Domestic measures can't solve worker shortage

September 1, 2010

The Vancouver Sun

Canada could lessen its economic imperative to continue accepting new immigrants, but the realistic alternatives -- although worth pursuing -- won't be enough to take up the slack when baby boomers retire.

That's the nub of the case made by the Conference Board of Canada in a new paper that reinforces several proimmigration arguments I made in a column last week, and analyzes the potential alternatives.

"While other options for growing the Canadian labour force are available and should be pursued," it says, "immigration remains one of the most effective means of underpinning Canadian economic growth over the medium term." One of the other options -- delaying retirement for existing workers -- is already catching on, thanks largely to recession-related losses on most older Canadians' retirement savings. Many will simply have to work a few years longer to rebuild their portfolios.

Read the full article here..