小蓝视频’s population grew by 162,000 people between July 2022 and July 2023, despite high out-migration from 小蓝视频 to other provinces, according to the 小蓝视频 Check-Up: Live annual report by the Chartered Professional Accountants of 小蓝视频 (CPA小蓝视频).
小蓝视频 also experienced negative natural growth (i.e. births over deaths), which means all of 小蓝视频’s population growth recently is owing to international immigration.
According to the report, 小蓝视频 had 175,024 residents arriving from other countries in 2023, a 64.8 per cent increase over 2022.
“Population growth kept accelerating in 2023, thanks to record immigration levels,” said CPA小蓝视频 CEO Lori Mathison. “That growth was heavily concentrated in the province’s largest cities, even more so than last year.”
The report notes that 小蓝视频’s birth rate was negative in 2023 for only the second year ever, and for the first time in a decade, the number of people leaving 小蓝视频 for other provinces outnumbered those coming the other way.
小蓝视频 lost 8,228 residents to interprovincial migration in 2023.
“One of the most concerning trends over the last year was the exodus of 小蓝视频 residents relocating to other parts of Canada,” Mathison said.
“We’ve historically been able to attract more than we lose. High housing costs are a major reason for that reversal. Younger people in particular are looking elsewhere to build a future.”
New housing supply did not keep up with new housing demand, the CPA小蓝视频 report notes, especially in larger urban centres.
In 小蓝视频’s seven census metropolitan areas, 30,621 housing units were completed in 2023, the report notes, which was “a meagre” one per cent increase over 2022. In other words, there was one new housing unit built for every five new arrivals in 小蓝视频
“Immigration isn’t causing the housing crisis, as we have had long-standing housing shortages in the province,” Mathison said. “The strain placed on households is evident, as is the impact the housing crisis is having on businesses and their talent pool.”
According to a member survey in April 2024, CPA小蓝视频 members pointed to a lack of housing affordability as the biggest obstacle to business success in the province.
“Our members have consistently identified poor housing affordability as a major obstacle to business success,” Mathison said. “To improve affordability, we need to support policies that significantly boost the housing supply, encourage investment, and increase real incomes of 小蓝视频 residents.”
