Posted on 11/05/2004 11:13:01 AM PST by xtremepoison61
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 (news - web sites)'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.
great! we have a country that will take "our defeated, our humbled, our ego bloated, our michael moores, our socialists, our ....". anyone want to start an emmigration fund to help those with "feelings" get to canada?
Buh-BYE. Goes to show many of these people really are antiamerican and are more loyal to partisanship than trying to move this nation forward.
Canada should be perfect for them.
Nothing could be healthier for the U.S. I hope this trend takes hold and libs start moving north in the coming years.
I predict a flood of boat people crossing the Great Lakes.
Someone posted jokingly on another site that they were going to Canada. They were shocked that 100 people on the MB took them seriously. Seems they didn't realize that people are REALLY doing this.
Man! Let them go away!!! Please!!!!
Take our thin-blooded, our weak-kneed, our thin-blooded masses!
Somehow I don't think they'll have that problem.
It will be winter soon enough, with the lakes frozen solid, they can walk there.
Better than having them stay and becoming disgruntled jerks that would help blow up buildings with the help of terrorists like what happened in Oklahoma.
As if Canada needs any more government fund leaching constituents!!!!
Very few Libs will go to Mexico. No socialized medicine down there.
Hey, I'm all for giving 'em a FReeper going away party! They'll be gone so we can party.
Good riddance!!
Go enjoy the High, High ,HIGH HIGH taxes that All Canadians enjoy, and enjoy the socalized healthcare system that comes complete with several months waiting lists to see a doctor! woohoo!
A very insightful observation!
Dress warmly! Bring plenty of long underwear. And two more words --- Snow Tires.
Woohooo! We ARE going to get our country back!
Door, meet ass. And why does the author assume that the hits actually come from "citizens."
i would be in favor of trading the thin west coast blue line for the northwest territories. that way less money would have to be spent sending these morons north.
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