Old predictions miss 2000 target

The year was 1969. Men had just walked on the moon, and the 21st century seemed very far away. That was the year a creative Quebec photographer, Gaby Desmarais, produced Canada 2000 A.D., a collection of forecasts by business leaders on what Canada would be like when a new millennium began.

An introduction by trade minister Jean-Luc Pepin brimmed over with optimism:

“A new constitutional framework, developed during the latter third of the twentieth century, will have paved the way for new generations of Canadians able to cope with the problems of this great land with a greater spirit of national purpose and a greater sense of mutual trust. ‘Canadian federalism,’ a 21st century formula for unity in diversity, will inspire all multi-ethnic states.”

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In some cases, the business leaders did no better than the minister. The business predictions included:

A representative of Magnetics International Ltd. thought permanent ferrite magnets would be extensively used in agriculture, providing strong magnetic fields to speed the germination of seed.
Canadian Pacific thought it would take 80 minutes to go around the world by air, but noted that the rail system would still be “the best and most economical” method of carrying commodities.
Executives from several companies predicted extensive use of automated, driverless vehicles, ranging from urban minibuses to giant intercity freight transports with their own exclusive highway lanes. Everyone appeared to take it for granted that the road system would be well maintained.

A Bombardier Ltd. official thought Canadian troops would scoot about the Arctic in jet-propelled, hovercraft-style snowmobiles at 300 miles an hour.
Quebec Poultry Ltd. believed that poultry would be the world’s main source of animal protein. Automated plants would use “ultra-sounds” to pluck chickens. “The staff, programmers, technicians and executives, will have nothing in common with the farm hand of old days.”
From Vachon Inc. came the prediction that “all potentially harmful elements” in food would be strictly controlled, while “vitamins, hormones, steroids and other supplements” would be added to certain foods.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it looks like Canada won’t have advanced as much by 2000 as the business leaders thought. But ambitious, visionary goals can help achieve progress. It wouldn’t hurt if more of today’s leaders, in both politics and industry, looked further down the road than the next election or the next annual report.