The numbers game
On Oct. 1, 1995, Canada’s population was estimated by Statistics Canada at 29.733 million persons, an increase of 1.3 percent from the previous year.
Of those 29.733 million, 13.422 million were listed in December of the same year as being working folks. That means 16.311 million Canadians were considered non-working. That includes children, retired people, physically and mentally challenged people, inhabitants of penal institutions and, presumably, the unemployed.The “raw unemployment rate” in December was placed at 10.1 percent.
Finally, I can claim to be part of the majority. I don’t suppose writing a column a week would induce Statistics Canada to consider me as gainfully employed. Just another of these parasites drawing a pension and, other than contributing quarterly to Revenue Canada, not holding up my end.
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Kochia has become a significant problem for Prairie farmers
As you travel through southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, particularly in areas challenged by dry growing conditions, the magnitude of the kochia problem is easy to see.
Economic whiz kids can work out how soon there will be a big bulge of retirements by the yuppies born following the Second World War. With that crowd joining us idlers we’ll have the working people hopelessly outnumbered.
However, don’t get dejected, you 1996 graduates. It will be in our best interests to have you all extremely well paid so the economy can support us in the manner we would prefer.
Since there will be so few of you, the bargaining clout in your hands will be tremendous.It may even be possible for a simple salaried bloke to become a millionaire without benefit of stock options or other income enhancing devices.
The Wayne Gretzkys of 15 years from now may well want to turn in his hockey stick on whatever will replace today’s computers. Certainly sitting in front of a computer monitor and twiddling buttons beats getting butt-ended in the ribs with a hockey stick.
