In 2006, 10,942 Americans went to Canada, compared with 9,262 in 2005 and 5,828 in 2000, according to a survey by the Association for Canadian Studies....
The current increase appears to be fueled largely by social and political reasons, says Jedwab, based on anecdotal evidence.
"Those who are coming have the highest level of education � these aren't people who can't get a job in the states," he says. "They're coming because many of them don't like the politics, the Iraq War and the security situation in the U.S. By comparison, Canada is a tension-free place. People feel safer...."
Kertes attributes his motivation to President Bush's opposition to gay marriage, and the tactics employed during the war on terror since 9/11.
"I wanted a country that respected my human rights and the rights of others," he says. "We joked about it after Bush won re-election, but it took us a while to go through the application."
Kertes, who moved with his partner, is happy in his new home. "Canada is a really nice country. My mother is thinking about it. My stepfather has diabetes and has health issues. So, he'd be taken care of for free if he moved up here."
Yep, let Canada take care of all the disgruntled Americans and provide their sick family members with "free healthcare." It sounds like a good plan to me; if the Democrats lose the presidency by 10,942 votes in 2008, we'll know who to blame!