Does immigration hurt the environment?

[canabiz]

How does that answer my question? If we are inefficient, how does increasing the amount of people being inefficient not matter?

I, myself, have made many sacrifices, including limiting my family size despite wanting more than one kid.

Is it fair that immigration, pushed by big business to fuel economic growth, is allowed to cancel out my choices and action?

Have another kid or 2 or 3 man, who cares

[branat]

Actually, your carbon footprint will go down if you have more kids. Keeping everything the same, the carbon calculation will yield a smaller footprint for a man living with his wife and 8 kids than a wife alone. So, go forth and multiply.

[teknoluv]

I, myself, have made many sacrifices, including limiting my family size despite wanting more than one kid.

Are_you_serious?? You should be canonized!

[st7860]

immigrants also tend to be more efficient. western people tend to think a 2000 foot home is necessary to have a spouse and 2 kids. immigrants on the other hand would think thats enough for a spouse and 4 kids.

[stewpy]

What an interesting read after revisiting this topic.

For the record, I am pro-immigration, and our family is first generation Canadian.

In my estimation, our family consumed less overall in past life in Malaysia.

The man on the radio struck a cord with me as I realized my family's 'foot print' would be smaller if not in Canada, that is all.

I thought it was interesting.....

Seems the impetus is on bringing the world up to NA standards, but might that not be hazardous to the world?

Just saying, important to think of all these things in policy planning. Immigration helps us all live a good life, the result of less would be rising costa and a lower standard of living... but isn't that what Kyoto is supposed to do?

Also, when studying at UBC, we discussed the local Haida, and according to anthropology prof, they were third wave of migration, displacing two previous Asian migrations. Does that not make them immigrants too, albeit ~ 5000 years prior to me?

[majesus]

Also, when studying at UBC, we discussed the local Haida, and according to anthropology prof, they were third wave of migration, displacing two previous Asian migrations. Does that not make them immigrants too, albeit ~ 5000 years prior to me?

Agreed, there is no difference in immigrants now and then. The whole idea of immigration hurting the environment is nonsense. If someone lives here, or there, or anywheres, that is irrelvant. It's the way of life and how someone utilizes their environment that causes the impact.

I personally see some goods here in Canada in what we do, at least we have it in our mind sets that we know we are impacting our environment and we are starting (slowly) to do something about it. Recycling, implement laws and standards to protect our environment, etc... We are on moving a long, however, we still have a lot of things to do!

[gman]

immigrants also tend to be more efficient. western people tend to think a 2000 foot home is necessary to have a spouse and 2 kids. immigrants on the other hand would think thats enough for a spouse and 4 kids.

It all depends on where the immigrants came from and their wealth. Many immigrants I know consider 2000 sqft is a small house to have a spouse and 2 kids. In addition, the Canadian I know who were here for generations consider 2000 sqft is a big house for a spouse and 2 kids.