Jen Gerson: People are giving up on Canada. We should wonder why

On the ballot of the hand, and of the foot.

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By: Jen Gerson

Comedian Bill Maher came up with a killer routine on his show a few weeks ago mocking all of the U.S. celebrities who threatened to leave America if Donald Trump won the election in 2016. This — as we Canadians know full well — is a perennial promise made by scores of actresses, singers and gurus on predictable two-to-four year cycles. Never do any of these people consider that their fantasy liberal bug-out holes may not be so keen to accept them, but that never seems to stop the threats from coming. 

"Fifty-nine per cent of self identified liberals say they there have been times when they considered leaving America for good — like after NBC cancelled The West Wing," Maher quipped.
"There's a long list of liberal celebrities who swear they'll go if a Republican is elected. And no one ever does." 

To make the point, he singled out a few by name, including Miley Cyrus.
"Here she is looking miserable, having to endure America ... at the Grammy's last Sunday. I guess she flew back from Tajikistan." 

In 2016, Eddie Griffin said he'd leave: "apparently very slowly because in Trump's four years, he only got as far as Van Nuys."

The Trump election didn't seem to stem the flow of migrant workers into the U.S. either, Maher noted. 

"You don't have to escape America. That wall we're always debating isn't to keep you in." 

These are very easy shots. Though to be fair, the targets painted themselves awfully wide and shallow. Yet, admit it, we here in Canada often feel just a little gratified when it feels like America is falling off the rails; when we see popular and beautiful and powerful people threaten to come here. Here! To escape that crazy mess down south. 

Even if we know very well that they won't. 

Well, two little news items crossed my desk this week that caught my particular attention because they provided solid data to support a pet theory I've been pondering for a few months, now. 

Not only have American celebrities not decamped from their dysfunctional Republic to declare the Mecca of Montreal a new cultural beacon and a light unto the world — in fact, Canadians are now heading in the opposite direction in numbers not seen in a decade. Trump or no. Crazy or otherwise. Expensive health care considered.