Don't Just Sing It; Bring It

[shanmonster]

I keep hearing about how all sorts of Americans are fleeing to Canada. Colour me skeptical. I'll believe it when I see them on my doorstep.

This being said, please feel free to come and visit. I have a comfy couch.

Comments

[pivyca.livejournal.com]

Heh, I read the immigration requirements this morning; I doubt I'll ever qualify, nor will most of the people spouting that they're leaving.

Until I get my dream job at Cirque du Soleil, that is...

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

It's becoming more and more difficult to move to Canada from another country, and I think a big part of this reason has to do with the lean the US is putting on Canada's emigration policies.

Working with Cirque du Soleil is a dream job, isn't it?

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

Most of the dozen or so folks I know who are seriously considering it researched the requirements months ago, and have ample points. I figure at least half of them will go through with it.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I suspect they're in the minority of people who talk about moving Up North. It would be awfully nice if the brain drain started coming to Canada from the US instead of vice versa.

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

I suspect they're in the minority of people who talk about moving Up North.

Most likely. I'm hoping it will be less than half, personally. But I understand the reasons.

It would be awfully nice if the brain drain started coming to Canada from the US instead of vice versa.

Well, whoever you get is likely to fall into the "brain" category...

[tobysionann.livejournal.com]

I've been hearing the same thing myself. I'm sure they're all talk.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I'm sure, too. If the cold isn't enough to scare them off, the gun laws and the paucity of doctors should do the trick.

[balthcat.livejournal.com]

I heard it dozens of times in the lead-up to the election. This time around I said to myself, if anyone says it, I'm gonna make fun of them because I know from experience they're all talk.

Then this time... only once did I see anyone say anything like that until AFTER the election.

Part of me wonders if things are different, since people waited until the bad news came. Maybe it's less drama than real dream this time.

Then again, I'm with Shan, no holding my breath :)

:D

[tupelo.livejournal.com]

I've been keeping a list of the "big talkers" on my friends list, and I'll be hounding them about their relocation plans because I'm evil like that. :)

One person on my friends list *is* turning in an application to teach in Montreal, though.

Re: :D

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

There are exceptions, but generally, I think it's all a lot of hot air.

[swirlingchaos.livejournal.com]

maybe we should be moving to the U.S. At least then we won't be subject to their foreign policies. :)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Ha!

[zombienought.livejournal.com]

Seriouisly? I've already got my papers.
I figure I need to max out my credit
cards in the States on some medical
bills, get better, and then I'm off --
a few months later than I planned, and
several thousand dollars poorer.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I'm crossing my fingers for you (and my legs, too! *wince*).

Be careful what you offer

[hypatia360.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that this morning it doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
We just gave our president carte balanche to continue this unjust war.. so I am feeling a bit antisocial and disgusted toward Americans today.
I'll certaitnly be sending my son and quite a few of my step-daughter's best friends if they reinstate the draft.
Nicole

Re: Be careful what you offer

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Come on over! I'd love to have a big ol' LJ party at my place....

Shrub II

[aberrantmist.livejournal.com]

grrr It's like a really, really bad movie, "Shrub the Sequel".

Well, looking on the bright side, he'll have another 4 years to learn how to string together 3 words to make a complete sentence....

Re: Shrub II

[goth-hobbit.livejournal.com]

Well, looking on the bright side, he'll have another 4 years to learn how to string together 3 words to make a complete sentence....

You're kidding, right? I'll believe it's possible when if he ever learns the correct pronunciation of "nuclear". ;-)

Re: Shrub II

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I think his lack of eruditeness is the source of many problems.

[goth-hobbit.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I don't intend to leave unless I become convinced that there is absolutely no hope left for this country. I'm not there yet, and I don't think that more than a minute fraction of the other 48%+ of voters who stood up and said "no" are there yet, either. This country has ridden out heavy weather before, and I don't think that this "election" presents as much of a threat as, say, the American Civil War.
That being said, if things get that bad, I am going to be profoundly saddened as I pack my bags. "Expatriate" is just a pretty way of saying "exile".

(And cold weather doesn't scare me. I live in Denver, Colorado, and I've visited Toronto in December. Besides, if my friend in St. Johns, Newfoundland doesn't have space on the couch for me, I understand that New Zealand is a very friendly place.) ;-)

[ladyiolanthe.livejournal.com]

Toronto in December is not cold. It also has pretty much no snow. Toronto declares a state of emergency when they get a foot of the white stuff. Your friend in St. John's Newfoundland would regularly be dealing with 3-4 feet of snow. That's what Shan gets in Fredericton; I grew up with it too.

Now I'm living just south of the 60th parallel. I can expect very little snow, I'm told, but it will regularly get to -40 degrees C (conveniently enough, that is equal to -40 Fahrenheit). ;)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Brrr! I don't mind the cold if I'm dressed for it, but 40 below is colder than I like. Does it get very windy up there, though? It's the wind that makes it particularly bad.

[ladyiolanthe.livejournal.com]

Yes, it gets pretty windy because the community I live in is perched right on the shore of Lake Athabasca, a huge open place for wind to blow across and gain strength. However, it's very dry here; I'm told that because of the low humidity you really don't feel the cold as much as you do in a place like Fredericton.

[goth-hobbit.livejournal.com]

The week that I spent in Toronto last December must have been the week in which they scheduled the snow, because there was about a foot on the ground. ;) Denver isn't immune to meter-plus snowfalls either. They don't happen often, but they do occur. Chuck has also read me chapter and verse on what a St. John's winter is like. Really, really cold, but that's what bulky sweaters are for. :)
As I said, though, I have no intention of leaving unless people start disappearing in the middle of the night. It's going to take something along the lines of Stalin's purges or Chile under Pinochet to chase me away from my home. As insane and scary as Bush and his cronies are (at least to those of us who are not extreme right-wing Christian fundamentalists), we're a long way from that scenario.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

If I remember correctly, New Zealand is a very difficult country to emigrate to. Also, as ladyiolanthe says, a Toronto in December isn't terribly cold. Of course, Vancouver is much more mild. I've lived in some mightily cold parts of Canada (including north coast Newfoundland), although my stint near the Arctic Circle wasn't nearly as long as ladyiolanthe's will be!

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

Well, I won't be moving to Canada, because I'm one of the 59 million, but I'm sure I'll be passing through your neighborhood again when the weather's warm. Is the couch available for non-political refugees too?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

It sure will be!

[extropic-artist.livejournal.com]

(I stumbled across your journal from mocktheignorant), hope you don't mind me posting ;)

I have a some friends that are talking about fleeing north (as are half the people on anti_bush), and few, if any, will actually go through with it.

I am waiting about 1-2 years to get some debts paid off and see how the country is doing then (midterm elections will be in 2 years). After which, yeah, I will see if I can get in. Toronto looks pretty cool, and I grew up in Minneapolis, so its not like the cold will be unusual for me

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Nope! I don't mind at all.

I don't doubt some people will be moving to Canada as a political statement. However, I doubt the thousands who claim they will be trekking north actually will.