For the first baby boomers, born in 1946, the year 2006 is one swollen with significance: it marks the year when you say "goodbye 50, Hi 60". If you want to go to the sales and buy some 60th birthday presents then you need to add to your list U.S. president George W. Bush, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, Steven Spielberg and Susan Sarandon.
Fifteen years ago, the ratio of Canadians aged 55 to 64 to those aged 15 to 24 was 1 to 6. Ten years ago, the ratio slipped to 1 to 4. Five years from now, there will likely be parity. Too few young workers will be toiling to support too many retired seniors. Stated another way, the median age in Canada in 1966, when the last boomers were born, was 25.4. In 2001, it was 37.6. Canada you are getting old.
What is worrying the fast decaying brains of 60-plus Canadians? At the top of their agenda is financial security and health care, says David Foot, University of Toronto professor of economics.
It seems that Boomers are willing to pay higher taxes for better health care, he says, but, in return, demand excellent, timely care that will prolong life and also provide quality of life. Not exactly a profound conclusion!
And so the article goes on – mostly the same stuff that you will read about the US, UK and Australia – some interesting factlets about Canada. Definitely worth a read. Dick Stroud
No comments:
Post a Comment