Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada passes 40 million population milestone amid immigration push

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jun, 2023 05:22 PM
  • Canada passes 40 million population milestone amid immigration push

OTTAWA — Canada's population has reached more than 40 million, Statistics Canada said.

The milestone comes amid a wave of new immigrants as part of Ottawa's promise to bring in 500,000 people a year by 2025.

The 40-million mark came faster than expected, Statistics Canada said, as the country added 1.1 million people in 2022, most of them permanent and temporary immigrants.

That's more than twice the federal government's plan to welcome more than 430,000 new permanent residents last year.

Last year was the first year Canada's population grew by more than a million people in a 12-month period, Statistics Canada said, with 95.9 per cent of that growth through international migration.

Canada's population passed 30 million in 1997, also amid increasing immigration levels.

By comparison, the U.S. population is around 335 million.

Statistics Canada said that if current immigration levels remain, Canada's population could hit 50 million in two decades. And by 2041, two in five Canadians could be born abroad.

Ontario is Canada's most populous province with almost 15.6 million people, while Quebec comes a distant second at 8.8 million.

Michael Donnelly, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said immigration is imperative to Canada for a number of reasons, including the need to increase the working population.

"The people who are working today are paying for the pensions of people retired today," he said. Canada needs newcomers who will fill labour shortages, contribute to the economy and Canada's public pension program.

But a growing population also brings challenges when it comes to infrastructure and housing. Last year, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) said the country needed to build 3.5 million more homes than it is on track for in order to restore housing affordability.

"In effect we don't have enough housing for all the demand, and we need to add a lot more," said Nathanael Lauster, a sociology professor at the University of British Columbia who studies population and demographics.

Lauster said immigration can actually help alleviate the issue because "one of multiple constraints holding housing back is labour supply."

MORE National ARTICLES

Bus carrying students catches fire in Chilliwack

Bus carrying students catches fire in Chilliwack
The City of Chilliwack says no injuries were reported and crews contained the blaze about 95 kilometres east of Vancouver. B-C Hydro says power went out for nearly 25-hundred customers as a result of the fire.  

Bus carrying students catches fire in Chilliwack

Surrey Arson suspect charged

Surrey Arson suspect charged
Two fires occurred in the northwest part of the city on May 28th, less than 12 hours apart. There were two businesses on the lower level as well as a residential units on the upper level of the building that sustained significant fire and water damage.

Surrey Arson suspect charged

Fraser Health Authority to construct new care home

Fraser Health Authority to construct new care home
The project, which is expected to be finished in 2027, will replace Mountain View Manor and its 92 beds. The new facility is being designed as households that accommodate 12 or 13 residents each, with 200 beds in total.  

Fraser Health Authority to construct new care home

Drug seizure in Kelowna

Drug seizure in Kelowna
A recent traffic stop led to a drug seizure in Kelowna. R-C-M-P say they were patrolling an area known for drug trafficking on June 2nd when they pulled over a vehicle for a number of traffic violations.

Drug seizure in Kelowna

Man pleads guilty to sexual offences: New Westminster Police

Man pleads guilty to sexual offences: New Westminster Police
Police say they launched an investigation into Marcio Cerquinho in May of 2021. They say a total of three victims have been identified since then. Cerquinho pleaded guilty earlier this week.

Man pleads guilty to sexual offences: New Westminster Police

Is mental health support a key element of inclusive work culture?

Is mental health support a key element of inclusive work culture?
Investing in mental health support not only benefits individual employees but also yields significant economic returns, creating a win-win scenario for both employees and organisations.

Is mental health support a key element of inclusive work culture?