The latest statistics show that Canada has the fastest-growing population of all G8 nations, a trend being attributed to continued high levels of immigration despite the recent global recession.
The data, compiled and released this month by Statistics Canada, shows that Saskatchewan’s population growth is a driving force, as the province continued to welcome record high numbers of newcomers last year.
Canada’s total population remains just under 35 million people, but its growth rate of 1.1. per cent over last year makes it the fastest-growing country in the G8 group of nations. In comparison, the United States’ population grew by 0.7 per cent in the same time frame.
Two-thirds of the growth in Canada can be attributed to net international migration. Besides Saskatchewan, the Western province of Alberta is also pushing up the numbers, with a growth rate of 2.5 per cent.
However, despite the good news about growth, there remains concern over the fact that overall the Canadian population is getting older. The number of elderly population is growing while the number of children is shrinking. The average age in the country is now 40, which could indicate that not enough young people are entering the population pool, as well as the labour market.
Policymakers have been expressing concern over this trend for several years, and many new immigration programs are in the works to address the possible disparity.
Source: Globe and Mail