* Residents free to travel up to seven months outside province
* 100 day prescription drug limit DOUBLED
* New voting rights

On Friday, January 22, 1999 at Snowbird Extravaganza, Ontario Premier Mike Harris responded to years of lobbying efforts by the Canadian Snowbird Association by delivering three substantial amendments to provincial regulations benefiting CSA members.

Until his announcement, nine of Canada's provinces restricted their residents from most travel outside their provincial boundaries once the 183-day maximum had been reached. Ontario has taken the leadership role in addressing snowbird issues and, effective March 1, 1999, Subclause 1.1 (2) (a) (ii) of Regulation 552 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 is revoked and the following substituted:

(ii) is present in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period...

Cam Jackson, Ontario's Minister of Long-Term Care spoke about the change at the press conference following the announcement. "If an Ontario resident has been outside the province for six months, returns and suddenly gets word that a family member is ill in British Columbia, he or she will be able to leave the province ... without fear of being cut off from OHIP coverage."

In order to enact the 30-day grace period, without creating or adding a bureaucracy, the regulation simply states that the resident must be present in the province for only 153 days in a 12-month period, as well as maintaining a principal residence in order to qualify for OHIP. Ontarians now have the freedom to travel for seven months, period!

Many snowbirds have called the CSA offices enquiring as to whether this 30-day extension will allow for greater periods of time in the United States. This now becomes a taxation and residency issue. Guests of the U.S. are allowed to stay for a period of 182 days without having to file a tax return with the IRS. The Closer Connection Form that appears on pages 53 and 54 is proof to the IRS that a Closer Connection exists with a foreign country (i.e. that principal residence is maintained in Canada). The additional 30 days, once the 182-day U.S. maximum is reached, is intended for travel within Canada or overseas.