No snowbirds from Canada this year?

[WeRJuliian]

As I understand it, the US/Canada border is still closed to non essential traffic, so what happens to those full timers in Canada, who rely on heading South to escape the snow?

We're used to seeing them in Florida, but I assume they're going to be stuck this year.
I wonder what kind of problems that will create for people who may not be equipped to deal with a severe winter?

[Stingray75]

We’ve talked to a couple winter Texan friends from north of the border who can’t leave. They’ve winterized for the first time in years and moved in with family or stayed in their homes. It’s the shoveling that concerns them most. Apparently if they leave Canada, they lose health coverage.

[CAG]

Big money boost for us during the winter but it will be a relief from some of the traffic issues as well as jammed hospitals for surgery they come here to have done.

[DrSmart]

I read a while ago that the CSA has been negotiating with hotels up here to provide cut rate lodging for snowbirds that aren't able to go south. It would help the struggling hotels and the stranded snowbirds.
Flying down is still an option if the snowbird has a place in the south. Travel Insurance is available.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by DrSmart

.... Flying down is still an option if the snowbird has a place in the south. Travel Insurance is available.

Hummmm, ship the Camper and vehicle on the back of a semi, and fly far enough south to reconnect with your property.

[DrSmart]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Hummmm, ship the Camper and vehicle on the back of a semi, and fly far enough south to reconnect with your property.

Sounds like a plan, but our North Point is 13' 5" high. We'd have a full length sky light at the pick up point

Friends of ours had an axle brake on their SOB and got a low flat bed to transport to a repair facility. The trucker had to exit before every highway bridge and re-enter on the far side

[colby]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Hummmm, ship the Camper and vehicle on the back of a semi, and fly far enough south to reconnect with your property.

I've heard of a couple of people doing that.

A lot of people headed to the West Coast (BC) and quickly filled up the spots there. Some hit some bad weather if they left late (between BC and Alberta in the mountains). Others store their trailers/coaches in the south and fly down. I think there will be a few.

Health insurance is available for those willing to pay.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by Stingray75

We’ve talked to a couple winter Texan friends from north of the border who can’t leave. They’ve winterized for the first time in years and moved in with family or stayed in their homes. It’s the shoveling that concerns them most. Apparently if they leave Canada, they lose health coverage.

I think that is just in Ontario... if they tried that with me I would say "No health care .... no income tax

[DrSmart]

Originally Posted by Seann45

I think that is just in Ontario... if they tried that with me I would say "No health care .... no income tax

CSA took Ontario Gov to court and won to get OHIP coverage back.

[Quantum]

You can hire an RV hauler (company that has pickup trucks) to haul your RV just over the border and drop it. Then hire a car hauler to bring your truck across. Fly in to the nearest US airport to the border and pick up your rig and head south.

[Bob_D]

People from our seasonal park are renting apartments for the winter and storing their RVs until the spring.

[Patchesrv]

There are plenty of companies willing to ship RV across border. There are plenty of insurance companies willing to sell Covid insurance. I’m sure there will be plenty of cold and snow, but I can pay someone to shovel and stay inside from the cold, not sure about tempting fate with Covid. Next year there will be twice as many Canadians down there ��

[DrSmart]

Originally Posted by CAG

Big money boost for us during the winter but it will be a relief from some of the traffic issues as well as jammed hospitals for surgery they come here to have done.

Don't think Canadians come to Florida to have surgery unless they choose to pay for it out of pocket. Our health care system and travel health insurance only covers emergency surgery while traveling. They insist that you or someone accompanying you consult them before proceeding and they will determine if you can return home to receive treatment. If you don't follow their rules, you forfeit coverage. I'm only referring to surgical procedures.

[Ricky555]

Originally Posted by colby

I've heard of a couple of people doing that.

A lot of people headed to the West Coast (BC) and quickly filled up the spots there. Some hit some bad weather if they left late (between BC and Alberta in the mountains). Others store their trailers/coaches in the south and fly down. I think there will be a few.

Health insurance is available for those willing to pay.

Most RV parks here on the west coast of Canada are FULL as most people will not be going south for the winter. Suck it up people, it may be just a little snow here.

[FionaGrant]

Originally Posted by Seann45

I think that is just in Ontario... if they tried that with me I would say "No health care .... no income tax

These are the rules here in BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/h...bc-temporarily

[Retiredyoung]

Hello everyone,

For those who are wondering what some of us snow birds are doing this year, my wife and I sold our home in Nova Scotia two years ago to live full time in our RV. This year because of COVID we winterized the RV and rented (at a very reduced rate) a 1 bedroom suite, with kitchen and living room at a hotel for 5 months, from Nov 1 to end of March. We hope to resume our full time RV living, travelling at that time. All the best to everyone and stay safe.

[Florida Ranger]

Finally the Locals in Florida will be able to get a campsite this winter to enjoy using thier campers...HALLELUJAH !!!!!!

[GrumpyDad]

Lots of Canadians are figuring out ways to get south. Getting the RV trucked across the border, or buying one in the USA, and flying down is actually not too difficult. Some are switching to condos for the season instead of an RV. The insurance thing is a little more complicated, but I've heard there's ways.

[spark of insanity]

I have a feeling Canada will never reopen. They just extended it again to the end of December. Merry Xmas via zoom. Sucks to border a country that will never reopen. IMO not yours

[DrSmart]

Never say Never