The great Canadian virtue of moderation
Canada’s population
The egg-head brigade wants Canada to have a future population of of 100 million. They say our population is too small for Canada to be a world power.
Small towns are usually pleasant places in which to live, but they can’t afford things like first-class hospitals, theatres and museums, or offer much in the way of employment.
Big cities, in contrast, can afford all these and myriad other things besides. But when big cities become humongous cities they also become crime-ridden, commuting-nightmares and almost ungovernable. Cities such as New York, along with having the best of things, also have the worst of things.
Countries, as with small towns and cities, can also have too few or too many people. So, if a Canada of 32 million is too small, and a future Canada of 100 million would be too big, the great Canadian virtue of moderation will probably declare that a Canada of 50 million, sounds about right.
William Bedford
Toronto
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CFP “Poet in Residence” William Bedford was born in Dublin, Ireland, but has lived in Toronto for most of his life. His poems and articles have been published in many Canadian journals and in some American publications.
