They will demand you pay your exit tax that includes capital gains from the “deemed disposition” on the day of your departure. Smart Canadian leavers understand this and plan in advance and pay less. But in no way is there anything resembling a $500,000 fee to exit Canada. Doesn’t exist was only the words of a no name shit talker at a conference.
I lived in Australia for several years and owned a Landcruiser HJ60. I always wanted to make biodiesel to fuel it with purely for the self-reliance and FU factor of it but didn’t have the time. Just thinking how well positioned I’d be right about now for the unfolding Mad-Max scenario!