The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Manitoba has recorded a 20-year high in net in-migration according to the most recent Statistics Canada information, Industry, Economic Development and Mines Minister Scott Smith and Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced yesterday. "The migration numbers released today are the best numbers in the past two decades," said Smith. "These numbers are very encouraging and they reinforce our efforts to make Manitoba an attractive place to live, work and raise a family. Ensuring that Manitoba business has the skilled labour to meet its needs is critical to Manitoba's future economic development. We are pleased with today's numbers and are committed to continuing to work to grow Manitoba's population." According to Statistics Canada, 3,873 more individuals came to Manitoba than left in 2003. This is nearly a 60 per cent improvement over 2002 when a net 2,442 people moved to Manitoba. Last year was the best net inflow since 1983 when it was 4,257. Manitoba's population continued to grow in the fourth quarter of 2003 with a gain of 1,809 persons or 0.16 per cent. The Jan. 1, 2004, population was estimated at 1,165,944 people. Manitoba's quarterly growth of 0.16 per cent ranked third best among the provinces and exceeded the national growth rate of 0.12 per cent. Smith said he was encouraged that the population has grown by 7,584 people or 0.65 per cent in the last twelve months. This increase was Manitoba's best annual absolute and percentage growth since 1986. For 2003, Manitoba had the fourth best population growth rate among the provinces. Allan observed that a large increase in net international migration contributed to the 7,584 population growth. In 2003, Manitoba recorded a net international migration gain of 4,876 persons, the largest annual gain since 1980. In 2003, 6,491 international immigrants were welcomed in Manitoba, a 40.4 per cent increase over the 4,622 immigrants who located in Manitoba the previous year. Manitoba had not surpassed 6,000 immigrants since 1990. "Our government is committed to making Manitoba the number one choice for international immigrants," said Allan. "Manitoba's Provincial Nominee Program is having a tremendous success in attracting people from around the world and is the envy of other Canadian provinces." Allan noted that, last year, 3,085 provincial nominees arrived in Manitoba. This was more than double the 1,527 nominees in 2002. Nominees accounted for 83 per cent of the increase in immigrants in 2003. See 'Growth' P.# Con't from P.# The last two years has seen a tripling in the level of provincial nominees. Since 1999, the growth has been more than six-fold. Smith said he was also encouraged that net interprovincial migration shows continued signs of strength. While Manitoba had a net outflow of 2,253 in 2003 and 1,838 in 2002, these years represent great improvements over the two previous year's net outflow which totalled 9,213. The last two years have seen the smallest net interprovincial outflows in eighteen years "Today's numbers reinforce our efforts to increase Manitoba's population," said Smith. "We are encouraged with the numbers and will continue to work to make Manitoba an attractive place to live, work and invest in."
