This friend asked me if I thought I would ever move back to Canada. I'm not sure if he asked the question as a result of our decision to return Trump to the White House, but whatever his reasons for asking I did find his question interesting.
As I have written, I am appalled by the decision to return Trump to the White House, but it was an outcome for which I was prepared. This preparation notwithstanding, I cannot help but feel an impending sense of doom while at the same time underestimating that sense and that things will turn out far worse than I could possibly imagine.
Despite the feeling of doom, the short answer to my friend's question is I am staying put.
After all, I was just promoted at work. I cannot tell you how good that feels. Let us recall that I moved thrice in the space of less than three years. From Boston to New York, from New York to Atlanta and from Atlanta back to Boston/Cambridge.
Now that I've been back in Boston/Cambridge just shy of 3½ years, I'm not eager to pick up stakes again especially in light of my success at my job. The only scenario under which I would have any desire to move would be locally. I would move if I ended up in a place of my own preferably near a T station where I could easily get back and forth from work and for any other activities in which I might engage. I'm sure this will eventually come to pass, but I am biding my time. If and when I do move, I would like to do so on my terms.
There is something else to consider. In March 2025, I will have been in this country for 25 years. That is nearly half of my life. Although I have spent a majority of my life in Canada, I am very far removed from it. The only time I gave any serious consideration to returning to Canada was while I was in New York looking for work amid the COVID pandemic in July 2020. A few short months later I would move South and then back North but not that far up North.
If I were to return to Canada, it would be a much bigger adjustment than one might think. When I moved back to Boston/Cambridge in May 2021, I had not been here in more than 2½ years. While the place was familiar, it nevertheless took me some time to reacclimate back here. If I were to return to Canada, this process would take considerably longer especially if I were to end up in a city with which I have little or no familiarity like Vancouver or Winnipeg. When I visited Thunder Bay back in March, I found my recollections muddied.
The long and the short of it is that I don't want to leave Boston/Cambridge. This is home.
Nevertheless, there remains this impending sense of doom. What if Trump suspends the U.S. Constitution upon taking office? What if, as a result of said suspension, pressure is brought to bear against employers to dismiss employees who have ever had the temerity to utter an unkind thought of the Orange God? And what if individuals dismissed from their jobs for criticizing Trump were prohibited from attaining any other employment?
Under those circumstances, I might have no other choice but to return to Canada. That is assuming Trump doesn't enact a measure preventing such undesirables from leaving the country. Still, I do have Canadian citizenship and I'm not sure I could be prevented from returning to Canada if I so chose. If my mother were to become ill, would I be prevented from seeing her? Of course, I would hate to return under those circumstances. But it is a card I could play if all other options were exhausted or foreclosed.
With this in mind, let me take a moment to address those of you who are thinking of making your way to Canada as a result of Trump's win last Tuesday.
First, unless you have ties to Canada as I do, you might find it difficult to gain entry as the Trudeau government announced plans last month to reduce immigration by 20% through 2027.
Second, consider the state of the Canadian economy. The current unemployment rate in Canada is 6.5% compared with 4.1% in this country. One would think that might have been good enough for voters to give Kamala Harris a chance. Alas, no. Canada does have a lower inflation rate (1.6% vs. 2.4%). Nevertheless, Americans thinking of seeking their fortunes north of the border are taking a chance.
Third, let's say you do make it to Canada. There's a very good chance Canadians will elect a Trump friendly Tory government next year. Recent polls have Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives leading Justin Trudeau's Liberals anywhere between 13% and 22%. Why flee the U.S. because of Trump only to land in a country with a government in simpatico with him? Keep in mind that should the second Trump Administration abandon democracy in favor of authoritarianism then there is every reason believe the Tory government in Canada would follow suit even if Trump were to impose stiff tariffs upon Canada.
If that still doesn't deter you from wanting to head to Canada, then please proceed. I can understand the desire to start anew if one does not have anything keeping one here.
But if you have people, places and things keeping you in the U.S. in spite of Trump's impending return and you want to fight for them by peaceful means, then I think staying is the best option.
It is the best option for me - for now.
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