Why has Canada become the new American Dream?
In recent years, the American Dream has moved to the North, and Canada has become the new American Dream.
In the last ten years, many Americans' perceptions of their country's superiority, including its political and government system, over Western countries have shattered. It is no longer just the usual political divide between blue and red states.
The second Trump Presidency, a new McCarthyism style of politics is built on two pillars of international isolation and internal division rooted in a culture war on “internal enemies”. The Seesaw two-party political play has ended in a Stalemate situation. While in less than two months, Trump’s second term presidency has dropped significantly in every major area in public opinion, on the other hand the latest CNN opinion polls show a record low for Democratic Party favorable ratings. (CNN Opinion Poll March 16, 2025)
Healthcare, education, and housing costs are making the American Dream feel more distant than ever for the disappearing American middle class. There's been a notable increase in Americans considering or planning to move abroad, with factors like rising living costs and political uncertainty driving this trend, particularly since the recent US presidential election.
The results of March 4, 2025, Harris Poll shows that almost half of Americans have considered a plan to move abroad to improve their happiness. The results show that Americans are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the “American Dream” as the cost of essentials like rent, healthcare, and education continues to rise. (Harris Poll - March 4, 2025)
Among Americans looking to leave the U.S., Canada was the most desirable country, followed by the UK and Australia. (Top 10 Countries Where Americans Want to Become Expats - Newsweek)
The Dual citizenship, especially a dual Canadian – US citizenship, has become an attractive option for many Americans. The younger generation also expressed a greater desire than their older counterparts to obtain dual citizenship, with 66% of Gen Zer’s and millennials affirming that they were at least somewhat interested in pursuing it for travel freedom, economic opportunities, and better access to public services. (Harris Poll - March 4, 2025)
Approximately 800,000 Canadian citizens are estimated to be living in the United States. Children of Canadian citizens born in the USA have a birthright to Canadian citizenship (Citizenship by Descent). It is estimated that over 200,000 citizens will gain the right to claim Canadian Citizenship and become dual citizens of Canada and the USA just in the USA.
Canadian citizenship by descent means acquiring citizenship because one or both of your parents were Canadian citizens at the time of your birth, or if you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent and their Canadian parent was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent. This option is becoming increasingly popular in the USA, as it is easy to become a dual citizen of Canada and the USA.
The Canadian Citizenship Act currently includes a “first-generation limit” to citizenship by descent. Children born abroad to Canadian citizens beyond the first generation could not acquire Canadian citizenship.
On December 19, 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared that the first-generation limit for those born abroad is unconstitutional. The federal government accepted the ruling. On May 23, 2024, the Canadian Government introduced Bill C-71, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2024), to address the Court’s decision. However, the government has not been able to pass Bill C71.
In a statement on March 13, 2025, Mr. Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, applied for a 12-month extension to the current March 19, 2025, deadline.
To address delays in passing Bill C-71, Minister Miller approved an interim measure to support those born or adopted before December 19, 2023, who were subject to the first-generation limit. He offers to allow consideration for a discretionary grant of citizenship under subsection 5(4) of the Act. Canada to request a further extension to maintain first-generation limit to Canadian citizenship by descent
Related Stories:
Temporary Remedy for second generation Canadian Citizenship
Canada & the USA Dual Citizenship
How to become a dual citizen of Canada?
Descendants of Canadian-born abroad regain their rights to Canadian Citizenship
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