, or play bingo or go to casino. If we were to cross the border and return to Canada the same day, would we be required to count this as a day in U.S. on the Closer Connection form? Thanking you in advance for your information. Dianne Strauss Ed.: Any part of a day is counted as a day so, yes, you are required to count that day. Dear Bird Talk, I have heard that if we leave the U.S. during our calendar year, we have to be clear of the U.S. for at least a 30-day period, otherwise those days away are still included in our U.S. day count. Is this true? Barry Woods Penticton, BC Ed.: Yes, it is true. This rule is in the guidelines (not law) given to border guards. Some guards are aware of it and some are not, so you can get conflicting statements when talking to officials. CSA is trying to get a more sensible ruling from the U.S., but we are not holding our breath in anticipation. Dear Bird Talk, In his article (fall 2017 issue 104), David Mcpherson incorrectly stated that Augusta James played in the RBC Canadian Open. Augusta is a female golfer. It was her brother Austin James who played in that event. I am certain of this, as I am their proud grandfather. Alan James Everett, ON Ed.: Proud grandfathers are always correct. That’s par for the course. CSANews | WINTER 2017 | 11
President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President Snowbird season has arrived, and it is time to escape the cold and head to our winter homes. I have enjoyed a busy first year as president of the Canadian Snowbird Association and it’s not over yet. In September, my husband Bill and I enjoyed meeting so many of you at our annual round of fall Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations. This year, we began our tour in Ontario with stops in Richmond Hill, St. Catharines, Parry Sound and Nepean, before heading east for stops in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Moncton, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was great meeting all of you who said hello and I am happy to report that the association also signed up many new members at the shows. If you didn’t get a chance to attend a Lifestyle Presentation this year, not to worry, our round of winter shows is fast approaching. This year’s Florida Snowbird Extravaganza will be held at the RP Funding Center on Tuesday andWednesday, January 30 and 31, 2018 in Lakeland, Florida. The RP Funding Center is the new name of the Lakeland Center; it is not a different venue so if you’ve been to the Lakeland Center before, that is still where you’re headed. Our Winter Texans’ Snowbird Extravaganza will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 6 and 7, 2018 at the Boggus Ford Events Center in Pharr, Texas. Finally, our Arizona Extravaganza (Canadian Snowbird Celebration) will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 13 and 14, 2018 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Arizona. If none of those dates work for you, guess what? You are not out of luck yet. Our annual round of Winter Information Meetings commences on February 19, 2018 in Indio, California and then we are off to Winterhaven, California for a show on February 20, 2018. We then head back to Florida for our final four shows. Florida members can catch us in Immokalee on February 23, 2018, Clearwater on February 26, 2018, Bradenton on February 27, 2018 or Punta Gorda on February 28, 2018. All of the shows listed above combine great entertainment and useful information about making the most of your time in your winter homes. As always, these are free shows and everyone is welcome so, if you have a friend who is not yet a member of the CSA, by all means please feel free to bring them along or encourage them to join us. CSA members may also book a member of your board of directors to make an information presentation this winter directly to their local winter community or club. These presentations include some of the latest information regarding what the association has been working on, on your behalf and we attempt to answer any questions which people might have about a wide variety of snowbird-related topics. To book a presentation for your local winter community or club, simply contact the CSA office in Toronto. These presentations are open to members and non-members alike. Some of the most frequently asked questions we still receive in the office are about the Form 8840; what is it and do I need to file it? Under the Internal Revenue Code, Canadians and other foreign visitors to the United States will be treated as either resident aliens or non-resident aliens for tax purposes. Resident aliens of the U.S. are treated similarly to U.S. citizens in that they are taxed on their worldwide income. If a Canadian traveller typically spends four months or longer in the United States each calendar year, he or she may be deemed a resident alien for tax purposes. In order to be treated as a non-resident alien and avoid U.S. taxation, Canadian snowbirds need to file IRS Form 8840 – Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens annually (one form per person) by June 15. We recommend that travellers make a copy of their Form8840 and include it in their border binder of information as further evidence of their closer residential ties with Canada. If you do not file Form 8840, you will not be eligible to claim the closer connection exception and may be treated as a U.S. resident. This does not mean that you will be, but why take the chance? If you file by the deadline, you will not be penalized if you can show by clear and convincing evidence that you took reasonable actions to become aware of the filing requirements and significant steps to comply with those requirements. I appreciate that this can be confusing but, if you file the form, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. If you need clarification or help with filing, simply contact the office and they’ll be happy to help you. That’s what they’re there for. Bill and I wish you a safe and happy winter in the sun. 12 | www.snowbirds.org
Government Relations Report Ron Steeves First Vice-President As we go to press, H.R. 3513, the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act, which was introduced by Congressional Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) and Ted Deutch (D-FL-22), has 21 co-sponsors in the United States House of Representatives. It has been referred to both the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Ways andMeans. The bill was referred to the Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representatives because it contains a provision which amends the Internal Revenue Code. This particular section of the bill ensures that Canadian retirees who choose to travel to the United States for more than six months will be treated as non-residents for tax purposes, meaning that they will not be taxed in both jurisdictions. CSA representatives have beenmeeting with Congressional members and their staff in both committees in an effort to have the bill called for hearings and voted on. Not only is Congressman Deutch from Florida, he is also a member of the Judiciary Committee and is actively championing the bill, so that is a positive development. In addition to Congressman Deutch, Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL-1) ‒ who is also a member of the Judiciary Committee ‒ has signed on as a co-sponsor of our bill. Further, the list of co-sponsors for H.R. 3513 also features two members of theWays andMeans Committee, Representatives Brian Higgins (D-NY-26) and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL-26). We have meetings with other committee members scheduled as I write this. Increasing the number of co-sponsors who also sit on these two committees is a crucial step in advancing theCanadian Snowbird Visa Act through the committee process. Another bill that we have been closely monitoring on the Canadian side of the border is Bill-21, An Act to amend the Customs Act. Most recently, on September 27, 2017, Bill C-21 passed second reading in the House of Commons. As we have mentioned in past issues of CSANews, passage of Bill C-21 is necessary for full implementation of the entry/exit initiative – the cross-border information-sharing program between Canada and the United States. Once fully implemented, when a Canadian citizen enters the United States at a land port of entry, Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) will receive a record of the departure from Canada. Similarly, when a Canadian citizen returns to Canada from the United States via a land port of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will receive a record of the departure from the U.S. For the vast majority of snowbirds who adhere to the limits imposed by U.S. immigration and tax law, this initiative will not impact their annual trips down south. We will continue to update members on the progress of this bill as it makes its way through the legislative process. With an increasing number of U.S. states legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, we have received a growing number of inquiries from CSA members who hold prescriptions for medical marijuana in Canada. While 29 U.S. states and Canada have legalized medical marijuana, it is important to remember that the sale, possession, production and distribution of marijuana all remain illegal under U.S. federal law. Accordingly, entering the United States with medical marijuana, even if prescribed by a licensed Canadian physician, is strictly prohibited and could potentially result in fines, apprehension, or both. This may also render you inadmissible for re-entry into the United States. TheCSA Travel Information Guide, which is distributed in hard copy to every association member, contains a detailed list of items which are prohibited or restricted from entry into the United States. A PDF version of the CSA Travel Information Guide is also available on our website, www.snowbirds.org, in the publications section. On November 1, 2017, Florida Governor Rick Scott travelled to Toronto to announce a new discount program to lure Canadian visitors back to Florida. The Canadian Power Play Program makes it more affordable for Canadian travellers to visit the state through travel deals fromVisit Florida partners offering 20 per cent discounts at some Florida hotels, attractions and car rental agencies. Visit Florida markets the state’s tourism industry. Canada remains Florida’s number-one international market, with 4.3 million Canadians travelling to Florida in 2016. Canadians account for approximately one-quarter of Florida’s international visitors and spent US$5.1 billion. To find out more about this discount program, visit www.LoveFlorida.ca. CSANews | WINTER 2017 | 13
J. Ross Quigley CEO Medipac International Inc. Insurance George had not been feeling well for quite some time but he was not worried, as he had excellent travel medical coverage from work and he had topped up with the best private insurance plan there is – Medipac. His internal pains got progressively worse, so he went to a Florida hospital, was seen as an outpatient and received myriad tests to determine his problem. He was told to go home (which rarely happens) and they would let him know the results of all the tests and advise himwhat to do. George’s employment plan ran out at midnight, that same day. The day after his employment coverage ran out, the Medipac Top-Up plan came into force. I hope that we all remember what a pre-existing condition clause is, and what it means.This clause basically says that you have no coverage for a condition which arose in the previous 90 days, prior to the effective date of your policy. George has no coverage under his Top-Up plan for whatever he has, and nobody knows what that is for certain, yet. The next day, George is forced to go to the hospital by ambulance and, after four days and $150,000 later, he expires. Guess who is going to pay the bill? George’s heirs will at this point, since George’s employment plan refuses to pay. We already know that Medipac has no responsibility to pay. Another snowbird left in limbo! Or, more correctly, his heirs left in limbo. I smell a bunch of rich lawyers circling somewhat like vultures. So, what do we have to think about? First comes – “What liability does the employer’s insurer have after the plan ends?” If you are with Medipac, that is simple – Medipac pays medical costs to reach a diagnosis; if it is not feasible to reach a diagnosis, we will bring you back to Canada for further assessment and treatment. We take care of you until your emergency is over! Unfortunately, the employer’s plan refused to either continue medical testing or, in the alternative, evacuate George to Canada. My guess is that they had no benefit to evacuate George anyway. Most employer plans do not have specific evacuation coverage and the payment is left to the discretion of a claims clerk, usually long after the fact. That, of course, would mean that George may have to both arrange and pay for his own medical evacuation. Point two – “What if George did not have a continuing Top-Up and was scheduled to return home?”Would the employer plan still drop him like a hot potato (with an “e” on the end in some jurisdictions)? My guess is “Yes.” Their policy is done and my guess is – so is George. I have seen situations in which some unwise people have bought low-limit plans with maximum limits of $25, or $50 or $100,000. Some insurers, knowing that the hospital bills will be much higher than the policy limits, simply write a cheque to the hospital. They then wash their hands of the “unpleasantness,” having paid out the policy maximums. Their contractual obligations have been fulfilled. Or have they?? What about moral obligations? At Medipac, we believe that we have a moral obligation to assist you until your emergency is over, period. Point three – “What does this ‘emergency is over’ mean?” To Medipac, it means exactly what it says. We will take care of you until your emergency is over! One of the more distressing things we see happen is a person, such as George, who goes into the emergency room and is prescribed a medication to ease their stomach or chest pain. All is fine for two weeks, although the pain has not gone away. Then the real cause appears as an appendicitis attack, a gall bladder attack, a heart attack, etc. Some insurers will try and treat this as a “pre-existing condition.” That is not really the accurate phrase, but my inference is clear. “You already had this, we paid your bills, and you are not covered now,” is what they mean. The trap is in the recurrent clause. It basically states that what you have already had, on your trip, is not covered after they fix it once. Did this happen to George, too? Point four – George is now dead and his family is distraught, and trapped in a foreign country. What do they do now? How do they get him home? How does George get home? Why would any company just drop them like that hot potato? Fortunately, Medipac was there and we stepped in to solve all those critical details for the family. The $150,000 hospital bill is still outstanding and we have decided to get seriously involved in getting the employer’s insurer to pay for it, as they should have already done. Wish us luck. And the real moral of the story is, if you have a top-up plan with anyone – call them, too, when you have a medical issue. Keeping everyone advised of what is happening might have avoided this nasty situation. One further thought is to make sure that you really understand your employer plan coverage. Many plans only cover you to age 65, some reduce your maximum travel medical benefit to $10,000 or $25,000, which is nothing. Emergency medical evacuation, drug prescriptions, out-patient care (some plans only cover you while you are in hospital) and many of the smaller benefits may not be covered. Have a wonderful 2018 and you can sleep well with Medipac’s program. Top-Up Tales 14 | www.snowbirds.org
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Opinion with Michael Coren Sometimes the personal tells us so much more than the political. I thought about this recently when I was feeling especially cynical about Canadian politics in particular and world politics in general. I suddenly recalled Jimmy. I first met himwhen I was seven years old. He was the child of a neighbour on our street in Essex, England, and I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t in my class at school. He was my size, after all. I thought he looked different, but then fear and judgment tend to be adult disorders and are not natural to the young and innocent. My mum explained to me that Jimmy was what was called “disabled,” and that it was important I treated him just like anyone else. Thing is, I thought, why would I do otherwise? We played a bit, but even then I could see a certain pain in Jimmy’s face. My games were those of children – chase, soldiers, hide and seek – and he seemed bored by them, almost sad that he was playing. I discovered soon afterwards that, while Jimmy looked like a child, he was really a teenager, and a clever one at that. His contemporaries didn’t want to play with him, he was lonely, and so he spent time with anybody who wouldn’t reject him. To my shame, to my everlasting shame and guilt, I too rejected him as I grew older. I became more aware of myself, more aware of those around me, more embarrassed that I was friends with Jimmy and that he was laughed at by other people and, because of that, they laughed at me. I wanted to fit in, wanted to be liked and so told Jimmy that we were no longer friends. God forgive me. Jimmy left school soon afterwards and went off to college. I stayed for a few more years, and then left for university myself. Sometimes, in the darker and deeper moments, I remembered Jimmy and a wave of cringing self-reproach came over me. But I shook myself free of it, and took comfort in the fact that at least I’d been his friend for a while. What nonsense! I had been seven, he was 16. He was treated like a pariah, a leper, a freak, almost a criminal. He indulged me partly out of desperation, but also because he was sincerely good and liked to see me happy and having fun. The years went by, and my life and mind were full of so much more than a distant memory of an agonized young man with a terrible handicap. I gave Jimmy not another thought. Especially after I met the girl whom I thought would be the one. Helen was beautiful, intelligent, an athlete, a doctoral student at Oxford. She took me home to meet her parents and they could not have been kinder and more generous. All went well, until Helen’s mother showed me around the house and I saw, on top of the piano, a framed photograph of what I first thought to be a child and then realized – coldness, shiver, sudden confusion followed by stomach-churning certainty – that it was not a child at all, but someone I knew. “Who is that in the photograph?” I asked, trying to hide my shock. “That’s a young man called Jimmy,” I was told. “Our nephew, and Helen’s favourite cousin. She idolized that boy and after the, well, afterwards, it took her a long time to come to terms with everything.” After what, I asked. “He had a hard time of it,” said Helen’s mum. “He was severely disabled, never grew properly, and he wasn’t treated well at school. No friends really, apart from one he sometimes spoke about, but who seemed to disappear. It all got too much for him and, even though he was extremely clever, really quite gifted, he found the loneliness too much, I suppose. Poor Jimmy. He took his own life two years ago. It was so horribly sad. Helen blamed herself, but she was the last person who was responsible.” Yes, she was, yes she was. Helen and I eventually went our separate ways, and frankly it was inevitable from that day onwards. As God is my witness, I will never act thus again, and I now know who the broken one was back when Jimmy and I used to play together. Yes, sometimes the personal tells us so much more than the political. 16 | www.snowbirds.org
Travel So, you think Route 66 has a neat song? You ain’t heard nothin’ yet. Languishing somewhere in an unknown business vault lies a song…a rip-rollicking C&W song about Interstate-75 which quickens your heart and gets your toes a-tapping...and, on an old 45 rpm record, I have the only copy! Here’s the chorus… I’m rollin’ along...down I-75 leavin’ all my worries far behind, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf...along I-75, ain’t got nothin’ but blue skies on my mind. It never aired in public except for one play 40 years ago in 1977; by the time you finish this story, you’ll have a chance to hear it and enjoy what I consider to be a hidden treasure for I-75 travellers. But first, the “back story.” For many snowbirds today, a ride down I-75 to their Florida destination is a “straight shoot” toward the sun. But it wasn’t always that way. When I started driving it in the 1960s, many sections were still in the planning stage. Through hilly Tennessee and north Georgia, parts of the route were still a dream. You would cruise for a few miles on the brand-new smooth road surface at the thrilling speed limit of 55 mph (89 kph), only to be slowed down by ripple bars followed by a barrier across the road and a sign pointing to the old Dixie Highway – US 41. This happened with regular monotony through these mountain states and it’s howKathy and I discoveredmany useful side routes, which we sometimes share with our readers as “escape routes.”These useful detours can sometimes steer you around today’s interstate problems. Remember the Tennessee hill slide of March 2016, which blocked the I-75 for six weeks? We detoured our readers onto a paved parallel logging road which only we and the locals knew – we had discovered this during our early 1960 drives. Finally, in 1965, the interstate was completed...except for a 45-kilometre break in Georgia which became known as the Marietta Gap. For years, cars had to leave the freeway at Georgia’s Aubrey Lake (exit 293) and rejoin it at Marietta (exit 265). In between, we drove the muddy Old Dixie Highway described by one local as “a jumble of roadhouses, rundown service stations and fruit stands.” The Ballad of I-75 or the Interstate’s lost music treasure Dave Hunter is the award-winning author of “Along I-75” and “Along Florida’s Expressways” the quintessential guides for those driving to and in Florida. With his researcher wife, Kathy, he enjoys travelling with history, gathering unusual and mysterious local stories. The Hunters winter in Lakeland, Florida. Bill’s I-75 Scrapbook with 45 rpm record Scrapbook - photo of the Opening Ceremony setup, with Bill’s notes CSANews | WINTER 2017 | 17
Travel At Marietta ‒ and before heading back onto I-75 ‒ a car wash was essential to remove all of the red clay mud which seemed to cling to your car from the Old Dixie. Many who drove “The Gap” in those days will remember Marietta’s Big Red Chicken with its mobile beak just before rejoining I-75 – it’s still there! For 12 years, construction of “The Gap’s” I-75 was blocked by lobbyists who did not want the interstate cutting through lands surrounding Allatoona Lake. But it was an embarrassment to Georgia so, when the State’s favourite son Jimmy Carter became President, he issued an edict - get “The Gap” fixed! So 40 years ago, dignitaries gathered at Marietta ready to open a newly constructed 45km of interstate. A brandnew Ford CLT-9000 tractor-trailer rig broke the ribbon stretched across the road, accompanied by roadside loudspeakers playing the lively musical beat of theBallad of I-75. And now to the song. A number of years ago, I received an e-mail from an I-75 snowbird. He was cleaning out his late father’s house and came across a brown scrapbook with newspaper cuttings, photos and the official I-75 Opening Ceremony program. His dad was Bill Hone, the driver of the tractor-trailer which cut the ribbon across I-75. The package also included a 45 rpm record. Joe knew of my interest in the freeway’s history, so he sent the memorabilia to me… and that’s where my adventures began. The song was an enigma. It seemed to have faded from local memory and I suspected that I had the only recorded copy in my possession. I was able to trace the composer, but he died some years ago without family. Similarly, the singer had died…and theMarietta family which originally commissioned it couldn’t be found. The record was produced by “Soundshop,” a Nashville studio which declared bankruptcy shortly after its production and, according to those in the industry, Soundshop’s meagre assets were probably destroyed. I hired a U.S. lawyer who specialized in music copyrights to seek the song’s ownership, but he was not able to track it down either. Through this article, I want to share some unique I-75 memorabilia, Bill Hone’s scrapbook and a long-lost but iconic interstate song. I may very well have the only copy of the music played on the day I-75 opened, all the way from Sault Ste Marie to Tampa; the planned end of 1977’s I-75. Big Chicken beside the Old Dixie Highway Scrapbook - Various Press clips 18 | www.snowbirds.org
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