I suspect that the so called “Bush-Dodgers” have run up against our Canadian immigration department and found out that, just because they want to come to Canada, it isn’t that simple.
The tidal wave of Americans across our boarders is all but washed up. I suspect that the so called “Bush-Dodgers” have run up against our Canadian immigration department and found out that, just because they want to come to Canada, it isn’t that simple. I’m not about to debate Canadian Immigration Policy but you can find it here if you are interested in our system.

There were news reports of the instant immigration phenomenon, some humorous like a redneck blog in Texas “Canada Busy Sending Back Bush-Dodgers” and as reported on ctv.ca the “Marry an American” web site.

On the more serious side. An American client asked me recently, why the process is so slow, I answered that it is about identical to their own US immigration policies. With which I had some experience. A few years back I was hankering to immigrate to the US with my partner. Not an easy task by any means. There are plenty of hoops to jump through and in the end I gave up on the idea, probably a good thing for me a the the United State of America.

I have done my research and have found a few helpful sites and information. It seems there are Canadians out there trying to help our US friends make it across, or at the least make it a little easier to decide if the move is necessary. A Canadian Web site called “The Canadian Alternative” has posted good advise for want-be-Canadians. Their home page states: “Canada – You’ll like it here: Welcome to CanadianAlternative.com. We invite you to get to know Canada. Explore the richness and diversity of our regions. And find out why Canada is the perfect alternative for conscientious, forward-thinking Americans. And another site “Working in Canada” offers up help to find work and settle in for our winters.

One interesting site that is know doubt been seeing a lot of traffic since the Nov 4 election is escapeartist.com Escape Artist is dedicated to disseminating information about leaving your present country and making the big move, be it Canada or Costa Rica. They offer specialized information such as “Escape to Canada “ which pretty much offer all the info you require to make the move. Another web site that is Province specific is “An American’s Guide to Canada: Nova Scotia“. All these sites offer good information for the escapee!

If you are looking for a tale from someone who has done it, You need look no further that Kevin Gerard’s article “American’s in Canada“ Kevin sums up his experiences in a light and humorous fashion.

A recent article published (12/26/2004) in The Day , New London Connecticut entitled There’s No Place Like Home: Some People Considered Leaving The U.S. After The Election, But In The End, Most Have Decided To Stay By DAVID COLLINS & BEN JOHNSON give a quick update on just how the “bush-dodger” action is faltering. Here is a PDF of the article, if you can’t be bothered to register for free on the “TheDay.com” web site. News Read – TheDay.com.pdf

Finally, if you are real serious about this and want to take the next step, it is best to bend the ear of a am immigration lawyer. One pair of lawyers I have recommended previously is the team of Bruce Allen & Blair Hodgman, practicing in the US and Canada. The firm is Allen & Hodgman and Blair’s email is blair@allhod.com.

Another lawyer practicing immigration law is David Lesperance. David practices in Toronto and his web site along with strategies, has this to say about Canada. “What most Canadians do not realize is that Canada has a well-established regime of tax sheltering to attract new residents that it does not offer to its indigenous population. With proper pre-immigration tax planning, wealthy individuals can move to Canada and avoid income and capital gain tax on their non-Canadian source income and capital gain producing assets. In addition, since Canada does not have an estate tax, it is often considered as a favorable domicile of choice. Furthermore, while Canada does not have an instant citizenship program it does allow those who have been permanent residents for three years to acquire a Canadian passport.” They also have some intake forms at the ready and a full web site called Globalrelocate.com along with other information about David that can be found on escape artist.

I hope this has been of some help. Please let me know one way or the other through the feedback link.

T.H.

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Prior to a major personal financial collapse in the publishing business, (which was the precursor to a real estate sales career, to get back on my feet as quickly as possible) I did an 8 year stint in Canada’s High Arctic as a construction manager (That is where the money came from to fail in publishing).

While the art of self publishing, as in “Blogging” does not require that a “Blogger” has to hold out credentials, as the entry into the blogging world is virtually barrier free, I feel it is a gesture that should be required all the same. If you are going to pontificate on topics, best you have some legs holding up that big head.

To begin, my name is Tim Harris and I am the broker for Tradewinds Realty Incorporated. My credentials to begin a Nova Scotia Real Estate Blog are varied. I have been in the real estate business in Nova Scotia for 16 years, with 14 of those years as a broker. Prior to entering the real estate business it might be simply said I was searching for something and wasn’t finding it.

Prior to a major personal financial collapse in the publishing business, (which was the precursor to a sales career, to get back on my feet as quickly as possible) I did an 8 year stint in Canada’s High Arctic as a construction manager (That is where the money came from to fail in publishing). I really just bounced from career to career, more or less the same as I did trying to get an education. I have rammed my head up against many university institutions, however most recently I entered an Executive-MBA program at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax and will graduate this spring, 2005. So I can finally (thank god) put post graduate education behind me. At the ripe old age of 51 I have finally completed my studies. I think.

I co-manage (along with my general manager and my office manager) Tradewinds Realty in Chester, Nova Scotia. We have approximately 20 Realtors and 3 offices. We are broadly based throughout Nova Scotia and cover a very wide market area, which is continuing to grow. Our product range covers “Capes, Condo’s and Castles“.

Our corporate success’s are many. Remax (South Shore) was kind enough to compile the MLS stats
MarketShare2003.pdf

and in 2002 we were ranked as the #2 Brokerage on the South Shore. Since that time we have grown by 30% and our gross sales for 2004 are $55,000,000. While Remax may always show us as #2, because 25% of our sales are exclusive/non-MLS listings and are not counted in the final tally, we most likely would be #1. But I doubt Remax will get around to publishing that statisic!

In 2004 Tradewinds had the honour of listing, marketing and selling the most expensive residential property at Indian Point, Nova Scotia.

Tradewinds also purchased a downtown Chester icon, the Chester Pharmacy Building, for a corporate head office and did a major conversion, back-dating the facade to the 1940′s. We also purchased a building in Lunenburg and have future plans for renovation also.

In any event, I feel I have some qualifications to expound about Nova Scotia real estate and will get on with it ASAP.

Thank you for listening.

T.H.

EMAIL Tim Harris with a comment

[GET ME OUTTA HERE! RETURN ME TO TRADEWINDS REALTY HOME PAGE ]

The idea to publish a blog in 2005 has been on the back burner and it only just struck me that January 1 would be an appropriate day to start.

This web log technology has been biting my rear end for some time now and the time has come to do something about it.

The idea to publish a blog in 2005 has been on the back burner and it only just struck me that January 1 would be an appropriate day to start. I have been collecting news stories for awhile now and related links that I thought would be useful in a web log about Nova Scotia Real Estate.

I hope to keep the log fresh, informative, possibly controversial and humorous. We have many issues to discuss and as a tickler I will just mention a few.
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