The Century Initiative is a non-partisan, charitable organization concerned with one thing: Promoting a prosperous, resilient, and globally influential Canada for generations to come.
As the election campaign intensifies, there has been an intentional and deeply cynical effort to mischaracterize our work. Let’s set the record straight:
- Canada faces real demographic, economic and security challenges. While our goal of reaching 100 million people by 2100 is often cited, our focus has always been on what that growth enables—economic strength, innovation, and a high quality of life for all Canadians.
- Century Initiative has never advocated for mass, unplanned immigration. Our goal is to ensure long-term, sustainable economic growth for Canada by advocating for a national smart growth framework supported by policy coordination, workforce planning, and infrastructure investment.
- Century Initiative is not political – but we have become a target of convenience. Efforts to mischaracterize our work are politically opportunistic and do a disservice to voters. We remain committed to facts, informed policy, and Canada’s future.
Separating Fact from Fiction
Fiction: Century Initiative is a lobby group.
- Fact: Century Initiative is a registered charity, not a lobby group. While we have engaged with all three major Canadian political parties, we do so in a non-partisan and transparent manner, advocating for policies that support long-term economic resilience and prosperity for all Canadians.
Fiction: Century Initiative wants mass, unplanned immigration.
- Fact: Century Initiative supports smart, gradual, and sustainable immigration growth — consistent with historical norms. We have advocated for growth rates of 1.15% to 1.25% of Canada’s population annually and emphasized the importance of aligning immigration with infrastructure, housing, and essential services. In fact, recent immigration levels have exceeded what we have recommended.
Fiction: CI has advocated for 100 million immigrants.
- Fact: Our 100 million population vision refers to Canada's total population by 2100, not immigration numbers. It’s meant to spark national conversations about smart, responsible growth—it is not a policy target. The point is to set bold, forward-looking goals that reflect the scale of the opportunity ahead. Canada needs that kind of ambition to thrive in a changing world.
Fiction: CI wants uncontrolled population growth.
- Fact: We advocate for managed, long-term growth supported by policy coordination, workforce planning, and infrastructure investment. As Canada faces increasing demographic and economic pressures, we encourage a conversation about smart policies and responsible population planning—not unchecked growth.
Fiction: CI was designed by corporate elites to push for low-wage workers.
- Fact: This is a baseless and harmful conspiracy theory. Our mission is to promote growth that supports economic strength, social cohesion, and opportunity for all Canadians.
Fiction: CI controls immigration policy or is part of government.
- Fact: We are an independent, non-governmental organization. We do not set immigration policy. What we do is contribute research, analysis, and recommendations to help inform better, evidence-based decisions for Canada’s future.
Fiction: CI generated problems for Canada’s immigration system.
- Fact: We have no authority over immigration policy. In fact, we’ve called for reforms to Canada’s temporary migration system and better long-term planning to address current gaps in housing, services, and integration.
Fiction: CI wants “Mega Cities.”
- Fact: No. While referenced in a 2019 report, this idea was retired in 2020. We shifted focus to measurable indicators in our National Scorecard, such as infrastructure, housing, and environmental sustainability—to support smart growth in communities of all sizes.
