Canadian Provinces Benefiting From Rapid Population Increase In Second Quarter Of 2019
Immigration continued to drive population increases in Canada’s provinces in the second quarter of this year — a three month period that saw a rapid population increase in one of Canada’s provinces, with other Atlantic and Prairie provinces expected to see massive growth.
Generally, Canada’s population rose by 181,057 during those three (3) months and was estimated to be at 37,589,262 on July 1, 2019.
Statistics Canada declared this figure represents the second-highest quarterly increase, in absolute numbers, in forty-eight (48) years.
International migration (temporary residents, immigrants and returning emigrants) “are the major drivers of Canada’s population growth, accounting for eighty-five (85) per cent of the quarterly growth,” Statistics Canada released.
A record of about 94,281 newcomers to Canada arrived during the second quarter of 2019.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) led provinces in growth
Net international immigration was positive in all provinces and in the Yukon Territory between month April and July.
Statistics Canada call it the “main growth driver, reaching levels seldomly if ever, seen during a second-quarter” and attributed the growth majorly to “the high number of newcomers.”
The province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) released what Statistics Canada called the “most fastest population growth in Canada” in the last three (3) months.
Prince Edward Island’s nation-leading population increase of 0.8 per cent during the second quarter was driven mainly by net international immigration, which was responsible for 78.4 per cent of overall population growth in the province.
Net international immigration was also the major contributor to the Yukon Territory’s second-place spot in terms of population growth in that same period. The Yukon’s population increased by 0.6 per cent over the second quarter, with net international migration amounting for 62 per cent of the increase.
There was rapid population increase in Quebec (87.1 per cent) and Ontario (85.5 per cent) second quarter.
It also played a pivotal role in population increase in Alberta (61.1 per cent) and British Columbia (78.2 per cent).
Statistics Canada declared net international migration helped balance interprovincial migratory losses in Saskatchewan and Manitoba of -2,719 and -2,802 people, respectively, helping both provinces finish the second quarter with positive growth rates.
International immigration also helped balanced negative natural increases (that is more deaths than births) in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, allowing both provinces to finish the second quarter with population increase rates of 0.5 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively.
International immigration was also noticed in Newfoundland and Labrador, even though the province finished the quarter with negative population increases due to a high number of deaths compared to outmigration and birth to other provinces.
Rapid population increase is expected in Quebec, Atlantic Provinces, Prairie Provinces, Territories
The populations of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are also expected to increase over the next twenty-five (25) years. Combined, the two provinces could surpass the population of Quebec, according to all forecasted scenarios, by 2043.
Most scenarios showed Quebec’s population growing at a less rapid rate than the rest of other Canadian provinces. Whereas Quebec’s share of the total Canadian population stood at 22.6 per cent in 2018, Statistics Canada’s forecasts showed it diminishing to between 20.1 per cent and 20.6 per cent by 2043.
Low, and in some cases, negative population growth is projected for Canada’s Atlantic Provinces, who are shown to represent “either a decreasing or stable share of the Canadian population by 2043,” Statistics Canada says.
Canada’s population in the three territories could rise in all scenarios, yet their share of the total Canadian population would still remain at about 0.3 per cent over the next twenty-five (25) years.
