"How Canada Stole the American Dream"

[pegbert64 0]

...... that makes me want to beat someone.... is Booyah and his raging hard-on for Australia and his air of superiority. I don't disagree with many of the things that he's said, but the way he says them makes me want to kick him in the face. Repeatedly. With steel-toe boots.

You mean sort of like watching Kyle Busch win a NASCAR race?!!?

[Marilyn. 340]

I think Canada is better.

But thats just my personal opinion.

Of course I am going to think its better, its where I am from, it's where my family and friends are.

My husband and I used to get into HUGE "debates" about this all the time. Now, we just don't talk about it. We're both proud of our homes and I accept his love for his as he accepts my love for mine.

In many ways I think Canada is better, too. But of course, I'm from the US so I like things about it as well.

I think some people are just more sensitive to comments about the US than others. I have no problem with comments about the government, comments such as "Americans are fat" (because it's true), or anything like that. Some things do offend me, but they aren't things I can define. I think maybe it's a disdain of the US itself that offends me. Or making comparisons between your country and the US and pointing out in what ways the US fails to meet the high standards of your home country.

This, by the way, is a general comment - not a comment for the Canada forum. The most obvious example I can think of...the type of comment that makes me want to beat someone.... is Booyah and his raging hard-on for Australia and his air of superiority. I don't disagree with many of the things that he's said, but the way he says them makes me want to kick him in the face. Repeatedly. With steel-toe boots.

I haven't seen any of that in the Canada forum. Not from the Canadians, at least. I HAVE seen it from a few Americans in here over the years. I think it's perfectly natural to prefer your own country and to think that the way things are done there are the "correct" ways. Just like the way that Mags thinks that putting a pile of beans on a piece of toast, sprinkling with cheese and then eating it is perfectly normal. Just like the way I think that it ISN'T normal, or in any way palatable. (Don't get me started on poutine!) Cultures are different....that's the beauty of life on this spinning blue-green orb....there's enough non-uniformity to keep things interesting.

you rock, platy

and I totally agree with you about Booyah...

[thetreble 19]

nice platy, nice.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

nice platy, nice.

those two words don't belong together

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hehehe Charles,

Yes, Platy, that was nice. Thank you. Oh, btw- my US husband would enjoy eating Mags' beans on toast with cheese any day - he makes that himself. It isn't one of my favourites.

Edited July 8, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't do it regularly but I have eaten beans on toast.. it is good.. hubby likes it too...

[Teacher Mark 53]

We still "own" the American Dream and the Stanley Cup as well!

Edited July 8, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[Sprailenes 47]

Thats okay we still "own" most of your hockey players.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Thats okay we still "own" most of your hockey players.

[thetreble 19]

Thats okay we still "own" most of your hockey players.

Buurrrrrnnn. Thumbs up eh!

[Teacher Mark 53]

Here, chew on this a while Cunucks:

[Teacher Mark 53]

I apologize, it appears the article is correct:

The city of Windsor, Ont. is struggling to deal with a surge of Mexican migrants from the United States.

More than 200 Mexicans have arrived at the border city in the past three weeks, lured by assurances on websites that they can live and work in Canada without difficulty.

Carina Gonzalez is one of the Mexicans in Windsor, Ont., who were led to believe they could easily live and work here.Carina Gonzalez is one of the Mexicans in Windsor, Ont., who were led to believe they could easily live and work here.

(CBC)

But the Mexicans, some of whom paid $400 for completed Canadian refugee forms, have no special rights in Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has posted a notice on its website, warning in Spanish and English that "you cannot purchase admission to any immigration or refugee program to gain refugee status. You do not need to purchase forms."

The Mexicans said they had been forced to leave the U.S. because they were illegal immigrants there.

U.S. immigration authorities "were chasing Mexicans, sending them back home," said Carina Gonzalez, who drove to Windsor from Florida, where she had lived for years. She paid $400 for the refugee form and headed north.

But there is no room in the city's social-service agencies, spokeswomen for the YMCA and the Salvation Army said.

"Right now we are full and some of the latest additions are sleeping on mats in the gymnasium," said Maj. Patricia Phinney of the Salvation Army.

Mayor seeks federal help

Mayor Eddie Francis is fed up. Many of the new arrivals have claimed social assistance, and the city has already spent more than $200,000 of its emergency shelter budget.

Francis has asked Ottawa to cover the bill, saying the emergency budget "wasn't set up to fund long-term refugee claims. That's something that falls squarely with federal jurisdiction."

So far, Ottawa has refused, and with a six-month wait for a hearing by the Immigration and Refugee Board, the city could be paying for shelter for months.

The odds of being accepted as a refugee are not good. Fewer than 500 of nearly 3,500 Mexican applicants were successful in claiming refugee status in Canada last year.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/09/22/...ns-windsor.html

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yeah, I had heard about that. The other problem is that Canada and US entered an agreement a number of years ago stating that refugee applicants had to apply for refugee status at their first country of entry -whether it was the US or Canada - and would not be allowed to apply for refugee status in Canada if they arrived from the US or in the US if they arrived from Canada. Up until that time 75% of the refugee claimants to Canada arrived via the US. These people have double strikes against them - the US-Canada refugee agreement, and the fact that they do not fall into a refugee category. Financial hardship doesn't count, nor does being an illegal alien in the US.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Yeah, I had heard about that. The other problem is that Canada and US entered an agreement a number of years ago stating that refugee applicants had to apply for refugee status at their first country of entry -whether it was the US or Canada - and would not be allowed to apply for refugee status in Canada if they arrived from the US or in the US if they arrived from Canada. Up until that time 75% of the refugee claimants to Canada arrived via the US. These people have double strikes against them - the US-Canada refugee agreement, and the fact that they do not fall into a refugee category. Financial hardship doesn't count, nor does being an illegal alien in the US.

I paid the City of Windsor $1900.00 today, so I know they have some money on hand. Viva la Mexico!

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

time for some timbits and coffee