Canada had its highest quarterly population growth since the height of the baby boom, driven mainly by new immigrants, according to new data from Statistics Canada (StatCan).
International migration made up 94.5 percent of the growth, which was the highest quarterly increase of immigrants on record. However, about 60 percent of the migrants are considered non-permanent residents, with many people here for work or study, in addition to asylum seekers, including Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion.
In 2021, Canada set the record for population growth in a year, increasing by 1.8 percent, or just over 700,000 people. This broke the previous record of 1.4 percent just before the pandemic. In 2020, the population grew by only 0.6 percent.
Last year, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and New Brunswick saw their highest population growth since Confederation in 1867. The migrants entering these provinces came about equally between other parts of Canada and outside of Canada.
Many Canadians moved from Ontario to other parts of the country last year, with a total of 349,563 people leaving the province. This was the highest number since 1989, and almost 40 percent more than the year prior.
StatCan says that most of the people leaving Ontario are young adults and are likely leaving because of the ability to work from home brought about by the pandemic, as well as greater housing affordability elsewhere.
