Jason Stanley, a Yale philosophy professor and author of How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them, is leaving the United States to take up a teaching position at the University of Toronto — a decision he said is driven entirely by the political climate under the Trump administration.
The federal government is in a funding fight with elite institutions like Yale and Columbia as part of its so-called security reforms. On April 21, Harvard Univesity sued the Trump administration over a $2.2 billion funding "freeze order" it wants a federal judge to declare as unconstitutional.
While Stanley was critical of Yale’s handling of his academic freedom, he claims Columbia has gone a step further — capitulating to political pressure from the White House by forcing out faculty, tightening protest rules, increasing campus policing and reorganizing departments such as Middle East studies.
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“It has nothing to do with me.” Stanley told MSNBC. “It has everything to do with my children, and my desire to send a warning to Americans.”
Stanley may be uprooting his life with a new job waiting across the border — but for many Americans, the move is far more complicated than booking a one-way ticket.
Moving up north
Back in 2016, when Donald Trump was first elected, countless Americans — celebrities Amy Schumer and Snoop Dogg included — threatened to head north. But few actually did. Despite the shared border, Canadian immigration lawyer Ryan Rosenberg says the move isn’t nearly as simple as it sounds.
“‘What do you mean I can’t move to Canada next week?’” is the reaction clients typically have about Canadian immigration requirements, he told CBC News.
Rosenberg, managing partner at Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver, launched a cheeky website last year called Trumpugees.ca, with the slogan: "Tired of Trump? Thinking about Canada? We can help."
But according to him, fewer than 5% of inquiries ever turn into a formal application — mostly because one key requirement stops Americans in their tracks: without a job offer, they can’t just pack up and go.
And now, Americans looking to flee a volatile political climate are facing another hurdle: a federal government in Ottawa that’s actively trying to curb immigration. Ottawa-based immigration lawyer Betsy Kane says that unless applicants speak French or have in-demand skills, their options are slim.
“For somebody living in the States who wants to look at opportunities in Canada, it’s pretty difficult right now and you really need to have a job offer in a specific field," Kane told CBC News.
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Friendly neighbors
Even if you manage to cross the border, settling into life in Canada isn’t all smooth sailing — especially when it comes to retirement planning.
According to a BMO survey, Canadians believe they’ll need around $1.7 million to retire comfortably. That figure is similar to American expectations — but the weaker Canadian dollar complicates things.
With the exchange rate sitting at 1.38 CAD to 1 USD, saving and spending in Canada could shrink the value of your nest egg over time.
And if you decide to return to the U.S. down the line, your Canadian savings might not go as far as you’d hoped. Currency fluctuations also affect day-to-day spending. From groceries to gas, price tags can feel unexpectedly steep if you’re not accounting for the exchange rate.
Health care is another major consideration. While Canada’s universal system is often praised, newcomers don’t get access right away. Some provinces have a waiting period of up to three months before public coverage kicks in — and during that time, you’ll need private insurance. Even with coverage, services like dental, vision and prescriptions often come with extra out-of-pocket costs.
So, while Canada may seem like a safe haven, the reality is far more complex — and costly — than many Americans expect.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
