SASKATCHEWAN GROWING AT FASTEST PACE IN NEARLY 80 YEARS

Population Hits a New All-Time High

Saskatchewan's population has grown by more than 30,000 people in the past two years - its fastest rate of growth in any two-year period since 1929 to 1931.

According to the latest Statistics Canada report released today, there were 1,038,018 people living in Saskatchewan on January 1, 2010. That's a new all-time high for the province and an increase of 15,760 from January 1, 2009. In 2008, Saskatchewan grew by 14,751 people, for a total increase of 30,511 in two years.

Premier Brad Wall said the latest figures show his government's growth agenda is working.

"More people are choosing to stay in Saskatchewan and more people from elsewhere are looking to Saskatchewan as a place of opportunity," Wall said. "Our government will continue to create a positive climate to keep Saskatchewan growing and moving forward."

In 2009, Saskatchewan had net interprovincial migration of 2,680, 2,166 of those people - over 80 per cent - came from Ontario.

Saskatchewan's 2009 population increase was also made up of a 4,509 natural increase (birth minus deaths) and 8,571 net international migration. The 2009 international migration number is the highest ever recorded in Saskatchewan in one year since records started being kept in 1946.

"Saskatchewan is welcoming more new Canadians than at any time since at least the Second World War," Wall said. "It's great that so many new people are discovering what so many of us already know - that Saskatchewan is a great place to live."

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425