Honestly, it's unfortunate that the conversation here has gone in the direction that is has. And not only that, but that Canada is somehow being slandered as a low-ranked option for immigration. I mean no one's forcing anyone to go there, and yet demand is still through the roof.
I think it's narrow-minded not to acknowledge that many people move to Canada because they actually want to be there, and nowhere else.
The country has/is:
- One of the largest economies in the world, despite its small population,
- A very high GDP per capita (higher than the UK and NZ),
- One of the highest Human Development Index ratings globally (and many above it aren't English-speaking countries),
- A ranking of 12th globally for education, which is part of HDI (out of 188 countries),
- A ranking of 15th (out of 183) for life expectancy, with Australia being the only English country above it,
- Unbelievable nature, natural resources, and the world's largest supply of fresh water (we may be warring over water in the future). It is a net exporter of food, minerals, and energy, and has the world's 3rd largest proven oil reserves,
- World-renowned multi-culturalism that allows you to keep your cultural identity and thrive, rather than be absorbed like in the US' melting pot, or marginalized like in many other countries,
- A ranking of 5th in the World Liberty Index (the degree of economic and personal freedoms that their citizens enjoy),
- Very high rank for environmental performance,
- A ranking of 1st in the BAV/VMLY&R/Wharton School Best Countries survey for 5 consecutive years up to and including 2020, for amazing self-reported quality of life,
- A ranking of 11th for Global Finance's safety index, which takes war and peace, personal security, and natural disasters into account. New Zealand is the only English country ranked higher,
- Extremely high rank for anti-corruption and transparency,
- A ranking of 3rd in the world for the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index, which takes other countries perceptions of a country into account,
- Extremely high rank for freedom of speech and freedom of the press,
- A ranking of 6th on the Global Peace Index. For comparison, Australia ranks 13th, the UK ranks 45th, and the United States ranks 128th. That's 1 rank behind my home country of South Africa. But sure... move there for the money, if you've been blind to what's been happening these past few years.
- One of the highest ranks on the Global Competitiveness Index,
- A ranking of 3rd in the world for the World Economic Forum's safest banks in the world. Exceptionally stable financial system that had zero failures during the Great Depression,
- One of the highest rankings in the World Happiness Index, which annually ranks national happiness based on respondent ratings of their own lives,
- And perhaps the most important one, a ranking of 5th in the Democracy Index, behind only Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and New Zealand. The US ranks 25th and has the title of "flawed democracy", not "full democracy". This rank takes civil liberties, fundamental political freedoms, the thriving of democratic principles, governmental checks and balances, an independent judiciary whose decisions are enforced, governments that function adequately, and diverse and independent media into account.
And yet despite all of these
facts, you have seemingly loads of people wanting to talk trash about Canada? If you don't want to move there, don't go. If it's your only option to improve your life, then go there, and be grateful you could move up from where you came from instead of being stuck in your country of birth.
My friend asked above why people would still be going there, and it's not because it's the only option, it's because CA is so damn appealing for so many reasons. And anyone who wants to doubt that can come to this post and read the bullets if they like.
You've got other English-speaking countries where racism runs rampant, you no longer get to hold onto your culture, crime is higher, sunshine is worse, geographic isolation is bad and economic opportunities are lower. And then you have our beloved United States, which very nearly fell to full blown
fascism in the past weeks, in case anyone missed the news. But you wanna talk trash about Canada?
I just had to set the record straight here. Those of us who get in need to be grateful for the amazing opportunity we've been given, and also turn around and welcome others. Those of us who don't shouldn't turn around and slander the country. Canada is my
first choice, for all of the reasons above and so many more.
