Chapter 4 1980 to our times: Societal Choices in Contemporary Quebec Section 3: Social Choices in Contemporary Quebec Part 1
Pages that correspond to this presentation Economic choices in contemporary Quebec: Pages 315-327
Aging of the Quebec Population Like many other Western countries Canada/Quebec s population is getting older average age of the population is increasing Many Baby Boomers combined with low birth rates = an older population The fact that Quebec s population is getting older affects decisions made by different levels of government
Falling Birth Rates Since the 1960s (post Baby Boom) birth rates decline continues into the 1980s Over time couples choose to start having children later in life (on average) First child in 1980 age 27.4 First child in 2015 age 30.6 How can this affect the number of children per family?
Falling Birth Rates Birth Rates in Quebec (births per 1000 inhabitants per year) Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 315
Increasing Number of Seniors The number of people reaching age 65 and living beyond the age of 65 continues to increase Baby Boomers become Senior Boomers People are now living longer Life expectancy in 1980 75 years Life expectancy in 2015 82 years Why are people now living longer?
Increasing Number of Seniors Age groups as percentage of the population Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 316
Increasing Number of Seniors Seniors as a percentage of the population and a projection to the year 2061 See the Montreal Gazette article HERE See a CBC article on seniors outnumbering kids HERE Source: Montreal Gazette.<http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebecs-eldercare-challenge-a-crisis-comes-of-age>
Aging Population and the Job Market As the population ages more and more retirements Because there are less people that are the right age to work not enough people to replace the retired workers
Aging Population and Public Finances How will the ever increasing population of seniors affect the government? How much money the government needs to spend on seniors? Increase in seniors = increase in healthcare costs = more money spent by the government on healthcare An aging population puts more pressure on the healthcare system in Quebec
Aging Population and Public Finances Percentage of Quebec government spending on healthcare services Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 317
Aging Population and Public Finances Quebec government spending in 2016 Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 318
Aging Population and Public Finances Since the early 1990s The Quebec government has made choices to cut back on certain medical services and introduced/increased the fees for services and/or medication Many Quebecers have felt as though the government has dropped the ball of providing healthcare to citizens Consider that the increase in seniors and the number of in the workforce is getting smaller (ages 15 to 64) this means that less people will need to pay for healthcare services for more people What will this do to income taxes? They will increase for each person in the workforce!
Quebec government promotes the family The Quebec government is trying to increase the population the goal is youth. Not seniors Decrease the average age of the population What is the plan? Increase the birth rate in Quebec How? Provide subsidies and services for families
Quebec government promotes the family What are the subsidies and services? Subsidized child care services (Quebec government pays for part of a child s daycare costs) Tax credit if you are responsible for children (pay less taxes or get more money back at tax time) Family allowances (families receive money each month amounts vary depending on family income and number of children) Aide for families with children with special needs if a child requires a wheelchair the parents may receive funds to help pay for an adapted transport vehicle See the Historica Canada website addressing the Quebec family policy HERE
Quebec government promotes the family Other examples of how Quebec established family assistance Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 319
Quebec government promotes the family Source: Cheneliere Onine: <https://platform.cheneliere.ca/beta/index.php?username=soneill05@lbpearson.ca&token=cbae2a4d548a39ee036efef623dce785&expiration=1526365196&isbn=n782765054603 >
Growth of the Indigenous population The Indigenous population in Canada has experienced growth over the last in recent years In addition the average age of the Indigenous population is younger than the rest of Canada 2011: Indigenous population = 46% of Indigenous population under 25 years of age Rest of Canada = 29% of Indigenous population under 25 years of age
Contribution of Immigration Immigration has helped keep the population in Quebec from declining immigration has helped balance the declining birth rates In fact immigration is the driving force behind the growth of Quebec s population Quebec has seen immigrants from many different ethno-cultural groups Ethno-cultural groups = groups of people that have different cultures, religions, languages, traditions and countries of origin
Contribution of Immigration In recent years a question related to immigration to Quebec How to integrate immigrants into Quebec society? This has been a debate that has become more prevalent recently Some Francophones in Quebec have expressed concerns that immigrant gravitate to the Anglophone community or that immigrants are not integrating into Quebec society These concerns are expressed despite the fact that Bill 101 forces immigrant children to attend French schools
Contribution of Immigration Immigration classes 2017, 2018 and projected to 2020 See a CBC news article and video about the influx of immigrants to Canada over the next 3 years HERE Source: CBC.<http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/immigration-canada-2018-1.4371146>
Contribution of Immigration Distribution of immigration to Quebec (by continent) Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 321
Contribution of Immigration National Household Survey Visible minorities in urban areas in Quebec Source: National Household Survey.<http://www.veq.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Analysis_Immigration-in-Quebec-2014.pdf>
Contribution of Immigration The government has tried to find a balance between integration and the rights of people who are part of cultural minority groups 1986 Quebec National Assembly denounces all forms of racism and racial discrimination (Quebec Liberal government) 1990 the Quebec Liberal government puts forth a policy on immigration and integration called Let s Build Quebec Together
Contribution of Immigration Important points linked to Let s Build Quebec Together (1990) Quebec is a society where French is the common language of public life Quebec is a democratic society and every person is encouraged to participate within the democratic framework Quebec is a pluralist society it respects the diverse opinions of its citizens and encourages them to enter in respectful dialogue on meaningful issues
Contribution of Immigration Francization classes for immigrants in Quebec Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 320
1991 Quebec-Canada Accord on immigration Canada gave Quebec FULL power in selecting immigrants to Quebec However Quebec now had full responsibility to receive and integrate immigrants into Quebec society In terms of numbers: During the 1990s 355,000 immigrants to Quebec 2000-2010 420,000 immigrants to Quebec
Other government policies on immigration and integration 2007 Canadian government adopts another policy on diversity to combat racism and forms of discrimination 2016 Another Quebec government policy on immigration called Together, We are Quebec The goal of this policy was to establish more effective ways to integrate and francisize immigrants in order for them to feel comfortable participating in Quebec society See the Together, We are Quebec official document HERE
Connections to the Precisions of Learning