Canada’s business leaders say that the nation’s strong population growth is good for the country, according to the most recent survey of COMPAS' special panel for The Financial Post under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody. Depending on the details, Canada could benefit from even stronger population growth. Recently released census data put Canada’s population growth at 5.4%, the highest among G8 countries in 2001-2006. Most of the growth took place in the suburbs surrounding Toronto and Calgary. According to Canada’s CEOs and business leaders the country is benefiting from the strong population growth and there are some slight suggestions that we could benefit from somewhat higher population growth and a slightly decreased immigration rate.

Overall, business leader support the robust population increases in Alberta and Ontario, saying they are good for Canada’s economy and have neutral affects on Canadian society and national unity. The only downsides, as they see it, are the slightly negative impacts on infrastructure and the environment.

These are the principal findings from the weekly business web-survey conducted by COMPAS for the Financial Post under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody LLP.

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