There are some important cultural differences across this great land of ours, that any incoming Yanks should be aware of. If they’re going to Newfoundland, they should be saying ‘hey’ instead of ‘eh’. Oh, and they should say ‘hien’ if they go to Quebec. Or ‘tabarnak’.

…it doesn’t explain why Canadians are moving south.

About 10 years back, Ma’s sister an’ her husband an’ 2 kids moved to Detroit. He’s a P.Eng. an’ had a good offer to manage an auto parts plant. The money sounded good. I imagine that money and status are why most emigrant Canajuns go to Merka. That, and the fact that we are inundated with US TV that carries an underlying message that Merka is the greatest place on Earth.

After about 3 or 4 years, Bob an’ Mary an’ the kids moved back to Canada.

Despite the company providing a top-notch health insurance plan for their top guy at the plant, my asthmatic nephew was being denied the treatment he needed. They had to dip into their pockets quite deeply to keep him healthy.

The Detroit area urban-suburban bedroom community deal meant that they needed to purchase a second vehicle. Even the so-called corner store was too far away to walk from their suburban home.

Wages were higher and taxes were lower. After taking other factors into consideration, though, these advantages were negligible.

Also helping them make the decision to move back home was the time Bob had to fire an employee and that guy showed up the next day with a gun. Nobody got shot but the cops were called and the scare was real.

Politics and personal freedom are more important to some than to others. For these people, a move from Merka to Canada makes sense. A lot, if not most, people don’t pay much attention to politics. If money and position are more important, the move south makes sense.

Today’s situation differs a bit from the situation in the 1960’s and early 70’s when 50,000+ Vietnam era draft dodgers came to Canada. Back then, immigrants were fleeing forced conscription into a military that was involved in an illegal, unjustifiable and unwinnable war. BTW, it’s estimated that about 80% of those draft dodgers eventually returned to their home country.

JB

There’s often a big pull to return to one’s “home.” Family, friends, schoolmates and familiar surroundings ain’t missed until they ain’t there. I reckon a lotta them goin’ south is goin’ fer economic reasons. Sorta like the Newfies who go to the oilpatch, they may go with the intention of returning someday.

The draft dodgers got a mass pardon from Jimmy Carter in 1977. Many went back then but thousands still live here. Most of them came to Canada with the idea that they would never be allowed back.

When people move for political reasons, I suspect they’re less likely to go back than when they move for economic reasons.

JB