Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says “astronomical” immigration can harm Quebec’s birthrate?

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon recently stated that “astronomical” immigration can harm Quebec’s birthrate. According to him, housing and accessibility of services, particularly daycare spaces, are determining factors affecting the decision to have children. “The two are related,” he said. Leaving aside the tenuous connection between “mass” immigration and the housing crisis, which experts say is misleading or largely exaggerated, do these factors really affect birthrates? In 2023, Quebec recorded one of the lowest fertility rates in its history. From 1.48 children per woman in 2022, the rate dropped to 1.38, staying just above the historic low of 1.36 in 1987. Can this drop be linked to recent events when it’s part of a general downward trend observed for decades? Low-fertility woes are not unique to Quebec. Canada registered a dramatic drop in fertility rates starting in 1960 when the contraceptive pill came along. Another major drop followed in 1969 when contraception and abortion were decriminalized. The downward trend has continued ever since, as women have more control over their family planning and financial prospects. While economic challenges could delay or prevent some from having children, considerations to have children or not (and how many) go way beyond financial factors. Since low birthrates have far-reaching economic and social consequences for a country — including economic stagnation or decline — there’s nothing inherently alarming about societies with declining birthrates and an aging population favouring pro-natalist policies. Read More