Americans Flock to Canada's Immigration Web Site

[j.m@talk]

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 Bush's election win this week.

"When we looked at the first day after the election, Nov. 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 2004. All Rights Reserved.


:D

[mireland]

I think we should pump some illegal immagrints there way just for the heck of it..:rolleyes:

[j.m@talk]

Just shoot em.......... Its cheaper :t

[Billforce]

Capital Idea! That way we get rid of all the slackers and misfits.

[BadDriver]

Originally posted by Billforce
Capital Idea! That way we get rid of all the slackers and misfits.

Oh come on BillForce you know they are just running their mouths. We could never be so lucky as to rid ourselves of the whining and crying MF's that promised to leave if W got re elected.

Springstein, seeya. Should have stayed with the tune business you had some good ones.

How about we deport Michael Moore? I think that is something to think about. His B grade movies suck why not let somebody else watch them?

Entertainers learn this. We don't particularly care who you would like for President. You have all the money and a big voice. What you don't have thank God is more than one vote.:D

Now, all of you Ba$*ards that promised to leave, do it. Seeya, wouldn't want to be'ya.

They will never leave as promised, too much money to be made. Hypocrites!!!!!!

[BadDriver]

I do have a list. I won't buy squat that these promisers make unless they LEAVE!! And then it is doubtful. :D

[mireland]

Originally posted by BadDriver
Oh come on BillForce you know they are just running their mouths. We could never be so lucky as to rid ourselves of the whining and crying MF's that promised to leave if W got re elected.

Springstein, seeya. Should have stayed with the tune business you had some good ones.

How about we deport Michael Moore? I think that is something to think about. His B grade movies suck why not let somebody else watch them?

Entertainers learn this. We don't particularly care who you would like for President. You have all the money and a big voice. What you don't have thank God is more than one vote.:D

Now, all of you Ba$*ards that promised to leave, do it. Seeya, wouldn't want to be'ya.

They will never leave as promised, too much money to be made. Hypocrites!!!!!!

wow, you are actually WORSE then Billforce..:eek:

[j.m@talk]

Nuffing wrong wiv BF .............. Ya just gotta fink a bit :t

[BadDriver]

Originally posted by mireland
wow, you are actually WORSE then Billforce..:eek:


Uh, Thanks. I think???

[zybch]

Originally posted by mireland
wow, you are actually WORSE then Billforce..:eek:

Scary eh.
However I do agree, that those twits who said they'd leave if Dubya were re-elected are hypocrits and should be forced to honour their statements.

[bushmaster]

Hey I lived in Montreal for a year and a half in westmount. Great friggin city.

[GrefMofovich]

Amusing, but leaving a place is such hard work. I for one am lazy and am staying put for the time being.

American democracy is a joke though! People buy into political parties like they buy into coca cola and mcdonalds - for life. That's why for the rest of our lives, many of us SysOpt readers are going to see the same basic pattern - undereducated masses picking the same cookie cutter politicians with the same essential agenda - keep order while pocketing a tidy profit on the side (it's what rich people do best! ;)

Will I strip of all my clothes and hop a jet to australia today? Probably not. But sometime in the future, you can count on me going somewhere where things are more relaxed and no one wants to bomb me for something a bunch of crusty rich white men have done.

[zybch]

I'm not sure there is such a place.

[werz]

Maybe New Zealand, but you'd die of boredom.

[werz]

Bring back Joseph McCarthy, and his offsider Richard Nixon,, another kick in the teeth for democracy.

[BadDriver]

Originally posted by zybch
Scary eh.
However I do agree, that those twits who said they'd leave if Dubya were re-elected are hypocrits and should be forced to honour their statements.

HUH?? Are you sure?? Really??

Good, I hope they all keep their promises.

[zybch]

Doing what you promised to do is something that should be honored no matter what.
You don't promise somehting if you aren't prepared to go through with it.

A bit like Bush and his 'no child will be left behind' thing. He simply has no honor if he goes back on that. Oh, wait. He did.

[AdamST]

I was just going to post this same topic.

Saw this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3987697.stm

I found this interesting.
----------------------------------------------------
Saskatchewan joins five other provinces and one territory in Canada by declaring existing marriage laws discriminate against gay couples and are unconstitutional.

Earlier this week, 11 US states voted to ban gay marriage in referendums held on the same night as the election.
----------------------------------------------------

[Billforce]

Originally posted by bushmaster
Hey I lived in Montreal for a year and a half in westmount. Great friggin city.

I lived in Vancouver, B.C. for a year and actually started my company on the Vancouver Stock Exchange.....truly lovely, clean city BUT.....their politics was and is screwed up like Hogan´s goat. Best they keep theirs and us ours. Vancouver on a friday night is an adventure though, there was a disco close to my apt. and I witnessed more fights there than the WWF. Hosers like to drink copious amounts of Moosehead and will fight their own shadows if nothing else is handy. I will say one thing for the cops (mounties) there, they stand for no B.S. and will whack you up along side your gourd with little provocation. Got a good respect for Mounties.

[bushmaster]

Hey Fancy. Will you sponsor me if I immigrate to the promised land :D

[mireland]

Originally posted by bushmaster
Hey Fancy. Will you sponsor me if I immigrate to the promised land :D


darn, I wanted to ask her that..:D

[sjd]

Originally posted by AdamST
I was just going to post this same topic.

Saw this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3987697.stm

I found this interesting.
----------------------------------------------------
Saskatchewan joins five other provinces and one territory in Canada by declaring existing marriage laws discriminate against gay couples and are unconstitutional.

Earlier this week, 11 US states voted to ban gay marriage in referendums held on the same night as the election.
----------------------------------------------------

One of the main things that upset people here is that in Canada your courts can make laws, but in the US they're not supposed to. Some of the more exuberant Gays kinda shot themselves and friends in the foot when they decided to get married, and then run to a judge for approval since their actions were illegal. Big mistake.

[zybch]

I can't really see what the problem is, for both sides.
Allowing gay people to have marriages won't ruin the fabric of society.
Also, why not be happy with a Civic Union, why is it so important for gay people to have to be married? Especialyl now with many of the bug hurdles removed (insurance stuff and anti-discrimination laws).
Oh well.

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by Billforce
IHosers like to drink copious amounts of Moosehead

Home from home bejezuz :p

[orkboss]

Intresting and ironic thread with americans wanting to move to Canada.

I have always thought Canadians are "wanabee Americans".

[fancyf]

Originally posted by bushmaster
Hey Fancy. Will you sponsor me if I immigrate to the promised land :D that'd be you and your gf ? :p

[Vitalka]

Originally posted by orkboss
Intresting and ironic thread with americans wanting to move to Canada.

I have always thought Canadians are "wanabee Americans".

I became a Canadian three days ago, and i never even thought about moving to America or becoming one. :p

[bushmaster]

that'd be you and your gf ? :P

we could figure sumtin out babe.

[mireland]

Originally posted by bushmaster
we could figure sumtin out babe.


:mad:

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by mireland
:mad:

Whats this a Prevert fest :p

[mireland]

Originally posted by j.m@talk
Whats this a Prevert fest :p

I think I already called dibs over a year ago...



http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/gershout.gif

[fancyf]

Originally posted by bushmaster
we could figure sumtin out babe. http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/Aneutral.gif

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by mireland
I think I already called dibs over a year ago...



http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/gershout.gif

I'm dibbed out then :(

[mireland]

Originally posted by fancyf
http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/Aneutral.gif


err, maybe it would be best if you not participated in this thread...:D

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by mireland
err, maybe it would be best if you not participated in this thread...:D

Groveller :p

[DozerLYP]

Originally posted by Vitalka
I became a Canadian three days ago. :p

i feel very sorry for you...:p

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by DozerLYP
i feel very sorry for you...:p

It'd be a bonus to me to become a welcome guest even, of north America......... Ya know with the right to stay & all that :t

I'm not about to overstay or what ever tho .......... :t

[mireland]

Originally posted by j.m@talk
It'd be a bonus to me to become a welcome guest even of north America......... Ya know with the right to stay & all that :t

I'm not about to oversaty or what ever tho .......... :t


so you've never been the mums or Blairs guest?? typical british snobs are they???:t

[Billforce]

Originally posted by j.m@talk
It'd be a bonus to me to become a welcome guest even, of north America......... Ya know with the right to stay & all that :t

I'm not about to overstay or what ever tho .......... :t

All jesting aside, you would dearly love most of Canada to live in. Alberta is fierce in the winter, B.C. has a lot of rain (should be used to that), and the Eastern part is one big frozen zombie in the winter. Other than the cold winters, Canada is unspoiled beautiful country.....discounting the population of course but they are promoting emmigrants so maybe they can improve the basic mentality.:D

[j.m@talk]

Ideally I'd love a nice warm climate to live in ......... (Don't need a coat)

However a fir bit of snow to play with might be interesting :p

Where I am yeah ya get rain ....... It never gets that cold really....... The BIGGI is the err light level ....... Its Dull ...... & rains just enough to annoy ya ........ & usually sideways :mad:

OK I'll get to the point ...... Its the Dull Grey fing that makes me feel like I live in Russia :rolleyes: Gimme summink bright & that might spurr me a lil more :)

Somwhere in the Sth pacific would be nice

Canada might doo...... I just never had the chance to look :(

[Vitalka]

Originally posted by DozerLYP
i feel very sorry for you...:p

Bush became your president and i feel sorry for you. :p

[fancyf]

Originally posted by mireland
I think I already called dibs over a year ago...
hmmm I don't know who you called :p but I'll eventually get married http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smilies0923.gifand probably have more children http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smilies0924.gif http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smilies0924.gif


.. run to your club :r

[j.m@talk]

Ner ner Na ne ner :p

Love it :D

[bushmaster]

who is dibs ?

[mireland]

Originally posted by fancyf
hmmm I don't know who you called :p but I'll eventually get married http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smilies0923.gifand probably have more children http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smilies0924.gif

.. run to your club :r


well, it's off to my second choice then...back to the nudie bars....:D

[Billforce]

Originally posted by j.m@talk
Ideally I'd love a nice warm climate to live in ......... (Don't need a coat)

However a fir bit of snow to play with might be interesting :p

Where I am yeah ya get rain ....... It never gets that cold really....... The BIGGI is the err light level ....... Its Dull ...... & rains just enough to annoy ya ........ & usually sideways :mad:

OK I'll get to the point ...... Its the Dull Grey fing that makes me feel like I live in Russia :rolleyes: Gimme summink bright & that might spurr me a lil more :)

Somwhere in the Sth pacific would be nice

Canada might doo...... I just never had the chance to look :(

HEY J.M., I see they are taking immigrant verts on Pitcairn Island. You could become one of the Big Wigs there and have a HAREM!

[ukulele]

I thought about moving to Canada until I found out that you have to wear cloths there. Just too restrictive for me. ;)

[genesound]

How 'bout the Yucatan then? I was just there for 28 days, very memorable. Over 100º F and like 98% humidity, it rains every day; clothing optional; might just wear only suncreen :eek:

Well, maybe some mosquito repellent too ;)

[genesound]

I won't discuss corruption, bribery, politics, health care, the middle class, invasions, the rich, lost civilizations, the poor, or any such subjects about that area, as "28 days" doesn't even qualify as a primmer. :eek:

[ukulele]

Originally posted by genesound
How 'bout the Yucatan then? I was just there for 28 days, very memorable. Over 100º F and like 98% humidity, it rains every day; clothing optional; might just wear only suncreen :eek:

Well, maybe some mosquito repellent too ;)

Without clothes and even with Mosquito repellent they would suck you dry in less then the time it takes to spray it on. I've been there once. ;)