One immediate impact would be a concentration on people rather than numbers. Hence the title of our report. 1.4 International Trends Of all the emerging trends, none is more dominant than what is loosely called globalization. Globalization is a code word for the breakdown of traditional boundaries among sovereign nations, economic markets and individuals. It challenges the influence of national borders and laws, breaks down artificial barriers in the market place, and extends the abilities of individuals to communicate, acquire knowledge, compare options and make choices.
Globalization creates natural tensions that impact on immigration policy.
In a global environment, there is some debate about where international trends cease and national trends begin. Demographic and Social Factors Canada does not have an explicit population policy. As a country, we have instead articulated a set of policies, programs and legislation concerning employment, immigration, health, income security and social welfare. Without immigration and a rising birth rate, the size of the Canadian population will begin to decline in the 21st century. The population is also ageing, which will place higher demands on certain services, such as health care.