On June 12, 2019, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik [R-NY-21] and Congressman Ted Deutch [D-FL22] reintroduced the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act, H.R. 3241 in the U.S. House of Representatives. As you may remember, this is the same bill which was introduced in the previous session of Congress by the same representatives. If signed into law, this bipartisan legislation would increase the allotted time which eligible retired Canadians, aged 50 and older, may spend in the United States from six to eight months in a 12-month period. It also contains an important provision shielding Canadian snowbirds from becoming taxable residents of the United States. We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Representatives Stefanik and Deutch for recognizing the importance of Canadian tourism to their respective districts − and to the United States as a whole − and for leading on this issue once again. Our next step is to have a Senate companion bill introduced as soon as possible. InMay of last year, we worked closely with the Florida Senate offices to introduce a Senate version of the House bill. In the current session of Congress, we will again seek an appropriate sponsor for a companion bill to theCanadian Snowbird Visa Act and then work on expanding bipartisan support for this measure on Capitol Hill. As I mentioned in the last issue, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act was already introduced in the House of Representatives in early April. Both the JOLT Act and theCanadian Snowbird Visa Act seek to increase the amount of time which retired Canadians can spend stateside up to eight months. Having this provision in multiple pieces of legislation increases the likelihood of passage, and we will continue to work diligently on this extension. In Canada, we remain engaged on reversing the Ontario government’s decision to cancel OHIP’s Out-of-Country (OOC) Travellers Program. This program provides reimbursement to Ontario residents travelling outside of Canada for qualified emergency in-patient and outpatient services received abroad. The program is scheduled to be cancelled on October 1 of this year. While the provincial legislature is in recess until October 28, CSA representatives will be working with government representatives over the summer months in an effort to overturn the proposed cancellation of outof-country coverage. In addition, we will also be reaching out to government representatives at the federal level to discuss this blatant violation of the Canada Health Act and encourage the federal government to exercise all options at their disposal under this legislation. This policy decision has potential ramifications which extend beyond the province of Ontario. It is crucial that we fight back against the cancellation of out-of-country medical coverage in Ontario to ensure that other jurisdictions in Canada do not attempt to implement similar policies. We will continue to provide members with updates on our advocacy efforts via e-mail andCSANews. The Ford government in Ontario has also proposed terminating the enhanced driver’s licence (EDL), which is an upgraded Ontario driver’s licence that can be used as a travel document between Canada and the United States of America when travelling by road or water. The EDL card is similar in appearance to the regular Ontario driver’s licence, but contains additional features such as a title on the card, a symbol to show Canadian citizenship and a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) on the back. The EDL card also costs an additional $40, on top of the regular driver’s licence fee. Currently, British Columbia and Manitoba are the only other jurisdictions in Canada which offer an enhanced driver’s licence. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has stated that the enhanced driver’s licence would be phased out gradually, in order to minimize the impact on cardholders. This means that anyone with an enhanced driver’s licence would automatically be transferred to a regular licence when their card is due for renewal. If a change to the program is implemented, notification letters will be sent to existing cardholders. Both the Canadian Snowbird Association and the Government of Canada recommend carrying a valid Canadian passport when travelling to any foreign destination, including the United States. Your valid Canadian passport is the best document to prove your Canadian citizenship and your right to return to Canada. We will provide members with more details regarding the proposed elimination of the enhanced driver’s licence as they become available. Have a safe and relaxing summer. Government Relations Report Ron Steeves First Vice-President CSANews | SUMMER 2019 | 13
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx