Population of Canada keeps still growing

Statistics Canada disclosed that in the first three months of the year 2009, population of Canada saw a growth never seen after the first quarter of 2001.

Statistics Canada disclosed that in the first three months of the year 2009, population of Canada saw a growth never seen after the first quarter of 2001.

The population of Canada as of the 1st of April 2009, was 33,592,700, which was 88,000 more than what it was at the beginning of the year, thus resulting in a growth rate of 0.26 percent.

According to Statistics Canada, the rise was not due to immigration, which saw a decline from the numbers in 2008, but due to the rise in the non-permanent residents’ numbers in most provinces and territories in Canada. The above mentioned segment which resulted in the growth in population saw an increase of 23,800, as compared to 15,600 in 2008 in the same quarter. As per the definition of Statistics Canada, a non-permanent resident is a person living in Canada on a study or work permit, or he or she is claiming refugee status in the country.

With the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories, all provinces and territories in Canada saw growth in population during this quarter of the year.

At the same time, the western provinces of Canada continued to be above the national average, with Alberta managing the highest growth at a rate of 0.59 percent.

It should be noted that the number of immigrants who came to Canada in the first quarter of the year totaled just over 50,000, which was lesser than in 2008 during the same quarter. The most preferred destination for new immigrants is still Ontario, with 42 percent of new arrivals settling in the province.