Geography Colloquium Series – Dan Hiebert

Speaker: 
Dan Hiebert
Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography, UBC

Talk title:
Immigration Levels Planning in Canada: Balancing Complex Demographic Trade-offs

Toronto, Canada. Photo: Ferdinand Stohr unsplash

Talk Abstract:

Abstract: In this presentation I consider the broad relationship between immigration and demography by focusing on the levels planning process in Canada. Immigration is frequently portrayed as a demographic ‘fix’ for Canada. To what extent is this true? What are the key trade-offs involved? If we place demography at the centre of our analysis, is there an optimum level of immigration for Canada? At the most generalized level, should Canada establish a population policy that would serve as a guide for immigration levels planning (akin to the way the Bank of Canada sets interest rates according to a desired range for inflation)?

These are particularly pressing questions in an era when natural increase in Canada is about to cross the zero threshold (probably in 2029) and become negative. Unless Canadians dramatically alter their fertility, all population growth in Canada for at least the next 50 years will be driven by immigration. Given that reality, what is a ‘reasonable’ (or ‘responsible’ or ‘sustainable’) level of immigration?

And, as always, when asking such a basic social question, there is an even deeper one lurking beneath it: who gets to decide Canada’s population future, and under what principles?

This is hybrid event hosted in Geog 229 and on zoom.