So, many people said they were moving to Canada....

[HEyHEY]

Just curious how many Duers have actualy looked into it. What were your findings?

[seabeyond]

1. i have been looking into it, my concern with canada will side

with bush. out of fear. now that bush has total power

[HEyHEY]

2. No - they won't

We ain't scared of America

[seabeyond]

7. didnt your country recently have struggle with right?

in election the last year? was there a fight between right and left

[Sinistrous]

3. I just came back from a visit to the Toronto area.

The most salient point I noted is that housing costs are astronomical.

[HEyHEY]

15. Yeah, T.O. and Vancouver are terribly expensive

[lutefisk]

27. Americans could send Canadian real estate prices way up

Remember what the Californians did to Washington, Oregon, and Nevada real estate prices when they started buying? It doesn't take much to upset the supply and demand balance.

I've read about many Northeastern US residents buying up property in Eastern Canada, and many others are buying property across Canada as vacation/ escape/ survival investments. Americans aren't waiting for Permanent Residence status, either.

[alittlelark]

4. We opened up a branch of our company in Vancouver

2 years ago when things were looking bad here. It was a good choice. Our co-founder has dual US-Can. citizenship.

[DrWeird]

5. I've got a couple more years of grad school to finish.

But I plan to seriously look into it when I get a chance. A PhD should be worth a few extra points, no?

[lutefisk]

17. The PhD is worth the same as the Master's, I think..eom

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

19. Yeah.. you're right. Same amount of points for PhD & masters.

[irancontra]

6. long wait, cold weather, & the fact that NO where is safe from cheneycorp

also I'm not ready to leave my family in new york. If things are screwed at least I'm screwed with them. What's a life if you're always running. I've left another country once before because of a mandatory draft, this time I'm gonna stay and fight... for my rights.

[HEyHEY]

14. Move to Vancouver/Victoria/Kelowna - it's warmer than New York

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. I've looked into it, not wealthy enough. Alas.

Actually, I've looked into it long before the current state of disaster here. It's not just political, I like Canada. Couldn't you guys just buy us, or annex us, or absorb us Washingtonians? You could call us Baja B.C. if you like.

[ihaveaquestion]

9. Looked into it and still considering it.

Just brushing up my resume, so I can apply for a job... in Information Security Management, if anyone's curious B-)

[tanyev]

10. Hubby is Canadian.

We're staying put for now, but Canada is definitely plan B. Just watching and waiting to see how things go here.

[Siyahamba]

29. Similar situation

I am Canadian, I moved here to be with my partner. Being on a student visa is the only way I can stay here. It's tough, but it would be tougher from him to leave because he owns a business. But if push comes to shove I know I can go back to Canada and bring him with me.

[Cleita]

11. I'm looking into moving my savings and other meager

retirement assets into Canada, but not myself and my husband. I think a money drain would have an effect on the economy as well as a people brain drain. This may do more in the end to bring down the Busheviks than civil disobedience. Since my husband and I have to derive income from our savings, I need to find out if I have to pay USA taxes as well as Canadian taxes. This may screw the whole idea up. If I don't have to pay USA, then I will have accomplished what I want, to cut off the money supply to the Busheviks to fund their wars.

[truthseeker1]

12. We're looking into Vancouver

but my husband is a trader and he just found out a couple of days ago he can't trade from up there. He's going to keep asking questions to see if there's any way to work around it.

I heard something on KPFK a week or so ago about how the IRS will try to keep getting taxes out of you for about ten years, and if you don't pay, you can't even visit the U.S. Anyone know anything more about this?

The whole point of moving is to discontinue supporting the war regime and stop having our tax dollars go towards the military industrial complex.

On edit: not sure what my message got posted twice. Sorry about the dupe.

[truthseeker1]

13. We're looking into Vancouver

but my husband is a trader and he just found out a couple of days ago he can't trade from up there. He's going to keep asking questions to see if there's any way to work around it.

I heard something on KPFK a week or so ago about how the IRS will try to keep getting taxes out of you for about ten years, and if you don't pay, you can't even visit the U.S. Anyone know anything more about this?

The whole point of moving is to discontinue supporting the war regime and stop having our tax dollars go towards the military industrial complex.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

16. My findings are that it's mostly a pain in the ass.

Don't even bother if you don't have a at least a bachelor's degree and one year worth of experience (within the last ten years) in a field you could actual find a job in over in Canada. The more experience you have in a particular field, the better. If you have a master's or a PhD, that is also a benefit to you. It's a plus if your spouse has a degree. If you happen to have received a degree from a Canadian college, that's also a plus for you.

You have prove your language proficiency in English and also in French, if you say you are proficient in either one of those languages. Essentially, you have to be highly proficient in either English or French. You get more points for knowing both of course.

They also want you to have a certain amount of money before you move, though it isn't that much. The amount depends on how many family members you have.

If you have close family there (not distant relatives), you maybe be able to immigrate there to live with your family.

If you already have a job lined up in Canada, you're basically all set.

My family would qualify based on the points system, but my husband wants to change fields. We'd probably only do it if we could procure jobs there in advance.

[seabeyond]

18. my husband has a master, computer for two decades, maybe

create from canadain du'ers the eyes and ears ofd your enviroment in finding job sites or directions of location. understand. a network.

i did the same test. bummers on our side, i didnt finish college, no french

we both did in high school. but i used je ne se pas? (sp) a lot

[Angry Girl]

24. Vancouver in 2006 or Bust!

Nightweed (our rock band) has always thought Vancouver was just gorgeous (and only an hour and a half away from some killer snowboarding!) but now the fire has been lit under our asses and it's now a green light for August 2006! Maybe a few months sooner, depending.

We would go sooner, believe me, but there's a pesky detail called money, which is not made easier with the U.S. dollar plunging into hell.

Any wealthy benefactors willing to sponsor some artist/musician/film types? :-)

If not, no worries: We'll get to Vancouver if we have to bloody walk!

In the meantime, here some info:

These are the skilled worker immigration requirements:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/qual-5.html

If you lack education points, consider going back to community college or getting some sort of degree because that adds points more so than the French language. Apply for a Pell Grant or get a Stafford Loan or a regular loan.

French as a second language will only give you 1 to 2 points on the Canadian immigration point qualifications. But if you're short by only that much, run down to your library and pick up those Berlitz tapes!

Everything depends on how badly you want out. You may have to wait a little bit before it can happen but this country ain't going to get better!

Cheers!
Angry Girl
nightweed.com

[newyawker99]

33. Hi Angry Girl!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[HEyHEY]

43. Good year, the World Junior Hockey Tournament will be there

[Wat_Tyler]

44. I remember the last time people asked for money to go somewhere on DU.

Not a situation I'd like to see repeated, eh?

[Fenris]

45. There's $300 worth of cocaine up a hooker's nose somewhere in the Midwest.

[Donkeyboy75]

49. You are clearly quite young, Fenris.

You have the wrong idea about what happens to your money when you visit prostitutes...

[HEyHEY]

53. Yeah Fenris! Go to more hookers!!

[Dora]

47. Welcome to DU!

And how's it hanging out there? I'm an East Valley refugee myself - I grew up in Tempe, left in '97.

[lawladyprof]

20. I looked on the web site but didn't see anything regarding retired people

I called the consulate in Buffalo after email to embassy recommended that Buffalo handled all immigration. I am thinking of writing a snail mail letter to inquire because I still don't know whether a retired person could immigrate to Canada.

[mmonk]

21. Still looking into it

I'm going to purchase property anyway.

[dean_dem]

22. I've looked for a few jobs in Canada, things like that....

But lately I've been looking into that Free State Project in New Hampshire. Granted, it does have a few of the more right-leaning Libertarian types screaming about "Big Government" and bitching about paying taxes, but it might make for a pretty tolerant state as far as social issues go. Plus they went Blue this election.

[Heddi]

23. As soon as I get my degree (four quarters) I'm OUTTA HERE

Luckily, I'll be a nurse, as will my husband, so because of the absolute DIRE need for our job skills, we can pretty much go anywhere in the world. We're looking at Europe right now, possibly somewhere on the british isles...not England Per Se---I'm thinking somewhere moorish. foggy. boggy.

I'd leave now except I'd have to start school all over again (pre-req's and all)---that's too much financinally and time-wise for me. But I promise, without a doubt, that in June 2006, when I have my degree, I'll be giving a big ol moon to the US of A as I fly my pasty ass out of this country and never look back.

Sadly, until I'm given permanent residence in another country, I'm still obliged to pay taxes to the US--and as long as I pay taxes, I'm qualified to vote absentee---so just because I'm not here doesn't mean I won't be fighting the good fight. I just hope I can leave and be gone long enough that should a draft occur (for which I and my husband would be obliged to report, being a medical professional) I wouldn't be called up...or that i'd have enough resources to just blend into the scenery for a few decades :)

[RawMaterials]

26. if you live out side the country what are you supposed

to pay taxes on?? your income???

[Heddi]

73. you pay taxes on your income just like you do if you live here

the only kicker is that not only are you obliged to pay US taxes, but you're also obliged to pay taxes to the country you're living in....so you're getting double taxed.

Of course, 'obliged' is the word I use.....doesn't mean there's not ways around it (there are), and doesn't mean that everyone necessarily pays the US Gov't their fair share (they don't)

You file an income tax return with the IRS just like you would if you were living in the good old US of A....

[RawMaterials]

25. my wife and i are looking into Vancouver

she graduates in June, and i graduated in 2003 with a information engineer degree. I'm a computer network administrator, I'm working on starting to study French(wife already can speak a little) and getting some certifications. then we will look to moving and immigrating.
the thing is we basically have been looking at doing this for the last 3-4 years we relay like it up there and dint like the direction the us is going in. basically we were looking at moving to Oregon, or Washington or Vancouver. with the current direction of the country Vancouver just moved up to number one on the list. I personally now 3 other computer professionals that are young and smart that have the same feelings as me and are looking into Canada prity seriously. It does help that Canada has a need for IT professionals right now.

The pareles to the US and Germany after WW1 are pretty similar. I hope we can get out before things start to get so bad that we couldn't afford to move, or maybe no matter how bad it gets we cant afford not to move.

[lebkuchen]

28. What's wrong with Mexico?

?

[HEyHEY]

35. Nothing... but let them start their own thread

;-)

[ThoughtCriminal]

30. Looked into it for non-political reasons

Chances were marginal at best. It seems to be very difficult to relocate a small business.

[OnionPatch]

31. Still looking into it

The most important thing I've confirmed is that the people are much more liberal in Canada than in the US. We're not planning to just outright move but are looking for jobs there. There do seem to be a few out there. Hubby applied for one he's very qualified for but we'll see if he hears back. (He's also an IT professional and I'm an IT tech.)

If we can't get jobs there, we'll just have to stay but it will be hard to stomach. We live in a red area, and I find myself HATING my neighbors. (Thanks for voting for totalitarian rule, you traitors!) I don't want to live feeling like that anymore. (I'm normally a very pleasant, community-minded person.) I don't want my daughter raised around them, either. We may just opt for moving to a blue area. At any rate, I will never stop fighting to get our country back, even if I have to do it from Canada.

[superconnected]

32. Okay, I looked into dual citizenship.

My whole family thought it a good idea for all of us to get dual citizenship. You have to live there for 3 years first to qualify for citizenship or be in some refugee emergency. We are looking at other countries.

What prompted looking into it is the disentegration of rights under the Bush Administration - the patriot act, and Bush continuing to be president to further take away rights and impose monitoring techniques on the people. We see it as steps toward Nazism. I'm glad that my family has NO republicans. We're aware that it's necessary to leave early and not as the heat gets turned up(like sticking around waiting for things to get better) as the jews did in Germany.

I'm so lucky because this is my brother and sister and their familys, as well as me, my mom, their inlaws that have become part of our family etc. Everyone is plotting a way out, if this country goes much further down that nazist road.

[willysnout]

34. Checking Into It

I'll make my decision in a couple of years. I want to see how things shake out between now and 2006. Meantime, I'll be setting it up. I understand the applications take about a year to go through.

[Carolab]

36. I have

and found that I am too old to hit the needed "points". I'm going anyway if this situation doesn't start to improve. This country sucks.

[Uzybone]

37. Did you really believe them.?

they also said they would fight in the streets if the election was stolen. Now most of them are busy MMQBing. Bullshit.

[frogfromthenorth2]

38. Amen!

[mmonk]

56. I'm taking some advice

from Chalmers Johnson that he gave at a question and answer session on his book, "Sorrows of Empire" where he said to get yourself a backdoor in case things start to turn bad.

[Selwynn]

57. Yeah.. um.. try reading the thread pal.

Apparently a lot of people are either already doing it, planning on it, or will do it upon graduation, which is consistent with what was being said before the election about a move.

[truthseeker1]

72. What is MMQBing?

I doubt I'm doing it whatever it is.....

[shrike]

39. Having a hard time convincing my husband

But I'd go in a heartbeat. He likes B.C., while I'd prefer Nova Scotia, or maybe a small town in Ontario.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shrike]

46. Uh, our health care system is in the sh**ter, too

Don't know if you live in the U.S., but

1. We have high taxes, too. They're just hidden. In my county, property taxes went up as much as 300 percent.

2. This is nothing new. Our health care system's been on life support so long we Americans wouldn't know the difference. I hear lots of complaints about waiting in Canada -- well, last year I had to wait three months to even see a specialist. I have to wait six weeks for a simple test.

3. A corrupt ruling party. HAHAHAHAHA ... Sorry, you're probably a very nice person, but you're talking to an American in Bush's America here.

[SnowBack]

51. What planet are YOU from?

Sure there are higher taxes, but you actually GET something for your taxes...

The health care system has a few problems, but is WAY better than any HMO I've ever dealt with here...

And at least the "corrupt" ruling party isn't sending the country into the toilet like the right wing in the U.S.

Alberta would be fine for anyone that wants to move to a bad carbon copy of Texas. The only place in the country saying they'll fight Gay marriage.

Maybe you should go back to the Repuke boards.....

:eyes:

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DrWeird]

58. Well, the last I heard...

The Liberal party lost the majority in 2004 but still holds the plurality of seats in the House of Commons, so that probably explains why Paul Martin still PM.

What do you get with your taxes that we don't get? Free health care for one thing.

I know you guys spell color with a "u". That's the first time I've seen somebody spell Utopia with an "e."

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shrike]

66. reason enough to go to Canada, my friend

[SnowBack]

69. Unless you're Gay or Lesbian...

Then Ralph and his ilk are just as bad...

[shrike]

65. Wanna swap places?

I realize Canada is no utopia, but spend some time here and maybe you'll appreciate home.

[SnowBack]

68. I love tests!

Let's see... Ummm. The ruling party is the Liberals... With the Reform/Alliance/PC's as the official opposition... Along with lots of Bloq Québecois MP's, and a good number of NDP MP's supporting the government... It's a minority government...

Leaders - Paul Martin, Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe and Stephen Harper... I wasn't a big fan of Chrétien, but I think he was better than Martin.

Maybe you need to get out of Saskatchewan.... It sure isn't a utopia... But I think you need to give it more credit. After all, it was Tommy Douglas that gave Canada Medicare.

Oh yeah, your original question - You get decent government funded education, health care for all and elections that are fair... Along with a government that respects all citizens - no matter what their backgrounds. Oh yeah, and there's also drug prices that people can afford.

Any other questions? And, no, I didn't have to Google... I voted NDP in the last election... I'm a Canadian who lives in the States...

[kostya]

59. Is Calgary pretty conservative as well?

[Frederic Bastiat]

67. Taxes are pretty much the same for what you get

Unless you're making $120,000 and not smart enough to find a good accountant.

[Technowitch]

41. Planning a trip in March to look at properties up there

My spouse is a consultant and can probably work her contracts from up there. Me, I'm a writer, and I can sign a book contract anywhere.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[POAS]

48. I looked and can't do it

As far as I can determine Canada no longer has a visa for those wishing to retire to Canada. I wish they did. I have three years left till I can start collecting SS and if I could go I'd do it in a second.

[smiley_glad_hands]

50. My family has been here since 1607.

I will die fighting before I leave.

[Donkeyboy75]

52. Jeez. Your parents must be really old.

[arwalden]

64. You Nut!

:hi:

[asthmaticeog]

55. I'm looking into Canada and Germany.

Canada seems more realistic - I'm in publications, and Canada's obviously going to have a lot more English-language pubs than Germany (I don't speak or write in German). But I have qualifications in Germany - my father was born there, and that'll help my case for naturalization - that I don't have in Canada, plus I got the minimum passing score on the skills assessment. Whatever I do, I need to start the process soon, but my indecisiveness isn't helping matters.

[leftchick]

60. I would TOMORROW....

I have done preliminary research and it does seem do-able. I am interested in a small town in Ontario. The hard part is I have to convince my husband. I can't seem to convince him just how bad things really are. Perhaps once the draft starts next year he may change his mind.

[TexasChick]

62. HEyHEY, I went to http://www.canadianalternative.com/ because I am

trying to get a Skilled Worker permit. I did qualify for that. However, I didn't pass the Self Assessment tool test simply because I haven't found a job in Canada yet. I scored a 59 and the passing grade is 67. I have a friend there and I am trying to find out what province/region he lives in and I will try to find work there. Another hurtle too is that I have been unemployed for over two years now. You have to have a certain amount of money, from what I gather with this site is 6 months to be able to take care of yourself, to come to Canada. For one person, it's like over $9,000. I don't have that kind of money, but maybe my friend will let me stay with him until I can get on my feet. Maybe I can include him on my Self Assessment tool test and I can score higher.


Don't know if I want to become a permanent citizen of Canada yet. I probably will after Bush and this next four more years and this once great nation is gone. I feel there maybe nothing to come back to.

[arwalden]

63. We're Still Seriously Considering It...

but we've discovered that my husband's security clearance makes the process a bit problematic.

[many a good man]

70. Not now. No hockey.

Canadiens must be more depressed than we are...

[HeeBGBz]

71. I looked into it a little

I'm not skilled enough or rich enough.

I don't like the cold either.