Quote:
Originally Posted by MetaMan
why does Canada need a larger population in the first place? Low population with highly skilled labor sounds like a dream of a society.
On top of it Canada has an abundance of food and resources.
So the answer to the government not being able to afford the future social programs is to bring in more people and place them on social programs.  |
Good points . You raise a very interesting point: It appears that part of the reason for Canada's migration policy is the need to import labor to fund the benefits of an aging population.
But maybe there's an alternative solution involving AUTOMATION/ROBOTICS and also, changes in benefits/incentives.
Ultimately, it goes to a core question: Is there a law that a country should have a large population?
Interestingly enough, Scandinavian countries with comparatively small populations routinely rank high in Human development and happiness indices.
Also, I agree with the point raised by another poster above, EDUCATION and STANDARDS OF LIVING tend to have an inverse relationship with BIRTH RATES.
Maybe this should be the focus in the developing world. Less migration. Lower global population overall.
From a historical perspective, it's only since medical advances in the late 1700s and onwards that resulted in an ALGAE-LIKE EXPLOSION IN HUMAN POPULATION.
From a purely historical perspective, it doesn't really fit the natural pattern.
Maybe the REAL carrying capacity of the planet is lower.
What's wrong with a happier, well-fed, low population planet where there's less competing mouths to feed?