Oh Canada!

[kittygrrl]

if Trump wins, I want to move to Canada..his way of doing things is very scary

[MitchM42]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

if Trump wins, I want to move to Canada..his way of doing things is very scary

Totally agree. However, it is not easy to find work in Canada as an American. Been there, tried that.

[Candelion]

With the U.S. election less than a week away, the number of celebrities, public figures and everyday people threatening to migrate north should Donald Trump land in the White House are multiplying.

I guess we should feel flattered that our American neighbours consider us a suitable alternative. Like we're the best friend who takes you in after a terrible fight with your boyfriend. Yet, I can't help but feel like a jilted lover reduced to sloppy seconds. Or like first runner-up in a Miss USA pageant. Second choice doesn't really sit well.

Netflix chat show host Chelsea Handler rattled off a roster of celebrities on her show this week who intend to move to Canada should Trump prevail. "I'm going to need to go to Canada if he [Trump] gets elected," she said. "I don't know what the rules are to move there but a lot of us are feeling that way. A lot of us are going to want to leave the country."

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Girls creator Lena Duhnam has set her sights on the West Coast. "I know a lovely place in Vancouver, and I can get my work done from there," she said.

Actor Bryan Cranston has also said he'll move to Canada if Trump is elected president. "Absolutely. I would definitely move. It's not real to me that that would happen. I hope to God it won't," Cranston told the Bestseller Experiment podcast when asked if he would take an extended holiday to Vancouver if Trump is elected.

"It wouldn't be a vacation. I'd be an expatriate," Cranston added.

Actress and fashion darling Chloë Sevigny says she's moving to Nova Scotia, which I'm sure confused a lot of people who perhaps were not aware that it's a Canadian province.

Even beloved American songtress Barbara Streisand told Australian journalist Michael Usher, "I'm either coming to your country, if you'll let me in, or Canada."

While the thought of Babs donning a toque and sharing a plate of poutine with husband James Brolin is completely and utterly appealing, I have bad news for our famous friends. Immigrating to Canada isn't that simple. In fact, unless you marry a Canadian citizen, it's damn near impossible.

Much like Canadians looking to immigrate south, there is no open door policy between our two nations. Swing by for up to six months on a visitor visa, sure. But during that time you are not permitted to work or have access to health care or any other social services. You're simply a tourist.

I'm wondering if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should hold a press conference to reinforce our immigration policies to ensure there isn't any confusion come November 9. Perhaps another Vogue spread is in order to drive home the message?

More than anything, Americans need to know that living in Canada is not a consolation prize. Living in Canada is like hitting the cultural and geographical jackpot. A country rich in diversity, where natural resources abound and the scenery will take your breath away. A country whose musical contributions include Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Drake. While we sympathize with our American friends, we're busy opening our borders to refugees who really need it, not privileged people with a lousy Republican candidate.

I have faith in my American friends. I have faith that they'll make the right decision on election day. And I'm all about telling America it's already great, because I live there and I see it for myself every day. But let's be clear -- Canada isn't a second-rate alternative. Living in Canada is a privilege.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/heather...cahpmg00000001

[Greyson]

I agree with you. Living in Canada is a privilege, not a consolation prize. I have wanted to live in Canada for many years now, but it is not in the cards for me. I am aware that my American vote or lack of voting resonates globally. I do take this into consideration when i vote at the national level and at the State level. (I live in California and I know California also has a huge sphere of influence in trade and various other matters.)

I have a great deal of respect for your country and it's people. My hope is that Canada and the USA will forever be allies. As for the rich people who can buy their way into almost anything, it must be nice. However most of us cannot. I do care about the fate of my country and I will continue to vote and do what I can to maintain a democracy and work to be a conscientious global and national citizen.

[Candelion]

Originally Posted by Greyson

My hope is that Canada and the USA will forever be allies.

Amen to that, Greyson! Canada is privileged to have such a great country as a neighbour.

[kittygrrl]

I don't know if you are referring to my post but I've never considered living in Canada a consolation prize. I've talked about it for years and the last few years (with spouse) have looked at it seriously and even chosen a place or two that we think we would enjoy. It's kind of a shock to see anyone would have a problem with someone who's dreamed of living Canada- as if you owned it personally. You don't. It belonged to the indigenous people who lived there thousands of years before your family got there, so technically you are a the product of immigrants and the empire building of England and whose sub ligation of it's people allowed you to take over their country and claim it as your own.

Don't worry, I'm sure you will be able to keep your playground intact. Nobody will want to come where they are not welcomed. But let me make a prediction and say when you have poisoned your land and water with tar sands and killed all your trees and your land is barren, you will cry and beg that America will let you in and I am sure we will be far more welcoming then the reception then you gave me in this thread. Peace.

[Candelion]

I'm sorry kittygrrl, I did not post this article as a response to your post. I was on my lunch break and I came across this article...I thought it was a light-hearted observation by a Canadian living in the US on the pronouncements by a few celebs that they will move to Canada if Trump wins. I thought my fellow Canadians would enjoy, or at least find interesting, this sort of "hey, we're great, too" perspective.

Sadly, Canada does not have a monopoly on destroying the environment. And the race by both our countries to completely destroy our natural surroundings is not a finish line I want to be at.

I'm sorry you took offense to the article. None was meant when I posted it.

[C0LLETTE]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

I don't know if you are referring to my post but I've never considered living in Canada a consolation prize. I've talked about it for years and the last few years (with spouse) have looked at it seriously and even chosen a place or two that we think we would enjoy. It's kind of a shock to see anyone would have a problem with someone who's dreamed of living Canada- as if you owned it personally. You don't. It belonged to the indigenous people who lived there thousands of years before your family got there, so technically you are a the product of immigrants and the empire building of England and whose sub ligation of it's people allowed you to take over their country and claim it as your own.

Don't worry, I'm sure you will be able to keep your playground intact. Nobody will want to come where they are not welcomed. But let me make a prediction and say when you have poisoned your land and water with tar sands and killed all your trees and your land is barren, you will cry and beg that America will let you in and I am sure we will be far more welcoming then the reception then you gave me in this thread. Peace.

You really think you'll be around after we have poisoned our land and water? I give you , maybe a year. It'll be your companies, your corporations, your energy companies, your drive for capital that destroys us all. we are your liberal , "nice" neighbours...and if you destroy your own country, we have little doubt you'll eat and destroy us first.

So, please don't go on about how we will have killed off everything you look for up here...you'll have levelled and laid us to waste long before you start eating your young.

We struggle to survive being your neighbours but we know full well you will not respect anything about our survival or culture if yours is at stake.

Want to come here? Great! But come because you love what you see is possible here, not because you think we are are just mini versions the USA... and not because we exist only in your shadow and will come begging for help once you've raped everything we fight so hard to protect.

Kitttygrll..we really are a decent, peaceful and culturally respectful country. If you don't believe that, you, honestly, don't need to have us on your wish list. But please do find some other country to bash. Long as you leave us alone, we'll be fine and we will treat refugees, even yours, with generosity and respect.

[Candelion]

Originally Posted by C0LLETTE

Want to come here? Great! But come because you love what you see is possible here, not because you think we are are just mini versions the USA...

This is exactly what I got from the article. I thought it was more of a reminder to Canadians, rather than an admonishment to Americans, that Canada is not a second choice. Canadians have a subdued but fierce pride, but uncharacteristically I am going to indulge in a little flag waving here. Canada is a great country...a country one should run to with open arms, not a convenient place to land when running from something.

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by C0LLETTE

You really think you'll be around after we have poisoned our land and water? I give you , maybe a year. It'll be your companies, your corporations, your energy companies, your drive for capital that destroys us all. we are your liberal , "nice" neighbours...and if you destroy your own country, we have little doubt you'll eat and destroy us first.

So, please don't go on about how we will have killed off everything you look for up here...you'll have levelled and laid us to waste long before you start eating your young.

We struggle to survive being your neighbours but we know full well you will not respect anything about our survival or culture if yours is at stake.

Want to come here? Great! But come because you love what you see is possible here, not because you think we are are just mini versions the USA... and not because we exist only in your shadow and will come begging for help once you've raped everything we fight so hard to protect.

Kitttygrll..we really are a decent, peaceful and culturally respectful country. If you don't believe that, you, honestly, don't need to have us on your wish list. But please do find some other country to bash. Long as you leave us alone, we'll be fine and we will treat refugees, even yours, with generosity and respect.

I don't think you ever heard me say I wanted to live in Canada because I think of it as a mini U.S. That is so wrong! I've visited Canada on so many occasions and have loved the people I met and the peaceful nature of your country. I consider myself a person without a country as many indigenous people of the Americas have. My people were killed by the thousands by disease introduced by missionaries. Our land and country stolen. Our people shot with cannonballs. That fire still burns bright whenever I think about it. But that is the past and there is no way I will ever get my country back again. The U.S is a violent society and while there are beautiful things here, it doesn't make up for all the ugly things I see. As far as the destruction of both lands because of oil and natural gas you don't have to be a prophet to see it is happening in Canada to an alarming degree and I don't understand why Canadians are not stopping it. In any case, it seems some here want to jump to conclusions about my motives without first asking why I've wanted to move there. I have stated a few and to be honest I really don't believe I should have even had to explain myself at all but I don't like it when someone assumes they know my motives. Maybe Canada isn't as wonderful as I always believed it to be. It's fine, if I have the time I will dream another dream.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by Candelion

I have faith in my American friends. I have faith that they'll make the right decision on election day. And I'm all about telling America it's already great, because I live there and I see it for myself every day. But let's be clear -- Canada isn't a second-rate alternative. Living in Canada is a privilege.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/heather...cahpmg00000001

well, the author (and myself) were wrong about that bolded part