StatsCan says Alberta’s population is growing very fast

EDMONTON – Alberta’s population is growing at the fastest pace since 1980, Statistics Canada reports.

During the third quarter, Alberta’s population grew by 33,100 or 0.9 per cent, the agency says, pushing the provincial total to 3,906,800 as of Oct. 1. At current growth rates, Alberta’s population is on track to surpass the four million mark over the next year or so.

The quarterly increase is the second-highest in Alberta’s history. The biggest increase was recorded in the third quarter of 1980, StatsCan reports.

“This growth was mainly the result of net interprovincial migration (+13,900), with net gain from Ontario (+5,900) and British Columbia (+4,000),” the agency says.

Canada’s population exceeded the 35 million mark in the third quarter, according to StatsCan’s preliminary population estimates, reaching 35,002,400 on Oct. 1.

“The population grew by 0.3 per cent since July 1, 2012 and by 1.0 per cent since January 1, 2012. Net international migration accounted for two-thirds (67.0 per cent) of Canada’s population growth for the third quarter of 2012.”

In the third quarter of 2012, net international migration was estimated at 81,700, up from 80,600 in 2011.

“Slightly more than 66,900 immigrants arrived in Canada during the third quarter of 2012, 5,000 fewer than in the same quarter in 2011. The decline was offset by an increase in net flow of non-permanent residents between the third quarter of 2011 (+25,300) and 2012 (+31,500),” StatsCan reports.