Canada’s Cape Breton Island is opening its doors to all American-defectors if the presidential election lands Donald Trump in the nation’s highest seat. You can trade in your daily slog and sub-par health care for free-roaming moose and idyllic lighthouse views.
“Hi Americans! Donald Trump may become the President of your country! If that happens, and you decide to get the hell out of there, might I suggest moving to Cape Breton Island!” said the island’s tourism organization on its website.
All those exclamation points! It’s only a taste of the friendly people that lay in wait—not to mention access to Canada’s free health care and what it calls an “affordable” housing market, all just up the eastern seaboard from Boston and New York City.
Cape Breton residents are so eager for new neighbors—its population has faced sharp declines in recent years—that you don’t even need to wait for the election to find a new international home.
“Start now, that way, on election day, you just hop on a bus to start your new life in Cape Breton, where women can get abortions, Muslim people can roam freely, and the only ‘walls’ are holding up the roofs of our extremely affordable houses,” the site says.
The appeal seems to be attracting some takers. Mary Tulle, CEO of Destination Cape Breton, says that they’ve already received 50,000 U.S. inquires since they put up the offer three days ago, reported CNNMoney.
Cape Breton’s economy has been hit hard in recent years after local coal mines and steel mills were shut down. The population declined about 4% over five years to a total of 101,619 residents as of 2011. Now, the area is pushing to bring more tourists—and even new residents—to its picture-perfect shores.
