The problem is world power. Economic power is the power of the day, and to have it, you need population. The biggest powers in the world have hundreds of millions of people. Our closest ally and neighbour has over 400,000,000 people.

we can either, grow our population and therefore our basic economic engine capabilities with that, or, not participate in the leadership at a world stage (like the G7).

That's the existential question you have to ask. what do you want for Canada?