Editor:
I would have been happy to cede the last word to Wade MacLauchlan (‘P.E.I. needs immigration and population strategy’, The Guardian, Jan. 11, 2013). However, despite his introduction of important data into the discussion around population growth in Prince Edward Island, much of myoriginal questioning remains.
Out of respect to Prof. MacLauchlan's substantial track record in higher education, though, let us accept one of his assumptions: Population growth is a magic bullet that will stave off crippling economic problems arising from decreasing birth rates and an aging population. Assuming this to be the case, we are still faced with deciding what the best approach is to achieving population growth: It seems to me there are three options: (a) stop out-migration, (b) increase immigration, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b).
Why focus on one option when there are probably good reasons to look at others? Policy-makers need to consider every angle.
Hans Connor,
Charlottetown
