This installment provides an instance where something sounded simple but turned out to be much more complicated than originally expected. I’ve heard frequently that a disproportionately large percentage of the Canadian population lives near its southern border with the United States. U.S. sources generally cite a statistic based on 100 miles (about 160 kilometres) from the border while Canadian sources often cite one based on 150 kilometres (about 93 miles). Either way, depending on where you look and what you chose to believe, somewhere between 70% and over 90% of Canadians live within that narrow band along its southern border. Even reputable sources that would be expected to rigorously check their facts cannot seem to agree on a figure.
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The World Fact Book published by the United State’s Central Intelligence Agency claims that “approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border.” But National Geographic contradicts this by stating that “an estimated 75 percent of Canadians live within 161 kilometers (100 miles) of the U.S. border.” For the tiebreaker I refer to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and their publication “Canada World View.” Specifically I reference their Winter 2005 article, “A Border People.” It’s a fascinating yet brief commentary by Norman Hillmer, a Professor of History and International Affairs at Carleton University. It’s worth reading in its entirety – and I encourage you to do so – but it also included a statement quite appropriate to this issue:
Seventy-five percent of Canada’s population resides in a narrow 150-kilometre band pushing up against the U.S., with close ties south of the line. We are a border people. The border is our livelihood. The border is our identity.
Sorry, CIA and all you other sources who publish dissenting statistics, but I believe I’m inclined to go with National Geographic and Professor Hillmer. However to hedge my bet, if anyone can provide a link to original research that leads to a definitive conclusion, I will gladly provide a retraction.