No special breaks for Bush refugees, says Canada
Americans attempting to escape four more years of President George Bush by fleeing to Canada will have to wait in line just like immigrants from any other country, the country’s immigration ministry says.
Over the years, Canada’s social climate has shifted to the left of the United States, with relatively higher taxes supporting programmes such as public health care.
The promise of continued conservatism from Bush’s administration may be a draw to for some despondent Democrats to consider emigrating.
The US consulate in Toronto estimates there already may be a million Americans living in Canada – most do not register – about a quarter of them in Ontario.
But Americans who want to join the expatriate ranks across what is called the world’s longest undefended border will not get special treatment just because their brother is married to a Canadian or they like cheap weekends in French-speaking Montreal.
“The immigration programme is universal – it applies to everyone the same,” France Bureau, spokeswoman for immigration and citizenship minister Judy Sgro, told The Associated Press.
“People must apply at a visa mission abroad and all applicants must meet the requirements.”
All immigrants need a work permit, a government website says. A government department must approve any offer of local employment before a permit is issued.
