I believe looking back on the “thread” and the rants herein that the obstacles to a Canadian Citizen wishing to move elsewhere with a significant portion of his “wealth” intact was the issue.

I served as a Reservist, Mobile Cmd (Army) for a number of years. It was between wars.
Nothing quite beats the bureaucrats when they’re not tasked by serious war demands when it comes to shorting you on your equipment and pay!!

But again, my examination of moving from Canada to another land and escaping/avoiding or eliminating Canadian Laws that demand a tax be paid regardless of where I may take up citizenship, or become a resident offend me deeply. My CPP was paid for by me. My RRSP is mine- and income from investments in non-registered accounts is mine! Yet living in Costa Rica, Honduras or the Turks & Caicos Islands, they (CRA) can still hold sway over me their demand that I “file a tax return” makes me a slave to their bidding, even though I am in Provendentiales! (TC) This is just wrong. A person pays their taxes from income, yet when they leave Canada, to go to Sarasota or Ft. lauderdale for more than 182 days…they LOSE their Medicare! Explain that bit of warped filthy reasoning! Actually Alex Doulis did, in his book- A “Citizen” costs governments serious money. a “Resident”, not so much.

The very essence is this: they do not wish you to be a “citizen of the world” they demand that you be paying taxes somewhere. and they have limited the places where that might be a cause for them to let you alone. There’s no where to run no where to hide, because they and the Government that is directly paid by CRA wishes it so.

Alex pointed out, a man with investments such as bonds in a tax free zone, who purchases insurance on the world market, who costs his country nothing, should be left alone. In fact he came back to Canada and because he had world wide insurance was moved to the HEAD of the line for surgery! Really. It was in the Nat Post. He had a British or Cyprus Insurer and as a direct result did not have to wait in line like Canadians do. Just amazing. But the story is always, unless you KNOW what you don’t got, you are happy as a clam! right?

I’ll give my Canadian citizenship away free, as it is worthless.

get different country passport.

Now you become successful, and contribute to RRSPs and build wealth, become self-employed like my boy, create beautiful decks and family rooms for rich people and get paid for it..now..at 40 or 45.. you have real money.. you paid your guys, you banked the rest..a shyster stock broker is selling you ELC energy… hellooo..?
Now you get older. Kids schooled, out, successful..and suddenly you check what Canada demands of your income, from your dividends, your capital gains, your OAS and CPP (which they claw back if you are getting near rich) and you say “Chuck it”. I need a warm place, with the marvels of the world-snakes, cheetas , whatever.. coral reefs… name it.” Now, really what this is all about is extracting yourself from Canada with some of your wealth intact. One method is to gain residency in another country-sever everything here, (drivers license, house, medicare etc.) and get out. Clean. This does not mean you can’t come back!! no no no.. You can actually re-gain residency like Alex Doulis did after he spent years cruisng the Med. Yeah you are right…it probably has more merit for someone older… but you know man, if you have skills, and you and your wife are adventurous..I can tell you I met a Mom and her Hubby and two kids from Calgary who OWN a hotel they built in CR. and they are vibrant and livin’ the life man. It is not for every human to live like some others, but you and your wife and your children could grow up running a tourist lodge on the Packfic Coast of CR..and never want or need for anything again.
The people I met who aare doin’ it are proof. They were like you and they “blew this pop stand”. and just did it. Me? I am old and I regret not doing it 40 years ago..although I did spend a year at Expo 67 ! and it was the very best year of my life, Montreal ’67.I wish I lived there yet.

@Deke It makes sense to tax you when you withdraw money from your RRSP because this is income, earned in Canada, on which you haven’t already paid taxes. Those taxes were owed, but you made a choice to defer payment.

At least the Mother Church just ASKED you to contribute.. the State….has GUNS. remember that. Esp if @Youwanna is part of “The STate” !

Why did the civilized nations try to eliminate statehood? Could it be possible it was to, in the future, bestow responsibility on an individuals Governement in the event of war, kidnapping, fraud, human trafficking,natural disasters, refugee/displaced persons, famin etc. wherever these “stateless” people happen to pop up, and can be identified and (where on merit) justly assisted? I think you need to look inward and figure out whats really making you angry and disenfranchised with your situation, because there are several more productive ways to go about it. Have children. Buy a nice car (if can get away from your bicycle). Go on more vacations! Practice safe sex, because living in, or fantasizing of living in new land(s) certainly has romantic appeal, and getting knocked up isn’t always fun, especially if abortion has to be considered (whch BTW, may very well be restrictive, or downright ILLEGAL in your new “statelless” adopted country). I know I probably sound like I could be onstage with Stewie at Woodstock ( which I’m certain most ppl on this blog view as offensive/boycott) but I’ve restled with my own Canadian citizenship and tax issues, as well as its attached (also free of charge) economic injustices. I found its actually more enjoyable to play along, reap the benefits! So many ppl on this earth would KILL just to have the options you got. Don’t like income tax? Grow some and start your own business, incorporated.
Best bet, pay off your Visa and get a $3000 max limit. Period. When you get phone solicited, make like drugs and JUST SAY NO! Or use a celebrity soundboard to take the call, like I do.