There are several factors to consider when choosing to emigrate to other places in the world. Some familiar questions are: "Where will I live, will I have steady employment, what if I start a family, and will all be safe there?"
Did I miss anything? Oh yes, where are the places the "State" is not oppressive or threatening to its citizens in any way and supportive to immigrants, new and old?
According to "Just Landed," an online publication popular with savvy immigrants, we see "Popular Expatriate Destinations," based upon a 2008 source. It put Canada in 2nd spot out of a Top 3. Also appearing there is "Top 5 Most Friendly Countries For Expats," and that article ranked Canada fourth.
But times and local conditions can change dramatically. At the end of 2008, Just Landed published, "Expat trends: Developed Countries Less Attractive."
In April 2009, a different online publication, "Expatify," posted "10 Most Suitable Countries for American Expatriates." Canada was not even among the 10. Since Canada is the U.S.'s closest neighbour but not even recommended, then where can those seeking American or Canadian ideals be most welcomed and happiest? Their Top 10 LIst tells us.
Take it from a Canadian who has lived and worked in both the U.S. and Canada, that if I could have my youth back, to do it all over again now, I would definitely follow the advice of this last-mentioned online source. Their Number 1 out of 10 spots is Argentina. You may read why they picked it and others at their website. But, back to why Canada failed the listing.
Many immigrants believed that Canada represented a safe haven to achieve personal freedom, adequate employment, piece of mind from all forms of harassment and a safe place to start a family. Historically, many realized that life. But that was before 1986. And, since then, it got much worse. In 1997, Canada introduced a sweeping set of laws that tipped the balances away from Canada by making its society more divisive, more litigious, more hostile to couples and families.
One's "life success and lasting happiness" are, in part, functions of: (a) satisfactory job and (b) happy relationship, typically marriage. The "reverses" of these are also true. Let's see how.
Here are the facts that few in the immigration community may be forthcoming enough to share in full. But this is understandably so, since it would diminish "their" financial benefit for obtaining a new recruit or new immigrant to Canada.
In a longitudinal study, Statistics Canada reports that nearly half of immigrants asked reported difficulty in holding adequate employment up to 4 years after arriving. Half (46%, Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants, Immigration Canada, Statistics Canada, 2005)
In simple terms, it means an immigrant to Canada has a 50-50 chance of keeping a good job (up to 4 years after arriving). The same odds as flipping a coin. Moreover, if you are between 25 and 44 years old, a university grad or skilled, you are at highest risk of job dissatisfaction (Stats Can, Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants, 2010).
When looking at the other function I mentioned, a happy relationship (marriage or marriage-like), we see Statistics Canada reporting 70,000 divorces annually and an online report from Alberta's Family Counseling site states that one in every two first-marriages in Canada fail. Simply put, Canadians of all types, statistically have a 50-50 chance of a failed marriage. Half. Again, no better odds than flipping a coin.
And here's why that happens: Canada has "No-fault" divorce laws where the reasons for filing for divorce are of little significance (irreconcilable differences).
But Canada also has laws that seem "tweaked" so that family courts come down excessively hard on men: 50%-60% confiscation of current earnings and old age security pensions, circular sentencing into jail (e.g., continuous, debtors prison), passport and professional licenses seized, driver's license revoked, arbitrary settings of support awards whereby creating artificial arrears (plus interest charges), with overwhelming failure in defense and appeals by defendants including denial of hearings, "striking of pleadings" and ignoring evidentiary facts (i.e., due process: "waived" by judges).
If one reads a Canadian Joint Senate and Parliamentary Committee Report, one sees that despite hundreds of witnesses from lawyers, divorced parents, children of divorced parents, and professional experts, giving sworn testimony warranting changes to the current laws, nothing has changed since 1997.
Yet, reports from an Independent Women's Organization, Campaign 2000, and the Ontario Provincial Auditor belie the myths: no change to women's and children's poverty since enactment of these laws in 1997.
Nevertheless, what applies for 'family laws' across Canada today would fail 'integrity comparisons' with all other forms of law in Canada, including: contract law, tort law, or criminal law, in evidentiary and proceedings rules and in due process.
Then if after more than a decade of proof of not achieving its goals, why is this set of laws allowed to persist? This is by choice. This choice is by governments at federal and provincial levels who are at the mercy of voters operating under misconceptions and myths that all is well with this aspect of the legal system. Evidently, the myths trump both truth and practicality.
As a retired professional, let me say that financial success may seem most attractive at first, but in the bigger view it's not the be-all and end-all some think. Then what is?
Freedom: Freedom from unforeseen consequences hidden from consciousness. Put simply, some wished they had known about the hidden traps waiting for the many to step in and have their freedom of life choices so suddenly limited. An editorial in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper sums it up: "Men 'one phone call' from total destruction" - Published in Nov. 3, 2000).
In summary, a wise immigrant will check out the facts for himself and ask a qualified family lawyer to explain in full what all that means or could mean to one at any time in his future if choosing to live in Canada.
Here is one place to start one's research and to see ALL mentions of references for this article and more: Emigrating To Canada Risks.
REFERENCES: Stats Can Longitudinal Studies 46% LSIC, see Chapter 1- Gender Bias & Unethical Practices in Joint Senate and Parliamentary Committee Report, Provincial Auditor Reports: $billions in backlogs 2010.
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