Government Report

Snowbird Residency Requirement

Each province requires a snowbird to be "resident" in his or her province in order to maintain provincial health insurance coverage. The term "resident" is defined differently under health legislation in each province, but generally in all provinces, it means that a person must reside in his or her province for at least 183 days within any 12-month period, except for Ontario and Newfoundland where it is 153 days and 4 months, respectively (the "Minimum Residency Requirement").

For example, Saskatchewan allows its residents to take short-term trips within Canada in excess of the Minimum Residency Requirement, while Quebec is more specific and allows an unlimited number of short-term trips, not exceeding 21 days, anywhere in the world (as opposed to anywhere in Canada only) in excess of the Minimum Residency Requirement.

See the chart above for your province's Minimum Residency Requirement and whether it allows (as a matter of policy, not law) short-term travel in excess of the Minimum Residency Requirement.

Re: Residency Requirement to Maintain Provincial Health Insurance Coverage

I am a snowbird and a member of the Canadian Snowbird Association (the "CSA"). The CSA is a not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of more than 100,000 travelling Canadians who reside for one or more months of the year, principally at their winter residences in the southern parts of the United States, such as Florida, Arizona, California and Texas.

I am writing to request changes to our provincial health insurance legislation that requires me to stay a certain number of days within the province to satisfy the residency requirement, in order to maintain my provincial health insurance coverage.

I am requesting that you take the necessary action to allow residents within our province to travel outside the province for a minimum of six months, and to travel for an unlimited number of short-term trips not exceeding 21 days anywhere in the world, while remaining insured under our provincial health insurance plan. This is the position advocated by the CSA as well as my personal view, and is currently the position within the province of Quebec. Ontario and Newfoundland have favourable residency requirements but I feel that additional short term trips of up to 21 days should be provided for, especially within Canada.

I believe that this is a common-sense approach for a retiree lifestyle and it will release me from being a "prisoner within my own province." In addition, the 21-day, short-term trip extension allows me to travel anywhere in the world but, more importantly, it does not restrict my travel within my own country to visit family and friends in other provinces.

Many Canadians fought and died in two World Wars to allow various freedoms, including the freedom to travel. Surely, an advanced democracy such as Canada and, in particular, our province, can seek ways that promote such a freedom and fix these antiquated laws.

I ask that you consider my letter and contact me and the CSA to advise us what action you will be taking regarding this matter. My address is written above and the CSA's address is 180 Lesmill Road, North York, Ontario, M3B 2T5.

As a voter, I trust you will listen to my concerns! Thank you.