A question for Canadian DU'ers......

[CrownPrinceBandar]

There have been alot of rumblings about expatriation lately. If the war continues, if the draft is reinstated, of if Shrubya seizes another election, I am hearing alot of talk about Americans wanting to get out. It also seems that when expatriation comes up, Canada seems to be the natural follower (although I'm sure that Mexico, Europe and C. America would also be popular destinations).

My question is: How will Canada react to a sudden influx of folks fleeing some real or perceived tyranny? Can Canada's economy handle a patch of escapees? Would you be willing to personally sponsor an expat? I figure employment would also be a problem, how would that be handled?

I'm not advocating expatriation here, just seeing how people feel about the issue.

[HEyHEY]

1. Secretly Canada would love it

The reason we take in such a high amount of immigrants is because without them, our population would be in serious decline.
I also believe we've had Americans claim refugee status in the past during the vietnam war.
Employment, it's hard to say, a huge influx could create jobs. Who knows :shrug:

Yes, I would house at least one expat at a time while they got on their feet.

[DerekGD]

2. Canada always welcomes people fleeing from

politically repressive regimes. You will be immediately eligible for all the benefits a civilized nation like Canada offers until you can find a job. The Canadian economy is still running a surplus and jobs are plentiful.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. That's our plan.

I got lucky finding myself a Canuck hubby.

Find yourself a Canadian sweetie, and get serious about each other really quickly.

I don't think our expats will be able to claim refugee status if they're of serviceable age anymore, but I wish them the best.

I know that they'd be really happy for more population in the prairies (Saskatchewan and Manitoba could become hotbeds of American villages springing up from nowhere). There's tons of land, and it'd be much cheaper than living in TO or Vancouver.

Consider living somewhere besides the bigger cities. All the populations are concentrated there. But there are some neat hamlets in all the provinces. Don't limit yourself if you want to go up.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/

[Tyler Durden]

4. We're building our house in Canada.

We liquidated the 401k's and we're building in Huron County. We should just nicely finish about the time we run out of money.

I don't care if I'm facing shelves on Midnights at the local Zahre's. At least I won't be HERE anymore.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. I have a plan to set up a left-wing newspaper

So, anyone that wants a job, I'll be your employer! We'll circumvent immigration that way.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

8. SLB, sign me up......

I figure you have the music pages covered. I can do food and some sports writing.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

10. We could share the music pages. There'll be enough to go round.

[Tyler Durden]

14. How can I help and GIMME A JOB!

I'm a Technical Writer with a heavy moralistic sarcastic slant; they've printed me here more than a few times.

I am in deadly earnest: the family and I are coming, but that would sure grease the wheels.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

16. Sure. The catch is that we need $1 to $1.2m Cdn.

This is actually a plan that I guy I know has figured out. We take advantage of all the left-leaning free weekly newspapers in large urban markets. We piggyback our paper onto theirs, in the form of an insert delivered with them. The newspaper is paid for by advertising. Then, when some revenues are developed, we launch the paper as a daily in a large progressive market, such as Vancouver or Toronto, and, depending on results it grows organically from there. The free paper lays the trail for the full-scale edition.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

19. I guess I need to start playing the Powerball (TM) then....

1.5M C ~ 1 to 1.2M US right? I'll see what I can scrape up!!!

Hey SLB! I just found out that I'm an ancestor of Sir Walter Scott! Will that be a problem?? He's loved and hated, I've heard.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

20. An ancestor?, you must be really old...

:evilgrin:
Scott was a good writer, but could never handle money. I believe he was a Tory, but that was back in the early 19th century, so I'm not sure how that translates today.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

21. Well yeah, I'm kinda old.......

Whoops! I guess I'd better work on clarity in my writing, if I'm going to be in the news biz!

I am definitely not a Tory in the modern sense. I think I may even be further left than even the "red Tories" in Canada. I kinda like the NDP, even though I thought they really overreacted to the Conan O'Brien flap.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

22. If you want a good guide to the Canadian Political System, here's one.

http://www.nodice.ca/election2004/index.html

This should explain everything you need to know. I doubt the Conan thing's a deal breaker, right!

[fudge stripe cookays]

24. I may be visiting you soon about that, buddy.

Did I mention I'm a writer and editor? ;-)

Usually technical, but I'm VERY adaptable.

[Village Idiot]

6. Canada has a long history of welcoming political refugees...

...Why would this be any different now than it was in the '60s and '70's? An unjust war always creates dissenters, and dissenters have historically (at least for the past 150 years)found refuge in Canada from "the land of the fee, the home of the slave..."
American ex-pats from the 60's and 70's were (many still are) productive, hard-working members of society that just refused to join what they saw as an unjust war. Canada would greet these new individuals with open arms but for extradition agreements signed with the USA.
Deserters and draft dodgers will probably face extradition hearings and possible deportation, however...it's a shame, in that these people would generally be a "cut above" the traditional refugee claimants...

[GirlinContempt]

7. Single Canadian Female seeks American draft-age partner

Straight male or lesbian welcome. Two meetings prior to marrage requested, with a saftey contract-termination after 5 (or more) years.
Likes cooking and works two jobs, good cleaner-upper is a plus.


Basically... Lots of Canadians would help out, but the legality of the issue will fall upon the government, and the terms of the US.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

9. Thats very encouraging............

I'm on the upper-end of the draft age (mid 30's). But I like to cook and am very neat, so shop me around!!! :P

[GirlinContempt]

13. Hmmmm

We might have to fight over kitchen-use, but if you're very neat, it's on. :)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

15. As long as we share the bathroom cleaing duties....

(I hate that job), I'm amenable. :7

Thank you for your humourous, yet encouraging, generosity. Hopefully, we won't have to take you up on it.

[GirlinContempt]

18. Bathrooms ok by me

My bathroom is tiny... its the 800sq ft living room I'm worried about, and the big ol bedroom.

I hope no one has to take me up on it either... The communist issue might create a divide between me and my future partner :P

Seriously, though. The support is here. I'll be racist for a moment and say, Canadians are the nicest people I've ever been amongst, the kindest, and the sweetest.

[Iceburg]

11. 30,000 Ant-war US citizens came here during the Vietnam era

How will Canada react to a sudden influx of folks fleeing some real or perceived tyranny?
We are a kind and gentle nation. Nevertheless, we have our standards -- don't ask for FOX once you arrive.

Can Canada's economy handle a patch of escapees?
only nation in the G7 that enjoys both fiscal and
current account surpluses

Would you be willing to personally sponsor an expat?
Certainly

I figure employment would also be a problem, how would that be handled?
Depends ... there lots of jobs for the "cerebral workforce"

[camero]

25. My uncle was one of them

We still haven't found him. I wonder if he's still up there?

[CrownPrinceBandar]

12. Vanity kick....

just to give other folks an opportunity to weigh in........

[IrateCitizen]

17. There's already two US servicemen seeking refugee status

One of them tried to get a CO prior to deployment to Afghanistan. He deployed with his unit and was basically assigned to KP duty for a few months, while his claim was being processed. During his hearing, he was asked, "If our base came under attack, and your friends were defending it, would you pick up a weapon and help them?"

He replied that he would. They said, "Well, then you're not a CO."

He was assigned regular duty after that. He returned from Afghanistan.

Recently, his unit was alerted for deployment to Iraq. He said, "Screw that," and packed his wife and young child into the car and headed for Canada.

Last I heard he's awaiting a decision on his refugee status, and it isn't looking too good.

[Canadian_moderate]

23. If there's a draft, you're more than welcome

As for the folks who voluntered, I find it hard respect them.

I'm also against this war, but they joined the military voluntarily. Anyone who joins the military purely for an education or a career can expect a call to duty at some point.