2.2 million Non-Permanent Residents prevail in Canada, according to the latest population report by Statistics Canada. Non-Permanent Residents in Canada account for 2,198,679 individuals. This is a significant change compared to the previous population data of NPRs in 2021. This implies a massive difference of one million with respect to Census 2021.
The department has changed its calculation approach; hence, the huge difference is evident in the numbers. Also, it has been considered that the earlier calculation of NPRs was not adequate. This means that they calculated a lesser number of NPRs.
The updated approach will lead to changes in the Canadian Public Policy. These changes will be related to specific areas like housing, immigration, labor market, and economic strategies.
2.2 million Non-Permanent Residents prevail in Canada, and the overall population is around 40.1 million individuals
The latest data depicts a year-over-year increase of 46 percent in Canada’s Non-Permanent Residents. A rise in the study or work permits symbolizes a large percentage of growth. The NPR records date back as early as 1971 or 1972, and this 46 percent growth is by far the highest.
On July 1, 2023, Canada’s population turned out to be 40,097,761. This demonstrates an increase of 2.9 percent from July 1, 2022, which implies 1,158,705 individuals. It also indicates an increase of 100,000 compared to the June 2023 record of 40,000,00.
Furthermore, Canada happens to be on top among the G7 countries concerning population growth. It is also among the leading twenty countries for population growth at the global level. Additionally, the latest figure for population depicts the highest growth in population for a period of 12 months. This means a 3.3 percent increase since 1957.
According to Statistics Canada, if the percentage mentioned above of population growth in the previous year remains the same in the future, then the population will double in 25 years.
International migration led to nearly 98 percent of population growth in Canada between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023. The remaining two percent reflected a disparity between births and deaths.
This growth of international migration is a result of new Permanent Residents arriving in Canada. On the other hand, there is also a rise of 700,000 people in the overall number of NPRs.
Additionally, the figure for NPRs with work permits was more than 1.4 million individuals in July 2023. This is an increase of 64 percent compared to 870,000 individuals in 2022.
According to Statistics Canada, a significant amount of this growth is due to the Ukrainians arriving here to escape the situation after Russia’s invasion. Besides this, Canadian fertility rates reached a massive low in 2022, with 1.33 children per woman. However, in 2021, the rate was 1.44. The latest report also claimed that Canada witnessed 20,000 fewer babies between 2018 and 2022.
Statistics Canada updated its calculation approach for Non-Permanent Residents
Statistics Canada updates its demographic records to offer the most accurate figures. The new methodology includes family members residing with Canada’s temporary permit holders. Additionally, it has revised its method to count those who still remain in Canada after the expiry of their temporary permits and wait for IRCC to review their decision.
This report by Statistics Canada resulted from other reports by CIBC Economics and the C.D. Howe Institute. These two reports concluded their analysis that Statistics Canada had significantly overlooked a number of students, Temporary Foreign Workers and Temporary Residents. This observation is with respect to the yearly and quarterly figures of population growth.
Per the estimate of CIBC, nearly one million NPRs might not have been counted within Canada’s population. Notably, the 2021 Census data claims that there were fewer than 925,000 Non-Permanent Residents in Canada. On the other hand, the quarterly report concluded the count of 1.17 million.
The number appears high because of the undercounting.
Alberta witnessed the maximum growth
Alberta’s demographic growth was the fastest among all 13 Canadian provinces or territories. This implies a rise of 4 percent. However, a large part of this growth is due to international migration and an increasing number of people moving to Canada from different provinces. Alberta played a crucial role in leading Canada, with more than 56,000 people moving to Alberta between July 22 and July 2022 rather than leaving it.
Statistics Canada even claimed that seven Canadian provinces also recorded a vital amount of population growth. The provinces are Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
Prince Edward Island recorded a population growth of 3.9 percent. Nova Scotia experienced 3.2 percent population growth, and New Brunswick witnessed 3.1 percent growth. On the other hand, Newfoundland and Labrador experienced the lowest population growth of 1.3 percent.
Next, Ontario and British Columbia observed a growth rate of 3 percent. Manitoba saw a growth of 2.9 percent, and Saskatchewan concluded a growth rate of 2.6 percent. Besides this, Quebec also underwent a population growth of 2.3 percent.
Immigration Levels Plan – 2024 to 2026
The federal government will need to declare the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024 to 2026 by November 1. Furthermore, this indicates that the new immigration targets will become official in November this year. According to the current Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Canada is set to welcome 500,000 new Permanent Residents each year by 2025.
Marc Miller also stated that the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024 to 2026 will either align with the current targets or surpass them with higher immigration levels.
