Canadian Snowbird Association

Commitment, Service and Advocacy for Travellers On Monday April 4, 2016 the residents of We don’t want election promises! We want fair will choose their next provincial treatment! government. As a member of the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA), now is the time to ensure your voice is heard! Bob Slack Take the time to learn where your local candidates President stand on these important issues. Do they support your Canadian Snowbird Association right to travel? What will they do on your behalf? Access To Emergency Health Coverage When Travelling

Under the portability criterion of the Canada Health Act (section 11), insured Canadian residents who are temporarily absent from their home province and outside Canada must continue to be covered for insured health services during their absence. Where the insured services are provided outside Canada, payment is to be made on the basis of the amount that would have been paid by the province for similar services rendered in the province. This allows individuals to travel or be absent from their home province or territory, within a prescribed duration, while retaining their health insurance coverage. Residents of Saskatchewan who require emergency in-patient hospital services while out- of-country are eligible to receive a reimbursement of up to a maximum of $100 per day. While Saskatchewan has not disclosed its per-day rate provided for emergency services Do your local candidates support required while within the province, $100 is well below the average rates paid for in-province the portability principle of the services elsewhere in Canada and below the out-of-country rates reimbursed by most other Canada Health Act? Do they support jurisdictions. The current policy is a clear violation of the portability principle of the Canada reimbursing emergency in-patient Health Act. and out-patient services required by The Canadian Snowbird Association is simply asking the Government of Saskatchewan to travellers at the same rate per day as reimburse emergency in-patient and out-patient services required by travellers at the same that paid for similar services within rate per-day as that paid for similar services within the province. We are not asking the the province? Do they support government to pay the high costs of U.S. hospital stays and our proposed changes will not updating these rates to match cost the province any more money than if the emergency had occurred while the patient changes in real costs? was in Saskatchewan. Residents who travel pay a full year of taxes to the provincial government. They must pay for infrastructure and other government services that they do not use for a full year, but one thing they expect and deserve is to have full, equal access to the health care for which they pay taxes. Access to Prescription Drugs For Use During Travel

In 2012, due to the efforts of the Canadian Snowbird Association, the Do your local candidates Saskatchewan Government increased access to prescription medication support increasing the for travelling residents by simplifying the reimbursement process for those amount of medication enrolled in the Saskatchewan Drug Plan. which will be reimbursed As a result of this change, Saskatchewan under the Saskatchewan Drug Plan beneficiaries can now be Drug Plan, from six to reimbursed for up to six months of seven months, to match the medication at one time. Previously, permitted time residents are travellers needed to submit two three- able to spend outside of the month receipts and were unable to province while maintaining receive payment for the complete continuous health coverage? six month supply under a single reimbursement. Preservation of Health Coverage for Frequent Travellers

Due to the advocacy work of the CSA, the Saskatchewan Government has, effective January 1, 2016, formally increased the amount of time residents may Do your local be absent from Saskatchewan, from six to seven months (over any 12-month candidates support period), while still retaining continuous provincial health coverage. amending policy In addition, travellers have the option to exercise the 12-month temporary to allow residents absence provision of the regulations. That would of Saskatchewan to enable individuals to travel outside of Canada travel internationally without loss of resident status. Residents who for up to eight months choose to exercise this option need to update (or seven months with the Ministry by submitting a Notification of an unlimited number Extended Absence Form both prior to and after of short-term trips the extended absence. On completion of the [23 days] anywhere in 12-month absence period, it would be necessary the world), while still to return to physical presence in Saskatchewan for maintaining health six months, after which he or she would again be benefits. eligible for another period of temporary absence.

Registered Provincial Political Parties Contact information to conduct election platform inquiries Saskatchewan New Democratic Party The Cam Broten 1122 Saskatchewan Dr. 6135 Rochdale Blvd Regina SK Regina, SK S4P 0C4 S4X 2R1 Tel: 306-525-1322 Telephone: 306-359-1638 Fax: 306-569-1363 Fax: 306-359-9832 Email: [email protected] Email/website: www.saskparty.com Election Date Website: www.sakndp.ca and Times For a full list of registered political parties in the province of Saskatchewan Election Day is please visit www.elections.sk.ca Monday April 4, 2016. Polls will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. Advance Polls Elections Saskatchewan Information Dates & Hours Office of the Chief Electoral Officer/Elections zz Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Saskatchewan from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. CST Office Hours:Monday  - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. zz Wednesday March 30, 2016 from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. CST Mail: #301-3303 Hillsdale Street Regina, Saskatchewan zz Thursday, March 31, 2016 Canada S4S 6W9 from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. CST Telephone: (306) 787-4000 or 1-877-958-8683 (Toll Free in Canada and USA) zz Friday, April 1, 2016 from 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. CST Fax: (306) 787-4052 E-mail: [email protected] zz Saturday, April 2, 2016 from 12 noon - 7 p.m. CST Website: www.elections.sk.ca Vote by Mail How to Register Eligible voters who will be away from their constituency during the election The voters list is comprised of registered may vote by mail. voters in all 61 constituencies of To vote by mail, electors first need to apply for an absentee ballot, Saskatchewan. which can be accessed from the Elections Saskatchewan website at If you are an eligible voter, you may www.elections.sk.ca. Once the voter receives the absentee ballot, they review and verify your information simply need to complete it and mail it back to Elections Saskatchewan. until March 23. Up to March 22, you can review your information by If voting by mail, it is important that voters start the process as soon as contacting Elections Saskatchewan possible. Voters need to allow enough time to: by phone at 1-877-958-8683, online at zz Download an application from the Elections Saskatchewan website; www.elections.sk.ca, or in person at your constituency returning office. On zz Complete the ballot and mail or email it, back to Elections March 23, you will only be able to review Saskatchewan along with a copy of their ID and a signed declaration; your information in-person at the office. zz Wait for a voting kit to arrive to them by mail shortly after the writ If you are not on the voters list, you only drops in early March 2016; and have until March 22 to register online zz Mark their ballot and mail back to Elections Saskatchewan postmarked or by phone. If you are not on the list by 8 p.m. on April 4. after March 23, you can still vote by registering in-person at advance voting (March 29 – April 2) or on Election Day.

Voter I.D. Requirements To vote in the April 4 provincial election you must: zz Be a Canadian citizen; zz Be at least 18 years old; zz Have ordinarily resided in Saskatchewan for at least six months before the day the election is called. To vote, you must prove your identity and address. You have three options: Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 A driver’s licence, or other Show two pieces of ID, both must have your At the voting station, you can sign a government-issued ID that has both name and one must have your address. For declaration, and a registered voter from your name, photo and address. This example, your health card and a utility bill. There your constituency, such as a neighbour must be your civic/residential address, are more than 50 acceptable documents. They or roommate, may vouch for you. Each legal land description, lot/block/plan are listed on your Voter Information Card (VIC), person can only vouch for one other or First Nation reserve. and on the Elections Saskatchewan website at individual. elections.sk.ca/bringID.

CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION Commitment, Service and Advocacy for Travellers 180 Lesmill Road Office Hours (Eastern Time) General inquiries (English service) Toronto, Ontario, Canada 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday Telephone (416) 391-9000 M3B 2T5 Fax (416) 441-7007 Toll-Free 1-800-265-3200 www.snowbirds.org General inquiries (French service) E-mail [email protected] Telephone (416) 391-9090 Toll-Free 1-800-265-5132