A relatively active economy and generous weekly wages continue to provide incentives for people to stay in Alberta, according to the latest official figures
Alberta’s population growth remains the fastest across the country despite entering the second year of its economic slump, according to latest numbers from Statistics Canada.
As reported by Tracy Johnson for CBC News, Alberta’s population led the rest of Canada in terms of growth during the first quarter of the year, posting an impressive 0.4 per cent and slightly above Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. This translates to an additional 17,883 more people in the province.
This is despite the increasing number of people migrating from Alberta, with official figures pegging the number of individuals who have moved out of the province during the first part of 2016 at 1,788.
“There are a lot of things working in Alberta's favour,” University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said, adding that a relatively active economy (setting aside the beleaguered energy and resource sectors) and generous weekly wages (still the highest in Canada) continue to provide incentives for people to stay.
Statistics Canada attributed the growth mainly to the number of immigrants flowing into Alberta, with 12,050 in the first quarter of the year. This is almost 14 per cent of the 86,216 international immigrants entering Canada’s shores in those three months alone.
A large part of the population increase also stemmed from the 14,240 births in the province during Q1 2016, far outstripping British Columbia’s 10,800 children born in that period.
Deaths in Alberta remained minimal compared (6,619) to the rest of the country, helping maintain a healthy population growth rate. In contrast, B.C. had 9,384 in the first quarter.
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As reported by Tracy Johnson for CBC News, Alberta’s population led the rest of Canada in terms of growth during the first quarter of the year, posting an impressive 0.4 per cent and slightly above Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. This translates to an additional 17,883 more people in the province.
This is despite the increasing number of people migrating from Alberta, with official figures pegging the number of individuals who have moved out of the province during the first part of 2016 at 1,788.
“There are a lot of things working in Alberta's favour,” University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said, adding that a relatively active economy (setting aside the beleaguered energy and resource sectors) and generous weekly wages (still the highest in Canada) continue to provide incentives for people to stay.
Statistics Canada attributed the growth mainly to the number of immigrants flowing into Alberta, with 12,050 in the first quarter of the year. This is almost 14 per cent of the 86,216 international immigrants entering Canada’s shores in those three months alone.
A large part of the population increase also stemmed from the 14,240 births in the province during Q1 2016, far outstripping British Columbia’s 10,800 children born in that period.
Deaths in Alberta remained minimal compared (6,619) to the rest of the country, helping maintain a healthy population growth rate. In contrast, B.C. had 9,384 in the first quarter.
Related Stories:
Your cross-Canada short-term housing forecast
Alberta government to prioritize Fort McMurray builders re: contracts
