http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/story/d/story/bill-let-canadians-stay-in-us-longer/19652/vObBQeMk4UK-8BDhKWVoDQby Michael Page
January 30, 2014
A new bill, co-sponsored by outgoing Representative Bill Owens (D-21NY), would allow retired Canadians to stay in the United States longer each year.
"Anything that increases the time that our Canadian friends can be in the U.S. is clearly to our benefit," Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce said in a statement released by Owens. "This would eliminate impediments to additional back-and-forth visits to the North Country for all of those snowbirds going south in the winter. And, of course, we're also increasingly servicing this back-and-forth travel via Plattsburgh International Airport. This just makes sense and is a positive additional step toward further encouraging cross border travel and commerce, the single greatest force in the current and future economy of the North Country."
The legislation would increase the number of days retired Canadians older than 55 could spend in the United States from 182 days to 240 days per year. Owens said that would bolster the North Country's economy.
“Canadian tourists and part-time residents are vital parts of New York’s economy,” Representative Bill Owens said in a statement. “Extending the number of days Canadians can spend in the U.S. could mean more Canadian visits in the summer, more spending in local economies, and, most importantly, more local jobs.”
In 2012 Canadians made more than 4.2 million visits to New York. Those visitors spent $1.5 billion in the state.
