Publication mail agreement no: 40063603 TRAVEL Finding the Garden of Eden FINANCE Surviving market corrections HEALTH What legalization means for snowbirds In This Issue OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | WINTER 2018 | ISSUE 109
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 2018 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 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 WINTER 2018 | ISSUE 109 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada. Just another day…another dollar. Well, not quite – actually, it was $30.8 billion dollars. That’s with a “B.” That was the total sales inONEDAY for the Chinese special day called “Single’s Day.” Some bright young (or old) person came up with the idea as a counterpoint to Valentine’s Day. Not everyone has a valentine and many people felt left out in the cold. Single’s Day has obviously become an unbelievable success. The idea is to go and buy a Valentine’s gift for yourself. Who could possibly deny themselves the chance to buy a guilt-free present. I love the idea of Single’s Day, even if you do have a valentine. We should put that in some perspective, though. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the largest sales day in the United States. Total sales – a measly $3.5 billion – still with a “B.” I find that incredible and I would imagine that we will all have a new Single’s Day to celebrate at some point very soon. It will require some imagination to make it as popular as the Chinese have done. Their day is on November 11 each year and that is our Remembrance Day. Perhaps February 26. That’s my birthday and a suitable period following Valentine’s Day, so as not to interfere with that celebration. Everyone in Canada thinks that Boxing Day is our big shopping day of the year. Wrong! Our copycat Black Friday is becoming very successful, however. The sales are just under $1 billion and climbing every year. And Boxing Day – just a tad over half-a-billion dollars. What??? And the busiest shopping day is…December 23, according to the people at Interac − just a tad OVER $1 billion dollars. You last-minute shoppers, like me, must drive our retailers nuts. No wonder there are no parking spaces at the mall when I buy that very thoughtful last-second gift. I think that we should all make our new Single’s Day tomorrow, and treat ourselves and perhaps buy a little something for those less fortunate than ourselves. Have a wonderful holiday season and a New Year that is as successful as Single’s Day. May you always live in Asgard! J. Ross Quigley Editor Merv Magus Illustrator CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 3
Table of Contents Features WINTER 2018 | ISSUE 109 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION 16 Sensational Seychelles Why was this Indian Ocean archipelago deemed to be the location of the Garden of Eden? by Barb and Ron Kroll Travel 31 After the fall What you should do with your finances (and your life) after a market correction or downturn by James Dolan Finance 22 The Wild, Wild East Dave finds that the Wild West was a “cake walk” compared to the Wild Wild East...Florida by Dave Hunter 4 | www.snowbirds.org
Table of Contents 26 38 Departments 46 Longevity by Jennifer Cox 48 Gardening by Judith Adam 50 Food & Drink by Shari Darling 52 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin 54 Fun & Games 55 Grins & Giggles 56 CSA Application 57 Benefits 58 Canada Clubs 60 Provincial Picnics 61 CSA Update 62 Fast Facts 3 Editor’s Message 6 Snowbird Alert 7 Snowbird Events 08 Bird Talk 10 President’s Message 11 Government Relations Report 12 Consular Report 13 Insurance by Ross Quigley 14 Opinion by Michael Coren 41 Health Pulse 42 Fitness by Jennifer Cox 43 Book Review by Robert Wiersema 44 Golf by David McPherson Stay Warm This Winter in these Unique Towns in the American Southwest Discover why the American Southwest draws thousands of snowbirds every winter by Rex Vogel Marijuana and Snowbirds Helping you stay vigilant when it comes to cross-border use by Dr. Robert MacMillan RV Lifestyle Health CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 5
SnowbirdAlert Cybercrime is on the rise The Royal CanadianMounted Police (RCMP) reports that thousands of Canadians are falling victim to fraud every year and that the number of cyberattacks is rapidly escalating. In addition, they say that scammers are becoming more and more creative, using increasingly sophisticated ways to target people of all ages. They also say, however, that the public is not defenceless − emphasizing that the first lines of defence against cyberscammers are education and awareness. In today’s digital world, learning how these attacks work and how to identify them is crucial. Detailed information about various cybercrime techniques can be found online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca (the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website). Managed by the RCMP, it is Canada’s repository for data, intelligence and resource material related to various kinds of fraud. The website provides a wealth of information regarding how to protect yourself against cyberattacks and what to do if you become a victim. In an effort to combat the thousands of new scams every year, the Better Business Bureau cites some important things to remember in order to protect yourself against fraudsters. Most seem like simple common sense, but nevertheless bear stressing. Never send money to someone whom you have never met face to face. Never do it, especially if they ask you to use a wire transfer, a prepaid debit card or a gift card, which are all as good as cash in the hands of scammers. Misleading“natural” food labels Just because a processed food item is labelled with the word “natural,” doesn’t necessarily mean that it is – nor does it guarantee a healthier product. Consumer Reports has stated that the “natural” label can be little more than a marketing strategy which can easily fool consumers. A recent survey showed that two-thirds of health-conscious shoppers prefer to buy processed foodmarked “natural” on the general assumption that the product is free of toxic pesticides, artificial ingredients or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A food represented as natural should not contain, or ever have contained, an added vitamin, mineral nutrient, artificial flavouring agent or food additive. Also, it should not have been submitted to processes that significantly altered its original physical, chemical or biological state. According toThe Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), “Nature,” “Natural,” “Mother Nature” and “Nature’sWay,” are oftenmisused on labels and in advertisements. The CFIA states that such labels and advertisements should not convey the impression that “Nature” has, by some miraculous process, made certain foods nutritionally superior to others, or has specially engineered foods to take care of human needs. The CFIA says that it is currently evolving to meet the challenges of a complex and changing food-safety environment. In this regard, there is a Food Labelling Modernization initiative underway to develop a more modern food labelling system. In the meantime, consumers should check the fine print on foods marked “natural” to determine if the label is justified. 1. Don’t click on links or open attachments in an unsolicited e-mail. Links can download malware onto your computer and steal your identity. 2. Don’t believe everything you see, since fraudsters are skilled at mimicking legitimate and trusted sources…oftentimes copying a company’s logo. 3. Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether it’s over the phone, by e-mail, social media or even at your front door. 4. Don’t be pressed to act immediately. Cybercrooks want to push you into action before you have time to think and weigh validity. 5. Be cautious about what you share on social media. Imposters often get information about their targets from their online interactions. They can make themselves sound like a friend or family member because they know so much about you. 6. Use secure, traceable transactions when making payment for goods and services. Do not pay by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card or other non-traditional payment methods. Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics and high upfront payments. 7. Use secure, traceable transactions when making payment for goods and services. Do not pay by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card or other non-traditional payment methods. Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics and high upfront payments. 6 | www.snowbirds.org
Events Snowbird Join us at a CSA Winter Information Meeting! Snowbird Extravaganza FLORIDA RP Funding Center 701 West Lime St. Lakeland Florida Tuesday and Wednesday, January 29 & 30, 2019 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Winter Texans’ Snowbird Extravaganza TEXAS Pharr Events Center 3000 N Cage Blvd. Pharr, Texas Tuesday and Wednesday, February 5 & 6, 2019 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Snowbird Extravaganza ARIZONA Mesa Convention Center 201 N. Center St. Mesa, Arizona Tuesday and Wednesday, February 12 & 13, 2019 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All events start at 1:00 p.m. (doors open at noon). For more information or to volunteer, call the CSA at 1-800-265-3200 or visit www.snowbirds.org INDIO, CA Monday, February 18 Fantasy Springs Casino Resort 84245 Indio Springs Parkway WINTERHAVEN, CA Tuesday, February 19 Quechan Casino 525 Algodones Rd. IMMOKALEE, FL Friday, February 22 Immokalee Casino 506 South First St. PORT CHARLOTTE, FL Monday, February 25 Port Charlotte Cultural Center 2280 Aaron St. BRADENTON, FL Tuesday, February 26 Bradenton Area Convention Center 1 Haben Blvd. CLEARWATER, FL Wednesday, February 27 Capitol Theatre 405 Cleveland St. Hundreds of people and sometimes even thousands attend these one-of-a-kind meetings. Join us for a taste of Extravaganza entertainment, hear presentations from the Canadian Snowbird Association, get a Medipac insurance update and pose questions to the panel right from the audience. SUBJECT TO CHANGE CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 7
BirdTalk Dear Bird Talk, We go south for five months. I had my prescription filled to cover 180 days. ONE pill (thyroid) ONE prescription. The pill cost was just under $20.00 and the dispensing fee was just under $19.00. I was charged two dispensing fees, as they said that 100 pills was the max on one dispensing fee. Am I the only one upset about this? Has there ever been anything done by our government to control this outrageous money grab? Andree Date Sarnia, ON Ed.: This is common practice among pharmacies and it is basically an extra time fee for counting out another 100 pills. Your $19 fee is very high and I would look at a different pharmacy to reduce your costs. Before switching, ask up front about their 180-day dispensing fee. Dear Bird Talk, I read recently about gifting your property in Arizona. When we purchased our property in Arizona, our escrow agent suggested a beneficiary deed. Apparently, our property will pass to our named beneficiary without red tape or penalties. Worth looking into. J. Grierson Brandon, MB Ed.: Another possible solution to this estate issue. I would still check with an estate lawyer in Arizona, and always be aware of the tax implications both in Canada and in the U.S. You normally do escape probate and its fees by having other named owners, as the property passes to them by succession. Dear Bird Talk, I am a lifetime member of the CSA and have an issue that I am hoping you can assist me with. I have had a business make an unauthorized charge on my VISA card and they have refused to reverse the charge. I had given them my credit card information over the phone for a previous purchase and they retained the information and put through an additional charge. I have contacted VISA and they have informed me that it is my responsibility because I voluntarily gave out my information. I have filed written complaints with the RCMP, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Better Business Bureau. I am awaiting their responses tomy complaints. At present, I am still out $3,089.67 for a charge that I did not authorize and I am paying the accompanying interest charges. I would like to warn other CSA members of the dangers of giving out your credit card information over the phone to who you think may be a reputable business, and the repercussions of doing so. As it is, I may be out this money and the added interest charge. I thought that VISA would reverse the charge and recover it from the business, but apparently that is not the policy of VISA. Doug McGiffin Manitoba Ed.: This is an issue close to my heart, as we had two unauthorized $3,700 charges placed on our VISA card last month. The charges were for two first-class tickets to New Zealand (wouldn’t that be nice).We moved up the line at our local bank and, eventually, three days later, the charges were reversed by the head office people. Strangely, they would not tell me who made the charges so, I guess, the crooks just walk away free! I would go back and start over at the branch. If that still does not work, I have been advised by my lawyers that we could file a small claims court case against the issuing bank, VISA and “John Doe.” They believe that the judge will force the bank to tell us who did the nasty deed and also, perhaps, force the bank or VISA to pay you back. Dear Bird Talk, We are going to California for a week in October and coming back to Canada, before leaving for our winter in Florida onNovember 10. My question is, can we do that or do we need to wait for 30 days before entering the U.S. again? Monique K. Ed.: I would wait for 30 days just to be safe, if your total time from first entry in California to final departure is more than 180 days. Just to be clear, you can go in and out of the U.S. at any time, even one day later. The “stay out for 30 days” only applies to the six-month legal maximum calculation. Dear Bird Talk, With our dollar being where it is, is travelling into the U.S. going to be fairly costly, or will it be fairly reasonable with the cost of goods being cheaper there? David Heintzman Alberta Ed.:We have always found it to be cheaper living in the U.S., even at a lower dollar-exchange rate than today. We make use of Costco and Sam’s Club memberships for most of our needs, with occasional visits to Walmart, and gasoline is cheaper.With a little research, eating out can be quite inexpensive, too. Property taxes and condo fees are usually exorbitant, though. Dear Bird Talk, I’m rapidly approaching my six-month limit for days in the U.S. this year. However, about 30 of those days have been related to declared business travel to attend academic meetings and conferences in the U.S. Do these days still count toward my six-month limit? Is there a way to separate this kind of non-remunerated business travel so that it does not count toward my days in the U.S.? I file an 8840 annually. Rita Vine Toronto, ON Ed.: Emphatically “yes.” Every day or part of a day counts towards your six-month limit. You can apply to the INS for a special extension for academic purposes (or other purposes too, such as medical or caregiving, etc.) and they may grant it to you, but it does take forever to get a reply. Dear Bird Talk, My wife and I have had SEARS MasterCard accounts since 2012. We did in excess of $120,000.00 in that time and never defaulted on a payment. citi SHOPYOURWAY advised to use area code 00000 when using our new card! We had a disaster on a recent trip. The card would not be accepted. Warn members to be careful. Basil Kirk Fredericton, NB 8 | www.snowbirds.org
serious problem. You are only allowed to remain in the United States for six (6) months. Staying longer can result in severe penalties including travel bans, fines and even arrest. Please reduce your U.S. plans to six months. A month plus in the Caribbean can be very pleasant. Dear Bird Talk, I don’t know this for sure, but I heard of a Canadian going over the U.S. border and being asked by the agent what he thought of the U.S. president. Again, I don’t know what the response was, but the Canadian citizen has been barred from the U.S. for five years. I am going over the U.S. border in late October. If asked this question, what should my answer be? Joseph Malizia Ridgeway, ON Ed.: It sounds like someone decided to have a political argument with a border guard and this is never a good idea. My answer would be “Who cares, I am a Canadian.” Dear Bird Talk, I found out recently that I need to submit an 8840 from July 2015 to current. Should I still file, even though it’s past the June 15 deadline? Or wait until next year? Is there a penalty or consequence for late filing? Thomas Phillips Vancouver, BC Ed.: File it now. There are no penalties involved. 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.: It’s probably time to get a new card as Sears appears to be bankrupt, although they do own lots of property. This is a very common problem with many cards. The big computers in the sky are looking to confirm your identity by comparing your zip code to your billing address as a safety feature. So, if you have a U.S. card and it is billed to a U.S. address, just put in that zip code and it should work. If you have a Canadian card, which you do, the computer still looks for that billing zip code. Every card is different and many will accept the “00000” as a zip code. My guess is that the computer recognizes you as a foreigner and lets you proceed. Another scheme that seems to work is to use the three numbers in your Canadian postal code and then add two “0’s”. So, for our postal code, which is M3B 2T5, you would enter 32500. This has worked many times for us, especially at the gas pumps. One small wrinkle is that you must use the card’s billing address. We initially used our home address, which did not work; once, we used our office postal code, however, and it did work. I guess you now know where our credit card bills are sent. Dear Bird Talk, We flew from Toronto to Honolulu to board a Holland America cruise ship on the same day. Thirty-three days later, we arrived in Auckland, NZ. We flew back to Toronto via a San Francisco connection. How many of these days are considered being in the U.S. against our 182-day U.S. allotment. Does it make a difference if we decide to stay for two days in Honolulu prior to boarding the ship? Anne Bell Arthur, ON Ed.: This is a very common question. In this specific situation, you would have to count zero days as you are “in transit.” If you wanted to stay for a day or two in Honolulu to rest before your great journey, most border guards would not count those days, either. Notice the word ”most,” as some border guards can be unpredictable. Always be courteous and do not argue or try to “teach” them the rules. Dear Bird Talk, We drive to our winter home in Arizona every year. As we get older, we will eventually fly for our six-month stay. Can we fly down with only a one-way ticket with the intention of purchasing the return ticket at a later date? Or, to avoid problems at customs, would it be best to always provide a return ticket? Michel Brisebois Victoria, BC Ed.: We have travelled on one-way tickets for years and have never had an issue. We were asked once why we did not have a return ticket and simply stated that we were not sure if we were staying for five or six months. Dear Bird Talk, OHIP now requires you to attest that Canada is your principal residence. We spend seven months in the U.S. and five months in Ontario. Given these circumstances, can we still maintain OHIP? Arthur Wenk Brechin, ON Ed.: The CSA has lobbied and received approval in Ontario and many other provinces (through regulation changes) to stay outside of the province for up to seven months. Your OHIP coverage remains intact. However, you do have a very CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 9
President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President Bill and I were fortunate to meet many of you during our latest round of fall Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations. This year, we made stops in five provinces and, although I’m not sure, I think that might be a new record. We began our tour with shows in Calgary, Alberta and Vernon, British Columbia. From there, we headed back to Alberta for a presentation in Sherwood Park before stops in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Brandon, Manitoba. We concluded our meetings in Ontario with stops in Belleville, Oshawa and St. Catharines. Unfortunately, our show in Nepean was cancelled after a very damaging tornado struck the region just before our arrival. Rest assured that we will make every effort to visit Nepean during our next round of Ontario shows. This year’s Florida Snowbird Extravaganza will be held at RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida on Tuesday andWednesday, January 29 and 30, 2019. The Winter Texans’ Snowbird Extravaganza will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 5 and 6, 2019 at the Pharr Events Center in Pharr, Texas. Finally, our Canadian Snowbird Celebration will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 12 and 13, 2019 at the Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, Arizona. These Extravaganzas are great opportunities to visit with old friends and be entertained with new ones, all while having access to the latest information regarding the snowbird lifestyle. As always, admission to these shows is free and we’d love to see you, so please consider visiting with us this winter. If you are unable to attend one of our Extravaganzas, please consider joining us for one of our Winter InformationMeetings. Once again, these meetings are filled with great entertainment…but they are a little smaller. They present members and prospective members with a great opportunity to hear first-hand what initiatives the Canadian Snowbird Association are currently undertaking on your behalf. They also provide ample opportunity to question members of the board of directors about any concerns you might have. Again, admission to these shows is entirely free. This winter travel season, our Winter Information Meeting tour begins in Indio, California on Monday, February 18, 2019 before heading to Winterhaven, California for a meeting on Tuesday, February 19. From there, we head back to Florida with our first stop in Immokalee on Friday, February 22, 2019. We will be in Port Charlotte on Monday, February 25 and Bradenton on Tuesday, February 26. We conclude our tour in Clearwater on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Once again, admission is free. Please look elsewhere in this issue of the magazine for specific venue locations and times. Since the fall issue of CSANews, we have concluded two provincial election campaigns. In Quebec, the Coalition Avenir Quebec brought an end to nearly 50 years of twoparty rule by winning a majority government. Congratulations to newly elected Premier Francois Legault on this historic victory. Our friends in New Brunswick witnessed the first election since 1920 that did not result in a majority government. The Progressive Conservatives secured the most seats with 22, while the Liberals finished a close second in seat count with 21. The People’s Alliance and Green parties ended up holding the balance of power with three seats each. On November 1, incumbent Liberal Premier Brian Gallant’s government was defeated in a non-confidence vote and Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs was sworn in as the new Premier of New Brunswick with a minority government. Again, congratulations to New Brunswick Premier Higgs and to all members of both provincial legislatures. We look forward to working with all of you on issues of importance to travelling Canadians. Speaking of travelling Canadians, the seventh edition of our popular Canadian Travellers’ Report Card will be unveiled in January at our upcoming Snowbird Extravaganza in Lakeland, Florida. As many of you are aware, this is a national evaluation of federal, provincial and territorial government policies and regulations of importance to travelling Canadians. It really is an invaluable resource when we sit down with policy-makers and we are committed to keeping it as up to date as possible. If you are not able to obtain a copy at one of our winter shows, not to worry, the report will be available at www.snowbirds.org. Bill and I wish you a safe and relaxing snowbird season in your winter homes. Welcome to your winter homes! 10 | www.snowbirds.org
Government Relations Report Ron Steeves First Vice-President The United States midterm elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Although at the time of printing a number of Congressional races have yet to be declared, it is clear that the Republicans have retained their majority in the Senate, while the Democrats have flipped the House of Representatives. So, what do these results mean for our Canadian Snowbird Visa initiative? In the short term, the Republicans still maintain control of both the House and Senate until the beginning of January, when the new session of Congress convenes. During this time, CSA representatives will continue to work on increasing the number of co-sponsors for our bills and push for floor votes to be held in both the House and Senate. While it is still possible that our bills can be passed during the lame-duck session of Congress, it remains unlikely. Further, while our bill sponsor in the House of Representatives − Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) − won her re-election bid securing a third term, there is currently a recount underway in Florida to determine if our bill sponsor in the Senate − Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) − will hold onto his seat. In the long term, a split Congress may result in further gridlock on Capitol Hill, making it more difficult to pass our Canadian Snowbird Visa legislation. However, if the Republicans and Democrats can reach a compromise regarding a comprehensive immigration reform bill or a series of smaller immigration bills, we will work to have a Canadian Snowbird Visa provision included. We will also work on having stand-alone bills introduced in both the House and Senate during the next session of Congress, in order to increase the chances of passage. The impact of the recent midterm elections on Canadian snowbirds extends beyond the composition of the United States Congress and passage of our Canadian Snowbird Visa. As we discussed in issue 106 of CSANews, the 10 per cent cap on property assessment increases for non-homestead properties in Florida, such as vacation properties owned by Canadians, was scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2019. Without reauthorization of the cap, yearly assessments could increase by any amount for non-homestead property. The Florida House of Representatives and Senate passed bipartisan legislation earlier this year to ensure that this measure would be placed on the state ballot for the midterm elections. We are pleased to announce that Florida voters passed Amendment 2, making the 10 per cent cap on the annual increase of non-homestead property tax assessments permanent. While Florida still maintains a two-tier property tax system in which nonresidents pay more than residents, making the 10 per cent property assessment cap permanent is a step in the right direction. The CSA head office continues to field a number of questions from our members related to the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada and the effect that it will have on Canadians travelling to the United States. On September 21, 2018, and later revised on October 9, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a statement regarding Canada’s legalization of marijuana and crossing the border. The statement, in part, reads: A Canadian citizen working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal marijuana industry in Canada, coming to the U.S. for reasons unrelated to the marijuana industry, will generally be admissible to the U.S. However, if a traveler is found to be coming to the U.S. for reasons related to the marijuana industry, they may be deemed inadmissible. While this statement appears to ease the concerns of Canadian travellers who are employed in the Canadian cannabis industry or who own stocks in Canadian cannabis companies, it is still important to remember that entry into the United States is always made at the discretion of the U.S. customs official processing your admission at the port of entry. In addition, despite the growing number of U.S. states legalizing both recreational and medicinal marijuana, under U.S. federal law the sale, possession, production and distribution of marijuana remain illegal. Canadian travellers who disclose to a U.S. customs official that they have previously used or currently use marijuana may be denied entry or banned from entering the United States. The full U.S. CBP statement can be accessed here: www.cbp.gov/newsroom/ speeches-and-statements/cbp-statementcanadas-legalization-marijuana-andcrossing-border. CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 11
Even with a more expensive U.S. dollar, Canadian snowbirds will still make their way to Florida as they do every year in search of warmer climates. With the weather already cooling down in Canada after a very hot summer, Florida highways will soon start to see Canadian licence plates heading down Highways I-75 and I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. Last year, 3.5 million Canadians visited Florida − equal to the number of visitors from the next four countries combined, including the United Kingdom and Brazil. Thanks largely to the snowbird community, who are fleeing the winter cold, Canadians spend about $6.5 billion annually and contribute about $600 million into Florida’s tax coffers, according to Visit Florida. Most Canadian snowbirds will go to Florida and return without any problems, but some will require emergency assistance. The Consulate General of Canada in Miami has been helping Canadians in need of consular assistance for the past 25 years and is available to provide this assistance not only in Florida, but also in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The demand for consular services is likely to increase if the current U.S. congressional snowbirds’ bill to increase the length of stay is approved. In addition, cannabis was legalized in Canada on October 17 of this year; however, it remains illegal to cross the border with any related substances. The penalties and consequences can be severe in the United States. The staff at the consulate is passionate about their work and a day in the life of a consular officer is never the same, often rewarding but also challenging. One case may involve helping a Canadian who lost their passport on Miami Beach; the next may involve a Canadian who has been arrested. Consular staff are also ready to assist Canadians after emergencies such as natural disasters (hurricanes). Although the Consulate General of Canada in Miami doesn’t offer visa services for Canada, and our services have evolved over the years, the variety of services provided remains extensive and often surprises clients who contact our office. Canadians can often have most of their questions answered by visiting travel.gc.ca or following our social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Canadians often don’t realize that applying for an emergency passport abroad is very expensive (US$320 instead of US$200 for a 10-year passport) and, as a result, everyone should make sure to secure their passport since passports cannot be returned by airlines, for example. It is also important for Canadians to register abroad by using the Registration of Canadians abroad system located at www. travel.gc.ca. The service is confidential and free, and enables consulate staff to reach out to Canadians or contact their families in case of an emergency. Beside consular services, the consulate has a mandate for business development, political and public affairs, and security and defence co-operation. The Trade Commissioner Service helps companies navigate the Floridianmarket, as well as helping to attract investment to Canada. They can provide key business insights and access to an unbeatable network of international contacts. The political and public affairs section promotes Canadian interests (NAFTA, tariffs) with key decision-makers and influencers at the local, state and national levels. This section also works on cultural diplomacy and environment and energy files, among others. Finally, we have customs, migration and law enforcement officers at the consulate, and we co-ordinate with the members of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed throughout Florida. The Consulate General also participates in numerous outreach activities throughout the year, to connect with Canadians and help answer their questions. Greeting Canadians at a hockey game, at CanadaFest in Hollywood, or at the Snowbird Extravaganza in Lakeland gives us a chance to meet the community. See you in Lakeland! Source of stats: www.visitflorida.org/resources/research/ Consular Report Canadian citizens requiring consular assistance in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands should contact: Consulate General of Canada in Miami 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 1600 Miami, Florida, U.S.A., 33131 Telephone: 305-579-1600 Fax: 305-374-6774 website: www.miami.gc.ca Facebook or Twitter: Consulate General of Canada in Miami Canadian citizens requiring consular assistance in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas should contact: Consulate General of Canada in Dallas 500 North Akard Street, Suite 2900 Dallas, TX 75201 Telephone: 214-922-9806 Fax: 214-922-9296 website: www.dallas.gc.ca Facebook or Twitter: Consulate General of Canada in Dallas Canadian citizens requiring consular assistance in Arizona, Nevada and Southern California should contact: Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles 550 South Hope Street, 9th Floor Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., 90071-2327 Telephone: 213-346-2700 Fax: 213-346-2703 website: www.losangeles.gc.ca Facebook or Twitter: Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles Canadian Consulate in Miami 12 | www.snowbirds.org
J. Ross Quigley CEO Medipac International Inc. Insurance My mother used to leave pincushions all over the place when I was young. She was always mending something to make sure that we kids were well turned-out for school. Occasionally, I would sit on one by mistake – ouch. I have that feeling again today, but in a good way. Pat and I just received our second dose of shingles vaccine. You need two doses at least two months apart to get the most effective prevention. They do have single doses, but these are not as effective. If you have not had these twin doses, please get them. And… We had our upgraded flu shots, not the cheap and free ones. The better vaccine prevents 25%more flu types than the base dosage and I highly recommend that you get this, as well. And… The better pneumonia vaccine is out and we were advised to upgrade our old pneumonia vaccination with this substantially improved version. Since many, many people are hospitalized and many die from pneumonia, this was a high priority. The doctor mentioned a tetanus shot, but I was done and said that we probably had one in the previous 10 years. That is the length of time for which the tetanus vaccine is supposed to last. I am sure that you are now saying “who cares.” But you really should care. I would like you to be a pincushion too, for selfish reasons. I have not had the flu in 25 years; I have never had pneumonia; and God forbid that I should ever get shingles, as it is a nasty and very painful disease. Pat had a case of shingles AFTER receiving the vaccine and the d o c t o r said that she would have lost her eyesight, had she not gotten the shingles vaccine first. I mentioned this before, but I think that it is worth mentioning again. So why do I care? Because if you do not get vaccinated, you may end up in the hospital and then you become my problem. You may catch one of the bad viruses in the hospital such as MRSA or C.Diff and then things can get very complicated – for you and for Medipac. We see this every day and I would really prefer my staff to be doing nothing…and you can help. If you are already travelling or at a winter destination, I would urge you to seek out these vaccines anyway, and now. Do us all a favour! If you don’t get sick then, hopefully, we will not get sick either. Pass it on. There are dozens of government websites available in both Canada and the United States that beg you to get vaccinated because they save so much health-care money by NOT having to pay to treat you in a hospital. Just to add a little incentive information, there is a 20-week average waiting period in Canada between seeing a specialist and getting treatment. They obviously forgot the period of time required to get to see a specialist. My waiting period to see a dermatologist is 14 weeks and then add that 20-week wait to get treatment. What a joke! My appointment is in January when I am, of course, away for the winter. Oh, and there are more than one million people on medical waiting lists in Canada. Don’t get sick is the message! Become a pincushion instead. CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 13
Opinion with Michael Coren Alas, alas. The dark, dangerous ghost has not been fully exorcised. The brutal nationalism that we considered dead and buried at the end of the Second World War is more visible and obvious now, that at any time since 1945. Donald Trump’s nativist populism, Brexit in Britain, the rise of the hard right in eastern and central Europe, and now the prominence of anti-immigrant parties even in traditionally liberal Scandinavia and Italy. It’s of genuine concern and worry, and should be, too. No intelligent person thought that the toxins pumped into the bloodstream of the European body politic in the 1930s would ever completely disappear. The demise of the Soviet Union and Communist Yugoslavia certainly revealed that to be the case. But we assumed, surely, that there were definite limits, that it would generally be controlled and that – if we’re totally honest – it simply couldn’t happen close to home, and certainly not here. Whether we were Liberal, Conservative or New Democrat, as Canadians we knew where the lines had to be drawn when it came to what was politically acceptable and civilized, and that was that. And indeed in Canada, the great national common sense still dominates, I think, but anti-Muslim feeling is out there in force, an ultra-nationalist candidate ran to be mayor of Toronto – while describing herself as a devout Christian – and senior politicianMaxime Bernier made an extraordinary and worrying series of comments questioning diversity…and then broke from the federal Conservatives to form his own party. It’s one thing to speak of the obligations of citizenship, and then condemn excesses and violence performed in the name of religion, but quite another to reject people simply for how they worship. In Britain, a recent survey revealed that close to 40% of Jewish people would consider emigrating if Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn became prime minister. This is the Labour Party, the voice of the left and of progress and social democracy, and it’s a quite obscene development. In this case, it’s Corbyn’s enormously clumsy blurring of lines between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism, and it’s a terribly depressing state of affairs. While Corbyn may come from a radically different place than the rest, and is on the hard left rather than the hard right, there is a continuum at work here, and one that totally contradicts the Christian narrative, that is still implicit if not active in much of North American society. If we seriously believe in the gospel message, we have to regard every person not only as a representative of God, made in God’s image, but also as being quintessentially unique and individual. The collective is never helpful, often dangerous, and always closes down an argument and a debate. Talk of “they,” of “those people,” or of “the other” leads down a dark road and to an even darker place. Every leader, party or philosophy that scapegoats people must first expunge their humanity, to make them appear a faceless mass intent on harming and hurting. At its worst, this is what the Nazis did, but it’s also what the Turks did to the Armenians, the Hutu to the Tutsi in Rwanda, and in so many other attempts at genocide. Those horrors aside, it leads to division and anguish, and is severely damaging to a society that prides itself on its pluralism and tolerance. We are, thank goodness, a long way from the living hell of historical evils at the moment. But when Muslims – even in Canada – are treated as threats rather than neighbours, when LGBTQ people are killed in Uganda and the West Indies, and when neo-Nazis gather in German towns and scream for National Socialism, we know that we cannot be, must not be, complacent. To paraphrase Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran hero martyred by the Nazis, silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. How right he was. At the moment, the angry, raw noises are not deafening and could even be ignored. That would be fatal, because evil talk becomes evil screams become evil deeds. Most of us have little political power, but all of us have the ability to say when something is wrong, and when injustice has been committed. It’s what makes us who we are, and I have enormous faith in good old common sense and notions of right and wrong. 14 | www.snowbirds.org
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Travel IT’S AN INTERESTING story that we heard while discovering the primeval palm forests, alluring beaches and fascinating flora and fauna of Praslin, Mahé, La Digue and Curieuse. Four of the 115 coral and granitic islands dotting 1.4-million square kilometres of Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar, they are located just south of the equator. To get there, we flew on Air Seychelles from Paris to Mahé, the largest island and administrative centre. (No visas or inoculations were required.) After the Immigration & Customs officer stamped our passports and handed them back to us, we glanced at the stamp and blushed. Our eyes focused on the outline of a female’s buttocks. “Welcome to the Seychelles,” he said with a smile. SENSATIONAL SEYCHELLES Why was this Indian Ocean archipelago deemed to be the location of the Garden of Eden? Story and photos by Barb & Ron Kroll Barb & Ron publish the trip-planning website www.KrollTravel.com 16 | www.snowbirds.org
Travel Forbidden fruit The passport image was our first hint of the Garden of Eden’s forbidden fruit that we would soon view on Praslin. It depicted the coco-demer, a suggestively shaped seed that grows inside the fruit of a palm tree which is endemic to only two islands in the world – Praslin and Curieuse. The second-largest island in the Seychelles, Praslin is a 45-minute ferry ride from Mahé. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, its Jurassic-like Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve protects more than 6,000 mature and juvenile coco-de-mer trees. Their palm leaves − the size of schooner sails − dwarfed us. It was easy to imagine a Brachiosaurus munching the greenery. We felt as if we were ants, scrambling beneath fan-shaped palm fronds hovering as high as 10-storey apartment buildings. The trees reach maturity after 20 to 40 years. Female palms grow up to 24 metres high, while males can reach 30 metres. They can live for 200 to 400 years. World’s largest seed “The female palms produce the largest seeds in the world,” said our guide Karina. She stood behind a table displaying a doublecheeked seed as large as her pelvis. “They can weigh more than 20 kilograms.” Some of the seeds sported tufts of curly hair – exactly where you’d expect them. We felt compelled to cover them with fig leaves. (The Seychelles climate is conducive to wearing little more than strategically placed fig leaves, with year-round temperatures ranging between 24 and 32 degrees Celsius.) In her hand, Karina held an elongated brown male catkin. “It dangles stiffly in the breeze to dispense its pollen. Afterwards, it falls to the ground as an empty fibrous shell,” she explained. Someone in our tour group snickered. Awoman elbowed her husband’s ribs. “I don’t mean to be naughty,” said Karina. The resulting laughter alleviated the collective embarrassment. The seed’s resemblance to human anatomy didn’t go unnoticed by 16th-century sailors, who saw it floating in the Indian Ocean. They assumed that the fruit grew on an underwater palm, so they named it coco-de-mer or sea coconut. Catkin and seed from male and female coco-de-mer palm trees Primeval leaves dwarf visitors in Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, Praslin CSANews | WINTER 2018 | 17
Royal aphrodisiac In the Late Medieval Period, European rulers coveted the erotically shaped seeds. They believed that the jelly inside the young fruits had aphrodisiac powers. After eating it, they made the hard shells into drinking cups, decorated with gold and silver. History books state that, in the 16th century, Hapsburg Emperor Rudolf II offered 4,000 gold florins for a single seed. “It’s illegal to eat the flesh now, because it kills the fruit and it never matures,” said Karina. “The jelly hardens after 10 months. Seeds need six to seven years to ripen inside the fruit.” Coco-de-mer palms don’t grow trunks until they’re 15 years old. By then, the palm fronds are taller than hydro poles. As we looked up to the tops of mature palms, we recognized their incredible strength. Some carried more than 20 fruits. “Have any fruits ever fallen on people?” we asked, suddenly aware of the explosive impact of 20-kilogram shells falling from such heights. “None have fallen on anyone’s head since 1966, when the nature reserve opened,” said Karina. “If our rangers see any fruits above the trail, they’ll remove them.” We resolved to stay on the red soil path. Adam’s apple In 1881, General Gordon of Khartoum proclaimed that the site was the biblical Garden of Eden, and that the coco-de-mer was the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge that seduced Adam and Eve. (If the voluptuously shaped fruit was Adam’s apple, Gordon didn’t explain how he bit through the thick, hard shell.) In addition to its coco-de-mer palms, Vallé de Mai is a haven for other endemic palms and trees. We examined a large fruit with green pebbly skin growing from a tree trunk. “It’s a jackfruit,” said Karina. “It tastes like a combination of mango and banana.” Near the end of our 90-minute walk, it began to rain. The coco-de-mer palm canopy above us was so dense that we didn’t get wet. The downpour sounded like raindrops hitting a tin roof. “To prevent poaching and counterfeit sales, the government now issues export permits to sell only coco-de-mer seeds identified by holographic tags,” said Karina. “Be prepared to pay a hefty price, based on the size and quality – and keep in mind your luggage weight allowance.” After riding a ferry 45 kilometres southwest toMahé, we discovered a famous coco-de-mer palm in Victoria, the capital. In 1956, Prince Philip planted it in the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens. A fine specimen today, it towered over us like a giant green feather duster stood on end. Travel Coco-de-mer palm planted by Prince Philip in the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens Jackfruit grows from tree trunk in Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, Praslin 18 | www.snowbirds.org
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