Britons seek to 'move to Canada' after Brexit vote

When elections don't go a certain way in the U.S., many voters inevitably utter the slogan, "I'm moving to Canada." Britons on social media also took up the refrain after the result of the U.K. referendum became clear last night.

Google reports surge in U.K. searches for 'move to Canada,' 'move to Gibraltar'

CBC News · Posted: Jun 24, 2016 1:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 24, 2016

When elections don't go a certain way in the U.S., many voters inevitably utter the slogan, "I'm moving to Canada."

Britons on social media also took up the refrain after the result of the U.K. referendum became clear last night.

How easy is it to move to Canada?
—@chrismilkteeth

*slow claps* <br>*pauses to wipe away tears* <br>*googles "move to Canada"*<br>*cries on keyboard*
—@Gemma_Chan1

*learns Oh Canada* - put the kettle on, <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau">@JustinTrudeau</a>, on my way. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brexit?src=hash">#Brexit</a>
—@rhys_goode

I have said I wanted to move to Canada... maybe now is a good time? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURefResults?src=hash">#EURefResults</a>
—@leigh_wattpad

American comedian Mike Drucker suggested Britons use his place as a waypoint before proceeding north.

Hey, UK friends. If you want to crash at my place, we can all plan a move to Canada.
—@MikeDrucker

But another comedian from the U.S., Jack Moore, tweeted that, perhaps, Canada isn't far enough away to avoid the dual threats of Brexit and a Trump presidency.

If Brexit inspires other nations to leave the EU & Trump wins, we'll be primed for World War III. Can I move to Mars instead of Canada?
—@JackPMoore

The "move to Canada" trend wasn't confined to Twitter. Google saw a big jump in searches for the phrase in the U.K.

Brits are frantically trying to figure out how to move to Canada <a href="https://t.co/fFnSq7xjap">https://t.co/fFnSq7xjap</a> <a href="https://t.co/DiowSnUQcN">pic.twitter.com/DiowSnUQcN</a>
—@_cingraham

Google's own Trends account on Twitter noted the spike in searches for "move to Gibraltar," the British overseas territory on a peninsula south of Spain.

+680% spike in searches for "Move to Gibraltar" in London since polls closed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EUref?src=hash">#EUref</a> <a href="https://t.co/aMkqjxXH2i">https://t.co/aMkqjxXH2i</a> <a href="https://t.co/wXa1Rk7zjE">pic.twitter.com/wXa1Rk7zjE</a>
—@GoogleTrends

However, the spike for "move to Canada" was even more dramatic.

Google Trends shows a spike in the number of searches for 'move to Canada' and 'move to Gibraltar' in the U.K. as the result of the EU Brexit referendum became known. (Google)

I love how "move to Canada" is now a global Plan B. <a href="https://t.co/B7aw8I0mIl">https://t.co/B7aw8I0mIl</a>
—@trevortimm

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Britons seek to 'move to Canada' after Brexit vote

Google reports surge in U.K. searches for 'move to Canada,' 'move to Gibraltar'

Social Sharing

The "move to Canada" trend wasn't confined to Twitter. Google saw a big jump in searches for the phrase in the U.K.

Google's own Trends account on Twitter noted the spike in searches for "move to Gibraltar," the British overseas territory on a peninsula south of Spain.

However, the spike for "move to Canada" was even more dramatic.

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