Reuters: Americans Flock to Canada's Immigration Web Site

cumhail

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Apr 1, 2003
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Reuters: Americans Flock to Canada's Immigration Web Site

Fri 5 November, 2004 18:30

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The number of U.S. citizens visiting Canada's main immigration Web site has shot up six-fold as Americans flirt with the idea of abandoning their homeland after President George W. Bush's election win this week.

"When we looked at the first day after the election, November 3, our Web site hit a new high, almost double the previous record high," immigration ministry spokeswoman Maria Iadinardi said on Friday.

On an average day some 20,000 people in the United States log onto the Web site, www.cic.gc.ca -- a figure which rocketed to 115,016 on Wednesday. The number of U.S. visits settled down to 65,803 on Thursday, still well above the norm.

Bush's victory sparked speculation that disconsolate Democrats and others might decide to start a new life in Canada, a land that tilts more to the left than the United States.

Would-be immigrants to Canada can apply to become permanent resident, a process that often takes a year. The other main way to move north on a long-term basis is to find a job, which requires a work permit.

But please spare the sob stories.

Asked whether an applicant would be looked upon more sympathetically if they claimed to be a sad Democrat seeking to escape four more years of Bush, Iadinardi replied: "There would be no weight given to statements of feelings."

Canada is one of the few major nations with an large-scale immigration policy. Ottawa is seeking to attract between 220,000 and 240,000 newcomers next year.

"Let's face it, we have a population of a little over 32 million and we definitely need permanent residents to come to Canada," said Iadinardi. "If we could meet (the 2005) target and go above it, the more the merrier."

But right now it is too early to say whether the increased interest will result in more applications.

"There is no unusual activity occurring at our visa missions (in the United States). Having someone who intends to come to Canada is not the same as someone actually putting in an application," said Iadinardi.

"We'll only find out whether there has been an increase in applications in six months."

The waiting time to become a citizen is shorter for people married to Canadians, which prompted the birth of a satirical Web site called www.marryanamerican.ca.

The idea of increased immigration by unhappy Americans is triggering some amusement in Canada. Commentator Thane Burnett of the Ottawa Sun newspaper wrote a tongue-in-cheek guide to would-be new citizens on Friday.

"As Canadians, you'll have to learn to embrace and use all the products and culture of Americans, while bad-mouthing their way of life," he said.

Reuters: Americans Flock to Canada's Immigration Web Site
 

jpeyton

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Aug 23, 2003
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"As Canadians, you'll have to learn to embrace and use all the products and culture of Americans, while bad-mouthing their way of life," he said.

:thumbsup:

No need to move to Canada to do that.
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
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Anyone want to go in with me on renting a semi and driving them to the border?
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: Valvoline6
See-ya. Less liberals = another victory in 2006!

Why do you think I'm staying right here? Someone needs to look out for our freedoms and liberties, cause it sure ain't you guys.

Sorry, I got caught up in all the stereotyping garbage lately. But seriously, our democracy requires people to stand up for what they believe in, not leave the country.
 

shiner

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
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Originally posted by: Genesys
Originally posted by: shinerburke
Anyone want to go in with me on renting a semi and driving them to the border?

i have no money, but ill drive!
Cool....I wanted to drive the black Trans Am instead of the semi.....

 

JoLLyRoGer

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2000
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GOOD! GO! GTFO!!!

Dont forget to leave your Social Security Card and Driver's license at the border!:p
 

Alistar7

Lifer
May 13, 2002
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Cowards getting ready for their ultimate expression of American rights, the right to run like sissies when the draft kicks in, lol....


Cya, have fun, you still get the protection of the US military either way.....
 

chess9

Elite member
Apr 15, 2000
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My wife wants to take us to New Zealand, of all places. Don't they talk funny there? I'm not sure I could live with people who don't say "y'all". :)

-Robert
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Aug 23, 2003
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Originally posted by: Alistar7
Cowards getting ready for their ultimate expression of American rights, the right to run like sissies when the draft kicks in, lol....


Cya, have fun, you still get the protection of the US military either way.....

Anything beats dying for liars in power.
 

Alistar7

Lifer
May 13, 2002
11,978
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Originally posted by: jpeyton
Originally posted by: Alistar7
Cowards getting ready for their ultimate expression of American rights, the right to run like sissies when the draft kicks in, lol....


Cya, have fun, you still get the protection of the US military either way.....

Anything beats dying for liars in power.

Then leave now, why wait for the draft as your sig states? You think you can find a politician from either party at that level that is honest? Don't sit here and cry about ethics when yours are only as deep as hiding behind the rights given to you UNTIL you actually have to do something to earn them, or god forbid, help ensure them for someone else not as fortunate.

What did Bush lie about anyway? WMD, every western intel agency and the UN inspection teams agreed he had not abided completely, meaning NOBODY believed his WMD programs were not fully destroyed. Part of that was Saddam wanting everyone to think just that, bad move on his part. Terrorist threat from Iraq? Putin gave Bush evidence Saddam himself was planning terrorist attacks on the US.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
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Originally posted by: Alistar7
Cowards getting ready for their ultimate expression of American rights, the right to run like sissies when the draft kicks in, lol....


Cya, have fun, you still get the protection of the US military either way.....

The hope would be that without bush, we wouldn't need to use our freaking military so much.
 

Alistar7

Lifer
May 13, 2002
11,978
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0
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: Alistar7
Cowards getting ready for their ultimate expression of American rights, the right to run like sissies when the draft kicks in, lol....


Cya, have fun, you still get the protection of the US military either way.....

The hope would be that without bush, we wouldn't need to use our freaking military so much.

So much? What did he use them for that was not warranted? Should he have gone after AQ in Afghanistan where they were be given sanctuary by the Taliban? Should he have taken out Saddam after Putin gave him evidence Saddam was planning terrorist atacks on the US? Sounds to me like he has used them ONLY when needed, and in both cases he would have been negligent if he had done nothing.