Swift Current population jumps over 1,000

City disappointed over incomplete Census data

The City of Swift Current’s population increased to 16,604 according to 2016 Census Canada data, a jump from the 15,554 residents posted in 2011.

Statistics Canada notes that Swift Current’s growth of 1,050 residents, a 6.8 per cent increase in population over the five year census span, is above the national average of 5.0 per cent.

The Census Profile for the RM of Swift Current #137 recorded a -2.5 per cent drop in population, with 1,932 residents in total during the 2016 census, a slight decrease from the 1,981 recorded in 2011.

The combined City and RM population according to Stats Canada increased to 18,536 in the 2016 Census, a jump from the 17,535 residents posted in 2011.

And while Swift Current Mayor Denis Perrault said the growth totals were “no surprise”, he did express that he felt the census data was “a little bit light” on what the total community growth should reflect.

“We believe that a more accurate number is health card numbers. Everyone gets a health card. And our health card numbers are showing 17,800 people,” Perrault said after the Census Canada data was release. “We know there’s some pockets of the city that the Census didn’t make it to, so a little bit disappointed for that.”

According to the Covered Population Report issued by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Swift Current’s population as of June 30, 2015 was 17,826, a jump from the 2000 Covered Population Report recording 16,084 residents. The Covered Population Report is an annual count of all individuals who hold Saskatchewan health coverage on June 30. The Ministry of Health, in issuing their report, notes it only counts persons who are registered for provincial health coverage and that the data is not a census report.

Perrault points out the missed Census data does have an impact on the community beyond growth totals.

“A little bit discouraging. It’s important for people to fill out a Census, because it drives our revenue sharing formula with the province, it’s based on census data. That’s a little bit discouraging in that over 1,000 people were missed. But that said, we know we’re seeing growth. The real number is we’re just shy of 18,000 here in our city. And that’s a testament to our entrepreneurs, and to our business people, and just to people that choose to live and work and invest in Swift.”

Perrault noted the City had raised the issue with Statistics Canada this summer, and was hoping they would complete their data collection in the missed areas.

“We do know of areas in our City that weren’t hit at all. We approached Census Canada early in the summer to let them know that, as well we approach our Member of Parliament to share that with him.”

“Our overall theme of growth is happening. We are seeing real growth in our community, and we’re thankful for that.”