SnowbirdAlert The Bahamas are open for business More than a month has passed since Hurricane Dorian made landfall on two northern islands of The Bahamas. Already, Grand Bahama Island is rebounding; many of its hotels and attractions have reopened and its airport has resumed international operations. While The Abacos face a longer road to recovery, the country remains resilient and steadfast in its commitment to help the island rebuild by maintaining a healthy flow of tourism to the islands that were not affected by the storm. Nassau and Paradise Island This pair of islands − which are home to the country’s most extensive array of resorts, hotels, restaurants and tour operators − were not affected by Hurricane Dorian and are operating normally. The Out Islands With the exception ofThe Abacos, the Out Islands are open and operating as usual. Airports, government ports and marinas are open across the islands. Grand Bahama Island Grand Bahama Island is back to business welcoming travellers at its cruise port and it’s also welcoming travellers by air, now that the international airport has reopened. Ferries and cruise lines, including Balearia, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, are already bringing travellers to Freeport to experience a number of excursions and sites that have reopened. Numerous hotels and resorts are already open or expected to reopen within weeks. Is your holiday gift spying on you? You might spread more than seasonal cheer by giving someone one of those electronic devices that appear on so many wish lists. That fitness tracker, gaming console or voice assistant might also share their personal information. Internet-connected devices are popular gift ideas because they can be helpful and fun. But connectivity comes with the risk that the user’s activities may be tracked, measured and analyzed, either by the device’s manufacturer or a service provider, such as a game or app. This year, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is cautioning shoppers that popular internet-connected gifts can raise privacy issues because they often require users to provide personal information, such as name, age, gender, e-mail address or phone number. Before choosing such a device, consider the risks. If you are uncomfortable with the amount of personal information something collects and shares, keep shopping for another gift. Here are some tips for protecting privacy when using internet-connected electronic devices: • Turn gadgets off when you don’t need them. • Change the default password on any device that you buy. Use strong passwords and don’t reuse the same password across multiple devices or services. • Create a guest WiFi network just for connected devices, to keep them separate from your computers and other, more secure devices. Learn more at priv.gc.ca/iot Watch out for unwanted financial products added to your accounts As consumers of financial products and services, we have rights with respect to the services and products that we receive from our federally regulated financial institutions. In particular, we have the right to clear and simple information so as not to be misled in our transactions. For example, before you agree to a bank-issued credit card or insurance, your bank must provide you with verbal or written information about the product, the duration of the agreement, the cancellation terms and any related fees. The bank must also provide any explanations which you need to understand the product or service offered. When your bank offers its products or services, obtaining easy-to-understand information allows you to make informed decisions and choose those products or services that actually meet your needs. Furthermore, before offering you a new product such as a loan or line of credit, your bank is required to obtain your consent. This means that your bank can suggest a product, but it’s up to you to decide whether to take it. The same goes for optional products or services which, for a fee, could be added to another product or service that you already have, such as mortgage insurance. Even if you give verbal consent to receive a new product or service, your bank is still obligated to provide youwithwritten confirmation of your consent as soon as possible. Don’t feel obligated to accept a product or service from your bank if it doesn’t suit you. You have the freedom to shop around and compare offers before signing up for anything. It’s your right. Learn more at canada.ca/money Source: www.newscanada.com 6 | www.snowbirds.org
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