Forty years below replacement rate

The IMFC recently released a paper on population aging:

Population aging, not overpopulation, is the key demographic issue in Canada today.

• Canada last achieved replacement fertility in 1971

• In 2010, Canada needed 109,000 more babies to hit the replacement rate. That’s 1,022,971 babies needed for replacement since 2002

Why does this matter?

• It matters for the public sector because children (eventually) pay taxes to help support our social safety net

• It matters for the private sector because children (eventually) contribute to the economy and add to the employment pool when Baby Boomers retire
• Importantly, Canadians want to have more children than they are having. According to the World Values Survey, the mean ideal number of children for Canadian families was 2.7, compared to having 1.63 in reality

And how does abortion fit in?

Statistics show that if every aborted baby had been born in 2006, 2009 and 2010, a replacement fertility rate would have been reached or surpassed. In 2007 and 2008, the same would bring the birthrate within a hair’s breadth of replacement rate.

The lives of unborn children should be protected not for economic reasons, but because these children are human beings worthy of dignity and respect. However, it is worthwhile to learn how abortion may impact many aspects of our collective lives.

Its impact doesn’t end with the mother and her doctor at the clinic door.

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