Since Abrams & Krochak's inception in 1996, a substantial number of the firm's clients have been and continue to be from the United Kingdom.
In the August 2, 2004 issue of Newstatesman, David Nicholson-Lord wrote an article entitled "Exodus: the great British migration", wherein he provided some insight as to why the British are leaving the United Kingdom in search of greener pastures in countries like Canada. Interestingly enough, many of his observations have been substantiated by Abrams & Krochak's British clients over the years. Among his comments, which are noteworthy:
- Surveys recently have uncovered huge numbers of Britons who, given a free choice, would get out of the country. Separate polls by ICM and YouGov found that more than half would like to leave - the YouGov poll found that 55 per cent had "seriously considered settling in another country".
- In the early 1990s, incomers and outgoers were roughly in balance. Indeed, in 1992 and 1993 there was a net outflow of migrants. Since then, however, while the number of immigrants, using official figures, has nearly doubled, from 265,000 in 1993 to 513,000 in 2002, the number of emigrants has also increased, from 266,000 in 1993 to 359,000 in 2002. This last is the highest figure in the past two decades - and slightly higher per head of population than emigration from Ireland - and may well be the highest number ever.
- Government statistics are not especially helpful in profiling the new emigrants. But they do tell us that increasing numbers were born in the UK, that they are getting older, that they include a growing proportion of the professional and managerial classes, that they are leaving for longer (four years or more), that a disproportionate number of them come from London and to a lesser extent the south-east, and that the fastest-growing destinations are Europe and the "old" Commonwealth - countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. As to why they are leaving, 30 per cent mention work but 51 per cent give "other" reasons.
- These are not hard to find. A survey in Emigrate magazine found that roughly three-quarters of potential emigrants think quality of life in Britain is deteriorating. The YouGov poll cited crime, council taxes, congested roads, lack of space. Eighty-five per cent thought Britain was "grinding to a halt". ICM added a few more reasons to be miserable: bad weather, long working hours, regional unemployment, high house prices. The Alliance & Leicester study found that the top reason for emigration was the search for a better quality of life, with work stress the main trigger, and destinations which place a "greater value on leisure and lifestyle" the most favoured. Among older people, the main reasons for moving abroad were climate and environment, pace of life, health, lower living costs, and "social advantages". What is also notable throughout such surveys is gloom and pessimism about Britain and the lack of attachment to the homeland.
Read testimonials from many
of our successful UK
Canadian immigration clients
So what is it about Canada that British immigrants find so attractive? Among the many reasons cited by Abrams & Krochak's British clients:
- The strength of the British Pound versus the Canadian Dollar. A British Pound buys much more in Canada than it does in the United Kingdom and real estate in Canada is much more affordable than it is in the United Kingdom as is the cost of living, in general.
- Statistically, Canada has less crime than the United Kingdom and is a safer place to live.
- Although Canadian winters can be cold, the weather in Canada tends to be better than the United Kingdom with more days of sunshine.
- The geography. Canada, for the most part, is a vast, unspoiled country with wide open spaces and spectacular scenery. British immigrants frequently comment on how Canada differs from the United Kingdom insofar as feeling less "congested" and "claustrophobic".
- The people. British immigrants typically mention how friendly they find Canadians to be and how welcome they feel in this country. Canada's British heritage is not lost on them and Canada does not feel foreign to them.
As one can see from David Nicholson-Lord's article and from the examples cited, above, there is no shortage of reasons why Canada was and continues to be a destination of choice for the British.
Want to immigrate to Canada?
Click this button.
Free Canada Immigration Eligibility Assessment