Trends in living include high growth in Toronto and Vancouver from immigrant populations choosing to inhabit these two cities. Smaller urban centres are declining in number. Leisure and retirement centres are growing as a result of early retirement from work by people aged 50-60, and as a result of the increase generally in the percentage of Canadians who are now senior citizens (age 65 and older). In 1996, 12% of Canadians were 65 years or older; this figure is expected to rise to 18.7% by the year 2025.

Also in 1996, the median age of Canadians was 35 years, and this is the highest level yet, although the population of Canada has been aging gradually since before Canada came into being as a country in 1867. The median age is forecasted to be 40 in the year 2016.

Only 10% of Canadian males over the age of 65 continue in the work force today. The establishment of old-age pensions began with the Government of Canada in 1927. In 1966, The Canada/Quebec Pension Plan, a compulsory social insurance plan, came into effect, covering 92% of the labour force. Under its terms, both employees and their employers were required to contribute to a plan that began paying a monthly benefit at age 65 up to 25% of the average industrial wage.

This plan is reviewed every five years and changes are made to it then. Changes are required for a variety reasons, including the size of the work force paying into the plan as contrasted with the growing number receiving benefits from it.