Canada’s Goal to Reach 100 Million Citizens by Year 2100

 

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Canada is a country with a well-earned reputation as a global leader in diversity, innovation, and prosperity. However, its future is not guaranteed. Canada faces a demographic challenge that threatens its economic growth and global influence. Its population is aging, its fertility rate is low, and its workforce is shrinking. If Canada wants to remain prosperous and influential for future generations, it needs to prepare for it now. One way to do that is to set a bold and ambitious goal: to grow its population to 100 million by the year 2100.

Why 100 Million?

The idea of Canada reaching a population of 100 million is not new. In fact, it was first proposed by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s seventh prime minister, who famously declared in 1904 that “the twentieth century shall be the century of Canada”. Laurier envisioned a Canada that would attract millions of immigrants from around the world and become a major power in the world stage. However, his vision did not materialize. Canada’s population growth slowed down in the second half of the twentieth century due to declining birth rates, restrictive immigration policies, and economic challenges. By the 1970s, Canada had only about 22 million people.

Today, Canada has about 40 million people2, making it the 38th most populous country in the world. Its population density is only four people per square kilometer, one of the lowest in the world. Its annual GDP growth rate is projected to decline from 1.8% in 2019 to 1.6% in 21002. Its share of global GDP is expected to drop from 1.5% in 2019 to 0.8% in 21002. Its influence on the world stage is also diminishing as other countries grow faster and larger.

However, Canada still has a chance to reverse this trend and achieve its full potential. The Century Initiative, a think tank headed by McKinsey & Co.’s Dominic Barton—who in turn also leads Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s economic advisory council—has been calling for policies to triple Canada’s population over the next 100 years1. The Century Initiative argues that growing Canada’s population to 100 million by 2100 would have many benefits for the country, such as:

• Reducing the burden on government revenues to fund health care, old age security, and other services.
• Increasing the number of skilled workers, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the Canadian economy.
• Creating a dynamic and robust domestic market that would attract more investment and trade.
• Enhancing Canada’s global influence and leadership on issues such as climate change, human rights, and peacekeeping.
• Reinforcing Canada’s reputation as a diverse and multicultural society that welcomes immigrants and refugees.

The Century Initiative acknowledges that reaching 100 million by 2100 is not just a matter of numbers. It is also a matter of vision and values. It requires a long-term perspective and a commitment to building a better future for all Canadians.

How to Get There?

The Century Initiative proposes 10 actions that would help Canada achieve its population goal by 21002. These actions are:
1. Increase immigration immediately: Canada should raise its annual immigration target from about 350,000 (or about one percent of its population) to about 450,000 (or about 1.2 percent of its population) by 20253. This would help offset the natural decline in population due to low birth rates and aging.

2. Improve immigrant integration: Canada should invest more in programs and services that help immigrants settle, find jobs, learn languages, access education, and participate in civic life. This would help
Received message. Here is a 2000 word article about Canada's goal to reach 100 million citizens by year 2100. I hope you find it useful and informative. # Canada's Goal to Reach 100 Million Citizens by Year 2100 Canada is a country with a well-earned reputation as a global leader in diversity, innovation, and prosperity. However, its future is not guaranteed. Canada faces a demographic challenge that threatens its economic growth and global influence. Its population is aging, its fertility rate is low, and its workforce is shrinking. If Canada wants to remain prosperous and influential for future generations, it needs to prepare for it now. One way to do that is to set a bold and ambitious goal: to grow its population to 100 million by the year 2100. ## Why 100 Million? The idea of Canada reaching a population of 100 million is not new. In fact, it was first proposed by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada's seventh prime minister, who famously declared in 1904 that "the twentieth century shall be the century of Canada". Laurier envisioned a Canada that would attract millions of immigrants from around the world and become a major power in the world stage. However, his vision did not materialize. Canada's population growth slowed down in the second half of the twentieth century due to declining birth rates, restrictive immigration policies, and economic challenges. By the 1970s, Canada had only about 22 million people. Today, Canada has about 40 million people, making it the 38th most populous country in the world. Its population density is only four people per square kilometer, one of the lowest in the world. Its annual GDP growth rate is projected to decline from 1.8% in 2019 to 1.6% in 2100. Its share of global GDP is expected to drop from 1.5% in 2019 to 0.8% in 2100. Its influence on the world stage is also diminishing as other countries grow faster and larger. However, Canada still has a chance to reverse this trend and achieve its full potential. The Century Initiative, a think tank headed by McKinsey & Co.’s Dominic Barton—who in turn also leads Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s economic advisory council—has been calling for policies to triple Canada’s population over the next 100 years. The Century Initiative argues that growing Canada's population to 100 million by 2100 would have many benefits for the country, such as: - Reducing the burden on government revenues to fund health care, old age security, and other services. - Increasing the number of skilled workers, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the Canadian economy. - Creating a dynamic and robust domestic market that would attract more investment and trade. - Enhancing Canada's global influence and leadership on issues such as climate change, human rights, and peacekeeping. - Reinforcing Canada's reputation as a diverse and multicultural society that welcomes immigrants and refugees. The Century Initiative acknowledges that reaching 100 million by 2100 is not just a matter of numbers. It is also a matter of vision and values. It requires a long-term perspective and a commitment to building a better future for all Canadians. ## How to Get There? The Century Initiative proposes 10 actions that would help Canada achieve its population goal by 2100. These actions are: 1. Increase immigration immediately: Canada should raise its annual immigration target from about 350,000 (or about one percent of its population) to about 450,000 (or about 1.2 percent of its population) by 2025. This would help offset the natural decline in population due to low birth rates and aging. 2. Improve immigrant integration: Canada should invest more in programs and services that help immigrants settle, find jobs, learn languages, access education, and participate in civic life. This would help
Learn more:
1. macleans.ca2. centuryinitiative.ca3. bnnbloomberg.ca
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Here is a 2000 word article about Canada’s goal to reach 100 million citizens by year 2100. I hope you find it useful and informative.
Canada’s Goal to Reach 100 Million Citizens by Year 2100
Canada is a country with a well-earned reputation as a global leader in diversity, innovation, and prosperity. However, its future is not guaranteed. Canada faces a demographic challenge that threatens its economic growth and global influence. Its population is aging, its fertility rate is low, and its workforce is shrinking. To overcome this challenge, some experts and advocates have proposed a bold vision for Canada: to grow its population to 100 million by the year 2100.
Why 100 Million?
The idea of Canada reaching a population of 100 million is not new. In fact, it dates back to the early 20th century, when some politicians and intellectuals envisioned Canada as a great power with a large and dynamic population. However, this vision was never realized, as Canada’s population growth slowed down due to various factors, such as wars, economic crises, immigration restrictions, and social changes1.
Today, Canada has a population of about 40 million people2, which is projected to grow to about 50 million by 2050 and then stagnate3. This means that Canada’s share of the world population will decline from about 0.5% today to about 0.3% by 21004. Moreover, Canada’s population will age significantly, as the proportion of seniors (aged 65 and over) will increase from about 18% today to about 25% by 20362. This will have negative consequences for Canada’s economy and society, such as:
• A lower labor force participation rate and a higher dependency ratio, meaning fewer working-age people supporting more older people who rely on public services such as health care and pensions3.
• A lower GDP growth rate and a smaller domestic market, meaning less innovation, productivity, and competitiveness in the global economy3.
• A lower global influence and a weaker voice in international affairs, meaning less ability to protect Canada’s interests and values in a turbulent world3.
To avoid these outcomes, some experts and advocates have revived the idea of Canada reaching a population of 100 million by the year 2100. This vision is championed by the Century Initiative, a think tank headed by Dominic Barton, who is also Canada’s ambassador to China and the former chair of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s economic advisory council31. The Century Initiative argues that growing Canada’s population to 100 million would have positive effects for Canada’s economy and society, such as:
• A higher labor force participation rate and a lower dependency ratio, meaning more skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and innovators contributing to Canada’s prosperity and public services3.
• A higher GDP growth rate and a larger domestic market, meaning more opportunities for business development, trade, and investment in the global economy3.
• A higher global influence and a stronger voice in international affairs, meaning more leverage to advance Canada’s interests and values in a changing world3.
The Century Initiative acknowledges that reaching a population of 100 million by the year 2100 is not just a number, but a vision for the kind of Canada that future generations will inherit. It also recognizes that achieving this vision will require careful planning and bold action on various fronts3.
How to Get There?
The Century Initiative proposes 10 actions that Canada should take to reach its population goal by the year 2100. These actions are divided into four focus areas: immigration, urban development, education and skills development, and innovation3. Here is a summary of these actions:
Immigration
• Increase immigration levels immediately from about 340,000 per year today to about 450,000 per year by 20253.
• Diversify immigration sources and destinations to attract more talent from different regions of the world and encourage more settlement outside of major urban centers3.
• Streamline immigration processes and policies to make them more efficient, transparent, and responsive to labor market needs3.
• Enhance integration programs and services to support newcomers’ social and economic inclusion in Canadian society3.
Urban Development
• Invest in infrastructure and transit to improve connectivity, mobility, and livability in urban areas3.
• Increase housing supply and affordability to address the housing crisis and promote homeownership among Canadians3.
• Promote smart growth and sustainability to reduce urban sprawl and environmental impact in urban areas3.
Education and Skills Development
• Expand early childhood education and care to increase access and quality for all children aged zero to five3.
• Improve K-12 education outcomes to ensure that all students acquire the foundational skills and competencies for lifelong learning3.
• Enhance post-secondary education access and quality to increase participation and completion rates among Canadians of all backgrounds3.
• Foster lifelong learning opportunities to enable Canadians to reskill and upskill throughout their careers3.
Innovation
• Boost research and development spending to increase public and private investment in innovation activities3.
• Strengthen innovation ecosystems to foster collaboration among academia, industry, government, and civil society actors3.
• Support entrepreneurship and scale-ups to create more high-growth firms that can compete globally3.
• Encourage social innovation to address complex social challenges through new ideas and solutions3.
What are the Challenges?
The vision of Canada reaching a population of 100 million by the year 2100 is not without challenges. Some of these challenges are:
• Public opinion: While most Canadians support immigration in general, some may have concerns about increasing immigration levels or diversifying immigration sources. Moreover, some Canadians may be skeptical about the benefits of population growth or prefer a smaller or slower-growing Canada1.
• Political will: While some political parties or leaders may endorse the vision of population growth or some aspects of it, others may oppose it or prioritize other issues. Moreover, achieving this vision will require coordination and cooperation among different levels of government (federal, provincial/territorial, municipal) as well as across different policy domains (immigration, urban development, education, innovation)1
.
•
Resource constraints: While some of the actions proposed by the Century Initiative may generate economic returns or savings in the long run,
others may require significant upfront investment or expenditure.
Moreover,
some of these actions may face trade-offs or opportunity costs with other policy goals or priorities
.
For example,
investing in infrastructure or housing may compete with investing in health care or social programs
.
•
Unforeseen events: While some of the assumptions or projections underlying the vision of population growth may be based on historical trends or current data,
others may be subject to uncertainty or change due to unforeseen events.
For example,
global events such as pandemics,
wars,
or environmental crises may affect migration flows,
economic growth,
or social stability
.
•
Ethical implications: While some of the benefits of population growth may be widely shared or distributed among Canadians,
others may be unevenly distributed or concentrated among certain groups or regions.
Moreover,
some of the costs or risks of population growth may be borne disproportionately by vulnerable or marginalized populations or communities.
For example,
increasing immigration levels or diversifying immigration sources may create challenges for social cohesion,
cultural diversity,
or human rights
.
Conclusion
Canada’s goal to reach 100 million citizens by year 2100 is a bold vision that aims to secure Canada’s prosperity,
diversity,
resilience,
and influence for future generations.
However,
this vision is not inevitable or easy.
It will require careful planning,
bold action,
and collective effort on various fronts.
It will also entail challenges,
trade-offs,
and uncertainties that need to be addressed.
Ultimately,
this vision is not just about numbers,
but about values.
It reflects what kind of Canada we want to build for ourselves
and our children

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