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Harper made the revelations in a major keynote speech Thursday at the World Economic Forum, the annual gathering of the world’s political and business elite.

As expected, the prime minister was critical of Europe and the United States for not adequately dealing with the economic problems that have gripped them in recent months and years.

But it was Harper’s assessment of the major changes that lie ahead for Canada that stood out in the speech.

“In the months to come, our government will undertake major transformations to position Canada for growth over the next generation,” said Harper.

The Conservative government will table a budget in the coming weeks that is expected to set the stage for years of deficit-slashing and government reform.

“Under our government, Canada will make the transformations necessary to sustain economic growth, job creation and prosperity now and for the next generation,” said Harper.

He said that means two things: “Making better economic choices now. And preparing ourselves now for the demographic pressures the Canadian economy faces.”

Harper said the country’s aging population has become a backdrop for his concern about how to keep the country strong over the long term.

“If not addressed promptly, this has the capacity to undermine Canada’s economic position and, for that matter, that of all western nations well beyond the current economic crises.”

Indeed, Harper said the country’s demographics — an aging population and a dwindling workforce — constitute “a threat to the social programs and services that Canadians cherish.”