Searches for 'moving to Canada' spike after US election
You undoubtedly heard this back in 2016 and now, it's happening again: people threatening to move north to Canada to escape President-elect Donald Trump and his rule over the United States.
As Trump gathered up votes on Election Day and was ultimately declared the winner in a race that was shocking called much earlier than some may have expected, Google searches for "moving to Canada" skyrocketed.
According to Google Trends, searches for "how to move to Canada" increased by 400% by 8 p.m. on election night.
The term "move to Canada" reached its peak popularity around 6 a.m. Wednesday, likely as millions awoke to news of Vice President Kamala Harris' defeat.
Other Google searches that hit "breakout" status, with an increase in search volume by more than 5,000% over a 24-hour span, include:
• Cost to move to Canada from U.S.
• Moving to Canada requirements
• Moving to Canada from U.S.
• Can I move to Canada if Trump wins
• How to move to Ireland from U.S.
• Easiest country to move to from U.S.A.
• Jobs in Canada for Americans
Other searchers for "how to legally move to Canada," "how to get a passport," "how to move out of the U.S.," and "easiest countries to move to from USA."
While some Americans are worried about another Trump term, the root of why they might want to flee the country likely goes deeper than the president-elect.
"Trump is obviously the impetus, but it's also societal," Evan Green, managing partner at Canada's oldest immigration law firm, told Reuters. "The majority of Americans voted for him and some people don't necessarily feel comfortable living in that kind of society anymore. People are afraid they are going to lose freedoms."
Those entirely serious about moving to Canada will have some tight competition. In October, the country moved to lower the number of immigrants it allows to enter the country by 21% in an effort to "pause population growth." While the country currently allows for 500,000 permanent migrants per year, that number will drop to 395,000 in 2025 and 380,000 in 2026, with a target of 365,000 in 2027.
