Census shows West is the best
Posted Feb 8, 2012 7:48 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Statistics Canada has started to release information from the latest national census.
Canada’s population grew by almost six per cent over the past five years, with almost 33.5-million people now calling the Great White North home.
Calgary’s population grew at an even faster rate, rising by 12.6 per cent; just over 1.2-million people live in the Stampede city.
In terms of population growth, 10 of the 15 fastest growing cities in the country are located in Alberta.
Chestermere, Airdrie and Okotoks are among the centres posting population increases of more than 40 per cent between 2006 and 2011.
The numbers also show for the first time in Canadian history, more people live west of Ontario than in Quebec and Atlantic Canada combined.
The Deputy Chief Economist with BMO Financial, Doug Porter, tells 660News the figures reinforce the economic strength of the West.
Porter says Canada’s resource rich provinces managed to weather the recession better than other regions, attracting those looking for a pay cheque.
He expects the trend will continue.
Statistics Canada also reports less than one in five Canadians now live in rural areas, representing 18 per cent of the country’s population, down from 30 per cent 50 years ago.
