“A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian. And you devalue the citizenship of every Canadian in this place and in this country when you break down and make it conditional for anyone.”
-Justin Trudeau
During a political debate back in 2015, Justin Trudeau said his now famous “A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” trope but, as with most things in politics, it was nothing more than political expediency. It was an eloquent way of opposing the Prime Minister at the time. The Canadians he was defending were seemingly dangerous people, possibly traitorous people who had joined violent subversive groups and terrorist organizations at home or abroad. He was not talking about me or my fellow 'expats' (I hate that word), aka retired Canadians abroad, we don't get that much consideration. The moment the plane's wheels lift off the tarmac, we leave many of our rights on the ground.
Stephen Harper was busily trying to show his racist/bigoted voting constituency that he was looking out for their personal biases. He had called for a 'snitch' line to ferret out foreigners who had odd beliefs or rituals. He also alluded to some who ventured outside Canada or outside “normal” Canadian's beliefs, should be suspect and those people be stripped of their Canadian rights. He did manage to strip us of our voting rights at the time. It was a conservative tribal thing but Trudeau saw an opening on the other side of that bigot's coin. He saw a commitment to loyalty to all Canadians regardless of their actions, political/religious beliefs or radicalized life situations. Essentially, he aped an old British trope “Once British always British” and he won the argument.
Sadly he was not talking about me or other Canadians who dared to live offshore. Those of us who chose to retire to a warmer climate with affordable accommodations are not seen as “A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” anymore but as less than Canadian by many politicians and xenophobic tribalists. I wonder if, in the future, some more radical government leader might end all rights as some nationalistic countries already have.
People like me stuck by the rules, we paid our taxes, obeyed the laws and participated in all things Canada and now we do not have the same rights and privileges given and earned by most Canadians, including me. Trudeau's wonderful flowery characterization of a Canadian being a Canadian has proven to be false pandering political drivel. We are not treated equally, not at all.
When we dare to step across a line on a map, somehow, in some disturbing way, we become less Canadian. We are no longer as Canadian as those who prefer to stay home. Trudeau reinstated our right to vote in the constituencies in Canada where we last lived, but rarely, if ever, see. We do not, however, have the same rights as those who live there. We continue to pay taxes in Canada and must file our income taxes just like everyone else. Even though 100% of my income comes from Canada I must prove every year I'm not rich and file many other forms and declarations to swear I haven't accumulated vast property and wealth. Lots of obligations with little additional benefit.
We are stripped of our healthcare and the benefits within 6 months of leaving. The haters will say we made a decision and now we must face the consequences. Why? Why does crossing a line on a map make us of less value than them? I remember an argument made by a woman I knew who spent more on cigarettes than I did on plane tickets who said “While you're off gallivanting around the world the rest of us are here at home taking care of Canada.” Taking care of Canada? Did she mean filling in potholes in Canada's roads or setting off the fireworks on July 1st? Or deep in the trenches fighting an unwinnable war some politician wanted?
In her case, taking care of Canada meant being a heavy load on Ontario's healthcare system due to the number of ailments her smoking generated and all the other expensive supports and benefits her ill-health and poor choices created. Irrationality is a hallmark of a small mind. On-the-other-hand, I cost Canada nothing, nothing at all.
The weak Canadian media has spent decades piling on various political whims by repeatedly using the headline “Snow birds getting their wings clipped.” without concern for the humans they call “snow birds” and how being“clipped” hurts us. They pander to a market of ad consumers from generations of yet to retire people who vent their hatred for old people who were born before they were. As if somehow being older is a sin of monumental proportions. Those who complain and grouse about my lifestyle might want to pause a tad and think about where they might be when they're in their mid 70s and the damage done to the system that will not support them and their choices.
The other countries who recognize their citizens abroad are: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guinea-Bissau, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Mozambique, Peru, Portugal, Romania and Tunisia. Their rights and privileges extend beyond a line on a map. Rights and privileges are not stripped from them because of geographic location.
I am now in my mid 70s and, although I live in a beautiful place near a large tourist infested beach. I pay a tad over $300 a month for a rented, furnished, 48 square meter condo and where owning a motorcycle is affordable, less than 1/3 of the cost in Canada.
My rent, though very low by Canadian standards, is still 30+% of my gross income because Service Canada, on orders from CRA, stripped my Guaranteed Income Supplement. So the misery of many low income retired Canadians in Canada followed me here. Meanwhile, provincial governments coast to coast to coast are tripping all over themselves feeding multi-millionaire developers millions of dollars to build a handful of low income units and they will retain the vast majority of the units they build as their own, which is their profit on old people's misery. It's a situation that continuously surprises me that no one in media or government seems to notice how wrong that is.
If I were still living in Victoria BC I would be paying upwards of 95% of my total income if I wanted to live in a one bedroom above ground apartment, and that includes all inflation reduced BC supplements. Although I pay significantly less than that where I am now, I am still cut out of socializing and human connections with my peer group since everything else, food, clothing etc cost about the same as in Canada. I live isolated and alone and that will never, ever change. Yes, I've looked at and wondered if my balcony is high enough to end this. Loneliness can be brutally cruel at times.
*Note: Update as of Mar 6 2023. Average rent in Victoria would now equal 110% of my total income. "As of February 26, 2023, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Victoria, BC is $2,050. This is a 11% increase compared to the previous year." -Zumper
Every now and then I dream about my eventual return to Canada, I miss my home sometimes. But when I see the insanity of how governments at all levels in Canada have lost control of the basic human right to shelter, tears rise in my eyes. The wolves have overrun the hen house.
I would have to pay a minimum, a bare minimum, of 70% of my income to rent a basement hovel. The remaining portion of my meager income would have to pay for everything else, food, clothing and life in general. I would be just as isolated, just as alone, and just as miserable as I am now. The big difference? Although I would have healthcare insurance, I would no longer have the beautiful view I have now or my little motorcycle to get around.
Please, don't tell me about getting on provincial lists for geared to income rent support systems. Most provinces' lists are 10 years or more in length. When you're in your mid 70s the notion of waiting 10 years for something to happen is not something to even consider. It's laughable in a sad way. Actuarially speaking, I won't make it past 2030. One more taker gone.
Canada is a country that has given up on its old. If you've been shut out of the real estate game in Canada, you'll be discarded too.
**Full disclosure: I lived in Victoria - Nanaimo for about 7 years in total. I am now retired and living in eastern Thailand near a tourist infested beach.
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