A Florida congressman has brought back 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.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, reintroduced the “Canadian Snowbird Visa Act” which they worked together on back in 2017. The bill would add two extra months to the 182 days that Canadians can stay in the United States each year.
"We're proud to welcome our northern neighbors to our sunny corner of the country," Deutch said. "In fact, their visits to South Florida contribute significantly to our regional economy, helping local businesses and creating jobs. I'm proud to work with my New York colleague to introduce this bill to allow our Canadian guests to extend their stay in the United States."
“Our successful and productive economic partnership with Canada extends beyond our cross-border business and manufacturing operations,” said Stefanik. “Our Canadian visitors are also critically important to the North Country’s tourism industry and our economy as a whole. We are lucky to share the St. Lawrence River, and our neighbors to the North frequently cross the border in the summer months to boat, hike, or visit one of our many historical sites. Providing them with an extra two months to participate in these activities will grow small businesses, create jobs, and foster our relationship with our closest economic ally.”
The Canadian Snowbird Association threw its support behind the proposal.
“This bill will provide Canadian retirees with greater flexibility in their ability to travel to the United States annually and is a win-win for people on both sides of the border,” said Karen Huestis, the president of the Canadian Snowbird Association. “We commend Reps. Stefanik and Deutch for spearheading this initiative”.
Canadian tourists added almost $20 billion to the American economy back in 2016, including 3.6 million Canadians visiting Florida and adding $4.5 billion to the Sunshine State’s economy. Canadians also buy, on average, more than $13 billion in American real estate on an annual basis.
Deutch is not the only member of the Florida delegation who has been pushing for Canadians to stay longer in the U.S. Back in early 2017, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., 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.
