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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Unwanted in Canada

A couple of times in my life, after losing faith in our voters, I vowed to move to Canada – once in 1972 when Nixon was re-elected president.

Then after the 2016 election, I began looking at property in Nelson, B.C. But now after 3 1/2 years under Donald Trump I couldn’t move if I wanted to. The Canadians no longer want us, according to an article from the Seattle Times.

“You need to get the pandemic under control. You need a rational person to take the helm of your country. Until then, what we’re saying to Americans is: ‘Stay away,’” says a Canadian who has been monitoring boat traffic off British Columbia — looking for unwanted visitors. Every American is looked at as a loaded transmitter of disease.

After a group of congressional representatives, including Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane, sent a letter to the Canadian government – mentioning the possible reopening of our shared border – a Canadian replied on Twitter: “There’s no reason to believe Americans will care about the health of Canadians, given that relatively few seem to care about the health of other Americans.”

“That border stays closed,” wrote another. “Canadians may be polite, but we’re not crazy.”

James W. Ramsey

Sandpoint

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