Realists off of a sinking ship

from http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/bc_immigration20041109.html

VANCOUVER - Prior to the U.S. election, polls indicated most Canadians were crossing their fingers for John Kerry to defeat George Bush in the presidential race. But Vancouver immigration lawyer Rudy Kischer wasn't one of them.

"Bush's election is bad for the world in a lot of respects. But in some respects, from a business point of view – I think it will be good for us."

And so far it has been. Kischer says his firm has been approached by dozens of Americans unhappy with Bush's election win.

"At the office we're calling them the Bush Refugees."

There have been so many that inquiries that the Embarkation Law Group is planning how-to-come-to-Canada seminars for people in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Kischer believes people are genuinely serious about making the move. He says his firm charges for consultations and Americans are paying.

"They've spent money and time here to take a look at the possiblity of immigrating to Vancouver, so I think they're very serious."

Kischer estimates Bush's election victory could result in double the number of American immigrants coming to Canada.