This may not be a trend but it might be noteworthy.
The quarterly update on Canada’s population has been released and, not surprisingly, the national growth rate is slowing as we tighten the tap on immigration to this country.
Here in Saskatchewan, we too saw the number of immigrants reduced in the fourth quarter of last year. But that is the first sign that things might be changing here.
Our growth didn’t slow as much as most of the rest of the country. Only Alberta posted a bigger percentage gain than we did. In fact, the three Prairie provinces ranked 1, 2 and 3 in terms of population growth in that quarter.
And here’s the other interesting tidbit on Saskatchewan’s performance… our retention rate is improving.
There is always movement between provinces with Alberta being the most likely destination for someone leaving Saskatchewan. In this quarter, though, the number of people leaving Saskatchewan was down 1,500 from the previous quarter at 3,200 – the lowest it’s been in a year-and-a-half. And, less than half what we’ve usually expect to move to Alberta.
