Saskatchewan's population continues to grow

Saskatchewan’s population continues to grow at the second-highest rate in the country.

Statistics Canada released numbers Wednesday on population growth in the third quarter of 2015, showing Saskatchewan’s population grew by 5,242. The population now stands at 1,138,879 – an all-time high.

“Obviously, we are facing serious challenges in the energy sector,” Premier Brad Wall said in a statement. “But Saskatchewan’s diverse economy continues to create new jobs and our population continues to grow. That’s a big difference from a decade ago, when a downturn in one sector would mean fewer jobs and a declining population across the entire province.”

Though the population is growing, there are still people leaving the province. In the third quarter of this year 4,986 people came to Saskatchewan from other provinces, but 5,607 left here to go to other provinces.

Wall looked on the bright side, saying the overall number is growth.

“We should recognize that some folks are still moving to B.C. to retire, or going to other places from Saskatchewan, but that we would grow, and grow significantly in the … third quarter with energy prices the way they are, and that sector under stress, that growth is significant. I do think it points to the fact that there’s still relative strength in our economy, that our economy is more diversified than it ever has been.”

The overwhelming majority of inter-provincial migration from Saskatchewan was to Alberta, with 2,396 people. Ontario was next with 1,223, and then B.C. with 1,166.

Alberta still leads population growth in the country.