An event horizon is the point in a black hole from which there is no getting away. I am currently in the Canadian bureaucracy’s version of it. One government department owes me thousands of dollars. Another, the provincial department in charge of adaptive equipment, needs me to attend at least one costly medical appointment to prove — despite having all the paperwork already — that my brain damage hasn't been magically cured and I do, in fact, qualify for the partial funding of a wheelchair lift so I can leave my house without risking injury.
Why am I telling you this? Because, much like the last time Donald Trump rose to power, interest in fleeing across the United States border to Canada is growing. In 2016, Canada’s immigration authorities were unprepared for the onslaught of interest in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s victory; there was so much interest, it caused Canada’s immigration website to crash. In the current political moment, when transphobia, ableism, and the prospect of further destruction of American health care and education runs rampant, it’s easy to understand why people might see Canada as a great alternative.
Meesha Moulton, a dual citizen and immigration lawyer based in Nevada, feels a lot of the US-to-Canada immigration chatter is the expression of emotion rather than a serious indication of people’s intent to move: “I think it's an easy way to kind of express their distaste with what's happening in the US. Because the actual process of immigrating to a different country is not necessarily the easiest. And," Moulton continues, "I think the immigration system is kind of stigmatized at the moment. But if you go through it properly, it is not easy to get immigration, whether that be in Canada or the US.”
The downstream benefits of having Canada's maple leaf-embossed passport are, on the face of it, obvious: Both Canada and the US share a language, in many ways we have a shared economy, expertise can be transferable, and the immigration process to Canada is a lot clearer than the administrative hellscape that is the American process. But life in Canada isn’t as idyllic as Americans may think.
Let’s start with health care. I live in the province where Tommy Douglas, the founder of socialized medicine in the country, rose to prominence. Little-known fact: Before changing his tune, Douglas had been a big proponent of eugenics early in his career, writing a master’s thesis called “The Problems of the Subnormal Family.” Discrimination is as Canadian as maple syrup, poutine, and our really annoying geese — sorry about those. The expanded access to medical assistance in dying (MAiD) is one example of why I’d argue that the Canadian system — despite protesting otherwise — seems to prefer disabled people were a) quieter or b) dead.
Beyond these existing barriers, Moulton says, health care policies such as broadly available maternity leave and a system of emergency medical care that is less likely to leave you in crushing debt are still net positives. We also have stronger gun laws, even if they are less contentious politically than in the United States, dramatically reducing the threat of gun violence in schools and other public places.
That doesn't mean hate isn’t a concern for many Canadians, though; the level of vitriol directed toward marginalized communities by politicians and the general public is only getting worse as soon-to-be former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government falters and populist conservative Pierre Poilievre bides his time until the next federal election. That trip to the polls is less than a year away.
The Canadian government, long known for having fairly open immigration policies, is slashing the number of spots available, and provinces like Quebec — where it is illegal to wear a hijab, among other religious garments, if you hold a public sector job — are drastically reducing the opportunities available to potential immigrants.
Canada may seem welcoming, but historically, this country has preferred to rebrand American hatred rather than outright reject it. Canada imprisoned Japanese Canadians and excluded Chinese people from immigrating during the mid-20th century. Canada also had a residential school system that relentlessly tried to strip Indigenous Canadians of their culture, amid conditions that killed many Indigenous children; the last of these schools closed in the mid 1990s, but the effects are still being felt as these communities work to revitalize their land, languages, and livelihoods. Canada’s provinces are increasingly instituting exclusionary policies for trans children in schools while also, in some areas, boosting funding to private schools at the expense of public education. Any of this sound familiar?
Becki Young, co-managing partner at the Washington, DC-based firm Grossman, Young & Hammond, recently held a session that focused on what Americans looking to immigrate should know. One draw, she says, is that the Canadian immigration process is clearer, and moving to Canada may feel like less of a transition than moving to other popular countries like Spain or Portugal.
“I would say that, really, in the months leading up to the election, we had a huge uptick in inquiries about emigrating outside the United States," Young tells Teen Vogue. "Outbound immigration, not only to Canada, but to various other countries. [Canada] is perceived as being a kinder, gentler place. It's also geographically convenient, right? You're not so far from your family and friends if you were to immigrate to Canada.”
Young also feels that a lot of the current conversations about immigration stem from fear, particularly for those who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Young and her colleagues have had people ask whether they should get married before Trump’s inauguration in order to protect themselves should the Respect for Marriage Act fall. “There's a lot of fear and concern that in this country we're going to be backtracking on advancements that we've made in that regard,” Young explains.
Of course, regardless of the current political environment, there will continue to be large swathes of people who gaze across the border — literally and figuratively — with envy. For people making that choice, Moulton advises, make sure you have researched what is drawing you toward Canada beyond polarizing headlines. “If the political aspect is very important to you, then I could understand why Canada looks like a good option…," Moulton says. "Whether you're going to Canada or anywhere else, I think it's important to really learn the country and learn what issues they're facing as well.”
Young’s advice, meanwhile, is to put serious effort into going beyond perceptions and digging into whether Canada (or another country) will be a good fit for you. After that’s settled, she suggests, speak to a lawyer in Canada to better understand what steps you need to take. “It's never a quick, easy, and cheap process to immigrate to another country,” she says. "So make sure that this is something you actually want to do — spend some time there, get to know the country and the culture before you make a decision.”
Canada is a place that likes to paper over its cracks by comparing itself to its southern neighbor. Although America is currently a scary place to be, Canada isn’t a utopia, not even on its best days.
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