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Originally Posted by CountryMike
I think 550-560,000 immigrants is an oddly specific number and quite frankly too many. I don't really understand the reasoning behind wanting to increase immigration to levels never seen in this country or probably in any country.
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Immigration rates were far higher a century ago (so you're incorrect) and demographers are urging the federal government to significantly boost immigration. Canada is well below replacement levels and when boomers start dying off we'll be facing a steep decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.
Demographers conclude that the sooner we boost the immigration rate the more likely we'll be able to avoid what is potentially a financial catastrophe. What I don't understand is the reasoning to resisting sound evidence and an easy solution. We can fix it but we have to act now.
I'm also taken aback by how most Canadians are oblivious to this ticking time bomb. And no, I'm not exaggerating the severity of the problem. Canada's standing in the world is at stake, as are our pensions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryMike
Perhaps some people just want to be seen as the most tolerant and the most accepting. I think most people realize that culture isn't static and changes with time, technology and immigration. However, allowing culture to change and pushing to change culture are 2 different things. If we allowed more than half a million immigrants per year Canada would soon become a majority Chinese or Indian colony. Proponents of mass immigration will have to convince the rest of us that this is a good thing.
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By 'rest of us', who are you referring to? I'm assuming Canadians of your ethnicity? Canada belongs to ALL Canadians, Scottish Canadians, Iranian-Canadians, Nigerian-Canadians, Mexican-Canadians, Filipino-Canadians, etc. One ethnicity of Canadians don't get to mold Canada in their own image.
Canada is not a white Christian country; we're a white majority country and that's a big big difference. Multiculturalism is enshrined in the Canadian Constitution and has been the reality of modern Canada for close to 4 decades now. If some white Canadians haven't realized it yet/understand what that means, that's neither here nor there. Our culture has changed with each new flood of immigration. You don't get to halt it because the current influx isn't from the same part of the world as your ancestors.
And Indian-Canadians are Canadians period. Chinese-Canadians are Canadians period. If you don't get that you're out of step with this country.