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If Trump Wins, Will You Really Move To Canada?

By Susan Macdonald

From the archive: published Mar 4, 2016, 10 years ago. Details may have changed since.

“If Trump wins, I’m going to move to Canada.”

One hears that spoken frequently across the nation, but how many people really mean it? How many people know what immigrating to Canada entails? Given the frightening lack of geographical knowledge amongst U.S. citizens, how many people know anything about Canada beyond what they’ve learned from Dudley Do-Right and SCTV?

CBC News reported that Google searches on “how can I move to Canada” surged by 350 percent in four hours during the Super Tuesday elections and increased over 1,000 percent overall.

https://twitter.com/hansvandaele/status/705004531231412224

Several celebrities have publicly announced their intentions to move to Canada or other nations if Donald Trump is elected to the White House, according to Fox News Insider, including Neve Campbell, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Samuel L. Jackson, Raven-Symone, Cher, and Miley Cyrus. As the Inquisitr reported recently, they’re not alone, and it’s not just actors and singers looking for an excuse to get their names in the newspaper. Jon Stewart, Al Sharpton, Barry Diller, and Katie Hopkins are also ready to pack up and move if Donald Trump is elected president.

https://twitter.com/foxnation/status/705802358417170432

Some people think Donald Trump is the United States of America’s savior, the man who will make America great again. Other people are terrified of the possibility of him becoming president. Former CIA Director Michael Hayden pointed out in an interview with Bill Maher that Trump has publicly announced his intention to violate the Geneva Convention.

Other people have expressed concern over statements by Donald Trump that they consider racist or sexist. They worry what will happen to diplomatic relations if Donald Trump meets with Queen Elizabeth II or German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The British Parliament actually debated whether or not to ban Donald Trump from entering the U.K. They voted against it, deciding he was more buffoon than an actual threat, but surely this would make state visits to the U.K. awkward if Trump were to be elected.

Why are people discussing moving to Canada if Trump wins? (And as the Inquisitr pointed out, some Trump supporters are researching the same question if Hillary Clinton wins.) The subject comes up every four years: If so-and-so wins, I’m moving to Canada. For most people, it’s just a way to blow off steam. This time, according to the Inquisitr, more people are asking and asking more seriously.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreCanada/photos/pb.165030177242.-2207520000.1457112349./10153489612182243/?type=3&theater

Most people don’t realize that there’s more to immigrating to Canada than just packing up the car and driving north. Many people don’t realize that Canada isn’t a British colony and hasn’t been one since 1867. Canada is both a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth is the head of state, with Governor General David Johnston as her viceregal representative, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is head of government. Canada has 10 provinces and three territories.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreCanada/photos/pb.165030177242.-2207520000.1457111488./10153626346787243/?type=3&theater

Canada has a lot to offer tourists and immigrants. Canada and the USA have very similar cultures, both being former British colonies that evolved into large multicultural nations. Canada is an English-speaking nation. Officially, Canada is bilingual, both French and English, but many other languages are spoken, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Russian, Gaelic, and, of course, several First Nations languages. The Canadian and American judicial systems are similar: suspects are innocent until proven guilty, and the majority of Canadian police officers are both competent and ethical. Healthcare is easily available, and infant mortality rates are lower than in the USA. Gay marriages are legally recognized. Crime rates are lower.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreCanada/photos/pb.165030177242.-2207520000.1457111488./10153605069312243/?type=3&theater

On the other hand, Canada expects immigrants to be able to support themselves. It’s best to have a job arranged before you cross the border. There is a fair amount of paperwork to do before emigrating; it’s advisable to make several visits before you actually move to investigate employment and housing opportunities. To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must speak, read, and write English or French and have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for four out of six years, with the intention of making it your permanent home. If you really plan to move to Canada if Donald Trump is elected, you need to do more than memorize the lyrics to “O Canada.”

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreCanada/photos/pb.165030177242.-2207520000.1457113421./10153214456792243/?type=3&theater

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