Saturday, 21 February 2026

Canada is losing ground everyday more and more






Based on reports and economic data from late 2025 and early 2026, there are significant indicators suggesting that Canada is facing a period of economic, social, and productivity decline relative to its peers.

AI Overview




Based on reports and economic data from late 2025 and early 2026, there are significant indicators suggesting that Canada is facing a period of economic, social, and productivity decline relative to its peers.
Here is a breakdown of the evidence supporting this view:

1. Economic Decline and StagnationGDP Per Capita Drop: Real GDP per capita in Canada has been declining, with some reports noting it is lower than it was in 2019, indicating that population growth is masking a decline in individual prosperity.
Weak Growth: The Canadian economy has been described as "sputtering," with growth often barely exceeding 1% despite population increases.
Low Productivity: Canada’s productivity growth has lagged behind the United States for 20 years and has recently entered an outright decline, falling by an average of 2.4% annually over the last three years.
Investment Lag: Business investment is low, which hampers long-term growth and competitiveness.
LinkedIn +5

2. Cost of Living and Social Pressures Housing Crisis: High interest rates have combined with high housing costs to severely impact affordability, leading to high levels of consumer debt.
Declining Quality of Life: Reports indicate that Canada has dropped significantly on global quality of life indices—from 12th in 2015 to 27th in 2025—falling behind countries like Saudi Arabia and Belgium.
Generational Inequity: A significant majority of Canadians, including 75% of those under 35, believe the next generation will have a lower standard of living.
Unemployment Concerns: Youth unemployment has risen to levels not seen since the 1990s, reaching 14.7% in some reports.
Yahoo! Finance Canada +4

3. Industrial and Structural Weakness Manufacturing Stagnation: Manufacturing activity has seen significant declines, often running in the negative year-over-year, despite a competitive exchange rate.
Job Losses: Significant job losses have been reported in the forestry and steel industries.
Resource Dependence: Challenges in transitioning to a "clean economy" while relying on traditional resource exports have created economic instability.
YouTube +4

4. International Standing Falling Behind Peers: Canada has lost ground to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand in GDP per person, according to OECD data.
Currency Weakness: The Canadian dollar has hit multi-year lows against major trading partners.
Fraser Institute +2
Summary
The data paints a picture of a nation experiencing a "lost decade" of economic growth, with rising anxiety over declining living standards, high costs of living, and a, slow-growing, low-productivity economy that is failing to keep up with its peers.
National Post +4




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