A Shrinking Population

Hyuna
EAP2 B
Summary and Response #1

In Neil Reynolds’s article, “The Incredible Shrinking Country,” the author states that Canada’s population is projected to decrease. The population of other countries is also dwindling. First, the author argues that there are two reasons that we should care that Canada’s population will implode in the world. Secondly, the author discusses what to do for the protection of a shrinking population. Next, the author says that low fertility rates will get worse, so governments will be expected to care for impoverished people. In addition, the fertility rates of minority immigrant women come close to the Canadian average. Finally, the author asserts that the Planned Parenthood Federation will expedite the birth rate for population growth. It is clear that Canada’s population will decrease if immigrants do not immigrate to Canada, because immigrants help Canada’s population. There are some reasons for shrinking Canada’s population.

First of all, there are a lot of old people, but there are not people who work in Canada. This means that the percentage of old people is increasing. If this problem goes on continually, the percentage of old people's population above 65 will be double what it is now. Namely, one person out of 4 people is above 65 years-old. The growing very old population's medical expenses and the pension system impose a heavy burden on people. It is a truth that the people who have a heavy burden for these old people are reducing little by little. For example, there is a school, but there is not a teacher, or there is a hospital but there are no doctors or a nurse who takes care of patients. If it becomes an opposition situation, Canada will not become the heaven of the old people.

Secondly, the number of women who bear children will be shrinking in Canada. The women make a great point of their work more than bearing their babies, because of the increase in adequate opportunities for a working woman. It is also an important factor in a birthrate that the relationship in conjugal relations is given a great deal of weight. New immigrants also would rather have a good job than have more babies. Therefore Canada cannot increase its population.

Finally, immigrants come to Canada and Canadians leave Canada for other countries. Some immigrants in the world move to Canada, but people who are born in Canada go to other places to find their opportunity. It means that when 4 immigrants come in Canada, one Canadian goes out to another country. The reasons Canadians leave in Canada are work and money. In fact, if the times are good, people will come crowding in.

In conclusion, these reasons make some problems in Canada because it brings low Canada’s population. If low Canada’s population continues, we can guess what will happen economically. Therefore, Canadian government offers good solutions for these problems. If the solutions make good Canada, Canada’s population will increase in number.

Reference:

Reynolds, N. (2007, January 19). The Incredible Shrinking Country. The Globe and Mail, a division of CYV globemedia Publishing Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2007, from LexisNexis.