Canada says Trump presidency will cause humanitarian crisis; works to make residency easier

AROUND THE BLOCK

News with a Twist

Trump 5-state sweep in the Northeast instigates major changes north of the border

Canada increasing number of consulates in the U.S. to accommodate anticipated rush of American asylum seekers

Following Donald J. Trump’s stunning sweep of the Republican primaries in five Northeast/Mid-Atlantic states – Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut and Rhode Island – Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Mr. David MacNaughton, announced a major expansion of Canadian consulates in the United States.

“It appears to us that Mr. Donald Trump will most likely be the Republican nominee for the president of the United States in the upcoming 2016 election and, as such, will have a 50/50 chance to become president,” Mr. MacNaughton said.

Ambassador MacNaughton went on to say, “Given that possibility, I have, in consultation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, recommended that  Canada appropriately prepare for the onslaught of Americans seeking asylum in Canada. Expanding our consulate network in America is one way to do that.”

There are currently 12 Canadian consulates in the U.S. – Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

According to Mr. MacNaughton, in order to meet demand and to allocate resources where anticipated need will be greatest, second offices will opened in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle, while two additional offices will be opened in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

In addition, new consulates will be opened in Portland (Oregon), Hartford, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Dover (Delaware), Burlington (Vermont) and Providence, while the consulate in Dallas will be moved to Austin and the Atlanta office will be closed.

Responding to reports that moving to Canada is more difficult than originally believed by Americans clamoring to leave, Mr. MacNaughton, commented, “That’s a question for the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. You’ll have to ask them.”

In that regard, Around The Block contacted Mr. Angus Michael “Moose” Campbell, spokesman for the Department of Immigration who said, “Yes, the requirements for permanent Canadian residence are difficult, particularly because we are concerned that a huge influx of people to the country will upset our world-class universal health care system. But, Canadians are a compassionate people and we see what’s going on in America, with the potential of a Trump presidency, as a humanitarian crisis.”

Mr. Campbell went on to say, “Therefore, in view of the situation on our southern border, we are adjusting our rules and requiring only two things for Americans seeking refuge: They must declare and affirm that they ‘believe that living in a country run by Donald J. Trump is detrimental to their mental health, physical health and over-all well being,’ and, at the time of entry, they must sing O Canada acapella in front of a panel of three Canadian immigration officers.”

When asked if the declaration of a humanitarian crisis was limited to potential Trump presidency, Campbell said, “The Department, in consultation with the prime minister’s office, is considering widening the new rules to include the possibility of a Ted Cruz presidency as well,” going on to say, “Of course, Mr. Cruz’s Canadian citizenry does complicate that decision somewhat.”

In any event, municipalities all over Canada are making preparations for an influx of Americans, none more so than Cape Breton Island.

Cape Breton, which famously started the “move to Canada” drive with a website, “Cape Breton if Donald Trump Wins” in late 2015, is now doubling down on its efforts as the once unthinkable becomes closer to reality.

According to Mike “Mussels” Musselman, a spokesman for the Cape Breton Island Chamber of Commerce, the community is going all out to make the island as comfortable as possible for Americans. In that regard, it has changed the name of its two Tim Horton donut shops to Dunkin’ Donuts and has gotten every restaurant, café and diner on the island to “significantly increase the size of their portions to take into account American tastes and appetites.”