STILL GROWING
Saskatchewan’s population continues to grow, increasing by just more than 5,000 people in 2014.
REGINA — Saskatchewan’s population grew by about 5,000 people during the first quarter of 2014, due primarily to net international migration of about 3,000 people.
Matthew Bowles arrived in the province from the United Kingdom about three months ago. He doesn’t have plans to go back, he told reporters in Regina on Wednesday.
“I lost my job in the U.K. My friend had moved over here about 18 months prior, so I contacted him,” Bowles said, noting he got a job at Redhead Equipment.
“Here I am. It’s a lovely place. I’ve really enjoyed being here. My family’s really keen on it. The children are doing very well in school. It’s much more relaxed than anywhere I’ve been in Britain.”
Bowles hadn’t heard much about Saskatchewan before deciding to move here. Now, he’s applying for permanent residency and says he would recommend the province to anyone.
Kyle Senger, Redhead Equipment’s director of marketing, said finding the employees the company needs due to its continued growth has required recruiting from elsewhere.
“We’ve been grabbing employees both inside the province and outside of the province. The demand has increased for our products and we’ve had to get staff to fit the demand,” Senger said.
Provincial Economy Minister Bill Boyd predicted 75,000 to 80,000 people will be required to fill jobs that are available in Saskatchewan as the province keeps growing.
“Our plan is to grow it to 1.2 million people. We’re at 1.12 million now, so our province is doing very well. Our economy continues to be very strong here in Saskatchewan and as a result of that, there will be continued job growth here in our province,” Boyd said.
Growth means infrastructure challenges for hospitals, schools, highways and housing, among other areas, but he thinks those issues are “manageable,” he said.
A natural increase — births over deaths — of about 1,200 also contributed to the province’s population growth in the first quarter of this year.
Net interprovincial migration also brought about 800 new people. About 5,700 Canadian residents moved to Saskatchewan and about 4,900 moved away. Much of the movement was to and from Alberta; Saskatchewan lost about 2,650 people to Alberta, but gained about 2,500 from there, for a net loss of about 150 people.
Saskatchewan’s growth in the first quarter was 0.46 per cent, second highest among provinces, but overshadowed by Alberta’s 0.71 per cent. Saskatchewan’s net migration from other provinces, at 0.07 per cent, also is far below Alberta’s 0.23 per cent. Alberta’s net increase from other provinces was more than 9,500, compared to Saskatchewan’s 800.