Inflation is causing some to think twice about having kids: ‘It doesn’t make sense’

Is there a way to know if you're financially ready to have children? Even in this economy? As the cost of living remains high in Canada, experts and women give their advice.

Raising children – or choosing to even have them – can be daunting with the high cost of living in Canada.

After giving birth to her first child in August of last year, 24-year-old Autumn Oliver-Giasson has decided to hold off on having more children until the high cost of living in Canada eases.

“It’s just not plausible. It doesn’t make sense,” she told Global News from McQuade, N.B.

Canada’s fertility rate has been on a steady decline since 2008, according to a 2021 report from Statistics Canada.

In 2020, as the trend only intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada experienced the lowest number of births since 2006 in 2020.

Now, with decades-high inflation rates in Canada, some are putting the decision to have children on the backburner.

Oliver-Giasson said she and her husband are “struggling” with prices as they take care of their son.

And with childcare shortages, Oliver-Giasson is unsure whether she’ll actually be able to return to work full-time once her leave is up.