U.S. STOCKS

I recently sold my Enbridge USD holdings in my CIBC Wood Gundy Account (too much uncertainty and has done nothing for me in almost 5 years except pay a reliable dividend) and was charged a commission of USD $241 (which I am questioning). It is becoming increasing evident that the traditional full service brokerage no longer meets my needs. I prefer to converse with you guys and invest online. That $241 USD represents 43 trades on Investor´s Edge. I have done very well investing online in the 10 months that I have been a member. But a significant chunk of my holding with Wood Gundy in my investment account are US stocks, AT&T, VZ, HHU healthcare, SQNS and WM. I know you much prefer Canadian telecoms and Telus is a foundation stock but I have done better than that with VZ and the dividend from AT&T has been great. I spend a lot of time in Ecuador which uses the USD and hence I have put USD dividends to good use.. Enough preamble!! My question to you is what is the best online system/brokerage to invest in US stocks. Or with the USD weakening and the advantages to me of USD dividends diminishing, would you put your money in Canadian stocks. I am almost 80 years old. My strategy is to have a certain value of stocks which I will try to maintain (I have that now) and leave that to my wife and daughter when I die and spent the rest here in South America to have fun and to help people who are desperate to have what we Canadians take for granted – food, water, clothes, shelter..