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If you haven't come back for 2 years, you're non-resident already if you don't have any dependent, real estate property, bank account, care card here. You don't really have to declare it under the tax law. Any one live outside Canada for more than half year and have no direct link to Canada while you're away, you can consider yourself as non-resident.

If this is your case, just tell them you come back to visit parents, relatives. However, if you consider yourself as non-resident, you won't have the $750 tax free credit. You are just treated as vistor. THat is, any gifts over $60 are taxable.