Since people from war-torn nations often flee to Europe where they tend to get all kinds of help and support, I wonder what countries Europeans would/could flee to - and be welcomed by - if there were to be a war engulfing most of Europe?
Any thoughts?
In an asylum scenario definitely can be considered but for migration in general we need to stabilize the housing and cost of living situation before we start inviting people over in my opinion. The population is also skewing more elderly (with immigration there being the only balancing factor) there and here so need go make sure our healthcare system is ready for such a migration without causing any institutional shocks.
These concerns have been raised by clans, tribes, cities, and countries in receipt of migrants since the dawn of time.
You’re correct that migration needs to be balanced against the ability of the services and existing resources to support migrants, while acknowledging that migrants bring with them needed skills and investment.
You’re probably also correct regarding the stability of housing and cost of living. That’s how things are in Australia at present in any case.
However, asylum is a special class of migration. You’re not accepting migrants because you want them, but because they will face persecution if you don’t. If a stream of Europeans arrived on Canada’s shores by boat, and they faced imprisonment on undue punishment if you returned them, would you provide them shelter?
It only you had massive amounts of land available
That’s the least important consideration. When people arrive in the country they don’t just get told “here’s some land!” And dumped in an open field to make do. The resources needed for them are houses, jobs, health care, and so forth. We don’t have vast amounts of that lying around unused.
Literally how Manitoba came to be. 🤣
It works both ways too: more immigration means more people to build roads/houses, staff hospitals etc.
Sure, but it takes time. There’s no way we could handle a Europe’s worth of refugees pouring in at once.