Publication mail agreement no: 40063603 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | WINTER 2020 | ISSUE 117 IN THIS ISSUE TRAVEL Planning future trips FINANCE How to avoid fraud HEALTH Taking personal charge CSAWINS! Ontario restores Out-of-Country Travellers Program
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 2020 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 Dr. Robert MacMillan Dr. Denise Martin Shari McIntyre David McPherson Andrew Moore-Crispin Rex Vogel Robert Wiersema Judith Adam Gabrielle Bauer Donna Carter Michael Coren Jennifer Cox James Dolan John Hardy Barb & Ron Kroll Karen Huestis Ron Steeves Garry McDonald Ted Popel Wendy Caban Bob Slack James Leroux Mike Legault John Foster James Carl Simpson Johanne Blain Michael MacKenzie Wallace Weylie President First Vice-President Second Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Past-President Director Director Director Director Director Executive Director Legal Counsel CSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Editor CSA Editor President Art Director Director of Operations Marketing & Events Specialist J. Ross Quigley Karen Huestis Christopher Davidge Peter Prusa Paula McGovern Fran Castricone WINTER 2020 | ISSUE 117 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada. Merv Magus Illustrator It is a cold and wintery day and I ask myself, “What am I doing in Canada?” Because the Government told me so; not that the Bible told me so, but the Government! I had written a long rant about the unfairness of it all, and then I decided that this COVID thing just is what it is. People are trying to understand it and trying to find ways to live with the many restrictions and they are actually succeeding. Many snowbirds have been anxiously waiting for the land border to open, but I think that you will be disappointed. Based on everything we have seen and heard, next March will be the earliest date to possibly drive to the United States. I would make your plans based on an even-later date. These are unprecedented times and we just have to adapt as best we can. On a lighter note, and to give you a little challenge during your lockdown, we have included two math puzzles from my high school teacher, Frank Milne. Frank taught at Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax, NS during my high school years, and he was a brilliant and inspiring teacher. Frank started a very successful math club and he was the first teacher to provide TV learning, essentially in the dark ages, before most people even owned a television. He still lives in Halifax and runs a scholarship foundation in his name to help smart kids get to university and to connect with each other. These are not easy puzzles, but I am certain that you will solve them in the long run. Have fun and stay safe. Sincerely, J. Ross Quigley Editor CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 3
Table of Contents Features WINTER 2020 | ISSUE 117 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION Tracking Tourism’s Recovery Some free online tools which provide regularly updated data in order to help you make informed decisions about where and when to travel. by Barb & Ron Kroll 18 24 Sea of Sand New Mexico’s White Sands National Park. by Rex Vogel Travel RV Lifestyle SPECIAL SECTION: snowbirding during a pandemic 38 The Race Toward a Vaccine Keeping up with COVID-19 vaccine expectations for early 2021. 40 Homes Away From Home Check in to see how things are going in various “snowbird” locations. 4 | www.snowbirds.org
Table of Contents Departments 50 Longevity by Jennifer Cox 51 Book Review by Robert Wiersema 52 Gardening by Judith Adam 54 Food & Drink by Shari McIntyre 56 Fun & Games 57 Grins & Giggles 58 CSA Application 59 CSA Benefits 60 CSA Update 62 Fast Facts 3 Editor’s Message 6 Snowbird Alert 10 Bird Talk 12 President’s Message 13 Government Relations Report 14 Insurance by J. Ross Quigley 16 Opinion by Michael Coren 43 Health Pulse 44 Fitness by Jennifer Cox 46 Golf by David McPherson 48 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin 34 Self-Monitoring Your Health During COVID-19 Ways to keep you healthy (and safe!) when access to medical services may be limited. by Dr. Robert MacMillan Finance 28 What you absolutely, positively, categorically must know about investment fraud Myths, warning signs and strategies to protect yourself from fraud, cons and scams. by James Dolan Health CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 5
SnowbirdAlert 1. Embrace the weather With closed spaces continuing to pose a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission, it’s time to cozy up to outdoor winter activities which allow you to keep a safe distance from others. Can’t stand the cold? As the Scandinavian saying goes, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” So, layer up and try a fun winter sport such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or ice skating. Just be sure to scout out an uncrowded location. 2. Think about the risks As provinces and territories adjust public health measures, think about the risks associated with popular cold-weather activities, such as going to the mall or movie theatre. You can minimize your risk by avoiding the three Cs: closed spaces with poor ventilation; crowded places withmany people nearby; and close faces, such as close-range conversations. Before going out, consider the risks andmake informed choices. If a planned activity puts you and your family at a higher risk of getting COVID-19, consider avoiding it. 3. Use all tools available Following public health advice and using all of the tools which we have to prevent outbreaks is essential for everyone to have a safe winter. An additional tool is the COVID Alert app. It uses Bluetooth to exchange random codes with nearby phones. Every day, it checks a list of random codes frompeople who tell the app that they tested positive. If you’ve been near one of those people, you’ll get a notification. If you are notified of a possible exposure, you will be linked to your local public health unit’s advice so that you can limit the spread of COVID-19. The new normal in air travel Air travel is gradually returning to many parts of the world, but it’s not returning to normal. Plenty of measures have been put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, meaning that the process of boarding your next flight will look a bit different than your last one… if you haven’t travelled in a while. And that’s not a bad thing. One big change is temperature screening. If you’re flying out of one of Canada’s 15 busiest airports, you’ll have your temperature checked when you arrive at the screening checkpoint. You will not be permitted to proceed through screening if your temperature, after two separate tests, is at or above 38°C. You’ll also notice that lining up looks a little different. While in the queue and at the screening checkpoint, you must keep a distance of two metres between yourself and other passengers. And you will be asked to hold on to your own electronic or printed boarding pass or other documents of entitlement while they are scanned, to reduce touchpoints. Most importantly, you need to bring a face covering with you. Many airports won’t even let you into the building without a mask on, but you’ll definitely have to wear one as you go through security screening. Face coverings need to cover the nose and mouth, be made of at least two layers of tightly woven fabric such as cotton or linen, and be properly secured to the head. Note that if you exhibit symptoms of illness such as a cough or difficulty breathing, you will be required to leave the checkpoint. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority has instituted these and other measures to ensure that your security screening experience is as safe and secure as possible. For more information, go to their website at catsa-acsta.gc.ca. 3 surprising ways to keep your family safe this winter Dark days, freezing temperatures and snowstorms – Canadian winters always bring some challenges. This year, the pandemic brings additional challenges as we follow the latest public health guidance to limit the spread of COVID-19. Fortunately, there are ways to stay safe while making the most of wintertime. Find more information at canada.ca/coronavirus www.newscanada.com 6 | www.snowbirds.org
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EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS FOR MEMBERS Members of the Canadian Snowbird Association can get discounts: 10% OFF Talk & Text plans1 and 15% OFF Smartphone plans1! Join the satisfied CSA members who chose SimplyConnect for their wireless service! What they are saying about SimplyConnect: To learn more, visit the website or call SimplyConnect’s dedicated live agents today at 1-888-655-1266. “SimplyConnect is by far the best cellphone company I have ever dealt with. I have and will continue to recommend this company to everyone. The selection of services is wonderful. And the service you receive is above and beyond. Travelling South every year has always been a cellphone nightmare until someone recommended SimplyConnect to me, that changed everything!” - Godfrey Customer since September 2018 Simpleanda ordable wireless service to always keep you connected We had to adjust to a new normal this year with social distancing, limited gatherings and restricted travel, but one thing that kept us positive is the ability to stay connected with our loved ones. Making a video call to see our children’s faces and hear their voices, celebrating milestones remotely and taking appointments from home were all made possible thanks to wireless technology. That’s why SimplyConnect is always focused on providing ways for Canadians to stay engaged and connected with what matters most. What is SimplyConnect? SimplyConnect is a Canadian cell phone service provider committed to offering a friendly, affordable andeasy-to-use wireless service. It has improved the CSA members cell phone experience with great plan and phone combinations and no activation fees. Simple and Affordable Individual plans start from $16.20/month1. SimplyConnect also offers Couples and Family plans starting at $36/month for 2 lines1 which include unlimited talk and text between users across Canada, so you can stay connected with loved ones all the time. It also offers a wide selection of phones including basic and smartphones starting from $02, reliable national LTE network coverage, 30-day money back guarantee, and friendly Canadian customer service. “Greatest service ever! It leaves other providers I had in the past way behind in the dust, no comparison whatsoever!” - Roger Customer since August 2019
Offers shown are available until January 31, 2021or while quantities last and are subject to change without notice. 110% off applies to the Talk & Text monthly plan fees, and 15% off applies to the Smartphone monthly plan fees. Discount applies for as long as you are a member of the Canadian Snowbird Association and cannot be combined with Bring Your Own Phone discount, Tablet Data plans and Wireless Home Phone plans. 2Device pricing and minimum monthly rate plan apply for each line, and vary by term and plan chosen. Early cancellation fees apply with a 2-yr term. 3Bonus data, minutes and text vary by term and plan chosen. Other offers cannot be combined. Some conditions apply, call 1-888-655-1266 or visit simplyconnect.ca/csa for details. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. Want to stay connected in Canada and the U.S.? With SimplyConnect Canada/U.S. plans, your phone, rates and number are the same, whether you are in Canada or in the U.S. You’ll never have to worry about long distance charges to the U.S., switching plans when travelling, temporary numbers or changing SIM cards ever again. Canada/U.S. plans start from $36/month1. Perfect for Canadians who travel back and forth between Canada and the U.S. + Simple Smartphone Plan $30 $2550 /month1 Save 15% Check our most popular Canada-wide plans! Smartphone Plan 6 GBof data Unlimitedminutes Unlimitedmessages 1 GBof data Unlimitedminutes Unlimitedmessages $45 $3825 Save 15% /month1 + Call 1-888-655-1266and quote promo code: CSASAVE2020 Plan includesCanada-wide minutes, voicemail, call display and name display. $100 Save 15% $85/month for 2 lines1 Unlimited calling and texting between both users, share 1 GB 2 GBof data and 400 800minutes inCanada/U.S.3 Couples Data Plan Canada/U.S. + Includes bonus data and minutes Moto G Stylus for $02 Samsung Galaxy A51 for $02 Moto G7 Play for $02
BirdTalk Dear Bird Talk, We are renting a house in Florida and want to fly down. Can we purchase a car, register it in Florida and leave it there for six months each year? Henry Laurence Bracebridge, ON Ed.: Yes, we have done that three times over the years. Dear Bird Talk, We own a home in Florida and have decided to sell. We have to go down one more time to remove personal property. We know that we can fly down, but what steps can we take to make our return to Canada as smooth as possible? Patricia Colley Woodstock, ON Ed.: Make a detailed list of the things you are bringing back and send it to the border crossing where you will cross back into Canada. Tell them approximately when you will be there and keep a copy with you. Make sure that they are aware that you are closing your U.S. home and bringing back your personal things. There should be no problem and you should not declare anything unless you bought it on this recent trip. Dear Bird Talk, I am hearing conflicting information about Form 8840 for 2020. Is the one-time policy change allowing snowbirds to exclude the days spent in the U.S. from Feb. 1-April 1 up to 60 days for purposes of the substantial presence test, applicable to those who file an 8840? How will that be calculated on the 2020 form? Sheryl Whyte Calgary, AB Ed.: Just calculate your days in the normal way. If there comes a time when the IRS wants to speak to you (which is highly doubtful), that is when to deal with the exception policy change. Dear Bird Talk, We have heard that if we snowbirds have a residence address in the U.S., we would be exempted from the travel restriction currently in place. I have been told this anecdotally by someone who has gone to Palm Springs with the current restrictions in place. Can you comment? Helen Guenette St. Albert, AB Ed.: My guess is that they flew to Palm Springs, as this is allowed. Owning a U.S. residence is not considered to be “essential travel,” and you will therefore be denied entry if crossing in a vehicle. Dear Bird Talk, When we come back from the U.S., if I have two COVID-19 tests – the first on day one of getting back and another on day seven − and both are negative, why would I be required to continue to be quarantined? If I amnegative and in quarantine, howwould I catch or pass on COVID-19, so the extra seven days is a waste of time? Do you know of upcoming changes? Don Moroz Edmonton, AB Ed.: The 14-day quarantine is still required. There have been rumblings in some government circles that they are considering reducing the quarantine period, but I suspect that it will only be reduced to 10 days, if at all. Dear Bird Talk, We keep hearing more and more rumours that even if you’re flying to your destination in the U.S. and staying in your owned or rented residence for an extended period, U.S. Immigration and Border Security doesn’t consider this an essential service and have been prohibiting entry. Another rumour is that Border Security has been showing up at your residence and asking you to return to Canada. Is this the case? Thank you. Paul Grimes Arcola, SK Ed.: We have never had anything like this happen before, so I doubt that it is true. There are far too many rumours out there and most are not true. Dear Bird Talk, It was reported over a month ago that CSA is working on having the U.S. allow those of us who own or rent a home in theU.S. to enter as “essential travellers” via land border crossing. However, today’s notification of temporary travel restrictions up to November 21, 2020 published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) still does not include such travel in the definition of “essential travel.” This is a real concern for those of us who, for whatever reason, do not have the option of airline travel. I am sure that many of us who own our homes in the U.S. feel a real need to travel, even just to check up on our homes. It would be much appreciated to hear an update on CSA’s communications with DHS in this regard. John Potter Milton Station, PE Ed.: CSA has had many discussions with DHS and the INS in an attempt to get an exclusion to the no-travel ban for automobiles and RVs without any success. Their standard answer is “No, but we are reviewing it.” At the time of writing, the non-essential travel ban has been extended to December 21, 2020, and we believe that it will be extended again. We understand that the Canadian Federal Government has appointed a “commission” to look into lifting the bans and that they will work with the U.S. Government on rules to allow the reopening of the border. The commission is led by Jean Charest and they should have a report by next March. This, to me, means that the border is shut to vehicle traffic until then. 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 Important Note: In our last issue, we discussed the potential benefits of vitamin D. My article stated that 1,200 to 2,000 mg per day would be appropriate. This is wrong, and it should have read 1,200 to 2,000 IU per day. In any event, different people have dramatically different needs and you should discuss this with your doctor first. Dear Bird Talk, I want to do a will for my property in the U.S. to leave it to my kids in Canada. Do I need a lawyer? Do I need to register it in the U.S.? Do I need to register it in Canada? Need help − I have no idea where to start. Karon Delta, BC Ed.: Firstly, if the title to your property is in your name and someone else’s as joint tenants, the property will go to the survivor of them, without a will. Thus, you could add one or more of your children to the title and pass it that way. You would need a lawyer. To do a will, there is no requirement to have a lawyer, nor is there any requirement for the will to be registered in either Canada or the U.S. The benefit of having help from a lawyer is actually accomplishing what you are trying to do. Otherwise, who knows! Dear Bird Talk, We sold a condo, in the U.S., this year – 2020. No tax was withheld. We have a slight gain in U.S. dollars. We have a larger gain in Canadian dollars, and intend to pay tax on that gain, in Canada. We have never filed taxes in the U.S, and do not have any U.S income. We do not have a U.S. tax number. Do you think we should file a U.S. tax return this year? Paul Bergman Kitchener, ON Ed.: U.S. tax law requires the filing of a tax return upon the sale of a U.S. property in your circumstances. FORM 1040NR should be filed in the year following the sale. At the time of filing, an application for a tax number is submitted and one will be assigned. Tax will be payable on any taxable gain. If you wish to comply with the law, a return should be filed. Dear Bird Talk, We have been told that, if we do not have a Florida state will and power of attorney, if one or both of us passes away the property would go to probate and be costly and time-consuming to resolve. Can you tell me if the property can be used by the survivor or heirs while probate is resolved? Can it be rented during that time to a third party? Carol Campbell Chatham-Kent, ON Ed.: If the title to the property is in joint names and one person passes away, the title to the property will go the survivor without the need for probate. The survivor would immediately become the owner upon the death and can act as such. If title is in one name and that person passes away, probate is necessary and the property is considered “estate property” until it is conveyed to its eventual owner. The executor of the estate is in charge and can rent the property or permit use by whomever, as part of the administration of the estate. Dear Bird Talk, I recently sold a lot in Port LaBelle for slightly more than US$8,000. Approximately $1,500 has been taken from the proceeds to be held by the government. Will I eventually receive that money? If not, why not? If yes, when. If so, what is the rationale? Dean Bodkin Sutton, ON Ed.: The funds held by the government are as a guarantee that the government gets their tax, not the tax itself. If the tax is less than the sum held, you are entitled to the difference. To get it, one has to file a U.S. tax return in the year following the sale. In the return, the calculation of the tax payable on the sale is made and a refund of the excess is requested. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 11
President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President If you have not yet heard the news, the Canadian Snowbird Association is very pleased to announce that we have been successful in our legal challenge against the Ontario government and their illegal termination of emergency out-of-country insurance coverage for Ontario residents. In a unanimous decision, the Ontario Divisional Court in Canadian Snowbird Association Inc v. Attorney General of Ontariostruck down part of Regulation 259, which terminated OHIP’s Out-of-Country Travellers Program (OOCTP). In that decision, the Court found that, under the Ontario Health Insurance Act, the lieutenant-governor in council does not have the legal authority to enact regulations which would revoke the OOCTP. On January 1, 2020, in an unprecedented move, the Ontario government proceeded with their plans to eliminate the Out-ofCountry Travellers Program, which provided reimbursement for Ontario residents who faced medical emergencies while travelling outside of the country. This policy change made Ontario the only jurisdiction in Canada to cut all emergency medical coverage for residents travelling abroad. The Court’s ruling reinstates this important coverage for travelling Ontarians, restoring reimbursement rates of $200 and $400 per day for emergency in-patient services and up to $50 per day for emergency outpatient services. While it is extremely important to obtain adequate travel medical insurance prior to all trips abroad, re-establishing coverage will lower insurance premiums, making travel more affordable, particularly for Ontario seniors. Under the OntarioHealth Insurance Act, the legislation which governs the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, corresponding regulations cannot include any provision which violates any of the five pillars of the Canada Health Act. One of the five pillars of the CHA is portability, which requires provincial and territorial health insurance plans to provide coverage for insured health services for residents who are temporarily absent from their home province or territory, or from Canada. If insured persons are temporarily absent in another province or territory, the portability criterion requires that insured services are to be paid at the province’s home rate. If insured persons are temporarily out of the country, insured services are to be paid at the home province’s rate. This coverage is not a government handout. Snowbirds in Ontario (and throughout Canada) continue to pay premiums to OHIP and to other provincial/territorial governments even when they are outside of Canada. There is no difference between snowbirds and taxpayers; snowbirds are taxpayers − taxpayers who have paid into the Canadian health-care system their entire lives. Why should their OHIP coverage be cancelled simply because they choose to winter in warmer climes for part of the year? The Ontario government’s termination of out-of-country coverage was not only illegal, it was unjust. Premier Doug Ford wanted to continue to collect OHIP premiums from snowbirds while simultaneously removing the coverage for which they themselves were paying. By increasing the cost of private insurance, the Ontario government was making it more expensive for travellers to be adequately covered for their trips abroad. If travel medical insurance premiums become prohibitive, this would prevent a significant number of snowbirds from being able to travel. In turn, it would place an even heavier burden on an already strained medical system in Ontario. If retired Ontarians choose not to travel, and they encounter a medical emergency, Ontario taxpayers will shoulder 100 per cent of the costs of medical services. If the same emergency were to occur outside of Canada, the Ontario government would only need to reimburse a small portion of overall health costs – approximately six per cent, according to the provincial government’s own figures. We spoke to the government on numerous occasions and repeatedly pointed out that, if their stated goal really was to save money, then cutting this programwould not achieve those savings. Frankly, they refused to listen. I suspect that they are listening now. After initially indicating that they would seek to overturn the decision of the Divisional Court, the Ontario government has now chosen not to launch an appeal. Hopefully, this will lead to an improved and productive relationship between the Ford government and our tens of thousands of Ontario members. While this is a clear victory for Ontario travellers, there is still much work to be done. The vast majority of provinces, including Ontario, still fail to meet the reimbursement threshold set by theCanada Health Act. The association will continue to lobby the provinces on this issue until they begin reimbursing out-ofcountry emergencies at in-province rates, as mandated by the Canada Health Act. On behalf of your board of directors, I would like to thank all of our members for their support of this critical legal action. The association received donations to our Special Action Fund from across Canada and, without your generosity, this win would not have been possible. This court ruling is not only a win for snowbirds in Ontario, it is a win for snowbirds across Canada as the decision will signal to other jurisdictions considering similar cuts that we will not back down. Whether you are travelling or remaining home this winter, please stay safe and Bill and I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. 12 | www.snowbirds.org
Government Relations Report Ron Steeves First Vice-President At the time of writing this column, we are nearing the latest deadline, December 21, 2020, which the Canadian and American governments set for the continued closure of the land border to all non-essential travel. Based on discussions between CSA representatives and government officials and agencies in both countries, the closure, which has been in place since March 21, will be extended well into next year. Currently, the only way by which Canadian citizens are permitted to travel to the United States − for non-essential reasons − is by air. As many members have been inquiring, the reason that this loophole exists is that the U.S. Government only applied the border restrictions to land and sea ports of entry. Canadians who choose to travel during the pandemic need to ensure that their travel medical insurance policy provides sufficient coverage for COVID-19. They will also need to be mindful of the most up-to-date CDC, state and local quarantine requirements for international travellers, as this information is subject to change. Starting on November 21, all travellers, including Canadian citizens, will be required to provide contact and quarantine information upon and after entry into Canada. Travellers will submit the necessary information by either downloading the ArriveCAN app onto their mobile device or by signing in online by visitinghttps://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc. cloud-nuage.canada.ca. Travellers entering Canada will be required to use ArriveCAN in order to submit their travel and contact information, quarantine plan and COVID-19 symptom self-assessments. Travellers will submit their information prior to boarding their flight to Canada and will be required to show their ArriveCAN receipt to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer upon arrival. Travellers arriving by land or sea are strongly encouraged to submit their travel information through ArriveCAN, as this will speed up processing at the border and limit points of contact. As of November 21, all travellers, whether by air, land or sea, must provide information after their entry into Canada. Travellers must use ArriveCAN or call 1-833-641-0343 to confirm that they have arrived at the address provided for their quarantine or isolation location within 48 hours of their entry into Canada, and must complete daily COVID19 symptom self-assessments during their quarantine period. The Canadian Government has implemented these new measures in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 and assist travellers in reducing their processing time and points of contact at the border. On November 3, and the days that followed, most Canadians were watching coverage of the U.S. presidential election. Snowbirds, many of whom own vacation properties stateside, were following the results particularly closely. While legal challenges have been filed by the Trump campaign inmultiple swing states, former Vice-President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris are projected to become the next president and vice-president of the United States, respectively. While the Democrats will keep their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, albeit with a slimmer margin, the party which gains control of the U.S. Senate will now come down to two run-off elections in the state of Georgia scheduled for early January. While it is still too early to determine whether or not there will be a split Congress for the next two years, regardless of the outcome, CSA representatives will ensure that our Canadian retiree visa proposal − which would allow retired Canadians to spend eight months in the U.S. annually − is reintroduced in the next session of Congress. The original sponsor of the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik [R-NY-21], handily won her bid for re-election with more than 64 per cent of the vote. We will work with Congresswoman Stefanik and her staff to reintroduce this legislation next year. In addition, one of President-elect Joe Biden’s top legislative priorities during his first term is comprehensive immigration reform. This will be another avenue which we can utilize in order to pass our Canadian retiree visa initiative into law. CSA representatives will work with senators andmembers of Congress on both sides of the aisle to have a Canadian retiree visa provision included in any comprehensive immigration reform package, as we did in 2013. The association will continue to keep members informed of our government relations activities via e-mail throughout the current snowbird season. Whether you are travelling or spending the winter in Canada, on behalf of Judy and I, please stay safe. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 13
J. Ross Quigley CEO Medipac International Inc. Insurance The Border As of this writing, the Canada/U.S. border is still closed to vehicle traffic, except for “essential travel.” The current expiry date of the ban is December 21, but I do expect it to be extended, again. Just to clarify a few things from your many Bird Talk letters (for which I thank you): a vehicle does include an RV; it includes a truck and it includes your car. Based on our information and feedback from our members, the border agents seem to be making no exceptions. You cannot cross the border to visit the U.S. even if you own property there. We have heard of situations in which the storms have damaged property in the U.S. The Canadian owners were denied entry to go and make repairs, or to further protect their property. To a U.S. border guard, this is not considered “essential travel.” So…attempting to protect your property with a flooded basement, a roof torn off or windows blown out does not count as essential travel. What nonsense! Some snowbirds have also had family medical emergencies in the U.S. They were denied entry. Many have called ahead to the border crossings, but I think that the border agents have figured that one out and are routinely saying “NO” to everyone. Several U.S. citizens and dual citizens were attempting to return to the U.S. with their Canadian partners. The Canadians were denied entry and were forced to go to the airport and catch a plane. Catch a plane??? To the U.S.? Yes, that is allowed. You simply get on a plane anywhere in Canada and you can easily go to the United States. There is no requirement to quarantine, either. This has created some very interesting solutions for many snowbirds. A bunch of golf buddies got together and rented a private jet to get them to their winter homes. It is nice to be rich, but the cost − when split 10 or 12 ways − is not outrageous. Oh, and they could take their dogs and cats, too, but were not allowed a lot of luggage due to weight requirements. My guess is that their golf clubs were already in the U.S. Others rented a professional car transporter to take their cars to the airport closest to the Canadian border. They then flew to that airport, picked up their cars and continued down South as normal. The professional car transports seem to have no trouble entering the U.S., as this is in the normal course of commercial business, which is allowed. There are several very good transport companies and you can find them on the internet very easily. Two of them have advertised with us, but I doubt that you would have problems with any of them. Ask for a quote or two before you decide. 14 | www.snowbirds.org
Insurance Since this is supposed to be an insurance update, I will make a few comments as to what Medipac is seeing in the snowbird market. Approximately 35% of our clients have already returned this year and I expect that there will be many more as the winter settles in. What is interesting to us is that we have received approximately the same number of brand-new snowbird clients. We assume that this is partially because we cover COVID-19 directly and have done so since the beginning of this weird pandemic. One thing that bothered us was the large number of ads on the internet that targeted snowbirds and stated on the front website pages that they “Covered COVID.” When you read the actual policy document, usually buried deep in their website, there is no medical coverage if there is an “essential travel” warning in effect. This may mean that there is NO coverage for COVID-19 or anything else. I recommend that, if you were swayed by this and purchased elsewhere, you may want to read your policy again. What everyone really wants to know is how many snowbirds are dying from COVID19? How many are hospitalized? And how many are just getting sick? I can only speak fromour experience with insuring thousands of snowbirds in the United States since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not one of our snowbirds died from COVID-19. We have had only two hospitalizations related to COVID-19 and a dozen cases in which people have tested positive for COVID-19. We did take three or four additional medical calls which may have been mild COVID-19 infections; these people simply stayed home, self-medicated and got better. My last comment is that we were asked to dedicate a page to the Federal Government to outline their position on COVID-19 and travelling and, in fairness, I agreed to do so. Make sure that you read it and then you can make your own decision about maintaining your treasured lifestyle. Despite the current COVID climate, Pat and I will be flying to Florida just after a Christmas spent with our grandkids, if our government allows us to celebrate. I will wear a mask and wash my hands and socially distance and I will be very careful. Merry Christmas and have a wonderful, COVID-free New Year wherever you are. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 15
When I was researching my biography of H.G. Wells in the early 1990s, I was shocked by the man’s lifelong support for social engineering and eugenics. Put simply, his socialism embraced the idea that for the bulk of humanity to be free, prosperous and happy, a sizable minority had to simply disappear. For Wells, this included the disabled, the “perverse” and even, perhaps, many who were non-white. What became apparent very quickly was that such an approach wasn’t confined to the author of The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man, but was extraordinarily common on the intellectual left. Many, even our own Tommy Douglas for a time, shared some of these ideas, as did mainstream socialist thinkers all over the world. This was before the genocidal policies of the Nazis were implemented and, while many of these grandees of the left had died before the camps were liberated and the horrors known, others certainly lived on. Some were contrite, others not. Either way, it hardly forgives them their ideology and influence – naiveté and ignorance simply aren’t a viable defence in such circumstances. One of the most articulate eugenicists of the era was a man who survived until 1950, and remains one of the world’s most famous and respected dramatists. George Bernard Shaw − literary giant, author of more than 60 plays and winner of the Nobel Prize. A strong Canadian connection, of course, because the great theatre festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake is named after him. The Irishman’s opinions are, however, coming back to mangle his reputation. A group of students at Britain’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) have called for Shaw’s name to be removed from the drama school’s theatre. This matters, because Shaw provided for the school in his will and last year, the royalties from his work contributed more than $140,000 to RADA. Yet, the accusation that the renowned theatre college “celebrates historical figures who embraced racist ideologies” does have a certain merit. Problem is, as has been debated countless times: do, can, and should we separate an artist’s work from their period, character and ideas? Shaw did indeed write that, “The only fundamental and possible socialism is the socialization of the selective breeding of man” and, chillingly, “A part of eugenic politics would finally land us in an extensive use of the lethal chamber. A great many people would have to be put out of existence simply because it wastes other people’s time to look after them.” He lectured for the Eugenic Education Society, praised Stalin (naturally), the early Mussolini and even Hitler as late as 1935. He abandoned most of all this in his old age, but never made any formal apology. A challenge for those who would remove the social engineers is that many of their harshest opponents were not others on the left but, in Edwardian Britain and in the 20s and 30s, conservative Roman Catholic writers led by G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc. In 1922, Chesterton wrote a book entitledEugenics and Other Evils stating that, “Eugenics itself, in large quantities or small, coming quickly or coming slowly, urged from goodmotives or bad, applied to a thousand people or applied to three, Eugenics itself is a thing no more to be bargained about than poisoning.” He and Belloc were both responsible for some jarringly reactionary and anti-Semitic comments but, nevertheless, saw the policies of Shaw, Wells and the rest for what they were. These prolific authors and journalists were also surprisingly early opponents of the Nazis, principally because of the party’s racist eugenics. In 1983, when I was a young reporter working for theNew Statesman, I interviewed the famous children’s author Roald Dahl. Discussing a controversial review he’d written of a book about Palestine, he suddenly said, “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews. I mean, there’s always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere; even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.” The story went, as they would say many years later, viral. Dahl may have been old, mad and ill, or maybe he was just a genuine anti-Semite. Either way, this half-Jewish father read Dahl’s stories to his four children when they were young. Because they’re very good books. Oddly enough, all four kids have turned out to be rather liberal, tolerant and well-adjusted. There’s a Shavian dilemma for you to consider. Opinion with Michael Coren 16 | www.snowbirds.org
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How many tourists are going there? For international tourist arrivals, for example, you can search places as remote as Africa, or those as familiar as Europe. The website separates data for each region by month and by sub-region. For instance, the European information has Central/Eastern, Northern, Mediterranean and Southern Europe sections. Just click on a sub-region and you can see, by month, the increase or decrease in visitor arrivals. Graphs, charts and colour-coding make it easier to visualize. (Bright red shows a decrease, whereas white depicts an increase in arrivals.) TrackingTourism’s Recovery Free online tools provide regularly updated data to help you make informed decisions about where and when to travel Where are you planning to go when you’re ready to travel again? Europe? The Southern United States? A Caribbean island? Australia? It’s difficult to decide on a travel destination when the COVID-19 pandemic situation changes daily. A new, free tool from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – an agency of the United Nations – provides information to assist travellers wanting to assess and compare tourism data for countries around the world. Story and photos © Barb & Ron Kroll 18 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
Overview, flights and accommodations If you don’t have a destination in mind, the overview page is the most helpful. A quick glance will show you the status of tourism, air transport, accommodations and COVID-19 cases. A green upward arrow indicates an improvement over the previous month. A yellow dot indicates no change and a red downward arrow denotes a deteriorating situation. Graphs depict changes over the current year, along with the percentage change year-to-date. The UNWTOTourismRecovery Tracker provides information about air reservations, as well as international and domestic seat capacity by month for each region and sub-region. Click onmethodological notes and you’ll find websites for the sources of the data (such as the International Civil Aviation Organization), as well as the date on which the statistics were last updated. For accommodations, the database indicates month-to-month and year-to-date information about occupancy rates, hotel searches, hotel bookings and short-term rentals for each sub-region. Graphs and numbers indicate exponential growth of the novel coronavirus in various countries, by month. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 19 Travel
COVID-19 cases We supplement this pandemic data with information from other credible sources. Our personal favourite website for tracking cases of the virus is the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center. Updated daily, its COVID-19 Dashboard features global and U.S. maps of hot spots, data on cumulative and active cases, incidence rate, case-fatality ratio and testing rate. For U.S. states, you can search by county, such as Miami-Dade and Pinellas in Florida. The Johns Hopkins website also provides reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines, testing, contact tracing and diagnosing, treating and preventing the virus. Specific advice for Canadians The Government of Canada Coronavirus Disease Outbreak Update web pages are an excellent source of information for Canadians who are considering when and where to travel. Regularly updated interactive maps of Canada and the globe illustrate the number of cases of COVID-19, deaths, cases per 100,000 people in the last 14 days and cases per 100,000 people over time. In addition, it gives Canadians current information about measures to reduce COVID-19, travel restrictions, exemptions and advice, symptoms and treatment, awareness resources (some in multiple languages) and Canada’s response to the pandemic. 20 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
More pre-travel resources The UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker advises readers to follow theWorld Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to keep safe while travelling. TheWHOwebsite has an excellent COVID-19 Travel Advice for the General Public Q&A page that addresses frequent questions, including: What precautions should I take during travel? Can ventilation reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 on airplanes? What should I do after arriving at my destination? After you’ve decided where you want to travel and when, it’s imperative that you learn about the specific COVID-19 travel regulations for that destination. Tourist boards are great sources of up-to-date information about entrance requirements, curfews, quarantine rules, face mask policies and what attractions are open to tourists. In mid-October, we checked a few Caribbean tourist board websites. We learned that Bahamas has a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and that Jamaica specifies what you can expect in their hotels – digital check-in, digital or single-use menus, social distancing markers and elimination of self-service buffets. The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority website supplied links to safe-certified accommodations, tours and restaurants that follow government health and safety protocols. It also provided information about health-screening forms and temperature checks at the airport, taxi safety protocols and certified transportation companies for car rentals. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 21 Travel
The good news Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is published by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, it has many useful resources for Canadians. One of the most helpful is its daily updated list of countries in which COVID-19 risk is high, moderate, low and very low. As of mid-October, seven destinations were on their COVID-19 Low Risk list, including New Zealand, Saint Barthélemy (St. Barth in the Caribbean) and Thailand. Even more optimistic was their list of Destinations with Very-Low Risk of COVID-19. When we viewed it, the 22 destinations included Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Taiwan and Vietnam. At the end of October, for example, Anguilla had no active or suspected cases on the island. To ensure that it remains COVID-19 free, Anguilla’s entry requirements include a negative PCR COVID-19 test result three to five days prior to arrival, along with travel health insurance that covers COVID-related treatment. Visitors quarantine in their approved accommodations for 10 to 14 days until they’ve received two negative test results done in Anguilla (cost: US$500 per couple). Afterwards, they are free to explore the sunny Caribbean island without restrictions. According to the Caribbean TourismOrganization, as of late October, all Caribbean islands require visitors to quarantine. Regulations vary from island to island, so check tourist board websites for the details when planning your trip. At time of writing, the UNWTOTourismRecovery Tracker reported that 115 destinations (53% of worldwide destinations) had eased travel restrictions, an increase of 28 since July. Of these, two had lifted all restrictions, while the remaining 113 countries maintained some travel restrictions. 22 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
Resources UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker - www.unwto.org/unwto-tourism-recovery-tracker Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center - coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Government of Canada Coronavirus Disease Outbreak Update - www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/ diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination - www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html World Health Organization Q&A: COVID-19 Travel Advice - www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/ question-and-answers-hub WTTC Traveller COVID-19 Hub with link to Border Crossings Status –wttc.org/COVID-19/Traveller-Hub Barb & Ron Kroll publish the trip-planning website www.KrollTravel.com Finding the latest information With the constantly changing pandemic, all examples used in this article may have changed by the time you read them. That’s why the regularly updated resources below are so helpful to anyone planning a trip. Some revise their data daily. Others revise it as the information changes, while still others have fixed update schedules. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), for example, contacts global travel, cruise, hotel and air transport associations and WTTC members weekly to update the WTTC Traveller COVID-19 Hub. In addition to information about international travel restrictions and travel health advice, it features a link to a very useful interactive world map. Click on any of the countries listed to the left of it and you’ll find details (with references) about Border Crossings Status due to COVID-19. The bottom line? Always check the date of the last revision when searching these resources to help you make informed travel decisions. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 23 Travel
RV Lifestyle Story and photos by Rex Vogel Like amirage, dazzlingwhite sand dunes shimmer in the tucked-away Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico. Remember how much fun it was to play in the sand as a kid? It’s still pretty fun, as it turns out. And the sandbox is a lot bigger at White Sands National Park, a system of rare white gypsum sand dunes intertwined with raised boardwalk trails and a single loop road. Sunset and sunrise are obviously the golden hours for photographers, but any time is a good time for some sand-dune sledding, kite flying and hiking. Wisps of sand ripple into the majestic white dunes at this suitably named national park. The dunes here aren’t composed of your typical beach sand, but rather from gypsum crystals left behind from a nearby driedout lakebed. The result looks more like a white-sand version of the Sahara Desert than like New Mexico. The dunes are an amazing sight so far inland, best experienced on horseback or by zipping down the dunes in one of the plastic saucers sold at the visitor centre gift shop. The park ranges in elevation from 1,185 metres to 1,264 metres above sea level. There are approximately 71,200 total hectares of dune fields here, with 30,000 hectares (about 40 per cent) located within White Sands National Park. The remainder is onmilitary land that is not open to the public. Sea of Sand: White Sands National Park 24 | www.snowbirds.org
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