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Politics

Florida Congressmen Want Canadian Snowbirds to Stay in U.S. Up to Eight Months

July 29, 2017 - 6:00am

From his perch on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, this week, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., went to bat for a proposal to extend the amount of time Canadians who own or lease a home in the U.S. can stay there during the year. 

Deutch paired up with U.S. Reps. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, to bring out the “Canadian Snowbird Visa Act” on Thursday. The bill extends the amount of time Canadians older than 50 and who own or lease property in the U.S. can stay, moving the current six month limit up to eight months. Under the legislation, these Canadians would not be able to work in the U.S. or receive public assistance. 

"If our chilly neighbors to the north want to spend more time on our warm Florida beaches, we should welcome them with open arms," Deutch said on Thursday. "Canadians contribute over $4 billion to Florida’s economy every year, helping to create jobs and support businesses in our communities. This bipartisan legislation will boost our economy and create new jobs by inviting more Canadian visitors to visit the Sunshine State for even longer stays."

“In the North Country, we know how important Canadian visitors are to our small business owners and to our tourism economy,” said Stefanik. “In my district, we share the St. Lawrence River with our Canadian friends who frequently cross the border in the summer months to boat, hike, kayak, or visit one of our many historical sites. Providing them with an extra two months to engage in these activities will support many small businesses, grow jobs, and foster an ever closer relationship with our neighbors to the north. I urge my colleagues to support this important, bipartisan legislation.”

Canadian tourists added almost $20 billion to the American economy last year, including 3.6 million Canadians visiting Florida and adding $4.5 billion to the Sunshine State’s economy. 

Canadians also own almost $13 billion in American real estate. 

Deutch is not the only member of the Florida delegation to call for Canadians to stay longer in the U.S. Back in February, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., the vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, teamed up with U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, D-NJ, to bring out the “Promoting Tourism to Enhance our Economy Act.” The proposal would let seniors from Canada who own a secondary residence in the U.S. visit for 240 days a year instead of the current 180 days. They would still be classified as nonresident aliens and would not be eligible for public assistance. 

Both Yoho and Sires, who also sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed to the economic benefits that Florida and other parts of the nation could garner from having Canadian seniors stay longer. 

“Tourism is a vital industry in Florida, and many Canadian citizens have vacation properties or rentals in our state,” Yoho noted when he brought out the bill

“This contributes a great deal to the economy in Florida,” Yoho added. “This sensible legislation will ensure that our friends to the north are able to extend their stay in the U.S. for two additional months without any additional costs to American taxpayers. Canada is one of America’s closest allies and her citizens contribute millions of dollars to the U.S. economy. This bill will provide an incentive for additional tourism from Canada in the future and will strengthen the bond between our two nations.”

More international tourists visit Florida from Canada than any other nation. Back in 2015, the Canadian General Consulate in Miami released a study showing visitors from that nation to Florida lead to jobs in the Sunshine State. 

“Despite the thousand miles which separate Canada and Florida, Canada has an enduring impact on the Florida economy that extends well beyond oil, timber and snowbirds,” the Canadian General Consulate noted. “Canada has for decades and remains today the state’s most significant economic partner, supporting over 620,200 Florida jobs, sustaining a thriving bilateral trade relationship and integrated manufacturing, and supporting Florida’s real estate and tourism industries.

“As Floridians know, Canadians love the Sunshine State,” the Canadian General Consulate continued. “Canada is Florida’s number one source of international tourism, with more than four million visits by Canadians – a figure which is growing by 4 percent annually. Canadian tourists spend 50 percent more time in Florida and 74 percent  more dollars annually than before the recession, and outstrip all other foreign visitors to Florida, in part by virtue of our long stays. Hundreds of Floridian businesses and thousands of employees depend on Canadian tourists, and especially on the seasonal snowbirds, who return year after year.

“Canadians remain Florida’s number one international purchasers of real estate, accounting for more than 30 percent of all foreign homes sales in 2013," the  Canadian General Consulate added. “Canadians purchase approximately 6 percent of all homes sold in Florida. Loyal snowbirds and other Canadians who own property in the state inject nearly half a billion dollars annually into the economy through property taxes.”


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Comments

Great idea! While we're at it, we can extend stays for Mexicans, Haitians and Cubans, too. LOL!

America needs as much help as it can get.

I read some of these comments and as a Trump supporter I'm ticked off, most of us aren't prejudice against our friends to the north or south. We just don't want the ever burdening illegal immigrants coming thru. As a country we can't allow millions of illegal immigrants taking our important tax dollars and being a true burden to this country. I LOVE legal tourism, it brings in Billions and creates relationships that should be cherished. If a out of country snowbird doesn't understand our country then it's up to us to show them how strong we are and our morals as a country and beliefs and not complain about mustard or catsup packets or other senseless banter.

This isn't ABOUT "illegal immigrants". That you are "prejudice" [sic] is your problem. I think "out of country snowbird[s]" DO "understand" your country - a lot better than some of its own citizens, apparently. Your hatred for immigrants is NOT "moral", either.

Why doesn't florida take some of that tourist money and help the homeless ?

Being poor, the homeless are anathema to most Floridians. To "help" them is not in their nature. They'd rather arrest and incarcerate them.

Help the homeless? Help them in what way?

Not enough cheap Canadians HERE LONG ENOUGH to FULLY empty all the sugar/sweetener packets, and catsup/mustard/mayo packets that restaurants, etc. put out, and other DEMANDED "special bargain prices" for Canuks??? They create almost as much trash & garbage as "Spring Breakers"... (And we can certainly do without their disrespectful comments about America and Americans). Let'em go to New Orleans (Who needs a "tourist influx") ; and also Alabama's Gulf Shores where they can gamble (BINGO?!?!?..).

What a load of hogwash. No wonder tourism was down 15% last year. You don't even know which side your bread is buttered on. What causes such hostility in otherwise sane people???

What evidence is there of sanity lol

The gambling NEAR the Gulf is in Escambia County, Alabama, at Atmore, not in Gulf Shores. Take a geography lesson next time.

The "Northern Wall" should solve THIS potential problem !

My friend Jim lived in the U.S. for years, but needed both knees replaced so being the wise guy he was he went back to Canada an stayed with his daughter He tried to get the operation there, but he was informed that he had been out of the country to long so he came back an had it done here. Jim was cheap an always tried to get away with something.

B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan,Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia require at least five months of residence in the province to continue health insurance coverage.Quebec and Prince Edward Island require six months residency, Newfoundland and Labrador requires only four months.Nunavut and the Yukon have no residency requirements. I don't think any Canadian would let their health insurance laps just to stay in the U.S. for a few more days.

I wouldnt. We bought in Cape Coral will only go one month per year need to pay mortgage and bills and my hubby still works here. So we will rent out our house when we can. Besides we have kids and grandkids here. If we are ever able stay in Florida 5 months ever that would be sweet but its down the road luckily. I think staying 8 months and giving up our medicare here in Canada is only for millionaires

Most provinces allow stays of 7 months and likely will boost it to 8 once the bill is signed into law

Comments are now closed.

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