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Eliminating Immigration Would Have a Negative Impact on Canada's Economy

Blog posted on by Evelyn Ackah in Immigration, Immigration Law and Economic Immigration

Eliminating Immigration Would Have a Negative Impact on Canada's Economy

A new Conference Board of Canada report says that eliminating immigration would have a negative impact on Canada's economy. The study imagined what would happen by 2040 if Canada's borders were completely shut.

“Immigration contributes to the economy in several ways,” explained Kareem El-Assal, senior research associate with the Conference Board. “They are going to contribute to our labour force, but they’re also going to contribute in terms of economic activity.”

By 2034, immigration will account for 100% of Canada's population growth

Immigration currently is 71% of Canada's population growth and 90% of labour force growth, according to the Conference Board. By 2034, it's expected to account for 100% of Canada's population growth, and deaths will exceed births. The Conference Board report recommends boosting Canada's immigration rate to 1% of the total population, from 0.8% in 2017.

Without immigrants, the study found that:

  • Canada's population would age more rapidly.
  • The labour force would shrink. By 2040, the ratio of workers to retirees would drop from 3.6 to 2.0. More than a quarter of the population (26.9%) would be 65 and over, compared to 22.4 % with a gradual increase in immigration.
  • Paying for social services like health care would result in tax increases across the country.
  • The shrinking labour force, lower local demand and tax increases would lower levels of business investment and businesses would likely choose to forego Canadian operations.
  • Economic growth would slow down without immigration. Canada's GDP growth is expected to grow by an average of 1.9% in the decades to come with a gradual increase in newcomers. Without immigrants, growth would slow to 1.3%.

Economic immigrants — skilled workers and other newcomers — contribute the most to Canada's economy.


Evelyn L. Ackah, BA, LL.B.

Founder/Managing Lawyer

Ms. Ackah is passionate about immigration law because it focuses on people and relationships, which are at the core of her personal values. Starting her legal career as a corporate/commercial ...

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We have been using the services of Ackah Business Immigration Law for over 5 years. Evelyn and her team have provided vital and critical help to us in navigating the complicated and ever changing rules on how to bring qualified and talented dancers to Canada as foreign workers to become part of our company. Diversity enriches what we do and these dancers are essential to our artistic success and community outreach. Evelyn’s team lead the application process, take care of all the administration and provides constant support throughout the process. As a small registered charity having this expertise available is instrumental to our success we applaud Ackah Business Immigration for generously supplying their professional services to us pro bono. Their involvement helps us to continue to enrich lives by engaging people in exploring, evolving and promoting the art of jazz dance.

– Kathi Sundstrom, Executive Director for Decidedly Jazz Danceworks

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