Canada’s population reaches 35 million, fastest growing in the G8

[nuckin_futz]

Canada reached a milestone, of sorts, this week.

Queue the applause — according to the Statistics Canada population clock, the Great White North now has over 35 million inhabitants.

It's an impressive figure considering that in 1982 we only had a population of 25 million -- that's a 40 per cent jump in 30 years, which solidifies Canada as the fastest growing nation in all of the G8.

Statistics Canada's Laurent Martel told the Toronto Star that the level of growth is primarily due to our liberal immigration system which allows approximately 250,000 immigrants to enter Canada every year.

"This immigration rate is one of the highest in industrialized countries," he said.

"It's twice what the U.S. receives every year."

Martel predicts that with similar levels of growth in the future, Canada's population will reach the 40 million mark by 2026 and 50 million by 2054.

While environmentalists and anti-immigration types will always complain that that's too many people, there are others who argue that our aging workforce necessitates more immigration — a lot more.

Last week, PostMedia News obtained an internal government review suggesting that immigration levels should increase to 337,000 by 2018.

According to the report, the boost "is needed to balance the labour market and is based on economic projections that take into account things like unemployment rates."

Last Spring, the Globe and Mail published an impressive series of columns about immigration and Canada's labour shortages and called for Canada to double its level of economic migration.

A professor in one of the series' columns even suggested that we aim for a population of 100 million people:

"Prof. Studin argues that the country should set its sights on swelling to as many as 100 million people.

This new Canada would become a far more influential consumer market, a more diverse and imaginative producer and a much more robust and self-sustaining culture. Its voice would become more prominent in international affairs.

When history looks back, what seemed like a temporary western labour shortage could turn out to be the impetus that prompted Canada to embrace its destiny as a nation of immigration."

Canada's historical population levels:

1952: 14,459,000

1962: 18,583,000

1972: 22,219,000

1982: 25,118,000

1992: 28,377,000

2002: 31,373,000

2012: 35,001,593

[Ossi Vaananen]

I'm going to get flamed but I'll say it anyway:

I see A LOT of pregnant women around, baby boom imminent?

[vavoom]

I fully support allowing immigration of younger people in their working prime to come to Canada. Not too sure about allowing their parents to immigrate with them. I know many old people who have done this. They get citizenship, collect on OAS and go back to their home country to spend it (allowed to leave country for half of the year and remain eligible to collect).

[theminister]

I'm going to get flamed but I'll say it anyway:

I see A LOT of pregnant women around, baby boom imminent?

[hockeyville88]

After having visited many over-populated countries, I find that there is a certain level of service, safety, sanitation, and overall quality of life that comes with living in a more modestly populated nation. While it is great to have a growing population and economy I hope that it doesn't mean that our Canadian values will suffer as a result.

[Electro Rock]

The population is really still only about 25 million still when you factor out the Canadians-of-convenience...

[nucklehead]

Just as I suspected. Not only does everyone want to live here, they're trying to...

[Armada]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=768h3Tz4Qik

[ronthecivil]

I fully support allowing immigration of younger people in their working prime to come to Canada. Not too sure about allowing their parents to immigrate with them. I know many old people who have done this. They get citizenship, collect on OAS and go back to their home country to spend it (allowed to leave country for half of the year and remain eligible to collect).

[ronthecivil]

After having visited many over-populated countries, I find that there is a certain level of service, safety, sanitation, and overall quality of life that comes with living in a more modestly populated nation. While it is great to have a growing population and economy I hope that it doesn't mean that our Canadian values will suffer as a result.

[GLASSJAW]

Some might not miss the way Vancouver used to be but I sure do. I miss concepts like a forest where Coquitlam plateau is, farms where Maple ridge is, and the thought that a mailman and his secretary wife (my aunt and uncle) can actually afford a three bedroom house on a leafy street a short walk from skytrain and commercial drive without having to get a million dollar offshore cash infusion.

[Electro Rock]

I've seen a lot more cities ruined by immigration than I have improved by it, especially when some of those immigrants are more like politically supported demographic invaders.

[Tearloch7]

Immigrants are always attracted to the "cesspools" of a country because of "false" opportunities .. those that settle in the "drainage fields" seem much happier and adjust/assimilate faster, from my experience ..

[Electro Rock]

Immigrants are always attracted to the "cesspools" of a country because of "false" opportunities .. those that settle in the "drainage fields" seem much happier and adjust/assimilate faster, from my experience ..

[taxi]

I've seen a lot more cities ruined by immigration than I have improved by it, especially when some of those immigrants are more like politically supported demographic invaders.

[Lancaster]

Not really a shock that Canada is the fastest growing G8 nation. The other G8 countries have peaked economically a while back, whereas Canada is still pretty much an adolescent in comparison.

I do think that Canada should attract more 1st world professionals rather than just cheap labourers. I have friends who are teachers and pharmacists in Japan can't immigrate here unless they're willing to be a dishwasher or something for 3 years.

[Tearloch7]

Not really a shock that Canada is the fastest growing G8 nation. The other G8 countries have peaked economically a while back, whereas Canada is still pretty much an adolescent in comparison.

I do think that Canada should attract more 1st world professionals rather than just cheap labourers. I have friends who are teachers and pharmacists in Japan can't immigrate here unless they're willing to be a dishwasher or something for 3 years.

[Wetcoaster]

That seems to be the biggest deterrent to increasing professional immigrants .. we fail to accept their credentials .. we need to streamline our process' to expedite certification ..

[Wetcoaster]

Not really a shock that Canada is the fastest growing G8 nation. The other G8 countries have peaked economically a while back, whereas Canada is still pretty much an adolescent in comparison.

I do think that Canada should attract more 1st world professionals rather than just cheap labourers. I have friends who are teachers and pharmacists in Japan can't immigrate here unless they're willing to be a dishwasher or something for 3 years.

[Tearloch7]

That will not be happening because the provinces control certification. Heck even moving province to province can be a serious impediment in a number of professions even for Canadians who received domestic training and credentialing in other provinces.