Jump to content

Harper went after snowbirds


Topaz

Recommended Posts

I doubt it, but even if we did, we never lose our U.S. citizenship rights (e.g. voting). That is just whacked.

Don't lose SSA benefits either. Canadian citizenship seems to have a lot of small "fine print" exclusions.

Little wonder my Canadian neighbour just said screw it and stays in the U.S. year round as a permanent resident.

You are not aware of how pensions and entitlements work.

You are not aware of the difference between residency and citizenship.

In Canada, health care is provided by provinces, not the feds, and you must be resident in a province. By contrast, neither govt in US provides health care benefits

You can collect CPP anywhere in the world, and many Canadians do. OAS is a social benefit and available only to residents.

Citizens can vote while away from Canada, but after 5 years away are deemed non-resident and ineligible. What is unfair about that? Why do you allow people with absolutely no skin to vote in your game?

Science too hard for you? Try religion!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The only "news" here is that improved coordination between Canada and US border agencies will allow the government to better know how many people are actually cheating and overstaying their time in the US.

-k

Correct. The six month limit has been around forever.

Blame technology.

Science too hard for you? Try religion!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You are not aware of how pensions and entitlements work.

You are not aware of the difference between residency and citizenship.

Correct...that's why I asked the questions above. I am not Canadian and have no need to ever overstay in Canada. Rights of citizenship should not be infringed because of residency rules...for then they would not be "rights".

In Canada, health care is provided by provinces, not the feds, and you must be resident in a province. By contrast, neither govt in US provides health care benefits

False...U.S. federal and state governments do provide health care insurance benefits to designated and eligible groups. For instance, Medicare does not require U.S. residency but services must generally be provided in the USA. The USA does not have a 20 year residency requirement for SSA benefits, just 40 quarters of employment taxes paid.

OAS is a social benefit and available only to residents.

Why ? Is there something special about being old in Canada compared to being old in Florida ?

Citizens can vote while away from Canada, but after 5 years away are deemed non-resident and ineligible. What is unfair about that? Why do you allow people with absolutely no skin to vote in your game?

Because voting is a right of citizenship granted by amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Voting Rights Act, and state constitutions. Convicted felons lose this right, just like Canadian expats out of the country for five years. But "incarcerated electors" can vote in Canada....because of residency !?

Economics trumps Virtue. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why would so many Canadians want to overstay their time in the evil and sick society of the USA (according to some MLW members)?

Don't tell me it's "the weather".

It's the weather.

It's kind of the worst thing that any humans could be doing at this time in human history. Other than that, it's fine." Bill Nye on Alberta Oil Sands

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The weather and the social life, lots of dinners and dancing....

Got this from the Snowbird Assoc.

Recently, a number of news articles have been published regarding a 2014 federal government memo and the Entry/Exit Initiative (entry and exit information sharing program between Canada and the United States). The memo states that the Government of Canada will use the information from the Entry/Exit Initiative in order to determine if individuals are meeting residency requirements for certain social benefits. Unfortunately, these reports have mistakenly linked the content of this memo with Canadian snowbirds.

The issue is, the kind of benefits which are discussed in the memo, such as employment insurance and child benefits do not impact retired Canadian snowbirds. The only benefit which is mentioned which could have an effect on our members is Old Age Security, however, there are no residency limits relating to the continued payment of OAS (and CPP) as long as the individual has lived in Canada for 20 years past the age of 18. In my opinion, this would really only impact expats living abroad but still collecting various Canadian benefits. The CSA has discussed this issue with several media sources (TV, print and radio) in order to clarify this issue. We will also be addressing this matter in the upcoming issue of CSANews.

Hey Ho - Ontario Liberals Have to Go - Fight Wynne - save our province

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why ? Is there something special about being old in Canada compared to being old in Florida ?

Because OAS is not a pension. You don't have to be a citizen to collect it. You don't have to have worked to collect it.

CPP is a pension.

Your comments ion the generosity of US state and federal medical schemes is pretty funny.

Science too hard for you? Try religion!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because OAS is not a pension. You don't have to be a citizen to collect it. You don't have to have worked to collect it.

Yet expats are subject to a minimum 20 year residency requirement (instead of 10 years), eh ?

Oh, and it is called a pension for your information:

The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment available to most people 65 years of age and older who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/services/pensions/oas/pension/index.shtml

Your comments ion the generosity of US state and federal medical schemes is pretty funny.

The point was not humour, but the existence of such U.S. benefits without a federal residency requirement. American expats can receive their SSA, Medicare, and voting rights without residency requirements. No wonder Canadian snowbirds had to organize in Lakeland, Florida, USA.

Economics trumps Virtue. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The only "news" here is that improved coordination between Canada and US border agencies will allow the government to better know how many people are actually cheating and overstaying their time in the US.

-k

Maybe the guvmints just practicing on human beings before going after corporations...they're people too after all who probably cheat and lie when it comes to money and borders too.

A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe the guvmints just practicing on human beings before going after corporations...they're people too after all who probably cheat and lie when it comes to money and borders too.

Ya, my question is, if your only residence is in Canada, all your income is taxed in Canada, your bank accounts and vehicles are registered and insured in Canada, what or who are you cheating by not spending 183 days in Canada?

Edited by Wilber

"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ya, my question is, if your only residence is in Canada, all your income is taxed in Canada, your bank accounts and vehicles are registered and insured in Canada, what or who are you cheating by not spending 183 days in Canada?

If you are spending more than half your time out of country, you have another residence.

Science too hard for you? Try religion!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are spending more than half your time out of country, you have another residence.

Not necessarily. Many snowbirds go south in RV's. I know people who head south at the beginning of November and don't come back until the end of April. They don't have a residence in the US. Couple that with trip to some other country and you could be over your limit in a year.

Don't you think where you are taxed should have something to do with it?

Anyway, I just came across this so hopefully they won't be effected.

http://www.bnn.ca/News/2015/10/29/Five-things-you-should-know-about-the-proposed-border-tracking-program.aspx

On edit.

I think it is quite a leap to say that Canadians who travel a lot are somehow crooked.

Edited by Wilber

"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If they spend 184 days there, the IRS will strongly disagree.

I'll say it one more time, it is not just about the US, it is time spent outside Canada. The IRS has nothing to do with Canada, it's rules apply to all foreigners.

You could spend 170 days in the US then do a two week holiday in Europe and would be over 183 days. Everything else being the same, what makes a person a "cheater" at 184 days and not a "cheater "at 182 days? Who or what are they "cheating" other than an arbitrary number?

Edited by Wilber

"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The only "news" here is that improved coordination between Canada and US border agencies will allow the government to better know how many people are actually cheating and overstaying their time in the US.

-k

This has nothing to do with snowbirds. We were working on it when I was with CRA two years ago and it's more to do with people who leave Canada for other countries, mostly those where they retain citizenship, and continue to collect child benefit checks, HST cheques, etc. etc. It has a lot more to do with Lebanon than the US.

"A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This has nothing to do with snowbirds. We were working on it when I was with CRA two years ago and it's more to do with people who leave Canada for other countries, mostly those where they retain citizenship, and continue to collect child benefit checks, HST cheques, etc. etc. It has a lot more to do with Lebanon than the US.

But won't it affect snowbirds as well?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But won't it affect snowbirds as well?

The government will now know when you're out of the country. The only people it will affect will be those who choose to not tell the government when they leave so they can continue to collect benefits to which they are not entitled.

"A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The government will now know when you're out of the country. The only people it will affect will be those who choose to not tell the government when they leave so they can continue to collect benefits to which they are not entitled.

That doesn't answer the question.

"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Tell a friend

    Love Repolitics.com - Political Discussion Forums? Tell a friend!
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      10,801
    • Most Online
      1,403

    Newest Member
    AlexaRS
    Joined
  • Recent Achievements

    • Mathieub earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Old Guy went up a rank
      Enthusiast
    • Mathieub earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Chrissy1979 earned a badge
      Posting Machine
    • Mathieub went up a rank
      Apprentice
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...