Manitoba has grown by 100,000 people over the last 11 years, Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Peter Bjornson announced.
Statistics Canada figures show, as of Jan. 1, 2011, Manitoba’s population reached 1,243,700, representing a growth of 100,035 people since the fall of 1999. This was an increase of 16,900 people over the last 12 months, the province’s best population growth in nearly 40 years.
“Each day, more and more people are making the move to Manitoba because they know that our province is an attractive and affordable place to work, live and raise a family,” said Bjornson. “Our government’s Provincial Nominee Program has been very successful, accounting for three-quarters of all immigration to Manitoba.”
This growth is more than double the current population of the City of Brandon. Previously it took Manitoba nearly 18 years to add more than 100,000 residents, the minister said.
Manitoba population growth rates of 1.38 and 1.28 per cent in the last two years, respectively, exceeded the Canadian average.
People are moving to Manitoba from around the world to drive this record-breaking growth, the minister said. A total of 15,805 immigrants arrived in Manitoba in 2010. The statistics show this was well ahead of the 13,520 who arrived in 2009 and the largest immigrant arrival since 1946.
Other information released showed:
Manitoba posted the fastest population growth in the country in the fourth quarter of 2010, with an increase of over 3,600 (0.3 per cent). Net international migration (an increase of 2,600) was the principal factor for the growth in the province.
Total net inflow to Manitoba from other jurisdictions in the fourth quarter of 2010 was 2,407. This gave Manitoba the highest quarterly net migration rate per capita of any province.
During 2010, there were 16,143 newborns in Manitoba. Not since 1994 have there been so many births in a 12-month period.
