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.
I would encourage everyone who thinks this is a bad place to live, to leave this country. Hell, there are several who's travel expenses I would be glad to pay.
Bingo. How do we need it wasn't conservative talk show listeners visiting the site to see how they could send some of these Hollywood types to Canada?
What a moronic premise by this reporter!
_______________________________________________________________
Speaking of Canada I borrowed this from another thread:
The Redistricting according to the DUmmies:
*Thank the Good Lord!
I agree!
I'm laughing at my desk here at work! What a good answer!
Our new US immigrants will enjoy
no doubt
seeing their ideology put into practice
by making their contribution
via Canadian income (and a multitude of other) taxes
to the splendid social programs
in our country.
I am sure they will be pleased
to see their tax contribution doubled
from what it was previously.
There are no tax cuts for the rich in Canada.
There are no tax cuts for anybody.
Even when they leave, we still have to clean up their mess.
When?
Back before WWI I suppose.
I don't know.
I wasn't here then.
Hey. Give us a break up here. We have more than enough home grown libs. We don't need any more.
All I have to say to them is good bye!!!
|
Au revoir, adios. auf widersehn all y'all want-wit dems!
How about another - they have to settle North of 60. :-)
FZUS81 KCLE 022059
ICEFBO
GREAT LAKES FREEZE-UP OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
405 PM EST TUE NOV 2 2004
EARLY FREEZE-UP POSSIBLE AT DULUTH OTHERWISE FREEZE-UP DATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE NEAR NORMAL FOR THE WINTER OF 2004-2005.
THE LONG RANGE OUTLOOK FOR THE WINTER OF 2004-2005 CALLS FOR AN EQUAL CHANCE FOR ABOVE NORMAL...NEAR NORMAL...OR BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES. THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE SOUTHERN LAKES AND AN EQUAL CHANCE OF ABOVE...BELOW...OR NEAR NORMAL CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REST OF THE LAKES.
A WEAK EL NINO PATTERN HAS DEVELOPED AS WATERS HAVE WARMED OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT A MODERATE EL NINO COULD OCCUR THIS WINTER. HOWEVER...WEAK TO MODERATE EL NINOS HAVE SHOWN TO HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON THE WEATHER ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION.
THE NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION MAY BE POSITIVE FOR A MAJORITY OF THE WINTER WHICH WOULD LEAD TO WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES.
WATER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES ARE RUNNING NEAR NORMAL NEAR DULUTH AND AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS THE REST OF THE GREAT LAKES. THIS PAST SUMMER THE REGION SAW BELOW NORMAL AIR TEMPERATURES KEEPING WATER TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL AS WELL FOR THE SUMMER. MILD DAYS DURING THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER HELPED TO KEEP WATER TEMPERATURES FROM PLUMMETING TO WELL BELOW NORMAL READINGS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
ICE FORMATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AROUND DECEMBER 7TH NEAR DULUTH WHILE THE REST OF THE LAKES SHOULD NOT SEE ICE UNTIL LATE DECEMBER. ICE FORMATION WILL OCCUR DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY IN SAULT ST MARIE MI...JANUARY 1...AND IZAAK WALTON BAY MI...JANUARY 3. THE LATEST EXPECTED DATE IS AT FRENCHETTE POINT MI WITH A DATE OF JANUARY 13TH. KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE DATES COULD CHANGE IF A STRONG EXTENDED COLD AIR OUTBREAK OCCURS OR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF WARM WEATHER OCCURS.
ICE FORMATION IS DETERMINED BY TWO FACTORS--THE AMOUNT OF HEAT STORED IN THE WATER FROM THE SUMMER AND HOW FAST THAT HEAT CAN BE REMOVED BY ARCTIC OUTBREAKS OF POLAR AIR AND HIGH WINDS. LONG RANGE OUTLOOKS DO NOT CONSIDER THE "STORMINESS" FACTOR WHICH CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE LAKES THERMAL STRUCTURE OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME.
IIRC, he met his new wife there in Collevornia.
We're now exporting our liberals, WooT!
makes sense, Canada is well known for letting terrorist and other America haters into their 'near' socialist country.
I have just one thought to pass on to these people...
bye, and don't let the door hit you in the ### !!
If they really leave, confiscate their American passports and state drivers' licenses at the border.
It's what whiny, spoiled children would do if they don't get their way.
As I said on another thread, Good Riddance! The US will be a much better place, IMO.
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