- In general, families are having fewer children, young people are postponing family formation and child birth and marriage trends are changing, just as the Canadian economy has changed, Canadian families also look very differently today compared to those in 20 or 30 years ago. This is due to the change in life style as well as innovations in technology that have reformed Canada throughout the last 30 years. Moreover, although babies are cute, therefore their perceived cost and the real cost prevent women having them.
Policy Goals:
The policy’s goal is to benefit childbearing women in order to increase the number of babies being born per women. Also, to give child benefits to help reduce child poverty, and to help parents with the cost of raising children. Moreover, in order to increase its slow population growth, the immigration policy is considered to be its population policy.
Methods to achieve the goals:
The Policy Mix:
-
Immigration:
Canada’s immigration policy is the most explicit part to increase its population. In order offset population aging, it is estimated to have over 3 million immigrants per year.
- Family friendly policies:
This includes baby bonus and child benefits. Governments provide cash payments in various kinds, for example delivered wither in the form of cheques or income tax reduction. The Canadian child tax benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families according to the Canadian government, to help families with the cost of raising children under the age of 19. Also a monthly benefit for low income families with children is treated differently in each province/territory.
- Parental leave/maternity leave :
The parental leave is expanded from 10 weeks to 35 weeks divided as desired between two parents. This is in addition to 15 weeks maternity leave, giving a total possible period of 50 weeks paid leave for a mother. There is still no paid leave for new fathers, however. In Canada maternity and parental leave is paid for by the Employment Insurance system.
Population Policy in Quebec:
There was a special population policy in Quebec to encourage women giving birth. The policy was giving allowance for new born children (1988-1997) and universal child care (1997), and this went up to approximately $8000 per family. The rule of the first born child receives $500, and second $1000 then the third and subsequent receives $400. Although, there was an increase in the fertility rate from 1988-1997, therefore due to the dramatic increase in the public cost of the policy this had failed.
Evaluating The policy:
Achievement in Goals:
From the graph, it is evident that Canada’s population has increased. Therefore, most of the population growth is from its immigration. There is an average 240,000 newcomers per year, and in 2005, 43% of immigrants from China, Indian, Philippines, Pakistan and South Korea and 2% from France and UK. According to the graph during 1870-71, Canada's total population was around 3.6 million, but during the next century, about 9.3 million people immigrated to Canada and by 1996 Canada's population had surpassed 29 million.
Consequences:
Immigration is an increasingly important component of population growth in Canada
Implication of Immigration policy:
From the source above, it shows that in 1976, natural increase (births minus deaths) represented over 80% of the demographic growth in Canada. Today the situation is almost reversed as immigration represents close to 70% of the population growth. And this shows that if current trends continue, then in less than 25 years, immigration will be the only growth factor, as natural increase will be negative.
Three main issues caused by immigrants:
- The geography of immigrant settlement in Canada and their impacts on urban areas and housing. When it comes to metropolitan concentration, there is a large capacity of immigrants entering cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. This is due to the fact; there are many economic expectations and opportunities in these larger cities. There have been increases in the construction and retailing industries, which is leading to a larger workforce. Therefore, due to the Population growth it is linked to the decline in environmental conditions, such as land, water, and urban air pollution.
- There are many difficulties that immigrants face, in regards to poverty groups; this is because immigrants are one of the groups most likely to be living in poverty in Canada (after Aboriginals and female-headed, single parent families.). In addition, there has been much business failure which creates outcome of the business immigrants tried to join the economy in Canada.
- The lost of Canadian identity and citizenship. As more and more immigrants coming, it brings cultures in, not only in a good way, but also ruin the originality of its own culture. The graph below shows how the immigrants are projected to cover most of its percentage in population.
Benefits of Immigration Policy:
Although, immigration may bring some negative impacts, therefore it is needed in order to surpass on its population growth. As shown on the previous graphs, population is most increased by immigrants, and this also helps in economics in Canada, because they are not only the consumers, but also producers. Moreover, it will be hard to imagine population without immigrants, since it has play a major role in Canada’s population and its economy, as the immigration provides skilled workers and business class immigrants in to Canada.
Family Friendly Policy:
Family in poverty:
- The policy of benefiting family with more children gives a better start in life for those who live under poverty line, by improving benefits and services for their families and by helping their parents enter the workforce so they can better meet the needs of their children. In general, as the Government of Canada increases its contribution to income support through the Canada Child Tax Benefit, provinces and territories, in turn, will put in balancing benefits and services for all low-income families.
Women in General:
- Many women are benefited from the policy, since they receive balance work and home responsibilities. Also, as there is increase number of child care spaces, maternity leave, women are no longer under pressure of having babies.
