Canada 2060 π
WHAT WILL CANADA LOOK LIKE IN 2060?
What will Canada's Future Look Like?
Canadian Citizenship
Canada's Fertility & Birth Rate is Decreasing
First Nations
Hmmm... What's The Situation Right Now? What Will Happen Later?
Immigration
Current:
Canada has one of the largest and most successful immigration programs in the world.
- Immigration Rate: 7.45/1000.
- Approx. 97% of Canadians: immigrants/descendants of immigrants
- Each year, on average, 250 000 immigrants come to Canada (approx. 1% of Canada's pop.) due to the many pull factors.
- 4 types of immigrants: Business/Entrepreneur, Independent/Economic, Family, Refugee.
- Majority of immigrants are business/entrepreneur and economic immigrants. They play an important role in the Canadian economy and contribute the most.
- 3 countries providing the most immigrants: China, India, the Philippines (make up approx. 1/3 of immigrants).
- Most immigrants live in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta where the large cities are located. These cities are good places to start businesses and work since the population is large there.
Immigration is crucial to Canada's population and economic growth. We cannot only depend on Canada's natural increase rate because our population is not large enough to fill all the jobs in the workforce. The occupations must be filled to ensure that Canada's economic growth remains high.
Future Predictions:
Country of Origin: Countries in Asia & Northwest Africa. Currently, the continent that most immigrants come from is Asia. Also, the number of immigrants from Africa are starting to increase (as shown in the graph below). Some nations in these continents have poor conditions.
Immigration Rate: Increase. Could increase to 8/1000 or above. Since population growth rate is declining dramatically, Canada's need for immigrants is higher and higher
Push Factors: As mentioned before, some Asian countries are overpopulated causing competition in the workforce. An example is India, where half the population is under 30 yrs of age. The younger generation will have difficulty finding a job. Also, conflict. Right now, there are still many wars happening in countries (Immigrants come as refugees). Another push factor is environmental issues. Some nations are focused on developing the industries but pollution is cause during the process (from factories etc.)
Pull Factors: Location. Eastern Asia is close to the west coast of Canada (Pacific Ocean) and Northwest Africa is close to the East coat of Canada (Atlantic Ocean). Other pull factors include natural environment, human rights, safety & peace, healthcare. Canada is also well know for its child tax benefit.
Province of Settlement: Manitoba & Saskatchewan (prairie provinces). Saskatoon & and Regina in Saskatchewan have a rapidly-growing population as well as Winnipeg in Manitoba. Saskatoon: 3.2%, Regina: 2.8%, Winnipeg: 1.6%. As the population of these cities grow, the economy will prosper as well.
VIDEO: Why Canada Needs to Grow Up
Demography
Current:
Canada's population is 35 099 836 (July 2015)
- Fertility Rate: 1.59/woman
- Birth Rate: 10.28/1000
- Death Rate: 8.42/1000
- Natural Increase Rate: 0.186%
- Immigration Rate: 7.45/1000
- Emigration Rate: 1.21/1000
- Net Migration Rate: 6.24/1000
- Population Growth Rate: 0.925%
- Dependency Load: 31%
- Canada's current population growth: stable/slow increase (opposite of pop. growth before)
- Fertility rate dropped in the 1800s. Since 1971, it couldn't replace the population. Population growth (even though slow) is still possible with Canada's low natural increase because it has a high net migration rate.
- Birth rate continues to drop. Canada could potentially enter stage 5 of demographic transition model (more deaths than births; pop. slow decrease).
Future Predictions:
- Fertility Rate: Decrease (by around 0.4). People are probably not going to have many kids in 2060. Children are already not a necessity. As society grows, people will be occupied with their jobs and have even less time to take care of their child(ren). Similar to 2015
- Birth Rate: Decrease. This factor is affected by the fertility rate. Some couples will not have any kids.
- Death Rate: Decrease. Trend declining. Canada's healthcare is always improving and we have more & more medical knowledge. Money is put into research and technology is improving (detect & treat cancer, stem cells etc).
- Natural Increase Rate: Decrease. Even though the death rate will continually decrease due to better healthcare (longer life span), everybody is going to die at some time. Birth rate is far from enough to replace population
- Immigration Rate: Increase. Canada needs many more immigrants to ensure population and economic growth. The government could possibly start advertising immigration again just like the 1900s (expansion of Canada West). Also, currently conflicts and war are occurring around the world, more refugees in the future.
- Emigration Rate: Increase. Some Canadians are worried & realize that the pop. growth is slowing down which causes the economic growth to slow down as well. Immigrate to countries with large pop. growth such as the U.S.
- Net Migration Rate: Stays the same. Both the immigration and emigration rate increased.
- Population Growth Rate: Decrease. Pop. growth = natural increase+net migration. Net migration is the same but natural increase decreases.
- Dependency Load: Increase. Since death rate is decreasing, people are living longer. Increase in older adults (not in workforce). An article on www.canadianbusiness.com stated that the Millennials (currently ages 15-35) are now the largest generation in the workforce. In 2060, even the youngest of them will be close to retiring. A large group is leaving the workforce and adding onto the dependency load. At the same time, the low birthrate causes a small younger generation entering workforce. There is a small group supporting a very large group.
First Nations
Current:
- Canada's relationship with the Aboriginal People is tense
- Living in poverty, issues on reserves (not enough to support them; First Nations are struggling financially, isolated)
- Problems with the Indian Act
- β³Does the rights that the Indian Act promises really benefit First Nations?
- Mental health problems: Could be from abuse from residential schools in the past. Suicide & self-harm (number 1 cause of death for FN youth & adults), substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder.
- First Nations population is very small
- Losing their culture and traditions
- Disrespect towards them
Future Predictions:
- In 2060 the Indian Act will be changed or possibly removed. The awareness of the First Nations' unfair situation will increase. Many Canadian citizens will side with the Aboriginal people and support them. The Indian Act has no actual purpose to the First Nations and does benefit them in any way. The government could realize what is happening and reconsider the Act. They may change the document and add benefits the the First Nations community.
- First Nations children will receive better education just like the rest of Canadian children. With a good education, they can contribute to society as well. With the right resources, Aboriginal children will succeed.
- First Nations culture & heritage will disappear. In the 2011 National Household Survey, 17.2% of Canadians with Aboriginal identity were able to have a conversation in an Aboriginal language. That's less than a quarter of the First Nations population. From 2006 to 2011 the percentage of people who could speak an Aboriginal language decreased by 2%. If this trend continues, by 2060, none of the First Nations can speak the language.
AUDIO: How Will My Life Be Different in 2060 Than the Life My Parents Currently Have in Canada?
In Conclusion...
Bibliography
"Canada's Population Estimates: Subprovincial Areas, July 1, 2014." Government of Canada,
Statistics Canada. 11 Feb. 2015. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-
quotidien/150211/dq150211a-eng.htm>.
Scott, Graham F. "Millennial Workers Now Outnumber Gen Xers and Boomers." Canadian Business Your Source For Business News. 3 June 2015. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www.canadianbusiness.com/innovation/the-millennial-majority-workforce/>.
"First Nations and Inuit Health." Mental Health and Wellness. 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/promotion/mental/index-eng.php>.
"Aboriginal Peoples and Language." Aboriginal Peoples and Language. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-011-x/99-011-x2011003_1-eng.cfm>.
"The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html>.