THE ROLE OF IMMIGRATION IN CANADA DEMOGRAPHIC OUTLOOK

Canada's contemporary demographic profile has been profoundly influenc ed by the end of the baby boom, decline in the fertility rate, ageing of the population and prospects for an absolute decline in population shortly after the turn of the century. These demographic characteristi cs necessitate an enhanced role for immigration and the need for a mor e proactive immigration policy in order to correct and fine-tune demog raphic trends and to come to grips with the social and economic challe nges and opportunities of the next few decades. The expanded role of m ulticultural immigration conveys a sense of urgency in terms of explor ing and anticipating the economic and social costs and advantages rela ted to immigration that are decidedly more multicultural and multiraci al in composition. Canada's immigration policy will require a realignm ent of economic and social policies as well as cultural and linguistic programmes in view of the multicultural composition of family depende nts, business and entrepreneurial immigrants and refugee movements.