linebacker.j 🇨🇦

🇨🇦 The Billionaire Who Loved Canada's 750,000 Immigration Target Met a billionaire at a luxury hotel in Toronto. I asked him why he was so excited about Canada’s economy when ordinary Canadians were struggling to make ends meet. He smiled. “Have you seen the Liberal government’s immigration plan?” I said, “The one targeting 380,000 permanent resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals every year?” “Exactly. That’s 750,000 admissions and arrivals.” I asked what made him so excited. “Think about it. People need somewhere to live.” “So?” “I own rental properties.” “They need electricity, water, transportation and infrastructure.” “And?” “I invest in utilities and infrastructure.” I asked whether Canada had enough housing, hospitals, schools and public transit to accommodate population growth. He laughed. “That’s the beautiful part. When infrastructure can’t keep up, governments need billions to expand it.” “And who provides the capital?” He raised his glass. I wasn’t impressed. “Millions of Canadians already struggle to find a family doctor. Emergency departments are overcrowded. Young people can’t find decent jobs.” He nodded. “Those are serious problems.” “Then why are you celebrating?” “Because you’re looking at population growth as a citizen. I’m looking at it as an investor.” I asked him about employment. “Canada’s unemployment rate is 6.7%. Youth unemployment is 13.7%. Where are the jobs supposed to come from?” He shrugged. “That’s Ottawa’s responsibility.” “What about competition for housing, hospital beds, university placements, electricity, water and public services?” “Government planning.” “And what about productivity? Shouldn’t Canada be investing in businesses that produce more per worker instead of relying on population growth?” He smiled. “You’re asking how to make Canadians wealthier. I’m asking where future demand will come from.” I sat there thinking. More people can strengthen an economy. But more people without enough housing, infrastructure, capital investment and productive jobs can also mean more competition for limited capacity. The next morning, another Liberal minister was celebrating Canada’s economic potential. The billionaire was studying a new infrastructure investment opportunity. And an ordinary Canadian was sitting in traffic, waiting for a doctor’s appointment and wondering how to afford next month’s rent. I finally understood. Ottawa measures how much the economy grows. Bay Street measures how much cash flow it can generate. Ordinary Canadians measure how much of their paycheque is left. Three very different ways to measure prosperity. And only one of them determines whether your standard of living is actually improving. 🇨🇦