Heading North?

[stevew]

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Disgruntled Democrats seeking a safe Canadian haven after President Bush won Tuesday's election should not pack their bags just yet.

Canadian officials made clear on Wednesday that any U.S. citizens so fed up with Bush that they want to make a fresh start up north would have to stand in line like any other would-be immigrants -- a wait that can take up to a year.

"You just can't come into Canada and say 'I'm going to stay here'. In other words, there has to be an application. There has to be a reason why the person is coming to Canada," said immigration ministry spokeswoman Maria Iadinardi.

There are anywhere from 600,000 to a million Americans living in Canada, a country that leans more to the left than the United States and has traditionally favored the Democrats over the Republicans.

But recent statistics show a gradual decline in U.S. citizens coming to work in Canada, which has a creaking publicly funded healthcare system and relatively high levels of personal taxation.

Government officials, real estate brokers and Democrat activists said that while some Americans might talk about a move to Canada rather than living with a new Bush administration, they did not expect a mass influx.

"It's one thing to say 'I'm leaving for Canada' and quite another to actually find a job here and wonder about where you're going to live and where the children are going to go to school," said one government official.

Roger King of the Toronto-based Democrats Abroad group said he had heard nothing to back up talk of a possible exodus of party members.

"I imagine most committed Democrats will want to stay in the United States and continue being politically active there," he told Reuters.

Americans seeking to immigrate can apply to become permanent citizens of Canada, a process that often takes a year. Becoming a full citizen takes a further three years.

Official statistics show the number of U.S. workers entering Canada dropped to 15,789 in 2002 from 21,627 in 2000. Early indicators on Wednesday showed little sign of this changing.

A spokesman for Canada's foreign affairs ministry said there had been no increase in the number of hits on the Washington embassy's immigration Web site, while housing brokers said they doubted they would see a surge in U.S. business.

"Canada's always open and welcoming to Americans who want to relocate here, but we don't think it would be a trend or movement," said Gino Romanese of Royal Lepage Residential Real Estate Services in Toronto.

Those wishing to move to Canada could always take a risk and claim refugee status -- the path chosen earlier this year by two U.S. deserters who opposed the war in Iraq.

"Anybody who enters Canada who claims refugee status will be provided with a work permit ... it doesn't matter what country they're from," Iadinardi said.

Refugee cases are handled by special boards, which can take months to decide whether to admit applicants. The rulings can be appealed and opposition politicians complain some people ordered deported have been in Canada for 10 years or more.
The other main way to move north on a long-term basis is to find a job, which in all cases requires a work permit. This takes from four to six months to come through.

Thought some might be interested due to recent events.

[Ragone]

Those leaving due to a election result..

don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you..

[Peregrine]

Hard to imagine people wanting to leave the country just because of the way an election went. But who knows, maybe they just like the cold.

[GrantDawg]

That's funny. I just read that article before I came here. I don't think I would dislike living in Canada.

[Ksyrup]

GD, it's too early in the morning for double-negatives.

[Bearcat729]

I thought about moving to Canada. Not because of the election results, but because I can't find a job here in Cincinnati.

Problem is I doubt that I would find a job there either.

[Bomber]

If Canada wasn't in the North more people would consider moving there. I think they should try and switch with Mexico.

[MikeVic]

I don't know about other cities, but Winnipeg is the slurpee capital of Canada (maybe the world even?), and also the murder caital of Canada (per capita at least... and we broke the record for most homicides in Winnipeg in a year already).

So, if you like slurpees and homicides, come to Winnipeg!

[Peregrine]

If Canada wasn't in the North more people would consider moving there. I think they should try and switch with Mexico.

Marge - It took the children 40 minutes to locate Canada on a map.

Homer - Marge, anyone could miss Canada, all tucked away down there...

[Sharpieman]

Originally Posted by Bomber

If Canada wasn't in the North more people would consider moving there. I think they should try and switch with Mexico.

I think another reason is the the US (for the most part) is so multicultural, thats what makes this country so great and interesting.

[Bomber]

Originally Posted by Sharpieman

I think another reason is the the US (for the most part) is so multicultural, thats what makes this country so great and interesting.

Hey Canada has white French people and white non-French people. That's pretty diverse if you ask me.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Bomber

Hey Canada has white French people and white non-French people. That's pretty diverse if you ask me.

I don't get it... Canada has a ton of different cultures. Unless this is some joke I'm not understanding.

[Bomber]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I don't get it... Canada has a ton of different cultures. Unless this is some joke I'm not understanding.

Come on the only thing whiter in Canada than the people is the snow.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Bomber

Come on the only thing whiter in Canada than the people is the snow.

What's up

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Bomber

Come on the only thing whiter in Canada than the people is the snow.

I haven't been to many Canadian cities, but the impression I've always gotten in the cities I've been to was a lot of races. Maybe it was just because of the places I went to?

I know in my neighbourhood, around me, and my friends... there's a lot of non-white people. Again, maybe I'm not seeing it as a whole, but just what I see. Any other Canadians can help settle this?

[Bomber]

I once got robbed by a black guy in Montreal. I guess that settles it.

EDIT: I also remember seeing two or three black strippers.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I haven't been to many Canadian cities, but the impression I've always gotten in the cities I've been to was a lot of races. Maybe it was just because of the places I went to?

I know in my neighbourhood, around me, and my friends... there's a lot of non-white people. Again, maybe I'm not seeing it as a whole, but just what I see. Any other Canadians can help settle this?

I actually think the percentage of blacks in Canada is the same as in America. I remember seeing this somewhere.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I actually think the percentage of blacks in Canada is the same as in America. I remember seeing this somewhere.

You're an idiot. Blacks make up 2.9% in Canada compared 12.9% in the US.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

You're an idiot. Blacks make up 2.9% in Canada compared 12.9% in the US.

Hmm ok, so not as many black people. What about asian, west and east indies, etc.? There are a lot of asian and east indian people around me... I'll have to find some numbers too.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

You're an idiot. Blacks make up 2.9% in Canada compared 12.9% in the US.

GD, I wouldn't take that kind of slam if I was y...

Oh, nevermind.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Hmm ok, so not as many black people. What about asian, west and east indies, etc.? There are a lot of asian and east indian people around me... I'll have to find some numbers too.

They are a much higher percentage. The quaintly called "visible minorities" in your last census has them at about 28% all together. (I hope you recognize that slam was on me, not you ).

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

They are a much higher percentage. The quaintly called "visible minorities" in your last census has them at about 28% all together. (I hope you recognize that slam was on me, not you ).

Yes, I recognize the slam was on you.

So Canada has 28% of their population as visible minorities?

[Gary Gorski]

One year eh? Doesn't that mean Alec Baldwin should have been a citizen long before now?

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I don't know about other cities, but Winnipeg is the slurpee capital of Canada (maybe the world even?), and also the murder caital of Canada (per capita at least... and we broke the record for most homicides in Winnipeg in a year already).

So, if you like slurpees and homicides, come to Winnipeg!

As another Winnipegger, I can verify our claim as slurpee capital of not just Canada, but the world. It's even on the 7-11 website if you wade through enough Flash.

And yes, we are also the "per capita" murder capital of Canada. So basically, slurpee in one hand, shiv in the other, parka on the torso. Live large in Peg City!

As for multi-culturalism, Canada is extremely multi-cultural. In fact, even if we may be less "non-white" then the US, I believe that we still enjoy a vast array of cultures. German people and English people may both be white, but their cultures are very different, and Canada celebrates these differences as much or more than any other country in the world.

[Bomber]

Originally Posted by Bomber

I once got robbed by a black guy in Montreal. I guess that settles it.

EDIT: I also remember seeing two or three black strippers.

Come on nobody cares about this? I was robbed at knife point by a black dude with a French accent. Easily the strangest experience of my life.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Bomber

Come on nobody cares about this? I was robbed at knife point by a black dude with a French accent. Easily the strangest experience of my life.

Dude, who hasn't been robbed by some black french guy? Been there, done that. Get shot by an asian looking dutch guy, then come back here looking for attention.