Census Shows Canada’s Population Aging: Run for Your Lives!

With the 2011 census figures out, there are plenty of screaming headlines across the land warning us that the growing ranks of Zoomers will soon bankrupt our pension, healthcare and social services. First of all, this isn’t exactly new: the Globe and Mail ran a similar story almost 10 years ago to the day. And secondly, the increased demand for health services and pensions, though very real, won’t occur all at once but will take place gradually over the next 30 years. Elaine Gallagher, director of University of Victoria’s respected Centre on Aging, urges calm in this National Post article:“It’s not a tsunami. It’s not going to happen overnight. It will happen slowly over the next 30 years and we’ve got time to plan for it, to adjust.”

-Peter Muggeridge