Aging and rural , but still no population like it

We're an aging population here in Nova Scotia.

I'm tired of hearing about it - I'm too old and impatient.

Despite what western and central Canadian columnists say, Atlantic Canada is not overpopulated and non-viable. In fact, even if we become what some suggest - a retirement society - we'll still be aging. We'd need a lot more medical and other increasingly expensive support.

As for an increased population, it would be a godsend - in fact, nothing short of miraculous in this particular day and age - if we were to experience a repetition of something like the Dutch settlement of the 1950s.

The Dutch, Canadian and provincial governments co-operated in settling thousands of mostly rural Dutch immigrants in the province. Churches were part of the settling in process. The settlers went on to help revive our agricultural sector and, in subsequent generations, further fortify our rural and small-town economies and communities. The settlers quickly rooted to the land and had a solid, tangible stake in it and its well-being. Most of the Dutch settlers knew they wouldn't see their homeland again for years, decades - or ever.

That all, however, is a model we're not likely to see again: the times were right, agricultural land was available as previous owners headed off to make their fortunes and agriculture was still recognized as essential.

That realization has diminished through the collective ignorance of more urban folk in the country.

As immigration is essentially a federal responsibility, the province has to be more vociferous in its needs.

The rural aspect has to be emphasized, along with a neo-pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial aptitude. Candidates should be prepared for what could be a spare experience.

To me, an immigrant who settles in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver - maybe even in Halifax - is not a gain. The real gain is when such folks settle in rural areas, beefing up the country's rural economy.

Maybe - as some columnists say - the country would be more efficient if everyone headed to the big city. How would wealth be created? What resources would such a demography harvest and process?

As it is, the country has been artificially centralized over the last 140 years. We're the only major coastal country in which at least one of its coasts - in our case, the one closest to the largest potential markets - is comparatively abandoned and atrophied. It took a lot of effort to turn what could, should or would have been the Singapore of the North Atlantic into what we (don’t) have today.

If the newcomers aren't forthcoming in large enough numbers to help us build our new economy, we'll have to seek other alternatives.

We as a nation ran two major world war efforts - not to mention subsequent economic growth and restructuring in both cases - with populations of between eight and 11 millions. We tend to forget that.

Technology will go a long way to helping us cope with labour shortages and wealth creation. And - as advocated by Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie and Environment and Labour Minister Mark Parent -- a green economy and its technology would be a good multiplier for this, as well as a means to attract internal and external immigrants.

Either way, we have to plan for the future.