OTTAWA, April 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Canada's birth rate has fallen to 10.5 live births for every 1,000 population, the lowest level since vital statistics began in the country in 1921, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.

    In 2002, 328,802 babies were born, down 1.5 percent from the previous year, and down 25.4 percent in the last 10 years alone.

    Canada's Ontario and Quebec provinces were responsible for almost 4,400 fewer live births in 2002, a drop that had a huge impact on the overall decline. The only regions that were more fruitful over the previous year, were the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Alberta province.

    Demographic experts say the reasons for the drop-off are obvious: priorities have changed. The biggest change has come fromthe increasing number of Canadian women who are working longer before starting a family.

    In the old days, young married couples had full families by thetime they hit 30. These days, many are pushing 40 before they are pushing strollers for the first time. What's more, more couples are having one-child families.

    Trend researchers say inflexible corporate culture often makes it tough for Canadian women to juggle job and baby. Dina, a web specialist, became a mother at 39, and says it was a calculated decision to stop at one.

    Some Canadian couples are choosing to skip parenthood altogether. Glen McMinn and his wife, both 38, struggled with their decision not to have children, deciding eventually that theydid not want to give up the freedom they already have.

    Demographers say that is a growing trend, partly because children are no longer seen as society's safety net, the ones who took care of aging parents. Enditem