There's something else that's bugging me. I maybe completely wrong but let me share it here.
I've been following a few Canadian news channels for some time now, and if you have too, you'll know that the conservatives have consolidated and are actually winning elections across Canada (5 provinces as we speak). Many believe they'll win the federal elections this October.
Now, I don't know if this is bad news or not so bad news for immigration, but a lot of polls (conducted by conservative media) show that as many as 60% of Canadians believe the country is witnessing too much immigration. The refugee intakes might be the real culprit here, but of course the media channels don't go specific on that.
Whether or not a Conservative federal government affects the current immigration programmes is a distant question. That'll take some policy changes to happen, so we're safe for a while at least. My big worry is the change of sentiment in the general population.
Let me tell you what I mean. I have a few friends in the US. The ones who are in the bay area have not seen much of a change since Trump got elected, but I've learned some disturbing things from a couple of friends who are in other cities.
One friend from Atlanta told me that few months ago, a random driver threw a half eaten burger at him while he was standing at an intersection, waiting to cross the road. All that 'go back to you country you brown mf and blah blah'.
Another friend from Orlando told me he started facing discrimination at office and places like restaurants and supermarkets - a shift in general behaviour and treatment.
This is my big worry. Though Trump has never been openly racist (except for the 'Mexicans are sending rapists' thing), his coming to power has empowered these racist roaches.
I was seriously considering Calgary or Regina as my destination, but both Alberta and Manitoba are now under Conservative parties and these cities don't have big immigrant communities. So, I guess I'll have to take the safer bet and choose Toronto or Vancouver. God, I hate crowds!
Sorry for this long and boring anecdote, but this worries me. Maybe a little too much.
People, please do a thorough research on the politics of the province and city that you're trying to move to. Follow the policy changes and local news - especially related to immigration and immigrants. If you have friends there, get their views. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in Canada.
The last thing we want is to uproot our life and plant it in a community where we're not welcome.
