Untitled Document

Dear Bird Talk:

’I read with great interest Ross Quigley’s editorial in your summer 2006 issue of CSANews. Could you possibly relay my comments to him, as well as a few queries I have about his car importing experience?

I am also a bit of a car nut as well. Last fall I purchased a new Mercedes CLS 500 - 4-door sports coupe here in Ottawa and the cost was over the six-figure mark. I am now wondering if I had purchased the car in the U.S. perhaps I could also have saved myself a considerable amount of money.

Therefore, my first question is: Does the Free Trade ruling apply only to“Used Cars” or new cars as well? Because of dealer protection, I suspect it might only be for the used car category. In retrospect, I could have gone to the Mercedes dealer in Naples FL where we live during the winter months and purchased a used 2006 (or almost new) automobile as well.

Are you aware of any limit on the number of times this can be done each year? We usually spend several weeks of our summer time at our Florida condo and always enjoy our driving experience of going back and forth. I might be tempted to purchase another one or two vehicles under these conditions.

Another question is how do I contact U.S Customs officials to file a copy of the U.S. Registration for any car I want to import into Canada? Do they have offices that you are aware of in Florida as well as California?

Is there a U.S. or Canadian website where I can get more information on this procedure? I hope I am not overwhelming you with too many questions. Any further information you could pass on in this regard would be much appreciated.

Mr. Quigley, I totally agree with your comments about extending the passport renewal period to 10 years as well as making it free for students and seniors. We live in a very different world today and I can never understand (outside of the minimal cost) why so many people are so hesitant to apply for one.

Incidentally, I think the CLS 500 is probably the finest riding car I have ever owned. When driving (particularly on the highway) it literally slices through the air and is almost totally soundproof. No need to turn up the volume of our favourite music any more.

Paul Picher
Ottawa ON

Ed: Generally, you do not have to pay duty on an imported vehicle that was manufactured in the United States, Canada or Mexico. If the vehicle was manufactured outside North America, additional duties are usually payable. This duty was 6.1% for the Audi Allroad (a German manufactured car) which was in the article. For assistance in establishing a value for duty for your vehicle you can call the Border Information Service line at 1-800-461-9999. Incidentally, once you purchase a vehicle and drive it to the border it will be classified as “USED”.

You will be required to pay $195 CAD plus applicable GST upon entering Canada. If entering in the Province of Quebec you will have to pay the applicable QST as well. Keep in mind that the appropriate PST will always be payable when you license the vehicle in your home province.

As far as we can determine, there is no limitation on the number of times per year that you can import a vehicle into Canada, however, we have heard (informally) that the income tax people start to treat it as a business when you get to five cross-border purchases.

You must submit the Certificate of Title, the Bill of sale and Vehicle Registration to the U.S. Customs office at the intended point of export 72 hours prior to export. This can be and is, usually, done by fax. These offices are only open on weekdays during regular business hours, so don’t get stranded on a weekend. If you call the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) at 1-888-848-8240 they will provide you with the phone and fax numbers for the U.S. Customs Clearance officer at the land border crossing you intend to cross. It will be a good idea to run the vehicle through a car wash before appearing at the border. Since you are importing a vehicle, The Canadian Food Inspection Agency can have jurisdiction and you must comply with their standards regarding sand, soil earth and plant residue, if requested.

Before purchasing a car to import to Canada from the United States verify the vehicles admissibility by checking the Transport Canada “List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States”. This list is available on the RIV website at www.riv.ca . When you arrive at the Canadian Border, after you have been cleared to EXPORT the vehicle from the United States you will be receive a Vehicle Import Form – Form 1.

If certain modifications are required to comply with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act, you will have 45 days to complete them, once you are in Canada. You have the option of using the mechanic of your choice, however, Canadian Tire ® will perform the federal inspection on behalf of the Registrar of Imported Vehicles and is therefore appropriately qualified to modify the vehicle (if necessary) to meet the compliance standards. On the Audi, we were only required to change the headlight hook-up to provide for daytime running lights (about $100) and this appears to be the only minor change required. Also, after some minor dealer confusion, we have the full warranty coverage in place.

We received many letters and e-mails on this issue and we hope this will answer most questions. And to answer Mrs. Wells, whose family owns a Canadian dealership, the car we imported was not available through Canadian dealers, ever, and that is why we had some warranty confusion at our normal dealership.

Dear Bird Talk,

Please check the following information and alert our fellow Snowbirds of the following problems.

I have been trying to transfer money from my Canadian bank U.S. Dollar account into my account in the Chase Bank in Arizona.

They have instituted a new policy whereby it now takes fro 4 to 6 weeks to make this simple transfer. In my case it was by cheque but they tell me a draft is worse.

This seems completely unreasonable to me and also to representatives of my TD Bank in Canada.

As of this moment I still do not have the money transferred into my U.S. account although it was pulled from my Canadian account weeks ago

I am trying to find a solution to this as it is very inconvenient and also costly as I had to take out a loan to carry me over until it arrives.

Chase is the only bank I know that has started this policy but it should be stopped before it spreads.

After numerous calls to Chase centre in Houston and trips to local bank I have had no satisfaction.

I believe members of our organization should be made aware of this problem and pressure used wherever possible to stop this procedure.

Thanks
Dave Lundberg
Casa Grande, Arizona.

ED: Our first, and only, suggestion would be to take advantage of the CSA Snowbird Currency Exchange Program. There is no fee for a Lifetime Member and only $2 CAD per transfer for a regular member. There are rarely any additional charges at the bank as they treat our transfer as a payroll deposit.

Dear Bird Talk,

I would like to hear from anyone snowbirding in the Sarasota FL area. I would like to start up a Canadian Club. If you are interested, please email me at dorianregd@hotmail.com.

Ian Grant

ED: Great idea, Grant! Don’t forget to order placemats when you pull your meeting together. It’s easy, just send us an email to placemats@medipac.com or call
us at 1.877.633.4722.

Dear Bird Talk,

I enjoy very much reading CSANews as I find it offers new perspectives for senior Canadians.

In April 2006 retired federal public servants had their coverage for foreign travel health benefits increased from $100,000.00 to $500,000.00 for a continuous forty day period. Added health and surgical features were also announced. In view of this expanded coverage, it appears that extra health insurance is now no longer required of snowbirds vacationing in the United States.

You might wish to report on this enhanced coverage in a forthcoming CSANews magazine.

Yours truly,
W.J. Curran

ED: Thank you for bringing the Superannuate changes up, Mr. Curran. We would like to take this opportunity to advise you, and others, that Medipac has increased our credits for superannuates this year, and we provide a complimentary Annual Plan so you and your fellow federal public servants will have the broader protection of the Medipac Program for all your travels. We also do not believe that $500,000 is adequate and Medipac currently provides $2 million limits. We are at a loss to understand why the government would make these very favourable changes but would not amend the Plan to provide the higher limits. Please be aware that the Plan indicated is only valid for the first 40 days of travel and all true snowbirds will still require substantial additional coverage.

Dear Bird Talk,
Re: Health Care Ad Campaign in British Columbia We are short of doctors.

We are short of hospital beds. We need more MRIs. We need more nursing staff. Our clinics are closing their doors due to lack of funding. The B.C. government pays the absolutely, rock-bottom, pittance for out country illness ($75 per day) but somehow they found $15 MILLION of tax money to fund an all-out ad campaign to “open dialogue with the citizens of B.C. to find out what we want in the way of health care for the future.” We WANT a properly funded health care system, NOW.

Thankfully we are not short of drugs– whoever came up with this lame-brain idea of spending 15 million dollars for an ad campaign when we, as taxpayers, have no place else to go for our health care, is definitely HIGH on something. Thank you for listening.

Sincerely, Joei Carlton Hossack.
No Comment Necessary!

	Dear Bird Talk: ’I read with great interest Ross Quigley’s editorial in your summer 2006 issue of CSANews. Could you possibly relay my comments to him, as well as a few queries I have about his car importing experience? I am also a bit of a car nut as well. Last fall I purchased a new Mercedes CLS 500 - 4-door sports coupe here in Ottawa and the cost was over the six-figure mark. I am now wondering if I had purchased the car in the U.S. perhaps I could also have saved myself a considerable amount of money. Therefore, my first question is: Does the Free Trade ruling apply only to“Used Cars” or new cars as well? Because of dealer protection, I suspect it might only be for the used car category. In retrospect, I could have gone to the Mercedes dealer in Naples FL where we live during the winter months and purchased a used 2006 (or almost new) automobile as well. Are you aware of any limit on the number of times this can be done each year? We usually spend several weeks of our summer time at our Florida condo and always enjoy our driving experience of going back and forth. I might be tempted to purchase another one or two vehicles under these conditions. Another question is how do I contact U.S Customs officials to file a copy of the U.S. Registration for any car I want to import into Canada? Do they have offices that you are aware of in Florida as well as California? Is there a U.S. or Canadian website where I can get more information on this procedure? I hope I am not overwhelming you with too many questions. Any further information you could pass on in this regard would be much appreciated. Mr. Quigley, I totally agree with your comments about extending the passport renewal period to 10 years as well as making it free for students and seniors. We live in a very different world today and I can never understand (outside of the minimal cost) why so many people are so hesitant to apply for one. Incidentally, I think the CLS 500 is probably the finest riding car I have ever owned. When driving (particularly on the highway) it literally slices through the air and is almost totally soundproof. No need to turn up the volume of our favourite music any more. Paul Picher Ottawa ON Ed: Generally, you do not have to pay duty on an imported vehicle that was manufactured in the United States, Canada or Mexico. If the vehicle was manufactured outside North America, additional duties are usually payable. This duty was 6.1% for the Audi Allroad (a German manufactured car) which was in the article. For assistance in establishing a value for duty for your vehicle you can call the Border Information Service line at 1-800-461-9999. Incidentally, once you purchase a vehicle and drive it to the border it will be classified as “USED”. You will be required to pay $195 CAD plus applicable GST upon entering Canada. If entering in the Province of Quebec you will have to pay the applicable QST as well. Keep in mind that the appropriate PST will always be payable when you license the vehicle in your home province. As far as we can determine, there is no limitation on the number of times per year that you can import a vehicle into Canada, however, we have heard (informally) that the income tax people start to treat it as a business when you get to five cross-border purchases. You must submit the Certificate of Title, the Bill of sale and Vehicle Registration to the U.S. Customs office at the intended point of export 72 hours prior to export. This can be and is, usually, done by fax. These offices are only open on weekdays during regular business hours, so don’t get stranded on a weekend. If you call the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) at 1-888-848-8240 they will provide you with the phone and fax numbers for the U.S. Customs Clearance officer at the land border crossing you intend to cross. It will be a good idea to run the vehicle through a car wash before appearing at the border. Since you are importing a vehicle, The Canadian Food Inspection Agency can have jurisdiction and you must comply with their standards regarding sand, soil earth and plant residue, if requested. Before purchasing a car to import to Canada from the United States verify the vehicles admissibility by checking the Transport Canada “List of Vehicles Admissible from the United States”. This list is available on the RIV website at www.riv.ca . When you arrive at the Canadian Border, after you have been cleared to EXPORT the vehicle from the United States you will be receive a Vehicle Import Form – Form 1. If certain modifications are required to comply with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act, you will have 45 days to complete them, once you are in Canada. You have the option of using the mechanic of your choice, however, Canadian Tire ® will perform the federal inspection on behalf of the Registrar of Imported Vehicles and is therefore appropriately qualified to modify the vehicle (if necessary) to meet the compliance standards. On the Audi, we were only required to change the headlight hook-up to provide for daytime running lights (about $100) and this appears to be the only minor change required. Also, after some minor dealer confusion, we have the full warranty coverage in place. We received many letters and e-mails on this issue and we hope this will answer most questions. And to answer Mrs. Wells, whose family owns a Canadian dealership, the car we imported was not available through Canadian dealers, ever, and that is why we had some warranty confusion at our normal dealership.

	Dear Bird Talk, Please check the following information and alert our fellow Snowbirds of the following problems. I have been trying to transfer money from my Canadian bank U.S. Dollar account into my account in the Chase Bank in Arizona. They have instituted a new policy whereby it now takes fro 4 to 6 weeks to make this simple transfer. In my case it was by cheque but they tell me a draft is worse. This seems completely unreasonable to me and also to representatives of my TD Bank in Canada. As of this moment I still do not have the money transferred into my U.S. account although it was pulled from my Canadian account weeks ago I am trying to find a solution to this as it is very inconvenient and also costly as I had to take out a loan to carry me over until it arrives. Chase is the only bank I know that has started this policy but it should be stopped before it spreads. After numerous calls to Chase centre in Houston and trips to local bank I have had no satisfaction. I believe members of our organization should be made aware of this problem and pressure used wherever possible to stop this procedure. Thanks Dave Lundberg Casa Grande, Arizona. ED: Our first, and only, suggestion would be to take advantage of the CSA Snowbird Currency Exchange Program. There is no fee for a Lifetime Member and only $2 CAD per transfer for a regular member. There are rarely any additional charges at the bank as they treat our transfer as a payroll deposit.

	Dear Bird Talk, I would like to hear from anyone snowbirding in the Sarasota FL area. I would like to start up a Canadian Club. If you are interested, please email me at dorianregd@hotmail.com. Ian Grant ED: Great idea, Grant! Don’t forget to order placemats when you pull your meeting together. It’s easy, just send us an email to placemats@medipac.com or call us at 1.877.633.4722.

	Dear Bird Talk, I enjoy very much reading CSANews as I find it offers new perspectives for senior Canadians. In April 2006 retired federal public servants had their coverage for foreign travel health benefits increased from $100,000.00 to $500,000.00 for a continuous forty day period. Added health and surgical features were also announced. In view of this expanded coverage, it appears that extra health insurance is now no longer required of snowbirds vacationing in the United States. You might wish to report on this enhanced coverage in a forthcoming CSANews magazine. Yours truly, W.J. Curran ED: Thank you for bringing the Superannuate changes up, Mr. Curran. We would like to take this opportunity to advise you, and others, that Medipac has increased our credits for superannuates this year, and we provide a complimentary Annual Plan so you and your fellow federal public servants will have the broader protection of the Medipac Program for all your travels. We also do not believe that $500,000 is adequate and Medipac currently provides $2 million limits. We are at a loss to understand why the government would make these very favourable changes but would not amend the Plan to provide the higher limits. Please be aware that the Plan indicated is only valid for the first 40 days of travel and all true snowbirds will still require substantial additional coverage.

	Dear Bird Talk, Re: Health Care Ad Campaign in British Columbia We are short of doctors. We are short of hospital beds. We need more MRIs. We need more nursing staff. Our clinics are closing their doors due to lack of funding. The B.C. government pays the absolutely, rock-bottom, pittance for out country illness ($75 per day) but somehow they found $15 MILLION of tax money to fund an all-out ad campaign to “open dialogue with the citizens of B.C. to find out what we want in the way of health care for the future.” We WANT a properly funded health care system, NOW. Thankfully we are not short of drugs– whoever came up with this lame-brain idea of spending 15 million dollars for an ad campaign when we, as taxpayers, have no place else to go for our health care, is definitely HIGH on something. Thank you for listening. Sincerely, Joei Carlton Hossack. No Comment Necessary!