Cory Morgan: Government Think Tank’s Economic Doom Forecast Should Alert Political Parties

April 27, 2025 TruthUSA

Commentary

Policy Horizons Canada, a think tank under the Privy Council, investigates socioeconomic trends and provides insights and forecasts to the highest levels of government. Their latest report illustrates a disturbing vision of a dystopian future for Canada in 15 years. The authors suggest that productive individuals may have left the country, creating gated communities for a small elite, while a significant underclass faces despair, possibly reverting to hunting and gathering for survival.

The report warns of increasing wealth inequality in a declining economy, which could lead to social unrest and worsening mental health issues as despair grows.

According to the report: “In 2040, upward social mobility is nearly non-existent in Canada. Few believe they can improve their lives or those of their children through their own efforts.”

While the predictions are bleak, it may be easy to dismiss them as exaggerated claims from pessimistic researchers rather than acknowledging the possibility of such a dire future. However, the report is grounded in observable socioeconomic trends, illustrating a widening wealth gap as frustrated young Canadians lose hope of home ownership and economic prosperity.

Neither of the leading political parties seems ready to propose the radical policy changes necessary to avert the dire scenarios sketched out by Policy Horizons. For Canada to change its current trajectory, the government needs to shrink and deregulate in a manner that attracts human capital and foreign investment. This involves confronting trade unions, crony capitalism, and environmental groups to enable widespread economic development.

However, such policy suggestions may instill fear in political strategists who wish to avoid confrontation with these groups during election cycles. We find ourselves hoping that the next government has a concealed reform agenda ready to implement promptly upon taking office.

Housing is a fundamental necessity, especially given Canada’s harsh climate. Despite numerous promises and government initiatives, home ownership is increasingly unattainable for many Canadians, and low housing availability is driving up rental costs. The report suggests that current homeowners could evolve into a new aristocracy by acquiring more property to pass down to their children, while the underclass remains trapped in a rental market with no means of advancement. Canada risks morphing into a class-based society characterized by “social siloing,” dividing citizens according to their economic status.

Social divides, coupled with a waning economy that concentrates wealth among a smaller elite, could trigger a chain reaction as talented and ambitious individuals migrate to regions that offer better prospects for upward mobility. This exodus of younger generations would further strain the social systems meant to support an aging population, leading to a demographic imbalance where wealth is retained by older Canadians but supported by increasingly overburdened healthcare resources.

Those remaining in Canada might pursue alternative strategies for survival, forming cooperatives for housing, health, and food production. While these solutions could be practical, they may also create a form of tribalism and social insularity within large groups, distancing themselves from governmental authority and fostering distrust in public institutions. Such environments could become breeding grounds for discontent.

If frustration mounts, individuals may direct their anger toward scapegoats such as immigrants or other identifiable groups, exacerbating the potential for social conflict that could escalate into widespread violence.

While the world described in the report may resonate with ardent libertarians, it presents a harsh and grim reality in practice.

Most of the alarming scenarios put forth in the report are already unfolding, existing on a continuum. If existing trends persist, these predictions could swiftly manifest.

Had the conclusions come from an obscure or private advocacy group, their validity may be questioned or dismissed. However, Policy Horizons Canada is a government entity, and its forecasts warrant serious consideration. The think tank serves as a metaphorical canary in a coal mine, providing a warning that the future is not predetermined. However, to avoid a grim outcome, the government must exhibit the will and courage for necessary reform.

Ironically, this situation presents one of the rare instances where we hope the competing parties in the election may be less than forthright in their proposals for a more grandiose version of the current government trajectory. Perhaps they recognize the seriousness of the report but feel unable to campaign effectively on the solutions.

Let us hope that, for once, they are merely putting on a show while concealing a genuine reform agenda. Because continuing down the current path could indeed lead to a dark future.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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