Taxes...First, unless you actually sold any shares (i.e. you created REALIZED GAINS), you don't have to pay any tax on UN-REALIZED GAINS.
Second, even if you did sell in 2000 (or you are planning to sell some this year) , you don't have to make installment payments. The tax is not due until April 2001.
Installments are only required on earned income (as opposed to unearned income, which is what you get from investments), and only if you are self employed. The installments are based on the previous year's income. Even then, if you do not make these installments, there is NO PENALTY. It is only interest that you will have to pay comes April!
Finally, I hope you aren't planning to sell any WIN yet... I think, in the absence of a takeover, WIN is a long term play, and its potential will not have reached until at least its price hits $400"
And if you believe in that... and you wish to avoid (not evade) any taxes, you better think hard, and be creative. RRSPs are not the answer. First, its already too late now because if you haven't already done so, any transfer into your RRSP will realize all the capital gains... and taxes will be due in April! Second, any gains in RRSP, is just a deferral... sooner or later you will have to cough up the taxes... on 100% of the gains NOT the usual 75% currently applicable on capital gains.
Offshore is the way to go. And for obvious reasons I do not want to say too much on these boards, in case our partner Revenue Canada (or whatever its new name now is) is watching...