Canada 2060
What will Canada look like in 2060?
What will Canada look like 2060?
Current Situation
Today, Canada is one of the most welcoming countries for immigrants, granting a home for 200,000 newcomers on average every year! These immigrants coming from many countries including India, China, and the Philippines. Canada's newcomers often choose to live in the 3 largest provinces - Ontario, Quebec, or British Colombia - which as of 2006 is home to 85% of Canadian immigrants. Canada has been a leader internationally in immigration, but things are beginning to change. In 2008, 26% of landed immigrants became citizens, compared to the extravagant 79% in 2000.
Canada is also home to people of many ethnic backgrounds. Going from the original inhabitants of Canada- aboriginals- to Europeans, Asians, Africans, and more. But how many aboriginals still inhabit Canada? Well according to the 2011 census, 1.4 million Canadians identify with being of aboriginal origin, taking up a mere 4.3% of our population. Almost half of the First Nations people with registered Indian status live on reserves, being a severe problem as reserves are usually not up to code with sanitation. In fact, tuberculosis rates are significantly higher among those living in reserves than those who aren't.
Altogether as a country, Canada has a small population of 35 million (37th largest), and 66% of that population is not in the work force (ages 15-64). The average age that a woman gives birth in Canada is at 30, and with a good infant mortality rate of 4.8 (out of 1000). Canada's average family size is a good 3. Altogether, for every 100 females, there are 99 males.
2060
Demographics
Birth/Death/Natural Increase Rates
In 2060, Canada's death rate will increase due to the high population of elders (baby boomers). This increasing death rate would decrease the natural increase rate or make it negative. This will happen partly due to a decreasing birth rate along side the dying baby boomers.
But, just like today's Canada, the population will still rely on immigrants for growth.
Other
In 2060, the dependency load will likely be more than the work force due to an aging population. This is because of the aging baby boomers, and a shrinking birth rate. With the thought of birth, Canada's infant mortality will hopefully decrease in the next 50 years, but maybe not as much as you think. It will likely improve do to advancements in sanitation and medicine.
Population Pyramid (Present)
Projected Growth
Population Pyramid 2060
Immigration
In 2060, Canada's main source of population growth will still be from immigration. Although Canada's immigration rate will take a hit due to the dropping Canadian dollar, the net migration rate should increase again and immigration should be back to normal.
Canada's immigrants in 2060 will most likely move to the quickly growing western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan as more and more jobs will be available there as oppose to the three already large provinces - Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
The country that majority of these newcomers come from will not change much, if it isn't India, China, or the Philippines, it will likely be other developing countries (and usually from Asia or Africa). European immigrants to Canada may also increase in the next 50 years due to the increasing population density, and the constantly aging infrastructure in those nations.
Pull factors for foreigners to immigrate to Canada in 2060 could be very similar to what it is now: education, jobs, health care, life. In 2060, Canada most likely will improve on what it already has, staying up to date with as much as possible, hopefully keeping Canada in the G7, which could also be a massive pull factor.
First Nations
The improvement in healthcare can improve the lifestyle of those living in reserves by a landslide. Because of the improved healthcare, native adults are likely to live longer, meaning that they can spend more time with their family, lowering the amount of aboriginal children with single/lone parents or even the amount of aboriginal orphans/foster children.
So far I've only talked about the reserves, but how about off the reserves? Right now, nearly half of all registered "Indians" live on a native reserve/settlement. But life off these settlements has a lot to offer. In 2060, more Natives will hopefully live life off the reserves, giving them a better education and healthcare than that offered at the settlements, giving them a fairer chance at life in Canada.
Canada in 2063
SoundCloud Audio
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Canada will still be a great country. In the year 2060, Canada's population is likely to multiply. Reaching numbers up to 60 million. Except one thing, the growth in population is likely not to be attributed to Canadians and their children, because the birth rate of Canadians would not be able to compete with the rising death rate from the baby boomers. The population growth is going to be largely because of immigration, in which Canada is likely to accept more people (because of the high death rates). The provinces in which we will see immigrants settling in will likely change too. These immigrants are likely going to settle in the growing provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan as job availability will likely be better in those that the already populated Ontario, Quebec, and BC. As a result of the aging population, the dependency load will also be high, and the workforce will be relatively lower. By 2060, improvements in sanitation and healthcare are likely to improve the standards of life in Native reserves and settlements in which currently are suffering from boiled water advisories, and increased amounts of sickness, disease and more.
Bibliography
http://www.cfr.org/canada/canadas-immigration-policy/p11047
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Pages/FOG.cfm?lang=E&level=2&GeoCode=35
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-011-x/99-011-x2011001-eng.cfm
http://www.fcm.ca/Documents/reports/CEDI/quality_of_life_EN.pdf
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-003-x/2007001/4129908-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-209-x/91-209-x2014001-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/140917/dq140917a-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-520-x/2014001/section02-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-520-x/2010001/part-partie3-eng.htm