Canada's future (demographically)
The shape of our country in 2060(once again,demographically)
Calm before the storm
Right now, Canada's immigration rate is the highest per capita. Most of them hailing from country's such as India, China, and Philippines. Currently, Canada also plans on taking in about 25,000 refugees. Canada's population is 35.16 million. But I feel that this will change drastically, affecting our immigration, demographics and the first nations people.
Lets make one thing clear.
I'm sure you know of the problem in Canada right now, our dollar has dropped down to 59 cents U.S. That's very bad. This is due to the big fall of oil prices, making the Alberta oil sands redundant. This could be the cause of the switch to eco-friendly machinery and cars. This will affect our immigration in a negative way, prompting people not to come here as the intervening obstacle of a falling economy will stop them, leading to the end of Canada's oligarchy. But of course, Canada will adapt and start to make use of eco-friendly machinery. Slowly our economy will once again rise so this problem is just a minor set back for a couple of years at first.
The native situation
There are 3 types of Aboriginals living in Canada. First, the Inuit, Aboriginals who live in the Artic. Second, the Metis, offsprings of a mixture of Native and European settlers. Across Canada, a Metis identitification is based on having a double inheritance in both cultures. Third, the First Nations, who are Aboriginals that have been legally registered as "Status Indians" or Aboriginals who haven't been legally registered but still consider their indentity to be Aboriginal. In 1876, the Canadian Government created the Indian Act, which gave them control over who could be legalized as an Status Indian, which was a problem because their lives were controlled in a way to get away from their culture and true status. Currently in Canada today, the issue at hand is that Aboriginals are receiving less education healthcare, and more discrimination that Non-Aboriginal people, this issue is becoming more increasingly large and common. I think that this issue will continue because of the treaty being signed.
Without any talk of removing the native act, it seems without much focus on this topic, the Indian act will stay in effect.
Our immigration
Immigration has always been Canada's thing. Most immigrants that come to Canada today are from China, India and the Philippines. Canada needs immigration so that it can fulfill high demand job areas that Canada is looking for (e.g engineers, mechanics, doctors, dentists, ect), and so that people can work and help strengthen it's economy. There are 3 types of immigrants. First, economic immigrants (skilled workers and businessmen) selected for their skills and education. Second, the family immigrant, these are the children, grandparents, dependents, parents or consort already living in Canada are allowed for immigration if they are dependent on someone already living in Canada. Lastly, the refugee immigrant fleeing abuse or tyranny are allowed to immigrate to Canada, and are to be sponsored by a sponsor, not the government. The issue Canada faces right now is 80,000-12,000 illegal immigrants currently living in Canada that may have come as tourists or by other fraudulent means. Canada's immigration status right now indicates that it will likely increase due to the open immigration programs being some of the best in the world. With the fact that immigration will absolutely increase, i predict that most of these immigrants will be coming from places around the middle east, as being very hostile now i fear that it will be a while before it stops. Knowing how caring and thoughtful Canadian citizens are, i can rest assured that the people will convince our government to take in as much refugees and immigrants from these areas as possible. As for china and India, with a large population such as theirs, it will be very hard to sustain all of them, so some of them will be expected to immigrate. Our immigration is one of the best systems used so we will be expecting most of these immigrants as they shall still be the larger majority of the immigrants.
The first photo shows that between 2010 and 2060, our annual population growth rate will be at its lowest, meaning our population will only just increase gradually. As for immigration rates, unless another world war is to happen, which is not very likely to occur in the next 50 years, immigration will continue to increase as the rest of the worlds population grows. As for the third photo, it shows that Canadians are having less children, less than ever before meaning that most of Canada's population will consist of immigrants rather than Canadian born citizens,
What i think of the demography
Canada's demography is very diverse from other countries in terms like birth rate, death rate, and also the question if Canada's population is getting older or younger. 17% of Canada's population consisted of young people under 15 years of age, 69% of persons aged 15 to 64 years, and 13% of persons aged 65 years and over(referenced from statscan.gc.ca). This means that Canada's population is aging(more seniors than the young), which means that the working age population is getting older. Ultimately, this shows that in the future there will be more people leaving the workforce than entering it. The Canada's current birthrate (since 2012) is 1.61 per woman(referenced from statscan.gc.ca). The current death rate in Canada is 7 deaths per 1,000 people(referenced from statscan.gc.ca). I think that Canada's population will be stable by 2060, judging by there being more people in the elder age group than in the pre-reproductive age groups, the population will grow slowly, and the people in the pre-reproductive groups will slowly start to decline as well, which also ties in with the birth rate and death rate, where the birth rate will decrease because of the declining population of pre-reproductive age groups declining, and the death rate will be on the rise because of the more people leaving the workforce influenced by the population growing older. With an older population means we will have to rely on immigrants to supply the workforce. Which means heavy pull factors of job opportunities while the already standing Canadian pull factors such as health care, freedom of religion etc. continue to be provided. As for where in Canada most immigrants will be headed, a lot of people will still head towards major cities for work.
I definitely think that Canada's population will grow slowly and eventually start to decrease due to the declining of the pre-reproductive age groups which will have major influences on the fertility rate and the death rate. Most likely due to increasing medical leaps in technology and higher cost of raising children.
What Canada will look like in 2063
Canada's demographic and geographic shift
What does all this mean?
To me, it means that most things will stay the same. I can;t account for future prime ministers and their decisions or the likeliness of another war, but based on the data i have found, Canada will still be good old Canada
Bibliography
Government of Canada http://well-being.esdc.gc.ca/misme-iowb/.3ndic.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=35
2016-02-01
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160316/dq160316c-eng.htm?HPA
2016-03-16