Saskatchewan’s population kept growing in the second quarter of 2014 (April 1 to July 1), increasing by another 5,281 people to 1,125,410.
In the past year (July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014), the province grew by 19,163 people.
Both the quarterly and annual growth rates are the second highest among the provinces, behind only Alberta.
Premier Brad Wall made political hay of the news, saying Saskatchewan’s continued growth is an indication of a strong economy.
“The population grows when the economy is creating new jobs and opportunities,” Wall said.
Wall said that in the last seven years, Saskatchewan has grown by more than 123,000 people.
The province says Saskatchewan remains on track to meet its target of 1.2 million people set in the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth, while Statistics Canada said the province’s population could hit 1.5 million by 2038.
Across the border, Manitoba had an estimated population of 1.27 million as of Jan. 1, 2014.
Canada’s estimated population was 35.16 million as of 2013.
Canada’s most populous province is, of course, Ontario with 12.85 million people, followed by Quebec with 7.9 million.
Out west, BC has 4.4 million people while Alberta is sitting with 3.65 million residents.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan rank fifth and sixth, respectively, on the list. Below them are Nova Scotia (921,700); New Brunswick (751,200); Newfoundland and Labrador (514,500); PEI (140,200); Northwest Territories (41,500); Yukon (33,900); and Nunavut (31,900).
