100 Million?

Does the name Dominic Barton ring a bell?

Well, Google is your friend.

Mr Barton is a highly accomplished man – a Rhodes Scholar, a former Chancellor of one of Canada’s top universities and an influential businessman. He was, also, Canada’s Ambassador to China or, some felt, China’s Ambassador to Canada! 

He is known as   Bao Damin (鲍达民) in China, some people felt that he exerted too great an influence on the Justin Trudeau regime in 2019-2021.

Mr Barton is also connected to the über powerful Desmarais clan and its Power Corporation which does a lot of business in China.

But Mr Barton was also the co-founder of the Century Initiative, which is aimed at increasing Canada’s population to 100 million by 2100. In addition to immigration, this work focuses on urban development and infrastructure, early childhood supports, employment and entrepreneurship, and education.

100 million by 2100? Can it be done? Should it be done?

Where would we find 60 million more Canadians in the next 75 years?

Birthrates are declining all over the world. But maybe we could have a selective, effective immigration policy.

Let’s take a look:

1. First let’s say that every person in Hong Kong – anyone holding as Hong Kong ID or a British National (Overseas) passport is entitled, automatically, to refugee status in Canada – but that’s a tiny number, even if we emptied the place.
2. Ukraine! We should also grant near automatic refugee status to those fleeing Putin’s violence in Ukraine and welcome them to the vibrant Ukrainian-Canadian community. 
3. Philippines. There is a large and growing Filipino-Canadian community in Canada. They have proven to be hard working and loyal.

But let’s also take a look at who we do NOT need:

1. We do not need anyone from President elect Trump’s ‘shit-holes’ which includes the entire Middle East (except for Israel), North Africa or Indonesia. We have had enough attacks on synagogues and enough marches with people waving ISIS flags.
2. We do not need newcomers from countries where illiberal dictatorships are the dominant political culture – that mean most of the Americas South of Texas.

Let me be clear: NOT all or even most Muslims are ‘bad.’ I have a few Muslim friend who, I can say with 99% certainty are just as ‘good’  and ‘just’ as loyal and just as accomplished Canadians as you or I.

We can and should have a bigger, more productive population – but we need skilled people who are wiling to pitch in and build.

And what about Québec? Québec wants only French speaking immigrants but when you look at La Francophonie most of it’s members come from Donald Trump’s ‘shit-holes.’

And let’s be careful about credentials. It is a shame when we have doctors driving taxis – a few weeks ago I had a lively chat about quantum physics with a ride share driver. He, a Muslim, I think, was driving and taking university courses to get himself into the part of the working economy where the belongs. But, do you really want someone who was educated in, say, Kazakhstan or Burundi to be removing your appendix?

Food for thought, I hope.