Quebec's population shrinking; Figures expected to show strong growth in Prairies, Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mike De Souza, Postmedia News

Major changes in the makeup and population of the Canadian federation will come into sharp focus next week as Statistics Canada unveils the first results of its 2011 census.

This glimpse at Canada's people won't be without controversy, however. Some experts have questioned the federal government's 2010 decision to replace its mandatory long-form questionnaire, previously sent to a representative sample of the population, with a voluntary household survey.

by Joe Friesen, The Globe and Mail

Stephen Harper owes his success in no small part to his mastery of demographics, having tailored his election platform to winning enough seats in key pockets of Ontario and elsewhere to achieve a majority.

Now, the renowned tactician has turned his attention to a grand vision, a once-in-a-generation kind of reform that would change how we save for retirement, whom we admit to the country and how we orient our economic policy.