Immigration scenario may not be as it seems

To the editor:

Our federal government recently announced planned increases in annual immigration numbers. Many in the still white majority may have reservations about the further erosion of their dominant position.

The increased levels of immigration will certainly speed up the evolution of Canada from a predominantly white nation to one that is far more multi-cultural and multi-racial. These new numbers are misrepresentations of what must surely occur over the next couple of decades.

First, much of the current crop of white Canadians are past their reproductive age. Those who remain young enough to raise families are choosing to have fewer children. That combination, by itself, can lead only to a decreased percentage of whites in the overall population.

Secondly, immigrants are generally younger people and therefore more likely to produce offspring. Cultural habits may well see first generations of these immigrants continue to have larger families.

A rarely discussed factor may have even greater impacts on Canada. Refugee numbers around the world are increasing at a rapid rate. This will put great pressure on Canada to admit far more than currently being proposed.

Warfare in the Middle East and Northern Africa is driving many thousands towards Europe. Resistance to refugees is growing in most European nations. Countries with the ability to support larger populations will come under increasing pressure to take in higher numbers of refugees.

A second factor, and a growing one, is the effects of climate change in certain areas of the world. Major parts of Africa, Asia, and even North America, are becoming less hospitable to human existence. These areas currently hold several billions of the total world population. As circumstances worsen, huge numbers of these people will be forced to find somewhere else to live.

Canada is a rich country in every respect. It also has one of the lowest densities of human population in the world. It will not be possible for Canada to resist the growing tide of refugees. Over the next couple of decades we can expect far more new people than current government estimates show.

Government people are aware of these circumstances but prefer to ignore them rather than truthfully inform voters. Instead, they present a scenario of growing, but manageable, increases in immigration much like slowly increasing the heat under a pot.

They are hopeful that we, like frogs, will not notice the increased heat until it becomes the new normal. Orland Kennedy,

Brookfield