Denare Beach is challenging the latest census as the village and its neighbours grapple with anticipated funding losses from a reported population decline.
According to the latest federal census, Denare Beach lost 41 residents, or five per cent of its population, between 2011 and 2016 for a total population of 779 people.
“We asked for a recount because we don’t believe the population count and the dwellings count are correct,” said Meredith Norman, village administrator. “The dwellings have also decreased from 2011. We have not had homes demolished. In fact we have had more homes built since that time.”
Some of the funding provided to Canadian municipalities by the federal and provincial governments is awarded on a per-capita basis. A decline in population means a decline in revenue.
To what extent is unclear in the case of Denare Beach. Norman said the village’s capital grant funding and Saskatchewan Lotteries community grant would be impacted by a population decline.
The lotteries grant would amount to a reduction of just $385. Norman was investigating whether the capital grant would drop five per cent in conjunction with the five per cent population decline.
Denare Beach also challenged the 2011 census, which found that the village lost 116 residents. A follow-up survey showed the village in fact gained 35 residents.
In Flin Flon, city officials are anticipating a drop of about $110,000 per year in grant revenue. This is based on the city losing 449 residents, or eight per cent of its population, in the latest census.
Asked whether Flin Flon would challenge the census figure, Mayor Cal Huntley said it had not been a topic of discussion among city council.
In Creighton, Mayor Bruce Fidler said town council is investigating how to proceed with an appeal of the census results.
“We haven’t made an official decision, but we have started looking into that process,” he said at town council’s Wednesday, March 8 meeting.
The latest census lists Creighton’s population as 1,402 people, down from 1,498 in 2011 – a six per cent drop.
Fidler spoke to The Reminder after the release of the census in February, expressing surprise in the results.
“I don’t see a reduction in Creighton myself,” he said at the time. “It kind of raises a bit of concern. Ninety-six people doesn’t seem like a large number, but in a community of 1,500, to drop down six per cent, it’s quite a bit.”
- with files from Eric Westhaver
