The Chair and CEO of Corporate Research Associates believes it may take a crisis for Atlantic Canadians to finally realize the importance of having a population growth strategy.
With a declining population and poor efforts to attract and retain immigrants, pollster Don Mills says the taxpayers who are left are forced to foot the bill.
“It’s only when they get a $3000 tax increase at the household level – like what happened in Newfoundland – that people will say ‘Oh there is a consequence you mean?'”, he notes.
Mills says if immigrants arrive in a community and they don’t find any support for their cultural activities then it can be very hard to stay.
He adds better immigration strategies are needed especially for smaller cities and towns.
