CANADA 2060
What will Canada be like?
Introduction
Immigration
Canada has an average of about 36 million citizens as of right now. However, in 2060, the country will grow drastically due to the accumulation of immigrants over the years. The graph on the right displays the number of immigrants from 1860 to 2010. It is evident that over the past 23 years Canada has had more than 250 000 immigrants. If this continues, Canada will need to reject more people applying for immigration, in order to avoid overpopulation. Thus, in 2060, the Canadian immigration rate will decline.
Entrepreneurs have had a major impact on Canada's economy due to the jobs they are able to provide for Canadians. It is evident that the number of foreign entrepreneurs in the country has been declining already. In fact, 447 entrepreneurs immigrated to Canada in 2008, however, in 2012, it decreased to 127 entrepreneurs. By 2060, the number of foreign entrepreneurs in Canada will decline even further, which will causes many problems such as less job opportunities and slow economic growth rate.
The Future for the First Nations
There are 1 400 865 registered First Nations in Canada which is about 4.3% of Canada's total population. In 2060, I predict that the Aboriginal's population will gradually increase for the following reason. Firstly, the Aboriginal's have been growing in numbers recently, in fact between 2006 and 2011 the population of the Aboriginal's increased by 232 835 people. If this continues, by 2060 over 50% of Canada will be First Nation. Most of Ontario, will be filled with First Nation in 2060 since eight in ten Aboriginal's live in Ontario.
Stephen Harper has contributed 1.9 billion dollars towards funding Aboriginal schools across Canada and he also spent 500 million dollars in new infrastructures on the reserves. I predict that in 2060, First Nations will have more job opportunities since education provides students with a wide variety of opportunities and help pursue their career. That is an advantage as well as Canada since the more people working the more our economy will grow.
The government has also given Aboriginals the control of their education system which allows them to permit culture and language in their curriculum. The Residential schools back then have had a huge impact on the Aboriginal community because it has lead to having a low population of Aboriginals who are able to speak their own language and know their own culture. Fortunately, with this new curriculum students will be learning the language of their ancestors as well as their culture. In 2060, the population of Aboriginals that know their language and culture will increase due to this education system.
Birth Rate
Death Rate
Natural Increase Rate and Population Growth Rate
Canada's current natural increase rate is 2.41. In 2060, that number may increase gradually for the following reason. As most women nowadays, decide on having their child in their mid 30's that would most likely lower the birth rate. However, with Canada's healthcare improving year by year citizens would live longer lowering the death rate. That would cause the natural increase rate to rise because even though the birth rate lowers the death rate will decrease at a faster rate. For example in 2060, if Canada has 2.23 deaths per 1000 people and 5.12 births per 1000 people, the natural increase rate will rise to 3.11
0.76% is Canada's current population growth, but in 2060, that number will decrease since, the immigration rate will decrease because of overpopulation and the birth rate will lower due to the fact that females over 35+ then decide to have a child.
Dependency Load
Canada's dependency ratio is currently 46 dependents per 100 workers. Unfortunately, that number will rise during 2060. In fact, it has already started to rise because in 2010, there were only 44 dependents per 100 workers. Firstly, the main reason why the dependency ratio will increase is because of the baby boomers. This population pyramid clearly shows that men and women between the ages of 50 and 54 have the highest population in Canada. In 2060, they will enter retirement, causing Canada's population of dependants to increase. That is a disadvantage because all the taxes Canada earns goes straight to the baby boomers, so in other words they aren't making a profit.
Secondly, the First Nation community have a higher birth rate compared to the rest of the population. That is a problem because parents need to spend their money to raise their kids which means there isn't enough money going into the economy. However, there is a bright side. With Stephen Harpers help those kids will receive an education giving them a higher chance of getting a job, which allows them to contribute to Canada's economy. Furthermore, there birth rate may decrease in the future because educated aboriginal females may wait to pursue their career first than have a child.