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The Daily


Thursday, June 28, 2007
First quarter 2007 (preliminary)

Statistics Canada today released population estimates for Canada, the provinces and territories, as of April 1, 2007.

During the first quarter, Canada's population increased 0.23%. International migration accounted for two-thirds of the increase.

As of April 1, Canada's population was estimated at 32,852,800, up 75,500 from January 1, 2007. Only the four westernmost provinces had growth rates at or above the national average.

Alberta again led the provinces in growth. Its population increased 0.57% over the first quarter, more than twice the national average. However, this growth was slower than what was measured over the course of the first quarter of 2006 (+0.77%).

The estimates show a slowdown in interprovincial migration for Alberta, a trend that started in the last quarter of 2006. The province, whose population has been booming since the second half of 2004, had a net inflow of +7,400 people in the first quarter of 2007, less than half the net in-migration of +15,600 people observed between January and March 2006.

This slowdown occurred in large part because more people left Alberta for other parts of the country. As a result, net gains from interprovincial migration increased for most other jurisdictions, except for Quebec and Yukon.

British Columbia and Saskatchewan gained population in their exchanges with Alberta for a second quarter in a row.

British Columbia's population increased 0.34%, the second-fastest increase among the provinces and the highest first-quarter growth for the province since 1997. This was due to an important increase in the number of non-permanent residents and higher net gains from interprovincial migration. British Columbia's net gains from other provinces were the highest for a first quarter since 1996.

Manitoba's quarterly growth of 0.25% exceeded the national average for only the second time since 1986. This was due to smaller losses from interprovincial migration and the highest first-quarter levels ever in immigrants and non-permanent residents.

Saskatchewan's population rose 0.23% as it continued to receive people from Alberta. Saskatchewan recorded its highest first-quarter interprovincial migration net gains since 1976.

Population growth in Ontario, at 0.22%, was lower than the national average for a third quarter in a row, a situation not observed since 1981. This was due to strong losses in interprovincial migration, especially to Alberta, and the lowest number of immigrants for a first quarter since 1999.

Quebec's population rose 0.14%, slightly slower than for the same period in the previous year. An increase in net outflows resulting from interprovincial migration, especially to Alberta, offset the increase in births and net gains from international migration. Quebec's birth rate exceeded the national average for the third consecutive quarter, a feat not seen since the 1970s.

For the first time, the four Atlantic provinces all recorded more deaths than births during the same quarter. This means that these provinces can rely only on international and interprovincial migration for an increase in their population.

Prince Edward Island's population rose 0.12%, the fifth consecutive quarterly gain. New Brunswick's population grew for a second consecutive quarter (+0.04%). Nova Scotia's population slipped 0.09%, the third straight quarterly decline. Newfoundland and Labrador suffered its largest first-quarter loss (-0.39%) since 2001.

In the North, Nunavut's population growth, at 0.87%, was more than three times the national average, due to its fertility rate, the strongest in the country. The population of the Northwest Territories was virtually unchanged (+0.04%), while the population of the Yukon declined 0.48%.

Available on CANSIM: tables 051-0005, 051-0006, 051-0017, 051-0020, 051-0037, 051-0045 and 053-0001.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3231, 3233 and 3601.

The publication Quarterly Demographic Estimates, Vol. 21, no. 1 (91-002-XWE, free) is now available from the Publications page of our website.

For more information, to obtain additional data, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-767-5611 or 613-951-2320; fax: 613-951-2307; demography@statcan.gc.ca), Demography Division.

Tables. Table(s).