The number of senior citizens in Canada is about to soar — are we ready?

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By every measure, our population of senior citizens is about to get a whole lot bigger.

According to Statistics Canada, the number of people aged 85 and older is expected to triple by 2073 — to as many as 4.3 million.

Not surprisingly, experts say the spike in elderly Canadians will put increasing pressure on many aspects of society, including the labour market and healthcare systems.

Joining us on Closer Look to break down all the data is Doug Norris, one of Canada’s leading experts on demographics.

Norris spent nearly 30 years with Statistics Canada — where he earned the nickname “Mr. Census” — and is now Senior Vice President and Chief Demographer at Environics Analytics.

He describes the expected surge in Canada’s senior population as “a bit of a sleeper issue that hasn’t received the attention we’re going to need to pay to it.”

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

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