Economics of Canadian Immigration: Part 2 with Lisa Lalande
Nov 1, 2024
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Lisa Lalande, CEO of Century Initiative, passionately discusses Canada’s goal to grow its population to 100 million by 2100. She emphasizes the need for smart immigration policies that balance economic growth with housing and healthcare improvements. Lalande critiques the current shifts in immigration levels, noting the risks of reducing permanent immigration while tackling temporary levels. The conversation delves into Canada’s demographic challenges, advocating for a holistic approach that harmonizes economic, humanitarian, and community goals.
The Century Initiative advocates for Canada to grow its population to 100 million by 2100 to enhance economic stability and quality of life.
A balanced immigration policy is essential as Canada faces demographic challenges, including an aging population and declining fertility rates threatening public services.
There is a critical need for a sustainable approach to immigration that aligns with investments in housing, healthcare, and infrastructure for community well-being.
Deep dives
Goals of the Century Initiative
The Century Initiative aims to significantly grow Canada's population to 100 million by 2100 to address demographic shifts and economic challenges. This target serves as a catalyst for broader discussions about long-term planning and sustainable growth, focusing on not just population numbers but also quality of life for citizens. The organization advocates for 'smart growth,' ensuring that immigration policies align with comprehensive solutions to issues such as housing, infrastructure, and education. By framing these objectives within a national conversation, the Initiative encourages collaborative efforts from all levels of government to tackle systemic challenges.
Demographic Challenges and Economic Necessities
Canada faces pressing demographic issues, including an aging population and declining fertility rates that necessitate significant immigration to maintain economic stability. With a fertility rate dropped to its lowest on record, the labor market is at risk of shrinking, potentially leading to a tax base crisis that could undermine public services. The Initiative posits that without careful intervention and planning for immigration, Canada may face steep declines in its capacity to fund essential services, impacting its socio-economic landscape for generations to come. The need for an organized approach to immigration has become a central tenet of discussions related to both economic growth and social stability.
Temporary vs. Permanent Immigration Dynamics
There is a growing consensus that Canada's temporary immigration system has become unsustainable, leading to significant socio-economic challenges. The current debate emphasizes the importance of balancing temporary and permanent immigration, with both leaders agreeing that recent government cuts to permanent immigration levels are ill-advised. Importantly, the Century Initiative advocates for reforming temporary immigration to make it more structured and to ensure it complements long-term permanent migration strategies. Without proper alignment between these different streams of immigration, communities may struggle to cope with the pressures of increased population without adequate infrastructure.
Sustainability in Immigration Policy
The conversation emphasizes the critical need for sustainability in immigration policy, focusing on the ability of communities to absorb new residents effectively. Leaders advocate for a national framework that integrates immigration with investments in housing, healthcare, and infrastructure to ensure that growth is managed and beneficial. The abrupt changes in immigration levels have created uncertainties that can lead to public dissatisfaction and negative perceptions about immigration overall. Thus, a sustainable approach entails not only numerical targets but also a comprehensive plan that prioritizes community well-being and social cohesion.
Broader Implications of Immigration Policy
Immigration policy is framed as a key component in enhancing Canada's global influence while ensuring the prosperity of its residents. The podcast asserts that a larger population can provide Canada with greater economic strength, but this must be paired with a focus on equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Challenges remain in ensuring that immigration supports not just economic growth but also addresses humanitarian and family reunification aspects. Ultimately, Canadians are encouraged to engage in productive conversations around what immigration should look like, proposing that a well-structured, transparent system can alleviate fears and foster a more welcoming environment.
On these two episodes of Uncommons, Nate does a deeper dive on the economics of Canadian immigration policies, including a look at the unsustainable rise in temporary immigration levels, recent government action to correct those levels, and what is almost certainly an over correction to the permanent resident levels.
In part one, Nate’s joined by University of Waterloo labour economics professor Mikal Skuterud.
Professor Skuterud has written extensively on the economics of Canadian immigration, he’s been consulted by different Ministers, and he’s been a vocal critic of the government’s management of the immigration file, especially with respect to temporary foreign workers.
In part two, Nate is joined by Lisa Lalande, the CEO of Century Initiative, a group that advocates for policies to strengthen Canada’s long-term economic prospects, including by growing our overall population to 100 million people by 2100.
Ms. Lalande argues for strong but smartly managed immigration to ensure Canada’s economy remains competitive and resilient in the long-term, and she makes the case that Canada must build housing and improve healthcare to accommodate smart growth as well as our non-economic goals.
In some ways, the guests are sharply at odds with one another. But in others, there is alignment: that Canada needed to tackle temporary immigration levels, but has caused further unnecessary challenges by reducing permanent immigration levels.
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