Why Some Canadians are Choosing Not to Have Kids

From lifestyle changes to global warming concerns, many Canadians are choosing to delay or forgo starting a family.

Some Canadians feel stuck between a rock and a hard place when considering starting a family, while others are concerned about what their child’s future could look like.

CTV News asked Canadians to explain why they’re delaying their family planning, and many pointed to the higher cost of living coupled with fears of being unable to adequately provide for their prospective little ones.

Even though Ashley Ruhl, 31, and her fiancé have minimal debt and a combined income of over $100,000, they struggle to buy a house in London, Ont., and cannot fathom affording a child. “How in the world am I supposed to bring life into this world?” Ruhl told CTVNews.ca. “I can’t guarantee that I will even have a roof over my head, let alone afford to put my future kid in sports.”

Affordable housing is top of mind for most Canadians. The average cost of a home in Canada was around $696,179 in June, and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $1,918. “Why would I have a child knowing that I will probably end up relying on government help?” Ruhl said.

While several Canadians cited financial concerns as a primary factor, others were more worried about the future their children would have and the sacrifices needed to start a family.

‘It’s this or that’

Michaela Hillery, 32, loves children and is involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews. However, the realities of daycare shortages, university tuition costs, and extracurricular activities spike her anxiety. “For the last decade, I thought I would have children, which for many is the presumed next step in life,” Hillery told CTV News. “But considering the reality of the way life is, this might not happen for me. I would have to sacrifice my career and financial goals.”

Can Earth Sustain More Life?

For 26-year-old Brandon Dowhaniuk, the climate crisis is the biggest factor preventing them from having children. “There are plenty of things that are already happening and will continue to get worse over time, such as more extreme weather events, scarcity of resources, and decrease in air quality,” Dowhaniuk told CTV News. “I don’t feel good about bringing new life into a world when their quality of life in the future is so uncertain.”

The Earth shattered global annual heat records, with 2023 being the hottest to date. Extreme weather events and climate change concerns lead Dowhaniuk to consider adoption as a potential avenue for starting a family, but only when they’re financially able to do so.