More Americans Moving to Canada

[Crazed Rabbit]

Huzzah! They get their (warning: offensive and likely incorrect generalization approaching!) largely socialist butts out of the US to a place where they can no longer vote, and they also get to be happy.

Everyone wins!
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=3433005&page=2

The number of U.S. citizens who moved to Canada last year hit a 30-year high, with a 20 percent increase over the previous year and almost double the number who moved in 2000.

In 2006, 10,942 Americans went to Canada, compared with 9,262 in 2005 and 5,828 in 2000, according to a survey by the Association for Canadian Studies.

Of course, those numbers are still outweighed by the number of Canadians going the other way. Yet, that imbalance is shrinking. Last year, 23,913 Canadians moved to the United States, a significant decrease from 29,930 in 2005.

The thing that gets me thought is people who moved because Bush decided to actually do something about the Taliban:

Jo Davenport, who wrote "The Canadian Way," moved from Atlanta to Nova Scotia in December 2001. She also cites political reasons for her move, saying that she disagreed with the Bush administration's decisions after 9/11.

Apparently, invading the terrorist haven of Afghanistan was wrong.

Thoughts?

CR

[Duke of Gloucester]

Was the invasion of Afghanistan the only response to 9/11 or might they be objecting to something else, perhaps?

[Gregoshi]

CR, you seem to be making a mountain out of a mole hill here. The numbers, while growing, are quite small. The net migration is still at least 2-1 in favour of the US.

I'm sure there are many reasons why Americans move to Canada. My dad moved there over 20 years ago in pursuit of work opportunities with his company. Either that, or 4 years of living in Texas forced him north to purify his soul...sorry SFTS, couldn't resist. He's a landed immigrant living there permanently though he maintains a house in Pennsylvania. Anyway, our family has had a fondness of Canada ever since a vacation back in the early 70s. My dad's great aunt married a Canadian and lived there on a lake, my aunt and uncle bought a cottage on the same lake (they only vacation there) and my dad also bought a cottage on that lake. In fact, many Pennsylvanians head to Canada for vacation. Interstate 81 is unofficially nicknamed the Can-Penn highway due to this migratory behaviour. It is a great escape from the rat race that is the US - different but in many ways very similar. Call it America Lite (no offense meant to our Canadian friends) It doesn't surprise me in the least that some decide to stay. If it wasn't for separation from family, I don't think I'd mind living there either.

I really don't think the numbers in the report are significant at all.

BTW, I'm heading to Canada on Saturday... (Ontario!)

[Blodrast]

Heh, musta been a really slow day for abcnews... lookie, 5 - count'em, FIVE digit-numbers! woo hoo!
Not dissing you in any way here, Rabbit, but the article is really completely useless - it's less than a spit in the ocean.
In other news, 2 citizens of Andorra moved from Canada to the US this year, which is a 100% increase from last year, at an all-time high!

Like Greg said, insignificant numbers, and insignificant news.

[Valdincan]

You seem to be forgetting that Canada has gone into Afghanistan as well, and have played a major role there. Or has the American media given all the credit to the US. Canada in Afghanistan

Also whats with about Canada not voting? Our elections are more regular then Americas.

[InsaneApache]

Do they have to swear allegiance to the Queen?

[Gregoshi]

Do they have to swear allegiance to the Queen?

Yeah, after Hillary wins the election...

[Blodrast]

Do they have to swear allegiance to the Queen?

If they become citizens, you bet.

[Gregoshi]

If they become citizens, you bet.

Oh, "they" as in Canadianized Americans, not Americans living in Canada. Gotcha!

[Ice]

If they become citizens, you bet.

Really. I didn't know Canadians still swore loyality to the Queen.

[InsaneApache]

Why not? She is, after all, the Queen of Canada. and a couple of other places I forget just now.

[Ice]

Why not? She is, after all, the Queen of Canada. and a couple of other places I forget just now.

It just seems sort of... ancient... for lack of a better word

[Blodrast]

Really. I didn't know Canadians still swore loyality to the Queen.

Yup, they most certainly do. The oath of citizenship contains exactly that, swearing allegiance to the Queen.

[Gregoshi]

The Queen is on their money...but then, so is the Loon.

[InsaneApache]

The Queen is on their money...but then, so is the Loon.

Canucks have the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on their cash?

[lars573]

Why not? She is, after all, the Queen of Canada. and a couple of other places I forget just now.

And others besides. Couldn't find their flags.

It just seems sort of... ancient... for lack of a better word

Indeed it is, that's why it's great.

Canucks have the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on their cash?

Only unless he wears a bird suit.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Was the invasion of Afghanistan the only response to 9/11 or might they be objecting to something else, perhaps?

I didn't say it was - look at the date the person moved.

Yes, I know this is really trivial, but since when have backroom threads had to be about important topics and significant world changing events?

Also whats with about Canada not voting? Our elections are more regular then Americas.

*Sighs* I meant in America.

Crazed Rabbit

[Blodrast]

*Sighs* I meant in America.

Crazed Rabbit

What do you mean, can't they still vote in the US elections if they live abroad ?
And even if they become Canadian citizens, both the US and Canada allow for multiple citizenship, so they wouldn't lose their US citizenship...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Well the hope is they become disinterested.

CR

[Gregoshi]

Yes, I know this is really trivial, but since when have backroom threads had to be about important topics and significant world changing events?

You wascally Wabbit! You thwew us a cuwve ball.

LOL @ IA for the HRH/loon line.

[Blodrast]

Well the hope is they become disinterested.

CR

Oh, okay, now I (finally) get it. Sorry I was so slow on the uptake.

Well, one way of looking at it is that they just move because they don't like the current regime, but they still care about their own country, and they fight to change it the only way they can: with their vote... So they might still vote, but they just don't wanna live in the conditions imposed by the current administration. Like I said, it's just one way of looking at it.

Then again, I'm a perfect example of what you suggested.
Moved from my country of birth, and didn't bother to vote in their elections anymore. Then again, I didn't really bother while I was there, either.
(tbh, there was not much to choose from, the lesser of two evils at best... )

[KukriKhan]

What do you mean, can't they still vote in the US elections if they live abroad ?
And even if they become Canadian citizens, both the US and Canada allow for multiple citizenship, so they wouldn't lose their US citizenship...

Not sure if it's the same now, but back in the 1970's, they (US and Canada) had an age-25 rule: if a person had dual-citizenship, and if they made no other declaration, whatever country they resided in, upon reaching the age of 25 years and 1 day... was their country of citizenship from then forward (or so an Army lawyer explained to me).

My Dad was Canadian (born in Kinkora, outside Stratford, Ontario) and Mom was American. On January 1st, 1976 (the 1 day after my 25th birthday) , I was physically located in Panmunjeom, Korea, mad-dog staring at my North Korean counterpart on the other side of the DMZ.

Having not renounced my US citizenship up 'til then, and not embraced the Queen and the Commonwealth - and being in service to US armed forces that day... I've been American ever since (or maybe Korean, by the strict letter of the law). :)

Note, there have been days when I wonder about the wisdom of that inaction of mine.

But then, duty is duty; ya pays the price of membership in a society, and ya takes yer chances.

[Blodrast]

Huh, I never heard of that - very interesting tidbit of information, Kukri - thanks! I'll look into it, see if I can find anything.
Yours may also have been a special case, since while you were indeed residing in Korea, you were there because you were detached with the military... although I don't know if that would have made a difference.

Also, we found out two more things - your exact age, and the fact that you would kick our butts at Starcraft!

On a different note, Rabbit, don't be too sure that you wouldn't want them (the folks who go across the border) to vote... because it's not a given that they are definitely not Bush fans: judging by the levels of approval for the President (which we discussed a few days ago), about half of the people who did vote for him are unhappy with the administration, as well. I'll admit it's less likely for them to leave, but still...

[AntiochusIII]

Not exactly on topic, but what the hell.

[KukriKhan]

Heh, strolling down that memory lane got me thinking of the other places I've lived/served; their common themes seem to be "borders", and "conflict".

Maybe I should have taken up cartography and land surveying as a career choice.

[Duke Malcolm]

Will these immigrants to the Empire get the post-nominal initials UE?

[Shaka_Khan]

Was the invasion of Afghanistan the only response to 9/11 or might they be objecting to something else, perhaps?

You're right. And there are other reasons that they don't like Bush besides 9/11.

[KukriKhan]

Will these immigrants to the Empire get the post-nominal initials UE?

My google-fu has failed me; what does UE signify?

[lars573]

According to Wikipedia it's United Empire Loyalist, which is what I though it was. Appearantly it's a hereditary title, didn't know that. And it has a coronet you can use in your families coat of arms, didn't know that either. Reason I didn't pick it up right away is we just call them loyalists.

UE wiki entry.

They were the New Englanders who fought for and believed in the king and his rule of the 13 colonies. And had their lands expropriated by the continental congress. After the British lost the US independance war they were given land in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunwick, and Nova Scotia as compensation. Loyalists founded many cities and towns such as Toronto, Saint John, Fredericton, the eastern townships, and more.

[KukriKhan]

Thanks lars573; I knew loyalists moved to Lower Canada at the time, but never knew they stuck together, or created an organization. Hey, they even have an online newsletter.