Canada, the modern definition or equivalent of the “American Dream” where people can prosper through hard work, perseverance and available opportunities, has become of late a coveted destination for many Moroccans looking for abundant opportunities and luxurious lifestyle. Believing that the large territory that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific holds the true meaning of “the Pursuit of Happiness”, many migrants, especially from developing countries, are lining up and racing to win a spot in the random selection process that might be tipped in your favor if you are a young woman with children.
Canada has an aging population and is sparsely populated, so it is understandable that it is looking for fresh blood to rejuvenate its society. It is also in need of a workforce to fill vacancies in vital sectors; and while the country’s quest for skilled labor is legitimate, it is causing a sort of “brain drain” or human capital flight for other less fortunate countries, another side of the coin.
For many Moroccans, Canada is a beacon of hope in a ruthless, obscure world. A quick fix to the problems of unemployment, poverty, precariousness and even discrimination. Yes, there is a whole new group of immigrants, educated and from well-off families, who are racing time to pack and leave the country. I remember a couple of engineers who used to lead quite an extravagant lifestyle in Morocco but decided, overnight, to head to Canada for good. The cause: a road accident that was handled poorly by a night shift police officer.
Apparently, the couple was safely driving home when an SUV crashed into the back of their car. According to the husband and wife, the policeman went easy on the other driver who seemed to be from a well-known family. The incident was more than enough for the frustrated couple to make up their mind and start the immigration process. Can an unfortunate incident be a game changer in one’s life and career? Was this an impetuous decision based on a simplistic overgeneralization? I guess everyone is entitled to making his/her own choices and assuming the ensuing consequences.
Another couple I know of made the same decision, but this time over consumer issues. They kept mentioning soaring prices and consumer confidence decline as if inflation is not raging through the west as it is in the east. Once they landed in Canada, things begin to unfold but not in the way they expected.
Once the couple set foot in this “El Dorado”, the cultural shock they encountered was not as severe as the weather shock. Canada is characterized by its very cold winter and short, cool summers; a stark contrast to Morocco’s nice, warm weather.
According to the wife, who spoke on condition of anonymity, each season has its own beauty in Morocco and you get to enjoy the four seasons, while in Canada, you are always heavily clothed (sometimes even in the summer), bracing for freezing temperatures. “This is very depressing for somebody who grew up in Morocco,” she said, letting out a deep sigh.
The couple live in the French-speaking zone, in Chicoutimi (200 km from Quebec), but confess they were misled into choosing this destination over the English-speaking part of the country which boasts better opportunities. “Religious celebrations like Eid Al Fitr are the hardest. You miss family reunions, savory dishes prepared for the occasion, traditional outfits…it is like you are uprooting your kids and depriving them of an integral part of who they are.
Halal food is another issue. You cannot go out with your kids without going through the mill to find restaurants that serve halal food. Perhaps it is easier in Quebec, but not here in Chicoutimi.”
The couple drew a comparison between the Moroccan cuisine and the Canadian one. “Even cookies are tasteless here. I remember my long walks in the old medina of Rabat. You can smell the fruits, and the spices. Very colorful and uplifting,” she said with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“If you are looking for perfection then you will be disappointed. The concepts of freedom, democracy and even human rights can be relative when you move from one country to another, or when you step outside your own culture,” she insisted.
The young mother, who has a 9yo daughter and is expecting a second child this fall, explains how she was disillusioned when she got her first sick leave because the first trimester hit her hard with nausea and vomiting. “It is not the employer who pays you during this leave, which was recommended by the gynecologist. Different types of insurances take over and give you only half of the salary…one month later. To get the full pay you will have to deal with hellish paperwork, which I could not do as a newcomer and as a bed-ridden pregnant woman.”
The newly-arrived immigrant had held several jobs in Morocco and had her first child there. She thought that things will resemble the Moroccan process whereby you submit to HR a piece of paper by your physician advising a period of rest and recuperation. “For the maternity leave, which many applaud because it is one year long, you get only 75% of the pay for the first four months and 50 to 55% for the rest.
“In Morocco, it is true you get only 14 weeks, but your salary remains intact if you are employed in the public sector,” she added. “It is also true that we get allowances in Canada (nearly 200 dollars per month), but they do not cover much given the costly living conditions here (she gave the example of the price of diapers).”
Like many young couples, the spouses wanted to invest in property and were contemplating to buy a house in Canada. “After asking around a bit, we found out that we will have to pay for the newly-acquired house 2,500 dollars in taxes yearly. This piece of information alone made us give up on pursuing such project,” she said regretfully. Purchasing real estate in Morocco is also a painful process as property is overpriced and people take loans spanning 25 years to pay for a small apartment; but at least you end up with the house you were promised not with exorbitant tax rates, she insisted.
As an expecting mother, the interviewee was stressing out about the health of her baby, which is very common for any mother-to-be. Many pregnant women experience severe anxiety and need to be reassured by their gynecologists that everything is ok and the baby is doing well. Sometimes, gynecologists take up the role of psychologists to clear any concerns related to the pregnancy, even if it means performing useless ultrasounds just to reassure the mother.
For the Moroccan couple, they were in for a shock. No private physician or gynecologist to check on the pregnant woman after she had some unusual bleeding. “All you have is the emergency room which is unpaid but where nurses prioritize patients in need of immediate treatment. I was left waiting six hours because I did not look like dying. After this long wait, I was fed up and decided to return home without medical attention. Luckily, the bleeding became spotting, then stopped by itself,” she said.
The woman elaborated more on this incident, saying that “it is true that in Morocco we have greedy private medical practices that charge patients eye-popping amounts, but at least the choice is not taken from you. If you can afford it, a doctor appointment is one phone call away. Even Moroccan public hospitals are now more welcoming as they have undergone major overhaul, especially in the cities.”
The list of disappointments, differences and specifics goes on. All point to one conclusion: the decision to immigrate to a magnet country like Canada, especially for middle class folks, should not be taken lightly; and the narrative about the Canadian dream should be taken with a grain of salt.